it will be great , cos , over time , you will then have the potential / means to meet EVERY oz 'swaylocker' ,
should you 'dare' to accept the challenge
[oh gawd ,
now I'M sounding like one of those frickin' "[UN]reality show" hosts , eh ? .... yiiiikes ! ]
cheers
ben
Pretty cool, I'll be watching the progress. I think you are the 2013 rastaversion of this old movie....your ending will be better, and more fairytale. But this movie came to mind when I saw this build. Good luck, and god speed
1980 movie Lost in America, by Albert Brooks:
David and Linda Howard are typical 1980s yuppies in Los Angeles who are fed up with their lifestyle. He works in an advertising agency and she for a department store. But after he fails to receive a promotion he was counting on and is asked to transfer to the firm's New York office instead, David angrily insults his boss and is fired. He coaxes his wife to quit her job as well and seek a new adventure.
The Howards decide to liquidate their assets and drop out, "like in Easy Rider", heading out to see the country in a Winnebago recreational vehicle. They leave L.A. with "nest egg", but don't get very far. The plan goes awry when Linda loses nearly all their cash playing roulette at the Desert Inn Casino in Las Vegas.
Out of money and with nowhere to go, the couple ends up in Safford, Arizona. David unsuccessfully applies for a delivery job at a local pharmacy and resorts to an employment agency. Obnoxiously reminded by a counselor about being fired from his high-paying job in advertising, David accepts the best position available—as a crossing guard, taunted by local school kids.
Linda, meanwhile, has found employment as the assistant manager at the local Der Wienerschnitzel, working under a kid half her age. She and David are living in a trailer park, almost broke and now accountable to brats.
Only a few days after beginning their pursuit of the dream of dropping out of society, they decide that it is better to get back their old lifestyle as soon as possible. They point the Winnebago toward New York, where David begs for his old job back.
I always wanted one of these. Greyhound bus line had them for climbing the rockies, check out that observation window. . Overbuilt trannys, and GM 6300 series diesel pusher v8.... bullet proof bus
and ...
in a 4WD drive model ?
.... would be sweeeeeeettttt as !
Bite the bullet !..you don’t do things by half measures di99er do ya !..that’s a tidy looking vehicle…and seems like you got a keen construction crew…thanks for the share.
Hi digger this site is really good if your after parts
For the bus
http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/
Good luck Digger, I hope you intend to cover the floor with the insulation too, would make a big difference.
Cheers
you are my hero.
If you get to the Northern Beaches in Sydney our family can offer you a hot meal,shower and cot for your family.
Whatever you need.
Nice stuff indeed…
Resin - That bus is like my childhood road trip fantasy of putting the body of a Corvett on top of a live in bus so I could set up “high” and enjoy the view…
As you mates say down under, “Good on ya!”
Great stuff digger … so, how you going to fit the “shaping bay” in …
What’s the plan with the “folding” stands?
I have thought of this kind of life quite a few times, modern life is designed to enslave us with debt and would be great to escape this, with all the progress in technology over since the second world war is seems very strange to me that the most basic human need of having a roof over your head is more expensive and more out of reach than at any time within the last 50 years at least.
The only problem is finding places to set down and park in the bus. I assume that you have a plan in mind, here in the uk they (the authorities) are very strict on just parking up somewhere and campsites can work out expensive, although in oz I reckon that you will have a big advantage over the uk for this.
So go for it, sounds like you are going to have a great adventure, even if it doesnt work out I doubt you will regret it.
Sincerely all the best.
Hey speedseeker, we have bought a free camping book which points out most places we can stay for free around australia that accept dogs as well as children, haaa, notice how I put dogs first. We have sort of mapped out a plan on places we want to visit, how far the distances are, as I live in a bloody big country and I would hate to not have enough desiel to reach my destination , and what sort of work there is so that I can get my next full tank of desiel to get me to my next point of call. So no, your right, if carefully planned there is not as much trouble here in oz as there seem in the uk.
Wingnut, we intend to have a permant sort of lean to that is bolted to the side of the bus for a shaping bay on one side, then on the other side will be a large awniing for a extra living room. But the shaping bay will be the last thing I build onto the bus before I leave. The stands arent decided on yet, prototypes will need to be made and tested before I now it will be possible, but its looking likely. So one on side of the bus is living quaters, on the other side If I so desire is a shaping bay, hey presto, the portable home and shed and will travel anywhere a road can take me.
Speed, our right on one thing mate, if it doesnt work out, no worires, my wife and I at least wont have a regret in our lives together that we didnt try to live the crazy dream, but instead we were brave enough to truly give it a damn good go.
added the coverings over the insulation at the back of the bus, it came up pretty good, we also added white strips or whatever you call them where the joins are, came out looking great, now I have to paint it white then tommorow I will add the first wall in the bedroom, photos will come on friday of the wall
the coverings where plywood, same stuff you make templates from
They probably thought you were in there killing someone!
Just remembered too … with your “folding stands” what’s the plan for holding them solid? I know a lot of guys cement their stands into buckets, which is probably weight and bulk you will not want … what I’ve done is just use sand … I was unsure if I had the height correct, so I used sand, packed down hard with water, it holds well, and is heavy too so the stands are stable.
Given your ‘mobile’ and your passion (i.e. surfing) fair chance you will always be near a beach and therefore have sand nearby … so, you can repack the stands for each use, tip out the sand when moving, use the buckets for other storage, and when you get to the next place, just grab some more sand off the next beach … ???
Just an idea.
Amazing thread Digger hope it works out…
great stuff Digs !
will you plaster the bus with SWAYLOCKS stickers , and wear Swaylocks shirts and hats [ when not driving in your 'scream' mask and dark sunnies , that is !]
Maybe the next thing to work on could be finding an alternative to expensive diesel ...have you worked out how much it costs to 'fill 'er up " ? And , how many kms a tank will get ya down the road ?
Especially across the nullarbor and the north of woz , where distances between places , and the availability of diesel , may be a bit "sketchy" , to say the least , mate ?!]
Can you recycle veggie oil or something ?
... cos I'm guessing the price of diesel while travelling huuuge distances over the next few years may well exceed any rent / mortgage payments ??
cheers
ben
go japanese style. very little furniture with netting for storage. big open space and modular storage. use adhesives instead of screws where posible. eps to shell can use a flexible pu sika type glue. then everything else you use contact. buy it by the drum and use a normal pressure pot and spray gun to apply. make sure the glue is eps friendly. vinyl tiles are cheap you can buy a box or two from floor shops and will put a floor down in a day.
