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Towing a bus without windows across country
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Gdwilson001
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:51 pm    Post subject: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

In early March I will be putting a 64 bus on a trailer and bringing it from the Midwest to SoCal. It is missing all windows except for the rear window and I am concerned about sealing the interior from the elements. I’ve come up with two options:
(1) plastic wrap. https://www.autobodytoolmart.com/product/wreck-wra...gI7ufD_BwE

(2) full cover https://www.jbugs.com/product/VB-1MAX.html?utm_content=shopping

Has anyone done this before? I am concerned with the wind catching the full cover and blowing it off. Any advice is much appreciated!
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House
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Enclosed trailer an option?
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Gdwilson001
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

I don’t really know. My plan was to rent a truck and a uhaul car hauler. I have no familiarity with enclosed trailer rentals and how expensive they might be. I’m open to the idea.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:25 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

The wrap should work, especially if you follow it with many rounds of packing tape to lock it in place. The cover will not last 5 miles and will be a constant pita.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 6:37 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

you could always put it inside the Uhaul truck. Lots of people have done it. MicBergsma moved his that way and its on video if youre concerned on how to secure it so it doesnt move.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 7:25 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

The plastic wrap will shred and after a hundred miles or so you will look in the mirror and see a long streamer. Friend tried it and used duct tape to secure and it failed.
Dont know how much effort you want to put into it but I would suggest cutting templates out of masonite and flush tape them in place. Used this to seal up the windshiled openings for a split bus for a cross country tow. worked fine for front windows and kept the inside of the bus dry through two very heavy rain storms. Use really good tape but it will be a pain to remove the residue when you get there.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:12 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Either install windows, or do enclosed transport. Otherwise your bus will suffer. A wrap will blow off, a cover will flap in the wind. Also, a bus without windows is very un-aerodynamic, much like towing a parachute.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:22 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Clara and I wrapped a bus and towed it 800 miles recently. It was the first time we tried this. It held up pretty decent. The bus had glass in it, I just wanted to keep it dry for the trip. We used an entire roll of stretch wrap and were mindful of the overlap directions and pulled it very very tight. As the weather warmed up the stretch wrap puffed up and the bus looked like a pillow. It was dry at that point and I cut some holes for the air to exit. Packing tape as Eric suggested might have helped.

If I was going to go this route again I would try to source some thicker material.

Does anyone know what it costs to winterize a boat with those covers? I used to see those vinyl heat shrink covers on boats fairly often when we lived in Washington.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 11:12 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Install windshields at least.
how nice is the interior?
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 11:16 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

The interior has front and rear seats but otherwise is stripped of components.
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1970PAKombi
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 11:27 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

As others have said, the cover you listed won't work. I don't know the condition of the bus but in the past I picked up cheap Plexiglass and cut them down ahead of time and used tape to keep them in place.

Granted, it was 2 windows and it was a bus that needed fully painted/restored. Maybe try tension rods on the inside with plywood or something?
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 11:28 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Gdwilson001 wrote:
The interior has front and rear seats but otherwise is stripped of components.


It doesn't sound very fragile. Not as if it's a wood camper interior, or a cloth headliner.
Bring glass and seals, and install a pair of windshields.

The bus we were towing had a wooden westy camping interior we wanted to keep dry. The stretch wrap was not as simple as I had expected.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 11:37 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

why not cut some out some window sized pieces of 1/4" plywood? am sure one 4x8' sheet of plywood would suffice for all windows. brace on inside with 2x4" and screw the outside plywood to inside braces. as others have said tarps/plastic and the like frequently get caught in the wind and become a huge PITA to say nothing of a safety hazard for fellow motorists
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 11:42 am    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

I used my open trailer to transport my doublecab with no windows about 500 miles almost a year ago. Since there no interior to speak of, I'd remove the rear window and forget about any other covering. I had it secured with chains and straps, and didn't have any issues. It rained a little on the trip, but by the time I got to the destination, everything inside (I had some glass and other replacement metal) was dry.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

I'll have to admit my "newness" to the VW community. I have watched lots of youtube videos but I have never installed windows. The bus has windows but they are not installed and are currently wrapped in blankets. Considering my lack of experience and the relatively short window of time I have for this trip I am really hoping to get it home and install the windshield with calm, tools, and focus.

The plexiglass suggestion is interesting. Could the glass windshield pieces be overlaid on the plexiglass and traced and then taped in place without the rubber seals?
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Gdwilson001 wrote:


The plexiglass suggestion is interesting. Could the glass winshield pieces be overlaid on the plexiglass and traced and then taped in place without the rubber seals?


Do not duct tape to the bus.
Cleaning the residue off the paint is a pain, and sometimes it peels paint off when you remove the duct tape. Sad
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 1:04 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Clara wrote:
Gdwilson001 wrote:


The plexiglass suggestion is interesting. Could the glass winshield pieces be overlaid on the plexiglass and traced and then taped in place without the rubber seals?


Do not duct tape to the bus.
Cleaning the residue off the paint is a pain, and sometimes it peels paint off when you remove the duct tape. Sad


No ma'am blue tape only
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peecee69
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 1:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Clara wrote:
Gdwilson001 wrote:


The plexiglass suggestion is interesting. Could the glass winshield pieces be overlaid on the plexiglass and traced and then taped in place without the rubber seals?


Do not duct tape to the bus.
Cleaning the residue off the paint is a pain, and sometimes it peels paint off when you remove the duct tape. Sad


I wouldn't worry about plexiglass. It will crack and splinter/shatter. It's not meant for that much pressure or windspeed.

If you are set on wrapping, get tyvek from a building store. It's not that expensive. But again, if the rear glass is out, you don't need to cover it at all. Installing the rear glass is a fairly simple operation. If you're paying someone, it will be less to pay them to do that one piece of glass than purchase wrap and deal with all that silliness.
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Rob R
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 2:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Put it on the trailer backwards wrap the seats or remove them and drive on.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 2:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Towing a bus without windows across country Reply with quote

Cool idea Greg.
Boat shrink wrap:
https://mrshrinkwrap.com/clear-boat-and-industrial...e-product2

campingbox wrote:
Clara and I wrapped a bus and towed it 800 miles recently. It was the first time we tried this. It held up pretty decent. The bus had glass in it, I just wanted to keep it dry for the trip. We used an entire roll of stretch wrap and were mindful of the overlap directions and pulled it very very tight. As the weather warmed up the stretch wrap puffed up and the bus looked like a pillow. It was dry at that point and I cut some holes for the air to exit. Packing tape as Eric suggested might have helped.

If I was going to go this route again I would try to source some thicker material.

Does anyone know what it costs to winterize a boat with those covers? I used to see those vinyl heat shrink covers on boats fairly often when we lived in Washington.

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Lind wrote:
Have you considered simply starting with a nicer bus? I don't know what your skills are, but the race is easier if you can see the finish line. If you are not a runner, don't start off doing a marathon.
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