Let's say that YOU just acquired a 35' old city bus. Specifically a 1972 Flexi perhaps.
Maybe it's completely untouched, meaning all the original seats & interior is intact, etc. Maybe your were given jake-brakes that need to be installed prior to driving it to Black Rock. Maybe you were given water/waste tanks that could be installed - would you want those things?
Maybe you're considering taking out most of the seats and converting the interior space for living area. Maybe you're considering having a roof rack/platform welded to the roof. Maybe window tinting for privacy. Maybe bolting down a sleeper sofa.
Maybe you'd love to convert it to bio-diesel. What would it take?
The list goes on....
What_Would_You_Do in terms of converting such a vehicle for YOUR annual Burning Man trips? Let's pretend that "The Sky's the Limit"....
Cheers!
Maybe it's completely untouched, meaning all the original seats & interior is intact, etc. Maybe your were given jake-brakes that need to be installed prior to driving it to Black Rock. Maybe you were given water/waste tanks that could be installed - would you want those things?
Maybe you're considering taking out most of the seats and converting the interior space for living area. Maybe you're considering having a roof rack/platform welded to the roof. Maybe window tinting for privacy. Maybe bolting down a sleeper sofa.
Maybe you'd love to convert it to bio-diesel. What would it take?
The list goes on....
What_Would_You_Do in terms of converting such a vehicle for YOUR annual Burning Man trips? Let's pretend that "The Sky's the Limit"....
Cheers!
posted by:
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Portland
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Re: Equipping your bus for the playa - WWYD?
Fri, May 4, 2007 - 12:23 AMWhen I converted a bus...
Took out all the seats (angle grinder to get the bolts off).
Put a forty gallon water tank under the bed.
Used kitchen cabinet-thing with a sink.
Added a hand pump for the water - the regular metal kind the plunger vibrated off from driving, the plastic RV kind worked great.
Bucket under the sink for drainage.
Solar panels, charge controller, batteries, inverter.
Van seat couch that pulled out into a bed.
Bathroom with composting toilet.
Always-in-progress veggie oil conversion.
For biodiesel you don't need to do anything besides make or buy biodiesel. For a veggie oil conversion... well... read From The Fryer To the Feul Tank and google for some of the websites that have good info.
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Re: Equipping your bus for the playa - WWYD?
Fri, May 4, 2007 - 12:19 PMFirst thing I'd do is replace the shocks and add a honkin' big air filter; preferably one that's easy to change out: the dust on the Playa can be brutal. Also check fuel tank integrity. -
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Re: Equipping your bus for the playa - WWYD?
Fri, May 4, 2007 - 2:29 PMI'd sell it and buy a Bluebird. I still have my '48 3751 as the only offers I've gotten have been from hippies looking for a bargain. Sorry kids.
There's no way I would take it to the playa though in the album are pics of the Cheesus Crust camp that did.
In any event, good luck with the project!
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Re: Equipping your bus for the playa - WWYD?
Fri, May 4, 2007 - 6:41 PMTara, Steamboat & Ian;
Thanks all for taking your time to reply. I really appreciate it!
It's a big undertaking, and I'm fully aware that much of what needs to be done will not realistically happen for this year's burn. Nonetheless, it's never to early to plan for next year!
BTW; Ian - Is there anything specifically about this bus/year/model that makes it inappropriate or less attractive for the playa? The March 4th Marching Band, as well as the "mobile groove bomb" both operate same types as mine. Just curious.
~ Peace ~
eyefleye -
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Re: Equipping your bus for the playa - WWYD?
Fri, May 4, 2007 - 8:58 PMOh, funny, you beat me to posting the Groove Bomb link:
tribes.tribe.net/mobilegroovebomb
No, a fishbowl is a good bus platform for the playa, it's just a ton of work.
I wasn't trying to be snarky or anything, if you've got the time and money for the project go for it!
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Re: Equipping your bus for the playa - WWYD?
Mon, June 4, 2007 - 3:01 PMheyyy hoooo
in prep for the playa
swamp cooler sucking in enough air through the filter meadium that it blows out the door when you open it keeping the dust out ....never open the windows and leave the bus
there should be a foyer for the mud/dust thang out side the bus
do you plan to run a generator ...ac...?
change the air filter as soon as you leave
what acess do you have to ge to the top of the bus?
are you plannig on running the bus as an art car? -
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Re: Equipping your bus for the playa - WWYD?
Mon, February 25, 2008 - 9:31 AMSo did you get the bus?
I bought a BlueBird TC2000 in Dec and am beginning to set it up for the Playa and my other music festival jaunts. As purchased- one row of seats behind the driver(nice high backs for a school bus kinda wished they had left a few more),15' roof rack, generack geni and 2 batterys/inverter for house power, bulkhead/queen bed.
My plans
Bed room in back, extend rear bumper for deck/rear entry.
Bath room & shower set up that don't require yoga to use.
Kitchen area small fride & stove
Lounge chill space forward
I bought a pair of Doutherm AC's that were installed but never used.
Hope to do a cool paint job this spring and drive it in the Houston art Car parade in May, would love to do UV paint and illuminate for the playa. A propane cannon would be really cool
Steffan
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