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Home » Campers » How do you build a motorhome within a month? † DIY bus camper

How do you build a motorhome within a month? † DIY bus camper

In the past period we have camper sold and deposited us fully into the construction of a new camper† An adventure we have never embarked on before and which many people thought would take us months. Within a month, however, our camper was ready to go and in the meantime we are already in it Slovenia ?. How could we have done this so quickly? We are happy to share our story!

Also read: How to: Buy or convert a campervan

Our story

We returned to the Netherlands at the end of April and sold our camper within 24 hours of returning. This all went so fast that we didn't even know which bus we wanted to buy in return. Since we are fairly decisive types, we immediately visited 5 to 6 car dealers a day to buy our new bus after about a week to convert it into a camper.

Also read: #vanlife DIY | Which campervan do you choose if you are 2 meters tall?

The new bus | Build a motorhome
The new bus | Build a motorhome

From delivery van to camper van

Since our bus is a delivery van – and therefore no camper van – we had it converted into a camper on 9 May with a temporary (rented) installation at the RDW. You can also wait with this until you have finished building the camper. However, we did not allow ourselves this time because after the inspection you still have approximately 2 to 3 weeks to arrange a new license plate and request the low motorhome tax rate.

Also read: Convert (fire brigade) bus into a camper | RDW design requirements and job plan

Build a camper in 10 steps

1. Create 3d model in Sketchup

On May 10 we started building the camper. Since Sandra is a 3D model of the camper bus in Sketchup and we had already ordered many materials online, we felt well prepared. But where do you actually start?

The model of the bus in Sketchup | Build a motorhome
The model of the bus in Sketchup | Build a motorhome

2. Stripping the bus

We started by stripping the bus completely. Our bus is a former work bus of network operator Liander. As a result, there were still all kinds of wires, plates, lamps, etc. All this had to be removed before we could start construction. Removing everything took us about 2 days.

Stripping the bus
Stripping the bus

3. Anti-drumming and isolating

After the major cleaning, we started installing anti-drumming plates on the large wall surfaces. We then covered these with Armaflex insulation material. With this we covered the entire bus in about 3 days (this could be faster, but we had to wait for the delivery of material). After insulating, we replaced the floor that was already in the bus and covered it with vinyl. We needed about 1 day for this..

Isolating the bus
and laying the vinyl

4. Install the electrics

The next step in building the camper was installing electricity. This seems like a complicated job, but since friends of ours have also converted a bus into a camper, we could use their example as a starting point. Installing the solar panels took us about 1 day (mainly to get the mounting brackets to size) and pulling the cables and mounting the electronics took about 2 days.

Also read: Flying solar panels – The danger that lies on the roof of your motorhome

Installing the electrics in the camper bus
Installing the electrics in the camper bus

5. Placing the Woodwork

Then it was Sandra's father's turn to place all the woodwork in the bus. Frankly, this is the reason our bus was ready so quickly. Sandra's father is a carpenter and has spent many of his free hours on the bus. Together with Adriaan, he placed the walls and then hammered in the frame. Placing the base took about 5 days.

Placing the woodwork
Placing the woodwork 2

6. Upholster cushions and sofa

In the meantime, Sandra and her mother worked on upholstering cushions for the sofa, cutting the mattress to size (just with a bread knife?) and sewing curtains.

Sewing the curtains
Sewing the curtains

7. Countertops, upper cabinets, drawers and doors

When the base was built, we painted everything together with Adriaan's father and we went to Ikea to buy a counter top, upper cabinets, drawers and doors to further furnish the base. You can of course also make this yourself. I have chosen to use standard sizes for the installation so that the Ikea products fit well and to choose a countertop that we could cut to size ourselves (2 days).

Painting the woodwork | Build a motorhome
Painting the woodwork | Build a motorhome

Sandra's father then placed and finished everything (4 days) after which we started working on the "water block".

Placing the Ikea upper cabinets
Placing the Ikea upper cabinets

8. Installing the water system

We have chosen to place an extra counter block in the camper in which the clean (53 liters) and dirty water tank (48 liters) are incorporated. The filling and emptying of these tanks can be done at the back of the block so that no extra holes had to be made in the body. By means of a water pump (12 Volt) the water is sucked out of the tank so that water comes out of the tap. Making the block, including the installation, took us approximately 2 to 3 days.

The water tank in the water block
The water block (exterior)

9. Installing the ceiling

The next and last big job of building the camper was the ceiling. Since our roof is made of polyester, installing a skylight with a fan was not that bad. This job was completed within 3 hours. We covered the ceiling itself with plastic scraps. We have chosen this because this is relatively light material and the lines emphasize the length of the bus. Placing the scraps took almost 2 days because a cove had to be placed on the sides.

Placing the ceiling | Build a motorhome
Placing the ceiling | Build a motorhome

10. Finishing and decoration

Then it was time for finishing and decoration. We needed a total of about 3 days for this and afterwards we officially declared the bus on June 9th! Below the end result of the layout of the DIY camper.

The end result!
The end result!

the look back

We thought it was a very nice project to tackle and we learned a lot while building the camper. We can't deny that Sandra's handy dad was a big advantage, but the biggest advantage was mostly having time. We were able to work on it every day of the week without hindrance. In addition, we used many of our evenings to order the right material and we had a camping shop nearby that helped us with, for example, the construction of the water.

Are you also planning to convert a bus into a camper? Don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions. Good luck!

fordtress-vandemics

vandemics

VANDEMICS - Adriaan & Sandra
From Life in Pandemic Times
We travel Europe with our little camper from named Fordtress!
One year sabbatical
Currently in Spain

0 comments

  • Hello,
    We are a french family living in sweden. We sold our motorhome in order to buy a regional bus and convert it into a motorhome. We are wondering if it's better to do it in france or in sweden, but I can't find anything about the swedish regulation. We would like to know if the regulation is easy doing here.
    Have you got any information to help us?

    Thanks

  • You write that you had the bus inspected with a temporarily rented installation. Can you tell me more about that. Which company costs etc.

    • Hi Ida, we have rented a temporary installation via Marktplaats.nl and did this purely to be able to get back on the road very quickly. There are several providers so we recommend taking a look there.

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