Converting a MCI bus into an RV...

[DRYHEAT]

@ka0tyk Since you have the Prevost all dialed in now, you must be looking for a new project?

1956 GMC Liberty Coach - heavy equipment - by owner - sale

old classic 1956 GMC Liberty Coach, I think it may have been an old Greyhound bus for $15,000 Last ran and was driven onto my site on August 2, 2014 Not running today Please call Tom at Coach is...

orangecounty.craigslist.org

I don’t know that seems like an awful lot of money for scrap metal. The seller should be happy if somebody will haul it off and not charge him for it. I know, it’s a classic.

 

[ka0tyk]

Don’t really post much with all the party poopers. Meanwhile we have been making rounds to a bunch of spots. This weekend was Zion.

 

[hallett21]

Don’t really post much with all the party poopers. Meanwhile we have been making rounds to a bunch of spots. This weekend was Zion.

View attachment 1161887
View attachment 1161888

How’s it holding up now that you’ve gotten some miles under you?

 

[69hondo]

Don’t really post much with all the party poopers. Meanwhile we have been making rounds to a bunch of spots. This weekend was Zion.

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View attachment 1161888

To hell with party poopers. put them on ignore. Lets hear about your trips.

 

[ka0tyk]

How’s it holding up now that you’ve gotten some miles under you?

Mechanically we are golden. Zero issues.

We have since added exterior lights. Bose surround sound inside. Cameras side and rear. Changed the shower fixture to black and changed the plumbing to be more efficient. I purchased a bunch of lithium batteries but sold them in favor of going with a MUCH larger setup and starting to pull the trigger on solar panels for the roof. The generator is sold just needs to be delivered.

The biggest thing we are noticing in campgrounds is the amount inconsistent power and water connections. Thus going for full solar and power and with our inverter we can supplement our system with shore power rather than switch 100% to it. Also water pressure at these campgrounds is very poor, we switching from a backup 12v shurflo pump to a MUCH larger 110v pump setup and we use that 100% with our water tank rather than relying on their water supply and poor pressure directly into our system. One campground we actually had such poor pressure and flow the hot water heater would error because it was sensing the flow was so low. Barely a dribble out of the shower head.

 

[ka0tyk]

Camera system. Side and rear.

 

[ka0tyk]

Finished the entrance area sides. Need to do the flooring non skid and some lights to illuminate stairs.

 

[ka0tyk]

First truck wash. They used brushes and no “acid” just soap.

 

[ka0tyk]

The outside lights really help a lot.

 

[ka0tyk]

Changed up our 12v setup from amazon buck converters to a victron unit. Now our 12v is MUCH more stable. I have nothing but great experiences with their products. They just work.

 

[hallett21]

Mechanically we are golden. Zero issues.

We have since added exterior lights. Bose surround sound inside. Cameras side and rear. Changed the shower fixture to black and changed the plumbing to be more efficient. I purchased a bunch of lithium batteries but sold them in favor of going with a MUCH larger setup and starting to pull the trigger on solar panels for the roof. The generator is sold just needs to be delivered.

The biggest thing we are noticing in campgrounds is the amount inconsistent power and water connections. Thus going for full solar and power and with our inverter we can supplement our system with shore power rather than switch 100% to it. Also water pressure at these campgrounds is very poor, we switching from a backup 12v shurflo pump to a MUCH larger 110v pump setup and we use that 100% with our water tank rather than relying on their water supply and poor pressure directly into our system. One campground we actually had such poor pressure and flow the hot water heater would error because it was sensing the flow was so low. Barely a dribble out of the shower head.

If you got into a dry camping or off the grid scenario could you just charge the batteries using the main RV engine?

 

[ka0tyk]

If you got into a dry camping or off the grid scenario could you just charge the batteries using the main RV engine?

thats def an option... we have about 600a of alternator on the bus. but charging lithium ion batteries is a different beast and they'd need to be modified. but having solar would be the best option. the more the better. we're looking at 10 365w panels and a couple charge controllers.

 

[Singleton]

This thread is awesome.
Giving me ideas on what to upgrade on my ToyHauler.
@ka0tyk - please continue to post. Don’t let the negative nancies impact how great this thread is

What exterior lights did you install?

 

[ka0tyk]

This thread is awesome.
Giving me ideas on what to upgrade on my ToyHauler.
@ka0tyk - please continue to post. Don’t let the negative nancies impact how great this thread is

What exterior lights did you install?

https://www.amazon.com/SUPAREE-Exterior-Porch-Utility-Light/dp/B07Y9TT2J4?th=1

we did 4. they're EXTREMEEELY bright.

 

[mjc]

thats def an option... we have about 600a of alternator on the bus. but charging lithium ion batteries is a different beast and they'd need to be modified. but having solar would be the best option. the more the better. we're looking at 10 365w panels and a couple charge controllers.

You should be able to use a DC to DC charger off the alternator to get lithium charge profile

 

[STV_Keith]

The biggest thing we are noticing in campgrounds is the amount inconsistent power and water connections. Thus going for full solar and power and with our inverter we can supplement our system with shore power rather than switch 100% to it. Also water pressure at these campgrounds is very poor, we switching from a backup 12v shurflo pump to a MUCH larger 110v pump setup and we use that 100% with our water tank rather than relying on their water supply and poor pressure directly into our system. One campground we actually had such poor pressure and flow the hot water heater would error because it was sensing the flow was so low. Barely a dribble out of the shower head.

Interesting, I've seen the opposite in some places. One campground we stayed at near SF had a warning in their paperwork when you checked in, that their pressure was over 100psi and you would need to use a regulator.

Personally, I always fill the tank and run off of that with the onboard pump. I don't like the idea of being plugged in, other than for power.

 

[merc_400r]

Camera system. Side and rear.

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View attachment 1162069

Looks nice. Any pics of the mounting of the rear camera or view of rear camera?

 

[ka0tyk]

Greetings from the salton sea

 

[monkeyswrench]

Beautiful skies! Glad the weather tax is being put to good use

Coach looks beautiful too!

 

[Havasu blue label]

Very cool build

 

[Sleek-Jet]

This is one of my favorite threads on here.

 

[ka0tyk]

Time to go for rides.

 

[outboard_256]

Time to go for rides.

View attachment 1171574 View attachment 1171575 View attachment 1171576

Nice, picked up a can-am? Didn't want to wait for speed? The XRS is a good choice.

 

[PaPaG]

Finally got around to putting a closet door in the back bedroom. Slapped a mirror on it as well. It kinda makes the room feel larger. Other than that we just need to slap the upper side caps on now that we are done wiring wise and that room is complete.

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You sure have some great creative talent that is for sure. Always thought this would be an awesome project. Great Job.

 

[Mcob25rg]

I’m totally jealous of your skills combined with your creativity.

 

[buck35]

Don't be discouraged by any haters because this is one of the best rides on here!

 

[Ol Man]

Derek, I have always enjoyed your trip videos. Please post.

 

[Racey]

Totally forgot about your build,

So awesome to see it has been working so great for you and the family. Making lifetime memories!

It came out awesome!!!!

 

[77charger]

Bad ass job. Good thing doing yourself is you make it exactly the way you want it.

I’m sure it’s easier to buy a built one but doing yourself you can go at your own
Pace pay as you go and know exactly what’s in it.

 

[hallett21]

@ka0tyk are you dry camping 100% on batteries now?

 

[ka0tyk]

@ka0tyk are you dry camping 100% on batteries now?

Dry camping not really, yet. We usually have hookups where we go. But I just tossed in a lot more battery and a shunt. I have a victron cerbo gx and touchscreen on the way along with mppt controllers for 3600w of solar panels. Soon we will be basically be energy independent. It’ll be really amazing to see it all finally working together. I’m really impressed with all the victron equipment.

 

[ka0tyk]

Calico ghost town this weekend.

 

[ka0tyk]

 

[Riverfamlee]

Man, not sure how I missed this one. Just spent the last 3 hours catching up and look forward to watching the videos this weekend.

Amazing build!

 

[Singleton]

Man, not sure how I missed this one. Just spent the last 3 hours catching up and look forward to watching the videos this weekend.

Amazing build!

This is one of the best threads around.
I have used knowledge shared by @ka0tyk to upgrade my custom ToyHauler.
Looking forward to the all electric upgrade so I can leverage that as well

 

[Ol Man]

Any coach updates? It is nice that you have documented so well the process to build this bus and some of your trips. I thoroughly enjoy all of them.

 

[ka0tyk]

Any coach updates? It is nice that you have documented so well the process to build this bus and some of your trips. I thoroughly enjoy all of them.

Thanks. We did a koa down in chula vista with some friends and this weekend we are just at “bonelli bluffs” near Pomona. After that we are going to the desert hot springs koa with their hot spring heated pools. Then I think after that we will be heading out to Parker and camping at the lake house with some family. Not sure if we are just pulling next to the house or parking it inside the garage and using the garage acs rather than ours in the 100+ heat.

 

[ka0tyk]

Little change. 8x lithium batteries. Have it all out on the bench testing and programming. With the storm and possible power outages it’s great timing. I’ve been running a few things in the house on battery power with just half of our bank. Looking forward to putting it all back into the bus and firing it all up. Have a cerbo gx on the way so I can monitor it all remotely. It’s been a great help of victron community and YouTube videos etc to learn about balancing, midpoint connections, wiring, etc. Next step is solar panels and mppt controllers.

 

[ka0tyk]

So I’ve been testing these guys out and I must say I’m quite impressed. Charged em all the way up and I’ve been running a portable AC off of it. Almost like 11 hours straight and 200+ ah. Not bad for $250 each. Really good stuff. Was 25+volts just about until the last 30 mins. Then dropped into the 23s. I didn’t want to drag em down too far so called it a good test and charging em back up.

 

[ka0tyk]

First things first…

Slapped all the electrical gear, batteries, and a new victron cerbo gx into the bus and headed out to test. Showed up at 10pm to the campground, hooked up and so far everything works. Time to relax.