Bus conversion off the grid

[Glass]

looking at commercial vans converted to campers/small motorhomes. Lot of interesting DIY ideas out there. Strip out salvage caravans for the furniture, wiring, paneling and well everything.

These guys did the bus thing. Cost them $3000 for the bus. They seem to be making it work pretty well. Different to a holiday camper. Recycling and the rest of it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux8tjZnEfR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux8tjZnEfR0

I thought the 2nd storey was interesting. I got the feeling that they had a thriving garden up there that maybe we couldn't see all of.

[Hitch]

Glass, neat video, I like what that couple has done. That bus is massive though. Also, one exciting aspect of taking on a project like that, is no codes to deal with. No electrical codes, no building codes, you can pretty much do what you want as long as the bus has the required safety standards to be operated on the roadways.

[Glass]

yes it was a big beast. I figured it for maybe 25% longer than the busses we get down here. Cumbersome to get around in I'm sure. Down here you wouldn't be able to get that thing within 5 or 6 kms of the city centres because the streets would be too tight. I also don't know where you would park here because you would be over about 4 parking bays. We have a lot of pirates down here from the councils and the popo etc who would be for ever hassling you out.

I thought it was good that they gave it a go. I think the woman had the right perspective. It was like a childhood adventure. Of course all you need is somewhere to park it up and you can make it a permanent type of thing.

I see a lot of people living in campers around the city. Don't think they are all tourists, some are people out of their homes for some reason. We also have a lot of homeless around here now. That might start to improve as all the boom workers have left town but a camper intrigues me, even if just for a couple years to keep costs down. Still it would take 2 years $$ to set one up so it's probably break even on a 2 year time scale.

[Hitch]

I thought it was good that they gave it a go. I think the woman had the right perspective. It was like a childhood adventure. Of course all you need is somewhere to park it up and you can make it a permanent type of thing..

I too did like her perspective, and can relate. I couldn't imagine a bus that big though. Parking is a big issue. I've been travelling a lot in my little camper, 19 feet. With the solar panels, I don't need to plug in. I've stayed overnight in parking lots, at the beach, way out in the mountains. Being off the grid, I find a quiet spot, and call it good. Even in the big city, nobody has bothered me. I don't take up much room, and when I'm gone, it's like nobody was there.

A big bus like that, you need to plan where to park it, and stay for the night. A small one, for some reason, people don't bother you. You don't take up much space. I can fit in one parking space. I parked in a Casino parking lot in Reno for a couple of nights, with night time security walking around, they didn't care because I only took up one spot.

If I were to start a project like that, I'd do it with a Mercedes Sprinter bus. They get over 20 mpg with the diesel, and range from 17 feet to 24 feet in length. There's a Sprinter forum out there, those engines can get easily over 600,000 miles on them.

Small is good, I like cozy spaces, plus they are easy to heat.

[Glass]

yes I think the sprinter is the ideal size. There are a few options in vans that size. I've been looking around but not serious at this point. Market looks like $20K min for a vehicle (bit of beater) that would have 150K+ miles. Some people have done some clever things with their setups. good ideas, tips, pitfalls, worth knowing. I'm wondering if you could live in one for a couple years, in the city. You would need to be able to live at least 2 years to get ahead if that were the plan.

[Hitch]

yes I think the sprinter is the ideal size. There are a few options in vans that size. I've been looking around but not serious at this point. Market looks like $20K min for a vehicle (bit of beater) that would have 150K+ miles. Some people have done some clever things with their setups. good ideas, tips, pitfalls, worth knowing. I'm wondering if you could live in one for a couple years, in the city. You would need to be able to live at least 2 years to get ahead if that were the plan.

The Sprinter is where you get what you pay for. Their 5 cyl engine, before going to the 6 cyl in 2008, is a great engine. From my research though, a DIY conversion can be tough on these vans. The sides angle upwards slightly, so you need to be quite the craftsman to get your interior fit right. Also, since Sprinters are industrial trucks really, there will be no windows, and you are most likely going to want to cut some out. But that's a personal preference, I know for me the days I've been stuck inside because of rain, it's nice to look out at the view while drinking coffee and reading a good book.

The other thing about DIY conversions, is all the parts cost a lot when you buy them individually. Add in the fridge for a grand, stove, head/shower kit, flooring, etc. You get the idea. I talked to one guy who did a conversion, a professional RV shop. It was beautiful, but he spend $20K on the empty Sprinter, then another $27K, plus months of work to get it done.

I hope to upgrade to a finished one like this in a couple of years, if I can afford it. It's just broken in at 45,000 miles. Gas is the big saver. If I drive my RV for 100,000 miles, I'll probably spend $40,000 just on gas. That's where it starts making sense to pay more for the Sprinter. She'll pay for herself eventually in gas savings.

If you are going to drive and travel, the Sprinter is the way to go, imo.

Check this one out...

http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2004-Leisure-Travel-Freightliner-110916057

[osoab]

Saw a guy driving an old school bus with all of his crap in there. Looked like he was moving. Saw the stove. Didn't see the kitchen sink.

[Glass]

yes doing the numbers to get the van and fit it out starts looking like 2+ years renting $$. I've seen a few vans in the $15K - $17K range. Not merc's but other like Iveco Daily's and then there are the Fiat's. Those are pretty popular because they use them in Europe. I've heard that Transits are one to stay away from. VW's are good but not as efficient. I think a bit under powered for the LWB. Anyway I'm enjoying reading peoples DIY adventures and then the holdiay adventures.

I saw an ex Ambulance van which was still fitted out with all the white moulded plastic interior. That was reasonably cheap but on other side of Oz.

The alternative I had in mind was a 4wd and a camper trailer which is a box trailer with a fold down tent. More off beaten track potential, can leave the trailer for day trips and so on. Just not so sure about the cold weather although we don't get too far below zero here.

I can see Pro's and cons for both.

[Hitch]

Glass, I'm reading this book that made me think of this thread....John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley". Charley is a dog, and the book is Steinbeck's personal experiences travelling in a custom made camper. I'm only 1/3 into the book, but completely relate to his experiences. His sense of wanderlust describes exactly was has grabbed me, and I don't think there's ever a cure for that. It's a good read, and the his dog is hilarious.

I'm on the road now. I've been faced with the challenge of finding places to stay for the night, because all the state parks are closed because of our .gov shutdown. They gated them off, I can't even sneak in. I've been shaking my head in frustration over this, because they should have just left the gates open, and put up a closed sign to absolve themselves of any responsibility. But instead, they gated them off to seemingly punish those of us out travelling.

One of the nice things about a small rig is being able to park for the night in offbeat places.

Anyway, I wanted to recommend that book, and also see if you've thought more about a DIY project to get on the road. So far he hasn't gone into many specifics in his camper, I'm hoping he does though. He mentioned lighting with kerosene lamps, and using an asbestos pad for cooking. (Book was written in the early sixties)

Here's a pic from where I'll be staying tonight. Pictures just can't capture how amazingly beautiful this place is...

5492

[woodman]

Glass, I'm reading this book that made me think of this thread....John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley". Charley is a dog, and the book is Steinbeck's personal experiences travelling in a custom made camper. I'm only 1/3 into the book, but completely relate to his experiences. His sense of wanderlust describes exactly was has grabbed me, and I don't think there's ever a cure for that. It's a good read, and the his dog is hilarious.

I'm on the road now. I've been faced with the challenge of finding places to stay for the night, because all the state parks are closed because of our .gov shutdown. They gated them off, I can't even sneak in. I've been shaking my head in frustration over this, because they should have just left the gates open, and put up a closed sign to absolve themselves of any responsibility. But instead, they gated them off to seemingly punish those of us out travelling.

One of the nice things about a small rig is being able to park for the night in offbeat places.

Anyway, I wanted to recommend that book, and also see if you've thought more about a DIY project to get on the road. So far he hasn't gone into many specifics in his camper, I'm hoping he does though. He mentioned lighting with kerosene lamps, and using an asbestos pad for cooking. (Book was written in the early sixties)

Here's a pic from where I'll be staying tonight. Pictures just can't capture how amazingly beautiful this place is...

5492

Read that when I was a kid. I believe Charlie was a large 'Standard' poodle. Good book. So what are you traveling in Hitcher? I am thinking about getting a camper for my pickup. the problem is that they all seem to leak over time. I don't want to invest in something that is going to rot.

[Hitch]

Read that when I was a kid. I believe Charlie was a large 'Standard' poodle. Good book. So what are you traveling in Hitcher? I am thinking about getting a camper for my pickup. the problem is that they all seem to leak over time. I don't want to invest in something that is going to rot.

I'm travelling in a small 19 foot rv I named after the family dog growing up, 'Daisy'. She's built on a Ford e350 chassis with the 460 engine. The engine has a huge amount of power for this small size rv.. I have been very happy with her, she's made for travelling. This trip, I fit where the larger size rigs don't, so I've been able to adapt to all the park shutdowns.

If you already have the truck, a cab-over camper is ideal, imo. Probably close to the same size I'm in right now. Surprisingly, I have yet to find one leak. Every time it rains, I scour into every nook and cranny looking for one. Still no leaks. 13,000 miles of shaking and rattling down the road since owning her...no leaks. Baffles my mind actually.