Here's the very first peek at Rolling Joy's interior. Since there's a lot to show there are 3 blogs on the interior - one on the things that I needed, one on the things that I wanted and one for the access features. The blogs will touch on some of the reasons for the decisions and the product I selected.
This is the final layout.
Looking to the back of the bus
CONVERSION
I chose to have the conversion focus on getting things built but not fully finished. I want the fun of choosing finishes, paint and decorations.
I chose to have the conversion focus on getting things built but not fully finished. I want the fun of choosing finishes, paint and decorations.
AIR FLOW
I hate air conditioning. So
I decided to install two MaxxAire fans. These have 2 way flows - in and
out. With one pushing air into the bus and the other sucking air out of
the bus I will have a decent air flow.
Both
fans are in the top of the ceiling crest (the middle measured from side
to side). The front fan is between the lift door and the bathtub. The
back fan is between the kitchen and the desk. The fans went into the existing emergency ceiling hatches with some minor modification.
KITCHEN
The kitchen counter is has a sink with rotating faucet and pull out sprayer on the left and an extended countertop on the right. The Dometic CFXDZ75, a dual zone chest style, is under the countertop. To open I pull it out on the heavy duty rollers and open the zone I need (fridge or freezer). The Dometic tucks fully under the counter but I show it as slightly pulled out in the layout graphic so you can see where it is.
For cooking I decided two IKEA Induction cooktops. I expect to use only one but wanted a second one just in case especially because I decided not to have an oven.
The on-demand hot water heater is tucked under the sink. This is the only thing on the bus running on propane.
TOILET
Since I was converting from an empty shell I had a lot of toilet options. After lots of reading and internal debate about black tanks, power usage, and frequency of emptying I decided on a urine-separating composting toilet.
DESK
My two big needs are a large desk and lots of windows. I had hoped to have all 12 feet of desk plus kitchen counter on one side of the bus but in the end I got one 8 foot long desk.
SHORE & SOLAR POWER
I want the option for both shore and solar power since I need reliable electricity every day. I opted for a 30 amp shore power system. Folks are surprised and ask why I didn't build a 50 amp system. The 30 amp system meets my power needs and allows me many options for camping places since all have 30 amp spots. There are some 50 amp campground spaces but there are fewer of them and they tend to be in more expensive camping spots.
I put in a 600 watt solar system so that I have enough power to stay off-grid for a while and still meet my daily electrical needs.
WINDOW SHADES
I planned on dark blue window shades from IKEA. But covid made that impossible. So for not I have cheap plastic pull-down blinds.
HEAT
I put in a diesel heater. In the images it's the round black vent at the bottom of the desk side. The fuel comes from the bus gas tank. I like that it's a closed system meaning that no fumes come into the bus. The vent is just sharing the heat from the warm pipes.
