raising roof

[lapenitarvpark]

Has anyone raised the roof on their bird? We are considering doing that
and putting slides in. Anyone got any input?

[Jim March]

lapenitarvpark wrote:

>
> Has anyone raised the roof on their bird? We are considering doing that
> and putting slides in. Anyone got any input?


Depends on the model of course. The FC series has a pretty strong
primary frame and is probably able to take at least one living-room
slideout and still retain structural integrity. I don't think I'd want
to put one near the rear axle though, I'd want any slideout to start at
least 5ft forward of the rear axle to maximize "sag strength" in that
key area (read: if the frame is going to fold over, that's where it'll
want to happen!)

Raising the roof might be more difficult if we're talking about the area
where the mid-ships shower/toilet/closet walls are (or the very rear too
in one of the rare "rear bath" models). You've also got issues with the
wiring (to the lights and A/Cs), the insulation, etc.

I have a concept I'm pondering whereby I start with a more common "rear
bedroom" variant, raise the roof about 2.5ft just over that rear bedroom
area, put in a new "mid-ceiling" about 5ft up from the original floor
and put a motorcycle/ATV hatch in the back. You'd get a 5ft tall
"motorcycle garage" with floor space about the same as the whole
original bedroom; that garage would have a complete wall and door to the
interior (to keep gas fumes out of the living areas) and then a bedroom
area of about 3ft to 3.5ft tall over the garage (sort of like the front
bunk over a ClassC motorhome). The garage might be short but with the
bikes rolled out and a small rolling stool or similar you could have a
modest "shop space" area with workbench, room under the bench for a
Splendide washer/dryer, tools, maybe even some extra freshwater plus a
couple of bikes.

By avoiding a roofraise where the bathroom/shower/kitchen is the raise
becomes a lot less complex.

A roofraise in the same area but with the "horizontal split" done
differently could yield all sorts of possibilities. Picture a single
large 4ft tall by "whole width" bedroom area above for mom'n'pop and
then a split pair of "bedrooms" below for each of two kids - or one for
a kid, the other side for a washer/dryer, storage, monster battery bay
or God knows what else.

Jim

[Jeff Miller]

Completely feasible from an engineering and construction standpoint.
The chassis is strong, the body not (primary) structure, but I question
that the change will be worth the money it will cost.

- Jeff Miller
http://www.wanderlodge.net
http://www.millercoachworks.com


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "lapenitarvpark"
wrote:
>
> Has anyone raised the roof on their bird? We are considering doing
that
> and putting slides in. Anyone got any input?

[Jack & Donna Smith]

As long as you are at it, why not take a note from ALFA, and install a
compact staircase to a door on the roof, and have seating on "The
Balcony"?
Might be a bit involved, but there are very few problems that (Lots)
of money won't solve
Jack Smith
1973FC31
SoCal


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
wrote:
>
> Completely feasible from an engineering and construction standpoint.
> The chassis is strong, the body not (primary) structure, but I question
> that the change will be worth the money it will cost.
>
> - Jeff Miller
> http://www.wanderlodge.net
> http://www.millercoachworks.com
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "lapenitarvpark"
> wrote:
> >
> > Has anyone raised the roof on their bird? We are considering doing
> that
> > and putting slides in. Anyone got any input?

[Jim March]

Jack & Donna Smith wrote:

>
> As long as you are at it, why not take a note from ALFA, and install a
> compact staircase to a door on the roof, and have seating on "The
> Balcony"?
> Might be a bit involved, but there are very few problems that (Lots)
> of money won't solve
> Jack Smith
> 1973FC31
> SoCal


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

[Jeff Miller]

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


--- 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

[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
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> * To visit your group on the web, go to:
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>
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>
>

[Dan Weaver]

Hi Jim,

I haven't followed this thread and you may have covered this
already, but a FC has lot's of "stuff" (electrical, plumbing,
heating, hot water, fresh water tank) under the cabinets and bed in
the back. Have you worked out relocating and tying off all these
items to convert to a garage?

Dan
94 BMC 37', previous 83 FC35.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Jim March
wrote:
> 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
> > subject=Unsubscribe>
> >
> > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> > Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
> >
> >

[Jim March]

Dan Weaver wrote:

>
> Hi Jim,
>
> I haven't followed this thread and you may have covered this
> already, but a FC has lot's of "stuff" (electrical, plumbing,
> heating, hot water, fresh water tank) under the cabinets and bed in
> the back. Have you worked out relocating and tying off all these
> items to convert to a garage?
>
> Dan
> 94 BMC 37', previous 83 FC35.


Most of what's under the bed can be relocated and "stacked" along one
wall to go under workbenches on both sides. Worst case, I might need a
different water tank in a more "cube-shaped" format.

Figuring a pair of 2ft depth workbenches each side, I should be able to
hold one full-size but fairly narrow bike and one small (near moped
size) tied down between during transit. The workbenches can be a bit
wider towards the front to allow a washer/dryer combo on one side
closest to the door into the living area. And there should be enough
under-bench area left over for a really monster battery bank in it's own
sealed compartment.

Jim