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BUILDING OUR MOTOR HOME
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Hi we are Gabe and Belinda and in 1999 we decided to build a motorhome. this is the story of the fun, trials and tribulations of creating a home on wheels. Our plan was to buy a bus do it up a bit and head off in 6 months.
In 1999 we bought our bus from a local dealer unfortunately it had a blown diff and that was the beginning of a long haul of finding information. :) The unbelievable happened when we had the bus transported the bearings ceased up and the wheel sheared off and near missed a parked car as it rolled down the road. This gave us more problems and we were very pissed off as you can imagine. This also meant that instead of repairing the diff as originally planned we had to find a whole new one ( actually second hand new isnt available).
We spoke to many people about building a motorhome and around that same time we discovered that there was lots of info on the internet including a chat room for fellow motor homers. This is where we have found some of the best information from others that were and are endeavoring to do the same, travel around Australia in a home on wheels.
This is the 76' Bedford bus we bought
it was a school bus at a Geelong college which ironic seeing Gabe was born there
a long time ago.
The bus is 35 foot long, 500 diesel motor, turner 5 speed gearbox, highway diff, full air brakes, power assisted steering and probably a top speed of around 90 kph which is okay for us because we will be in no hurry.
While we were waiting to find a new diff Gabe started to pull
everything out to be able to check everything out to see how much work we were
gunna be up for.
After about 6 mths from the time of purchase we finally found another diff, they were not easy to find, and it still needed allot of work. Gabe fixed the diff over the next few months and then put it into the bus and drove it to our home, (as it was sitting at a friends farm) to start work on the construction.
Then windows and cladding were removed.
We decided to raise the roof and it was easier than we thought, hired acro props from building hire place, got the 9"grinder out and chopped the roof then proceed to lift the roof.
And while I was doin that I was redoin the floor as it had an isle and I wanted it flat.
air tanks were moved to make way for bins,new steps framed out and wall frame finished also wacked in some new wheel arches.
Then I finished framin the bin bits and its ready for cladding.
Got shaun to slap on a bit of paint to seal up the steel
bought couple thousand rivets an air riveter aluminum sheet and a box of goop.
A reverting we go, goop on, sheet on, drill holllllllleeeessss, rivets in.
Bulkhead was a bit of a pain with curves goin in all directions (sounds like a women I used to know lol) but I fixed it with a big hammer then it was all good.
and I slapped in a 500 lt fuel tank as well.
Just as we were gettin excited we had to move from where we was living bus and all (Bugger)
anyway found a place around the corner it was an old wreckin yard with heaps of sheds.
After cleanin the joint up a bit we moved in.
The next bit was to put the water tanks in then the floor, cut the sheetin out to take the windows.
Windows got fitted which I made from structural ply and painted in two pak
industrial paint that they use on oil rigs, uv block laminated glass was also
fitted.
Next job was to rough in the plumbin and electrical, 12v, 24v,240.
Walls were fitted to make the bathroom & dunny and most important the bedroom.
( keep ya mind out of the gutter lol) bedroom for sleepin.
I also knocked up this curved four paneled door which I covered in aluminum sheet.
Its now March 2001 and the cook (the wife) wants her kitchen started, so here goes.
Knocked
up a couple of boxes
seat thing, there it is now whats for tea?
(The cook said get your own its not finished yet) down the fish & chip shop I go.
Put
a few doors and drawers together
they're made from locally grown
silkyoak with redgum panels, then
splashed a bit polish around and hay presto its all done almost 
and if you noticed the floor 2500 pieces & 30 hrs turned out alright.