The Sickler Skoolie Build

Tag: travel

  • Weekend 11: Memorial Weekend – Finishing walls and adding some color!

    This weekend was a busy one! I built the walls for the bathroom and closet.

    The above photo is the back side of the bathroom. I was going to make it into shelves, but I may install my Power components in this space, its centralized to the rig, and I can access it easily…more news on the Solar setup coming below.

    I also purchased my sink fixtures and installed them.

    I ordered an Inverter/Charger, an MPPT solar charger, a lithium battery and some solar panels, cables, and mounts. I also picked up a crimping tool and an assortment of connectors for when I build out the power setup. I still need several devices and items and wire. Slowly getting what I need as the wallet can handle it. Below is a video of the progress I had earlier in the week, I trimmed the ceilings and cut a wall board using my new tool for getting the curvature right…the tool is neat but not quite big enough to be useful.

    As the weekend rolled in I built out the rest of the walls for the bathroom and closets.

    After finishing the walls I was ready to not lift plywood for a hot minute, so I picked up a paintbrush and decided to stain my countertops and prime the walls and cabinets.

    Above photos are from Saturday. I wrapped up a lot of the priming and staining on Sunday.

    Saturday night I made my big purchase.

    I got a second coat of stain on the countertops and I sanded down the problem area around the sink where I had gotten silicon on the counter and the stain wasn’t adhearing to the wood properly.

    above video was a SummaryIt of where I was at on Saturday night.

    And with that I am likely done for the weekend, I’ll be spending time with the family tomorrow, if I have time I might frame out the shelves for the closets backside on the passenger side of the bus. The drivers side I am keeping open for now and might just add a shelf at the top to leave the rest open for utility closet.

  • Weekend 10: Skylights and Ceiling

    This weekend I pushed myself, one of the issues I was having was the leaky Emergency Hatches. I had originally decided I wanted to install Marine Hatches, however they would have to be modified, or the structure would have to be modified to accommodate a pre manufactured Hatch. So I decided to build my own Skylights, I used a few pieces of lumber to build hatches and lids.

    • Two 1”x6” 8 foot boards
    • One 1”x2” 8 foot board (ripped in half)
    • Two 24” square pieces of Plexiglass
    • A few small packages of Screws
    • Tube of clear caulk
    • 4 Hinges
    • 2 sash locks
    • weather stripping
    • Spray Foam Insulation

    Hatch holes were about 2 feet square, however the bus frame was cut into a rounded corners, so I had to cut out into a square shape to accommodate the wooden frames.

    I cut the 1×6 into 2 24 inch pieces and 2 22 inch pieces to make a 2 square feet box. I then created the 1×1 frame in similar fashion.

    I gave these items a quick coat of stain to weather proof the wood. Once it cured I began installing the bottom frames.

    I used the old Hatch Lids while the roof was exposed since it was threatening rain all weekend

    I drilled pilot holes into the plexiglass and then attached 16 screws around the smaller frame to create a skylight top. I used clear caulk between the glass and the frame before screwing the glass to the frame.

    I installed Hinges and Sash locks to secure the top and bottom frames together. They dont open right now, but are serving well as skylights. I think if I install the hinges external it’ll open up just fine. I may grab a few more hinges and install them outside and remove the inside ones and reuse those hinges on small cabinets I plan on building for above the windows.

    Saturday evening it rained pretty hard for a bit of time. No leaks were detected in the hatches.

    Now that the hatches were done I was ready to get busy on my other milestone, the Ceiling.

    I bought 10 sheets of 1/4 inch thick Luan boards. I cut 5 inches off the 8 feet length and attempted to install the boards onto the Ceiling strapping. I quickly discovered that the lowest strapping was not at an angle the Luan could handle bending to. So after cracking my first piece of Luan, I decided to move the lowest strapping up about 8 inches, After this the Luan fit better..but still not great because by moving the strapping up the frame was hitting the edges of the Luan. I really had no solution for this, so I installed the Luan and there are sections where the edges are not straight do to the frame exposure, you can see it in the video below.

    After I installed the 9 ceiling sections I cut 8 4 inch boards out of the remaining Luan boards to create panel covers for the gaps between the Luan seams.

    There is still a gap between the walls and the ceilings that I am going to cover with trim wood that will also make a good material to tie in top side cabints.