Converted Bus/Double Decker to home

Milly33

Has anyone on here every converted a double decker bus to use as a home?

Really liking the idea of doing this and would like to know as much as I can about it. All the little things that are handy to know before hand.

colm_mcm

There is a guy in the uk that did it, think it's called the green bus. George Clarke did a programme on it, it's in YouTube

A couple did it in the UK alright, a former RH class Dublin Bus no less.

Nomis21

I bought a double deck bus in Burnley UK for 1,000 pounds sterling from a bus company in 2001.

I have a class C and a class D licence so I could drive it legally. I insured it as a camper van.

I drove it to Amsterdam with a few friends. Biggest problem was the bridges. UK and Irish dd buses are around 4.3 meters in height and most continental bridges are only 4 meters clearance and the height is not marked. I had to reverse a lot causing mayhem, especially on motorways reversing kilometres against the traffic flow on hard shoulders and constantly looking for a new route.

Here is a video of our adventures to get it there...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moIMn8KsMTI&index=8&list=PLF24F821105AFF597

I converted it in Amsterdam for living with kitchen and bedroom and lived in it for a year. I was much in demand for parties and I lived well enough from the income it generated. For 6 months I drove it around but eventually the cops said I had to park up and stop driving it because of commercial driving rules and it's height etc etc

Finding a place to park it was sometimes a problem as well.

I had a lot of fun though and it improved my social life.

Go for it if you have a sense of adventure...

Milly33

Thank you all..... That UK couple I will have to google.Tis annoying I saw a great one done on some UK show but for the life of me I cannot find it.....

It would be more for maybe keeping on a spot, or like moving it every so often, not sure wed manage to get it all the way to Amsterdam..Mind tis good to know that maybe we could if we wanted to move thanks Nomis2, we shall just have to watch out for the bridges.. jes that pic of the bus in the petrol station the roof id pretty close.. Did you have it done up so you could sleep in it.

I am thinking like doing a proper job on one with living area, bedroom, shower, loo the whole shebang... As in a tiny home project....

All ideas now at the moment but like to have all the information...

Steve

Don't want to be a killjoy but insulating it and preventing condensation / damp will be the biggest challenge.

gutteruu

Steve wrote: »

Don't want to be a killjoy but insulating it and preventing condensation / damp will be the biggest challenge.

That multi-foil insulation and some tyvek barrier should solve most of the issues but it would still want some ventilation.

Steve

gutteruu wrote: »

That multi-foil insulation and some tyvek barrier should solve most of the issues but it would still want some ventilation.

I'd be more worried about the glass. It has to be left as single glaze safety (I'm guessing) to be legal in a vehicle.

Milly33

Thank you for all these tips.. Interesting.. Love knowing about it all.

Found the big green bus to tis great.. It wasn't the one I had in mind but very close to it

GILLY3

I'm thinking of buying a double decker bus and turning it into a camper, do you know would it be difficult to get insurance for it in Ireland and would it qualify for the cheap tax, also I've only a B license but I think that's all you need to drive a campervan

Milly33

hi Gilly3, not too sure to be honest or I wouldn't have a clue would be interested to know how you get on

clement

I think you will find tax will be the last of your concerns when you see how much diesel it will go through.