McZippie's 2009 Ford E350 Diesel Cutaway Limo Bus

McZippie

Walmart Adventure Camper
Our Rig isn't an Expo Camper, doesn't have 4wd, it isn't even lifted. But it has some features that DIY camper builders may be interested in.
It was custom built by Turtle Top. Basically the same cutaway house platform as their shuttle bus, but we spec'd different windows, doors and limo interior upgrade.
Because it's a bus, it's made to pass Federal bus safety standards, has a stronger house than a typical Class C motor homes.

I installed a gasoline generator with tank, extra water tank, Espar diesel airtronic heater, Semi-truck sleeper cab air conditioner, 3rd battery,
3000 watt inverter, 120volt system, shore power, transfer switches, wireless air card router, roku set-top box, LED-TV, simple kitchen, wireless air bags, tow bar for Jeep, waste water tank electric dump valve, battery gauges, 120 volt water heater, battery charger/UPS, 120 volt circuit protection, Automatic low voltage battery disconnect.

Has three AGM batteries that are in a single battery bank (225 amp hours), batteries are not dedicated for house or starting.
More Peukert Effect house benefit with three batteries, with one less battery than traditional four battery set-up (two diesel starting batteries and isolated two house batteries)
They are protected from draining charge below engine starting level with an automatic low voltage disconnect.
Can fast charge the AGM batteries in 20+ minutes, after low voltage disconnect with dual high-output 265 amp alternators.
Because AGM batteries accept fast charging, didn't see a need for a solar charging set-up.

Wife and I use it for vacations as a camper and to tow a Jeep. Also use it a lot for family day trips.

Here's some pictures of interior and exterior, I'll post more soon of the mechanical and electrical systems that may be of interest to DIY builders.
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Sofa Beds Folded down
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Tail-gating at Lambeau Field. Eight people partied in bus while in-route to Packer game.
Note; milk crates from kitchen on ground, open rear door and swing-a-way trailer hitch box that carried the chairs, table, grill etc.
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Last edited:

ben2go

Adventurer
Sweet ride.Now,UJOR front axle kit,even if you don't lift it so you can cross those snow regions without getting stuck.:smiley_drive:
 

McZippie

Walmart Adventure Camper
DIY components

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Bar style faucet so wife can shampoo hair. Have un-installed components for outdoor shower.
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5 gallon 120 volt under sink residential water heater. Set temperature to max and mix with cold water for about 8 gallons of very hot water. This is one of my favorite mods. Considered different ways to heat water with RV propane tank heater, engine coolant heat exchanger and marine coolant tank heater. We have 265 amp dual alternators and a 3000 watt inverter, so decided to give the 120 volt heater a try. Takes about 20 minutes to heat water to scalding temps. During summer, water stays very hot for at least 12 hours, very warm after 24 hours.
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Onan 2800watt RV generator.
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Gasoline fill and exhaust pipe for generator.
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120 volt Transfer switch for shore or generator power, generator starter switch, circuit protection for generator, battery monitor gauge for generator.
This is a modified simple transfer switch used for a residential furnace.
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120 volt 15 amp shore power and 12 volt battery jump start or charger ports.
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Controls for inverter and on-board charger/UPS.
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McZippie

Walmart Adventure Camper
Sweet ride.Now,UJOR front axle kit,even if you don't lift it so you can cross those snow regions without getting stuck.:smiley_drive:

Thanks and I hear you!

It's so tempting to have Chris at UJOR do a 2" to 4" lift and 4wd conversion...
...but we tow the Jeep and when in the wilds, even with 2wd, can get to many nice areas to set-up a base camp.
A few times to get to a more remote area to set up a camp, detached the Jeep and wife drove it.

Until I set-up the Jeep for towing, didn't realize how easy it is to attach/detach it to the Bus.
Can detach Jeep from Bus in under a minute and reattach under 2 minutes.

Sometimes on back roads while towing the Jeep and spot a nice 2 track road, we'll detach the Jeep for a few hours of 4 wheeling.
Jeep also carries complete tent camping gear set-up.
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Tow Bar in folded postion after Jeep is detached.
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Tow Bar attached to Jeep
 
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McZippie

Walmart Adventure Camper
OMG! Now that is my real dream vehicle. Room for bicycles!

Thanks.... it's my dream vehicle too... A crude attempt to morph the menacing Rectrans RV from the 1970s road-trip/treasure-hunt movie "Slither"
with the 1930s Bling of the Hunt House Car, Mae West House Car, Nueske's smoked meat Tailgating Rig and Expo features from the Clark Cortez.
(shaking smiley face with hands on forehead crap)

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/445074/Slither-Original-Trailer-.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKUw4Wj2LhI

Got the Bike thingie covered two different ways.
Expo trailer with load bars/racks for canoe and bikes or transfer bike/canoe racks to roof of Jeep.
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World War II 1942 Bantam T3 Rest-Mod Expo Trailer
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Black Rectrans from movie "Slither"
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Rectrans

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Hunt House Car
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Mae West House Car with back porch. I so wanted to build a porch on our Rig, but common sense killed that mod.
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Nueske Tailgating Rig
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Neuske's porch
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Clark Cortez
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McZippie

Walmart Adventure Camper
DIY mods continued

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Favorite mod, remote control for Fantastic Roof Fan. For exceptional cooling effect in hot weather, set fan to vent out and pen a smal inlet vent at body height.
We open the vent windows slightly that are at sofa/bed height.
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Under driver's side sofa/bed. Dometic Semi-truck sleeper cab split unit air condition.
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Outside, Dometic heat exchanger for air conditioner.
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Arm rest for sofa/bed, from top to bottom, A/C outlet vent, Espar diesel heater control, Dometic AC control, 12 volt outlet. Espar heater intake.
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Espar Airtronic diesel heater. Space to right now has Dometic A/C.
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Driver controls
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On visor, Wireless rear axle air bags controller.
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Outlet for TranAir A/C-Heat and Blue Sea volt and amp gauges.
There many choices to monitor batteries, I like separate gauges for amps and volts.

Rig has three air conditioner system, Ford cab, Dometic 120 volt and TranAir Bus unit
Has four heating systems, Ford cab, TransAir Bus, Espar Diesel and 120 volt heating coil in Dometic A/C unit
 
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hobietony

Explorer
Thanks for posting all this up, I'll be poaching ideas as I work on the buildout of my rig. Some fantastic work here!
 

lqhikers

Adventurer
nice,very nice

really like to see someone design a rig to fit their needs.

impressed with all the thought that went into your build.

i wonder if the builder would build the same unit on a truck 3500/4500 4x4 chassis.?

thats why we went with the provan tiger as i did not want another van based build.

i also like your old out side the box rigs.

mine was always early 70's step van which i wish i had kept (fully converted as a motorhome)

2wd but traveled for years in Baja etc.

enjoy your travels.

Les,lqhikers
 

mhiscox

Expedition Leader
OK, my friend, time to chime in to say how very impressed I am by what you've put together. And while, as they once said, that plus a nickel will get a five cent candy bar, I do know enough about such things to compliment you on some very clever thinking as to how to go about accomplishing your design goals. Good choice of vehicle, good choice of toad, and excellent use of a variety of good systems. Best of fortune in your travels.

Mike
 

mhiscox

Expedition Leader
BTW, this was sad:

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I owned a Kent Cortez, the successor to the Clark Cortez, and both have about the cleverest floorplans you'll ever find in motorhomes. It'd be great to have so many millions that I could put them back into production with modern components.


Cortez beds.jpg
 
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McZippie

Walmart Adventure Camper
BTW, this was sad:

I owned a Kent Cortez, the successor to the Clark Cortez, and both have about the cleverest floorplans you'll ever find in motorhomes. It'd be great to have so many millions that I could put them back into production with modern components.

What model was your Kent Coretz? Front wheel drive Olds powered?

Love the old classic motorhomes...

Here's another Coretz, I found in Telluride Co.
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