Frybrid RV?

[Stevels]

Hi All,



I know I may seem a bit Wack-O, but I have now gone from wanting to convert a tiny 3 cylinder, diesel SmartCar, to the other extreme.

I want to convert a big 40’ diesel RV to Veggie.


My SmartCar venture has proven almost impossible to make happen – but the last nail in the coffin was that while I may have been able to smuggle a used diesel Smart in from Canada, the dollar is so week right now that it would cost me well over $25K – and I just don’t think it is worth that.



On the other hand, I have not seen a nice, full size RV running on veg, so I don’t know where to get the answers to my basic question.

My question to the forum is this: What type of RV diesel engine should I look for when shopping around for an RV? I see many different types, including a wide variety of Cummins and Caterpillar engines.



I don’t know one from the next, and I especially have no clue what the implications are for converting one engine over another in terms of WVO.



Does Frybrid even make components that will handle these large engines? I assume the Gen3 controller will work, but the solenoid valves?



Any sound advice regarding these big engines would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks All!



Stevels



PS, I got my Diesel Listeroid engine running for the first time today. Yipeee!! Veggie conversion coming soon.

[dougk]

I know chris was working on transforming a tour bus into a living quarters run on veggie oil. I haven't seen any updates as of now but there are some pics under gallery. It is pretty cool. I think that you will only need to work with the injection pump. Everything else should work the same except having a larger tank.

DK

[Stevels]

Yes Doug, I have seen the pics of Chris' 85 NeoPlan. It looks way cool! What I want to do is convert a "diesel pusher" RV to veg, since I am not capable of converting a bus to a viable RV.

I am hoping that our fellow Forumers can advise me on the concerns of running Veg Oil on these big 8 liter and larger engines that are found in these things. My concern is that I may inadvertantly but a $90K RV, only to find it has some feature that makes it most unsuitable for a Frybrid conversion.

Thanks for the reply Doug!

Stevels

[cgoodwin]

Look, if you have 90K to spend you should have no fear of converting a bus. Even with half that you can get a bus.
A motorhome, even a very expensive pusher is a truck chassis with a deck on it, to this flatbed they build a skeleton from 1x2 lumber, then glue wood panel to the inside and glue plastic panels to the outside and fill the voids with spray foam. Any healthy person with a good pair of boots could walk right through the side. Further the roof is vynal and designed to last about 5 years. PLEASE do not waste you money. If you are serious I will personally help you find a worthy vehicle. Many old engineers buy buses and convert them to motorhomes late in life, only to pass on after only a trip or two. I recently found a 40' MCI8 fully converted to a motorhome with generator, inverter, battery bank, kitchen, full bath, etc. and the widow was selling it for 30K.

Is it possible? Oh yes. I met Forest Gregg when he came to my shop in a converted 40' International school bus fitted with a Int. 9.0. Parked in front of my shop now is a 37' Gillig bus being converted to VO and it is maybe half converted into a RV. I have sold 3 systems to buses converted to RV's and another for a mobile food bank, all were running large diesels, most were older 2 strokes like mine. You need a different filter and some other modifications but nothing too frightening. You will not be the first but you will, be one of the few.

Another advantage is that you can filter on the fly since you have all the room in the world under the bus for tanks. Hey just remembered I know where you can get a Greyhound "Sceniccruiser" converted into a motorhome and one of the bays opens and out rolls a Honda 600 convertable car....

Aren't vehicles fun!

[Stevels]

I would be very interested in your opinion of what to get. While I now feel confident that I could convert an RV to Veggie, I know nothing about the carpentry, plumbing and electric required to make an RV, and I would not want my own to be the experimental version. Knowing me, I would cross the Black water with the fresh water and my coffee would taste like crap!



Are you in the know of any nice pre made conversions you would recommend for both a FryBrid conversion and good luxury RVing? While I am happy living in a hovel, dining on my own feces, my German wife is “of impeccable standards”. I would love to spend $30K and not $90K, as for $90K, I would have to do a home equity loan – which I want to avoid. I know Wifey insists on a built in washer/dryer and I insist on a wet bar J



If I end up going forward, I will want to do the Frybrid thaaang, so please confirm with me that you are confident I can get appropriate components. I am most concerned about the tank, since I can not TIG weld one myself. Do you fabricate custom large ass tanks?



Thanks again Chris!

[cgoodwin]

Have to get my daughter off to the park and school. Will respond later today...Don't let me forget and bump this post to the top if you don't hear from me today.


CG

[farmboyhull]

steve-

if i don't find a teaching gig this fall, i'd be happy to convert your bus into a beautiful living space. you drive it up to vermont, you drive it home in the spring. i'll even pre-christen it for you.

david

[new2VOfuels]

Originally Posted by farmboyhull

steve-

i'll even pre-christen it for you.

david

Oh, thats just wrong....depending on your idea of "christen"

[farmboyhull]

steve's the type of guy who's gonna want a king size water bed with black satin sheets and a leopard skin motif.

oh, i'll christen that. i'll christen that reeeeal gooood.

david

[Stevels]

You are on to me Dave! Am I that obvious?

Don't forget the Velvet Elvis. I actually have two of these. My wife is making me Ebay them both in the morning - seriously!

Chris, this is a reminder to you to let me know about any RVs or bus conversions that meet your "seal of approval". I would love to get your opinion on this stuff, as your Neoplan looks like it will be tremendous when completed.

If you have a chance, let me know what I should be looking for!

Wicked Thanks!

Steve
PS In a perfect world, I would be pulling my Veggie Diesel Smart Car from a tow bar, with my massive Veggie bus/RV.

PPS In a really perfect world, I would have both my Velvet Elvi aboard, overlooking the rotating circular bed!!!