Truck Conversion & Toterhome Community - View Single Post

waywardfool · 06-17-2007, 07:49 PM

After reading everything here, and at other sites like skoolie.net, I am finally closer to building a conversion.

Right now plans are to build on a crewcab International S1900 that currently has a 12' flatbed. I am planning to build a steel frame off of this (or should I go straight on the truck frame with ubolted with 2x3 tube?). Total size of the living quarters will be 12' long, 8' wide, 8' high. This will provide the necessities we need, and keep the rig short enough for a two-car trailer. (Will mostly have bed and bath, some cabinets.

Questions are: what to use for the sides and end panels? Aluminum sheet? Steel? FRP? Is there anything that would run 8'x12' that would be seamless? How to handle vertical seams in any of those materials? I don't want to use the glues and tapes, I don't trust them, so what other attachement methods are there to consider? What is the best way to handle exterior corners?

What about the roof (8'x12'). Metal, or EDPM? Basically, how does the EDPM interface with the vertical walls? Flat roof, or slightly arched?

Should I just buy the back 12' of a school bus body???

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

06-17-2007, 07:49 PM	#1
waywardfool Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 7	After reading everything here, and at other sites like skoolie.net, I am finally closer to building a conversion. Right now plans are to build on a crewcab International S1900 that currently has a 12' flatbed. I am planning to build a steel frame off of this (or should I go straight on the truck frame with ubolted with 2x3 tube?). Total size of the living quarters will be 12' long, 8' wide, 8' high. This will provide the necessities we need, and keep the rig short enough for a two-car trailer. (Will mostly have bed and bath, some cabinets. Questions are: what to use for the sides and end panels? Aluminum sheet? Steel? FRP? Is there anything that would run 8'x12' that would be seamless? How to handle vertical seams in any of those materials? I don't want to use the glues and tapes, I don't trust them, so what other attachement methods are there to consider? What is the best way to handle exterior corners? What about the roof (8'x12'). Metal, or EDPM? Basically, how does the EDPM interface with the vertical walls? Flat roof, or slightly arched? Should I just buy the back 12' of a school bus body??? Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.