raising roof

[Jim March]

Jeff Miller wrote:

>
> This seems to me a lot like a schoolie conversion thought process:
>
> You end up with a lot of coach for the money spent, but have
> something that is a bit difficult to sell and recoup
> your "investment".
>
> - Jeff Miller
> http://www.wanderlodge.net
> http://www.millercoachworks.com


Yup. And your point is?

Look, I've got basically a windfall coming ($76k). I need to make a
LONG term plan that can do the following:

1) Fulltiming.

2) Brief bits "boondocking" in urban areas (mobile political activism
HQ). And THAT means high security and driving in tight urban areas. A
35' rig that contains motorcycles *inboard* with no trailer meets that
goal perfectly.

3) Tough enough for 20 years service.

If I can get the above done in the $35k range (and it certainly appears
I *can*) then...hell yes.

Note: the "raise the bedroom roof and do a bed over garage" plan is one
option. Another less costly alternative is to have a master bed hung
off of roof mounted stainless cable over the driver/passenger area that
can be "dropped down" when parked...same basic concept as a Safari Trek
(esp. the early ones through 1994 where the bed was forward of the
living room instead of on top of it) or some Winnabagos ClassAs. This
"forward bed" would be raised for transit. That would allow conversion
of the whole rear bedroom into a garage, just empty it out and put a
door on the back from any Bluebird-chassis schoolie. Not my preference,
but certainly an option and would give a taller "shop space".

Jim

> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Jim March
> wrote:
> > As to costs: the "raise the rear part of the roof and add a bedroom
> over
> > a garage" plan would run about $8k for the basic engineering (roof
> raise
> > 10ft of rear, interior walls and a rear door). Then add the cost
> of a
> > paint job, although if you started with an early-80s or prior FC
> it'll
> > probably be around the point where it needs paint and you can go
> with a
> > high-tech ceramic-compound heat barrier paint upgrade.
> >
> > You're still under the $35/40k range with some shopping, you've got
> 35ft
> > of livable space PLUS an interior garage (which has some serious
> > advantages for fulltimers).
> >
> > Now compare that cost with what it would cost for a factory rig
> that has
> > an equivelent garage...like a 35ft Four Winds "Funmover"
> oversize "Class
> > C" diesel ($110k on up).
> >
> > Hmmmm.
> >
> > The modified Wanderlodge FC starts to look damned good...
> >
> > Jim
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *Yahoo! Groups Links*
>
> * To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum/
>
> * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>

>
> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>