Bus / Coach conversions into motorhomes...are we bonkers?
Discussion
Hi all,
SWMBO & I are seriously looking at either converting a bus/coach/horse box to live in or buying one that has already been done. We have no kids to consider (four dogs though!) and are France bound as we're going to buy a home there.
The bus/coach will be our home while we travel around the countryside looking at all the regions, until we settle somewhere.
We are looking at this option instead of a motorhome as we feel the motorhomes are too pricey for the space we'd like. Our budget is £15000 max.
It seems that coaches and buses can be bought for less than £5k...then we'd do the fitting out, as we're both good with our hands and SWMBO has completed two years of carpentry & joinery at college.
If we have to take additional driving tests, it's no bother.
All comments (and piss taking) welcome :-)
SWMBO & I are seriously looking at either converting a bus/coach/horse box to live in or buying one that has already been done. We have no kids to consider (four dogs though!) and are France bound as we're going to buy a home there.
The bus/coach will be our home while we travel around the countryside looking at all the regions, until we settle somewhere.
We are looking at this option instead of a motorhome as we feel the motorhomes are too pricey for the space we'd like. Our budget is £15000 max.
It seems that coaches and buses can be bought for less than £5k...then we'd do the fitting out, as we're both good with our hands and SWMBO has completed two years of carpentry & joinery at college.
If we have to take additional driving tests, it's no bother.
All comments (and piss taking) welcome :-)
Couple of years ago i looked at converting a van into a camper.
Bought a detailed book on how to do it. In the appendix the guy had broken down the time taken.
360 hours was his total, that was for a transit sized van
interesting also was the costs
Van plus parts equaled the cost of a decent used campervan.
If your budget is £15k then i would strongly suggest a Hymer
Hold their money well, you will be able to get a LHD easily and a lot have mercedes chassis.
A coach will be a serious PITA to go places in,park,and many sites will not be able to accommodate it. Converted coaches are mainly used by racing teams etc where the coach will be parked up at a paddock for the week.
You will also look like a new aged crusty traveller type so make sure you take plenty of string for the dogs!
Bought a detailed book on how to do it. In the appendix the guy had broken down the time taken.
360 hours was his total, that was for a transit sized van
interesting also was the costs
Van plus parts equaled the cost of a decent used campervan.
If your budget is £15k then i would strongly suggest a Hymer
Hold their money well, you will be able to get a LHD easily and a lot have mercedes chassis.
A coach will be a serious PITA to go places in,park,and many sites will not be able to accommodate it. Converted coaches are mainly used by racing teams etc where the coach will be parked up at a paddock for the week.
You will also look like a new aged crusty traveller type so make sure you take plenty of string for the dogs!
bristolracer said:
Van plus parts equaled the cost of a decent used campervan.
If your budget is £15k then i would strongly suggest a Hymer
Except you would then have all new interior, cooker, toilet etc to your design / taste rather than a 10+yr old one.If your budget is £15k then i would strongly suggest a Hymer
A mate ran a £15k Hymer for 10+ years and rated it. He then "upgraded" to a later £25k RV and found it leaked both rain in and gas out - despite being a wealthy man's toy which had supposedly been fully serviced.
I believe there are issues insuring self built vans.
Another vote for the Hymer route.
Ok, so we spent a bit more on ours (25k) which was 1) due to buying from a retailer and 2) due to it being a bit newer.
Not been without further expenditure, but what we've got is a very solid van which has the distinct feel that it will outlast me! Just having been away for the last four days in it, I've no reason to grumble or gripe about anything at all. They're designed for living in and travelling.
I too would be weary about buses. Not only will they be very difficult to maneouvre and park anywhere sensible, but there's also an awful lot of volume of air to heat! Having spent a couple of nights in weather just about freezing, I'm pleased we were in something which was compact enough to heat cheaply and effectively and also (apart from the windscreen, which was covered in a thick Silver Screen) didn't have acres of glass to facilitate heatloss.
Ok, so we spent a bit more on ours (25k) which was 1) due to buying from a retailer and 2) due to it being a bit newer.
Not been without further expenditure, but what we've got is a very solid van which has the distinct feel that it will outlast me! Just having been away for the last four days in it, I've no reason to grumble or gripe about anything at all. They're designed for living in and travelling.
I too would be weary about buses. Not only will they be very difficult to maneouvre and park anywhere sensible, but there's also an awful lot of volume of air to heat! Having spent a couple of nights in weather just about freezing, I'm pleased we were in something which was compact enough to heat cheaply and effectively and also (apart from the windscreen, which was covered in a thick Silver Screen) didn't have acres of glass to facilitate heatloss.
Cotty said:
Maybe you could get some tips here
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/arti...
You can't drive that one though!http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/arti...
I'd be most concerned about what quality of vehicle you can buy for your initial "less than £5k". At that price it's probably one step from the scrapper and you might be buying no end of mechanical/structural problems; even worse if these come to light once you've spent some money on conversion...
oblio said:
shovelheadrob said:
Why not buy an American RV, plenty available in your budget & all the hard work done, you will find insuring one easier than a conversion & it will be LHD which might make things easier for driving abroad.
This would seem to tick all the boxes 
Still plenty of nectar points!
bristolracer said:
oblio said:
shovelheadrob said:
Why not buy an American RV, plenty available in your budget & all the hard work done, you will find insuring one easier than a conversion & it will be LHD which might make things easier for driving abroad.
This would seem to tick all the boxes Still plenty of nectar points!
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