Missy – My Home

Missy is my home and on-going bus conversion, sorta tiny home project.

She is a 1998 MCI 102-EL3 ‘Renaissance.’ She started life as a tour bus.  I had a great deal of work to do to make her livable. She is now quite comfortable but FAR from finished!  We spend the majority of our time boondocking in the most spectacular places in the North American west.  The solar system provides for all of the electrical power – I don’t even own a generator.

First, why “Missy”??  Well…  I think that is how one pronounces “MCI”, is it not??  🙂

This is basically how she looked when we met…

… and how she looks currently. Well, sorta… changes/improvements are constantly occurring.

I have a very long way to go and lots of work to do…  Friends ask when she will be finished.  The answer is: “I have no idea.”

• • Introduction
  • Destruction
  • More Destruction
  • Messy
  • Water Storage
  • Missy goes to the doctor
  • Receiver hitch installation
  • Electrical System Design
  • 24 Volt Battery Bank
  • New Sub-Floor
  • Holding Tank Platform
  • Closing the Gaping Hole
  • Window Weatherstripping – LOTS of windows!
  • Refrigerator Shopping… and couch
  • Plumbing – Moving the Liquids
  • Fixing the roof leaks
  • Towing Lights for da’Jeep
  • Backup video camera and a roof mounted camera
  • Solar Panel Charging System – 1720 Watts
  • Lithium Battery (Installing a Lithium Battery Bank and Programming Morningstar Charge Controller for Lithium)
  • New Tires
  • Bed Frame – More Bed Frame
  • Tire Explosion – The Aftermath: Repairs
  • Television
  • Cabinets
  • Window Screens
  • Cork Laminate Flooring
  • Kitchen Counter Top
  • Bathroom sink and faucet
  • Bathroom Heated Tile Flooring
  • Shower Construction and Glass Enclosure and Fully Functioning Shower
  • Clothes Washer/Dryer Combo
  • Medicine Cabinet
  • Sexy Shiny Aluminum Wheels
  • LED Light Panels and Dimmer for ceiling
  • Dash Wiring and Switch Panels
  • Bedroom power and USB charging
  • Bathroom LED Light Panels and Dimmer
  • Hot Water from Battery/Solar Electric
  • Invisible Air Tanks
  • Satellite Antenna and TV
  • Air Conditioner/Heat Pump Installation (the start)
  • Entryway and Staircase (the start, the middle, the finished product!)

 

The wet bay in progress.

Leveling the floor.

The electrical “wall” in progress.

 

 

 

 

Kewl!!! More than 60 amps at 28 volts!!  Lots of solar power!!  The BMS shows 51.8 amps charging as the other 8 amps are being used by the coach.

Some have asked for some specs on the bus.  Ok…

1998 MCI 102 EL3

Engine: Detroit Diesel Series 60, 435 hp
Transmission: Automatic: Allison B500R with retarder
Brakes:
Service: Lucas all-wheel disc with automatic brake slack adjusters
Emergency: MGM Spring brake on drive and tag axles

DIMENSIONS
Length: 45.67 ft.
Width: 8.5 ft.
Height (normal ride position, to top of satellite dish): 12′ 8″
Wheelbase: 315 in

Approximate Vehicle Weight: 38,000 lb.
GVWR: 54,000 lb.

Wheels: 22.5″ x 9.0″ (hub centered, 10 hole, 11.25 (285.75) bolt pattern)
Tires: 315/80 R 22.5 (all of them – 8)

Electrical Chassis: 24 volt negative ground. Two heavy duty 29 plate, 310 ampere hour capacity batteries.

Electrical House: 24 volt LFMP Lithium battery bank, 10,000 watt-hour capacity.

Air Conditioning: 6 cylinder compressor, driven by a self-adjusting belt drive off the main engine.

Luggage Compartments: Underfloor enclosed compartments – 445 cu. ft.

Fuel Tank: 182 gallon capacity w/o wheel-chair lift, with single or dual evaporator

Suspension: Electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS) with kneeling and high and low-ride features