Back in 1976, Dan was scheduled for 6 weeks of holidays from the Winnipeg Fire Department right in the middle of summer, when the kids were off school. Now this was a very special thing the first time in 4 years, he had holidays coinciding with the kids school vacation. So we started to think of how we could manage a nice long sight seeing summer trip with our four children ages 13, 11, 9, and 7. We decided on a camping trip across Canada to the West coast, then down the west coast to Disney Land, for the American Bi-Centennial, then across the USA to Youngstown, Ohio to visit family, then home.
We certainly knew we weren't going to accomplish this with tents, and we were fed up with the little pop-out tent trailer we had used the last time ( 4 years back) when we took a big family trip. So we were looking at travel trailers and motor homes. We didn't really have a vehicle good enough to do that trip, hauling a trailer, so the motor home seemed to be the ideal solution. Except of course, for the cost. I had checked out purchase prices and rental prices and found them all prohibitive.
Then one day we stumbled across a 36 passenger school bus for sale for only $2,000.00. It had low mileage and had been retired from a 4 mile school run, out of town after only 6 years. We went and had a look at it, measured it up and started to think about where we could put things in it.
This was the floor plan decided upon.
That was the beginning of a long year of building our custom built motor home. First Dan added an extra large rear bumper for propane tanks and tool storage.
Of course, the next thing to do was to remove all the seats. No easy task. Then block out a couple of windows where I wanted the Fridge and closet, and on the other side close off one and make the second one a half sized window for a bathroom.
Then we put in some dividing walls.
Half way down the bus, over the rear wheel wells, on the right side was the space for a large 3 way/2 door fridge/freezer with cabinets above and below, and a hanging closet next to it.
And across from that was the bathroom. Of course with these fixtures and appliances come the necessity to learn about water supply tanks, holding tanks, pumps, 110 to 12 volt inverters/converters etc. etc., etc.. Which has since come in handy on a boat restoration.
To the rear of the hanging closet and the bathroom were two couches that could be made down at night for 4 sleeping bags for 4 sleeping children.
Then forward of the refrigerator where our young son Ken is pictured was a kitchen cabinet and counter with a sink and three burner gas stove/with oven.
And on the other side, forward of the bathroom was the dinette, that made down into a bed for Dan and I.
With Dan doing all the mechanical stuff and me doing the decor stuff, like drapes, upholstery, carpeting, etc. and both of us pitching in on wood working and the design, and even the kids pitching in with any little chore they were assigned, it was a real family project.
Of course we didn't get it totally finished for that first trip, but the interior was livable and it was fully functional when we headed out, and we had a wonderful trip.
Over the next number of years we got it totally finished and were quite proud of our accomplishment. Our family made many memorable trips in that bus, and created many wonderful memories.
Our grown children, speak very fondly of the trips in...
THE BUS MOM AND DAD BUILT
