Our last update was back in September, and now it’s already December! The time has flown by, but rest assured, we’ve been very busy behind the scenes getting more of the HouseBus closer to completion.
First Fix Plumbing: Complete!
We’re thrilled to report that we have completed the first fix plumbing. This was a major milestone!
All the pipe work has been thoroughly insulated. We used a double-layer taping system: the red and blue tapes are a tough, high-quality duct tape, and the silver is an extra reflective metal insulating tape for maximum efficiency. The best news? The system holds pressure! No leaks so far.
The grey water tank has been successfully located and installed underneath the bus. The only remaining space under the chassis is now reserved for the custom battery storage area.
Gas and Seating Progress
The gas cupboard is all finished and ready to go, though not yet connected. We’re crossing our fingers that the gas fitter will be able to come next week to connect everything up!
In the cockpit area, we have removed the two original passenger seats and replaced them with a single Ford Transit seat. The biggest piece of this puzzle was the swivel unit! I had to import the perfect one from England—the freight actually cost twice the price of the unit itself, but I just couldn’t find the right one any closer.
Now comes the expensive, but necessary, part: certification. Next on the list is hiring an engineer to design the custom seat and belt mounts. Once that’s done, a certified welder can build and install everything securely. This is a crucial step, but it will be worth it as this single seat, when swiveled, will become part of our much-needed office space! The seat will be getting a fresh cover, but here is a sneak peek of its placement, will be about 4″ more to the right, hopefully:
External Creature Comforts
We’ve added a few other bits and pieces to the exterior to make life on the road a little easier. This includes a couple of handy fold-out washing lines, one open each side of the bus and a fold-down table. Michelle insists it’s a shelf, not a table, but either way, I’m sure it will be a very handy addition and get a lot of use!
Christmas Push
I’m taking some time off over the Christmas period, which means it will be time for a big push on the HouseBus build! If I can get the entire interior insulated and lined before the New Year, I will be absolutely ecstatic.
Let’s see how it all pans out… Wish us luck!
Adventure Before Dementia 
Leave a comment