starting to build motorhome

volvoman · 12-22-2009, 09:14 PM

streching frame.

volvoman · 12-22-2009, 09:42 PM

had removed air farrings, 5th wheel and tail lights this summer. building white truck as a 45 footer with 20 foot garage. white truck has a 60 series detroit with allison automatic. blue truck had a 60 series detroit with manual transmission. one has unimount rims and other was budds. removed hubs and differentials and switched over to housings on frame rails being added from other truck. putting new brakes, shocks and torque rods on. owner of white truck had wheel chair lift installed on passenger side. he was in a wheel chair. drivers seat is electric forward, backward and swivels towards inside of truck. will post more in next couple days. we have cut frame rails but havent taken pictures yet. i bought a 33ft motorhome to use interier and generator. still planning platform for hauling pickup. it will slide out and tilt down for loading and unloading.

Dodger · 12-29-2009, 04:42 PM

I can not wait to see the next set of pics. This so makes me want to post my truck frame mod pics from when I was home on leave. Good luck with the project!

volvoman · 01-10-2010, 07:05 PM

got 1st frame streach done. have to add on frame behind tandems yet. rear brakes and suspension are done. have another air bag leaking and need to change yet. sleeper has been partly gutted. bought rear frame rails and steel to frame motorhome body. picked up 2 used driveshafts. traded differentials from blue truck for driveshafts and rear frame rails. will post pictures in a few days.

Bob86ZZ4 · 01-10-2010, 08:22 PM

Cool, this is a big project. I'm liking the pictures so far.

blizzardND · 01-11-2010, 07:38 AM

Wow, I though my project was a biggie, you are starting way back in the field on this project. good luck, stay with it, and keep posting pictures, and we'll sheer ya on!
-blizz

volvoman · 01-13-2010, 10:07 PM

got rear section of frame stripped down and cut to fit today. will be welding on by weekend. will post more pictures then. ordered steel for coach and they delivered yesterday. 3) 4x4x20ft and 50) 2x2x24ft pieces. cost just under $3,000.00 shopped around and had to work salesman alittle.

volvoman · 02-17-2010, 04:40 PM

started working on floor. went to the rv show in chicago and got alot of ideas. bought a trailer that has a set of hydraulic legs on rear. will post pictures. hope these work for levelers and supports for rear when loading pickup.

volvoman · 03-22-2010, 09:18 PM

went to elkhart indiana over the weekend. picked up 3 large windows $50 each, 1 escape window $75 and 1 small window $25. holding tank $100. 2 roof vents with fans, lights and wall mounted switchs $79.95 each. 45 amp convertor $ 149.95. 30x78.5 door with screen $150.00. shower pan $60.00 and bathroom sink $16.95. water tank $85.80. plus a few small odds and ends. about $85.00 in gas and $66.00 for hotel. didn't check on tolls yet. about 1/2 hour at casino in michigan city for $110.00. figure about $1200.00 weekend.

Bob86ZZ4 · 03-23-2010, 07:24 AM

Sounds like a good trip. I hope it all works for you. Blizz bought some windows cheap there but later found out that some of them wouldn't work for the way he needed them to. Keep the pictures coming.

GENECARP · 03-23-2010, 10:07 AM

Enjoy every minute of the process, This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build this for yourself. keep the photos coming, G

blizzardND · 03-23-2010, 11:14 AM

Make sure that the windows you bought are for both the right AND left side, putting them on the wrong side may get a bit breezy and soggy. Thats how I wound up giving my 4 25 dollar a peice windows to some ice fishermen for their Ice houses.

Sounds like a great trip, we spent over 3 grand, then bought a trailer to haul it all home, sold the trailer here in Fargo for a $250 profit, paid for the gas!
-blizz

volvoman · 03-31-2010, 09:19 PM

how do you tell which side they are? the way i think they go is screen to rear. but i dont know which way lock lever goes up or down in locked position.

volvoman · 04-09-2010, 07:25 PM

just thought i would update you all. took air farring off top of cab. thinking i will extend motorhome over cab with a bed area. mounted 2nd battery box on frame for aux. batteries. just bought another truck that has a air tag axle on it. thinking i might put it behind cab about 1/2 way back to front tandems. would take weight off front axle if needed. also help ride on rough roads. steel tubing for floor frame is almost done. bought cab to motorhome rubber seal last week. found my next problem then. rear of cab goes up straight about 2 feet and then starts sloping forward about 6-7 ".

Bob86ZZ4 · 04-12-2010, 09:01 PM

Wow, that's an interesting idea about sticking a axle mid point there. Similar to lots of dump trucks I see. Just gotta lift it up for turning and such.

volvoman · 04-29-2010, 06:47 PM

well we took lift axle off truck and sold truck on ebay. disassembled hubs,air bags and shocks. replacing wheel bearings, seals, shocks and air bags. hope to start putting on next week.

Bob86ZZ4 · 04-30-2010, 01:38 PM

Neat, you going to put it about mid point then? Does it have a way to lift it all the way up off the road for turning like I've seen on dump trucks?

volvoman · 04-30-2010, 09:10 PM

putting it 10 feet in front of center of front tandem axle. it's air pressure down with a pressure control valve that is adjustable. should be able to adjust steer axle weight pretty good. has big coiled springs to pull it up when you dump air pressure. has brakes on tag axle also. tires are smaller size so when axle is up i dont think you will see tires.

Bob86ZZ4 · 05-02-2010, 08:01 PM

Hay, I just thought of something. Don't toll roads charge by how many axles they see? So, if you can hide that center axle up behind the skirting, you raise up the wheels before coming into the toll booth. Pay your toll for two axles. Then after you get down the road a bit drop them down.

volvoman · 05-13-2010, 08:54 PM

well we got axle installed. used sliding 5th wheel control air switch for turning air on. drilled dash for pressure regulator valve. removed dash and disassembled. installed air application gauge for monitoring air pressure. remarked switch and gauge with silver marker. tested and works great. need to splice in brake line and replace tires. will try to post pictures this weekend. almost done framing floor steel. roof should go alot quicker. then going to do up rights for walls.
its just like Bob says tag axle will never pay a toll.

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