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#51
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Is anyone running Red-dyed...
Last post by Gary Hatt - Publisher RVConversions.com - October 06, 2026, 01:25:42 AMPresident Trump signed the executive order at his Nebraska rally, temporarily allowing tax-exempt red-dyed diesel on all U.S. highways.
Does that mean that if I have a CDL, I can run red-dyed diesel in my bus? Asking for a friend.
#52
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Never Let a Low Bridge Ruin Yo...
Last post by Gary Hatt - Publisher RVConversions.com - October 05, 2026, 03:11:29 PMProtect your bus, truck, RV, or fleet with GiraffeG4 — the real-time low-clearance alert system that keeps you safe on every road. Get audible warnings and GPS-powered alerts before you hit a low bridge, tunnel, or overpass, even when your regular navigation doesn't.
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#53
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Solar water heating system
Last post by freds - October 04, 2026, 10:46:23 AMI think solar hotwater heating makes more sense for an actual house, but not an RV as we are volume limited.
We would be better off storing the entergy in Litumn batteries and have a high power inverter. I just upgraded my to a 5000VA Victron.
I have seen DIY designs in passing for a instant hotwater heater with a heating element from a hot water heater in an iron pipe.
Though I think controlling it would be problem. There's a number of DIY examples on YouTube though.
There is also a discussion thread on a 48V hotwater heater at:
48V hotwater thread
This web site perports to have an inexpensive solution:
Instant hot water
There is something a bit off on their specifications it shows using a wall plug which on a 120V 15amp circuit would be 1800 watts and they specify the power level as 3000 watts.
A potentionally more reliable source would be:
Amazon Instant hot water
Though with either solution I would add an anti-scald valve to the design as a safety backup.
Temperature control valve
I have also seen discussions on a DWHR waste water heat recovery for the shower on YouTube.
Website on this:
Snower Heat Recovery
We would be better off storing the entergy in Litumn batteries and have a high power inverter. I just upgraded my to a 5000VA Victron.
I have seen DIY designs in passing for a instant hotwater heater with a heating element from a hot water heater in an iron pipe.
Though I think controlling it would be problem. There's a number of DIY examples on YouTube though.
There is also a discussion thread on a 48V hotwater heater at:
48V hotwater thread
This web site perports to have an inexpensive solution:
Instant hot water
There is something a bit off on their specifications it shows using a wall plug which on a 120V 15amp circuit would be 1800 watts and they specify the power level as 3000 watts.
A potentionally more reliable source would be:
Amazon Instant hot water
Though with either solution I would add an anti-scald valve to the design as a safety backup.
Temperature control valve
I have also seen discussions on a DWHR waste water heat recovery for the shower on YouTube.
Website on this:
Snower Heat Recovery
#54
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: D series bay door latches
Last post by Jim Blackwood - October 04, 2026, 08:33:22 AMI fixed it by heating and bending the lug outwards a little, then went inside and moved the latch plates into a better position. Fortunately the bay was empty so it wasn't that hard.
Jim
Jim
#55
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / GMC T6H 4521 “Fishbowl” Motorh...
Last post by Gary Hatt - Publisher RVConversions.com - October 03, 2026, 10:40:28 PMTo view this bus, click on the link below:
https://www.rvconversions.com/bus_classifieds/1971-gmc-t6h-4521-fishbowl-motorhome/
If you have a bus to sell, we can help you list it on our website for just $99.00 until it sells.
To list your bus for sale, simply click on this link and fill out the online form: https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/bcmclassifieds/ or email [email protected] with your classified info, or call the office at the phone number at the bottom of our website.
Please note: We list these buses as a service to our readers and paid advertisers who support this Forum, which is solely supported by memberships, display advertisers, and Classified ads.
This Forum does not allow individual posting of buses for sale.
https://www.rvconversions.com/bus_classifieds/1971-gmc-t6h-4521-fishbowl-motorhome/
If you have a bus to sell, we can help you list it on our website for just $99.00 until it sells.
To list your bus for sale, simply click on this link and fill out the online form: https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/bcmclassifieds/ or email [email protected] with your classified info, or call the office at the phone number at the bottom of our website.
Please note: We list these buses as a service to our readers and paid advertisers who support this Forum, which is solely supported by memberships, display advertisers, and Classified ads.
This Forum does not allow individual posting of buses for sale.
#56
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Solar water heating system
Last post by Iceni John - October 03, 2026, 08:44:02 PMQuote from: sledhead on October 03, 2026, 08:00:52 PMI have 7 solar water panels on the side of my bus barn to HELP in the heating of the garage.
Kinda simple system if the sun does it's part
Sun heats the panels that heats the food grade antifreeze that runs through 2 rad forced heat exchanges than repeat
1 solar water pump and a $50 Amazon controller
1 have seen the antifreeze temp at the last panel as hot as 255 degrees f.
So only pex solar pipe and crimp fittings
A simple way in a coach would be to add a small electric marine waterheater and run the solar through it with a pump and a controller and 1 or 2 panels on the roof but my panels are about 65"x 72" each so way too big for a coach
Use you solar electric
2 cents worth
The problem I cannot solve is how to make a simple drain-back system to empty the panels of water once they've reached the maximum temperature, to prevent Exciting Things happening when the water boils (which it surely will do in the hot desert Southwest). Unless I can resolve that issue, I think it's best to think of other ways to heat water. What works well for a house usually won't work properly for a bus. IF I ever come up with something that A) works well, B) is simple, C) is cost-effective, and D) I can make myself, then I'll give it a try, but until then I'll just focus on other more pressing things!
John
#57
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Solar water heating system
Last post by sledhead - October 03, 2026, 08:00:52 PMI have 7 solar water panels on the side of my bus barn to HELP in the heating of the garage.
Kinda simple system if the sun does it's part
Sun heats the panels that heats the food grade antifreeze that runs through 2 rad forced heat exchanges than repeat
1 solar water pump and a $50 Amazon controller
1 have seen the antifreeze temp at the last panel as hot as 255 degrees f.
So only pex solar pipe and crimp fittings
A simple way in a coach would be to add a small electric marine waterheater and run the solar through it with a pump and a controller and 1 or 2 panels on the roof but my panels are about 65"x 72" each so way too big for a coach
Use you solar electric
2 cents worth
Kinda simple system if the sun does it's part
Sun heats the panels that heats the food grade antifreeze that runs through 2 rad forced heat exchanges than repeat
1 solar water pump and a $50 Amazon controller
1 have seen the antifreeze temp at the last panel as hot as 255 degrees f.
So only pex solar pipe and crimp fittings
A simple way in a coach would be to add a small electric marine waterheater and run the solar through it with a pump and a controller and 1 or 2 panels on the roof but my panels are about 65"x 72" each so way too big for a coach
Use you solar electric
2 cents worth
#58
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Is anyone running Red-dyed...
Last post by luvrbus - October 03, 2026, 11:18:50 AMThe refining process now for diesel has changed the cetane is very low now, it causes problems with EGR, Cummins and Cat sell a cetane booster for their engines it added to price of fuel I poured 2 qts in the CC with the ISX Cummins @ almost 15 bucks a qt every fill up. In the 50's and 60's we would buy #1 diesel for all the kerosene burning stuff on the farm. # 1 fuel is still used in the winter mix diesel. LOL the new LSD diesel will evaporate almost as fast as gasoline
#59
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Solar water heating system
Last post by Gary Hatt - Publisher RVConversions.com - October 02, 2026, 11:20:18 PMYes, in reality, it may not be worth the effort unless you plan on having about 6 kids in the near future. I have been studying bus conversions for a few years now, and I have never heard of anyone setting up a solar water system, but that doesn't mean they haven't. In an off-grid house, sure, but with a bus, it may not be feasible. A bus moves and has limited real estate.
Going down the road shaking all over means you have to build a pretty rugged system, and based on the parts list you presented, it could get pretty costly; again, it is one more thing to maintain, and that can go wrong, and pumps fail after a while.
My Aqua-Hot system works off electric and diesel fuel. If I have free electric, I will use that. When I use diesel, I can fire it up, and in a few minutes I will have a shower full of hot water, and I am already maintaining that system.
The other thing is, because you stay mainly in the Southwest, you don't have much of a difference between cold (actually warm) water and water hot enough to take a shower. So even turning on your electric water heater for 15 minutes before you jump in the shower once or twice per day should be sufficient. I always wanted to put a timer on my water heater, as there is really no need to leave it on all day, and sometimes I forget to turn it off.
Because you already have a killer solar system with tilting panels, you may want to just use those same electrons to heat your water with your electric water heater, and on cloudy days, use propane if you have a propane/electric water heater.
My 2 pesos' worth.
Going down the road shaking all over means you have to build a pretty rugged system, and based on the parts list you presented, it could get pretty costly; again, it is one more thing to maintain, and that can go wrong, and pumps fail after a while.
My Aqua-Hot system works off electric and diesel fuel. If I have free electric, I will use that. When I use diesel, I can fire it up, and in a few minutes I will have a shower full of hot water, and I am already maintaining that system.
The other thing is, because you stay mainly in the Southwest, you don't have much of a difference between cold (actually warm) water and water hot enough to take a shower. So even turning on your electric water heater for 15 minutes before you jump in the shower once or twice per day should be sufficient. I always wanted to put a timer on my water heater, as there is really no need to leave it on all day, and sometimes I forget to turn it off.
Because you already have a killer solar system with tilting panels, you may want to just use those same electrons to heat your water with your electric water heater, and on cloudy days, use propane if you have a propane/electric water heater.
My 2 pesos' worth.
#60
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Solar water heating system
Last post by Iceni John - October 02, 2026, 11:05:10 PMMore on my solar pipe-dream (or maybe I'm a moron for even considering it?).
I sketched out a basic direct (i.e. only using water) drain-back system that would work in my bus, but it's clearly not even close to being cost-effective. My initial design needs 2 pumps (one an expensive hydronic-style), 4 solenoid valves, 2 check valves, 2 temperature switches, 2 timers, some relays, an insulated tank, and a partridge in a pair of trees. It would definitely work, in theory, but simple it ain't. I could even make it, but just because I could doesn't mean I should. This doesn't include the two panels themselves that really need to have copper tubes with a million soldered joints, plus the cost of making two enclosures with glass lids, and all the miscellaneous extra odds-and-sods that always end up costing way more than you would ever guess. It would be a financial disaster, even though it would actually work.
To avoid all this complexity I thought of using electrochromic glass (like a Boeing 787's window shades) to block the sun from the panels' heating tubes, but that's REALLY expensive, even though it would eliminate needing all the drain-back faff. I even thought of purely-mechanical shutters that slide over the panels when the water is hot enough, but my bedroom roof hatch would get in their way; that's too bad, because otherwise they would work, and I do enjoy making mechanical things more than doing plumbing or electrical stuff. They would even allow the water panels to be tiltable, just like my eight PV panels.
So, it's back to Plan A, using electrons from photons to heat water electrically. It's MUCH cheaper and simpler to do that, even though it's really not what I wanted. Or I could buy an awful lot of propane for the cost of any water pre-heating system. Once again I am impaled on the horns of a dilemma (or whatever that expression is). I'll sleep on it for now, and see if I suffer from any more inspiration.
John
I sketched out a basic direct (i.e. only using water) drain-back system that would work in my bus, but it's clearly not even close to being cost-effective. My initial design needs 2 pumps (one an expensive hydronic-style), 4 solenoid valves, 2 check valves, 2 temperature switches, 2 timers, some relays, an insulated tank, and a partridge in a pair of trees. It would definitely work, in theory, but simple it ain't. I could even make it, but just because I could doesn't mean I should. This doesn't include the two panels themselves that really need to have copper tubes with a million soldered joints, plus the cost of making two enclosures with glass lids, and all the miscellaneous extra odds-and-sods that always end up costing way more than you would ever guess. It would be a financial disaster, even though it would actually work.
To avoid all this complexity I thought of using electrochromic glass (like a Boeing 787's window shades) to block the sun from the panels' heating tubes, but that's REALLY expensive, even though it would eliminate needing all the drain-back faff. I even thought of purely-mechanical shutters that slide over the panels when the water is hot enough, but my bedroom roof hatch would get in their way; that's too bad, because otherwise they would work, and I do enjoy making mechanical things more than doing plumbing or electrical stuff. They would even allow the water panels to be tiltable, just like my eight PV panels.
So, it's back to Plan A, using electrons from photons to heat water electrically. It's MUCH cheaper and simpler to do that, even though it's really not what I wanted. Or I could buy an awful lot of propane for the cost of any water pre-heating system. Once again I am impaled on the horns of a dilemma (or whatever that expression is). I'll sleep on it for now, and see if I suffer from any more inspiration.
John