VAN TOUR - Fully Loaded Van Conversion By Van Build Rookies
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- The Van Tour of our Mercedes Vario off grid tiny home is finally here. Featuring a full bathroom (x2 showers!), custom kitchen, fixed beds, clever double guest sofa bed and an off grid solar powered electrical system.
New Here? Super! 😊 Please let us know in the comments.
As rookies to van build this has been a real learning curve, and we are excited to share how it's turned out after a year of using the van on various travels and trips.
It was difficult to cover everything in the van conversion tour, so please do ask questions or leave us a comment. We tried hard to show everything we could.
We built our van with no experience whatsoever of this sort of thing, learning via UA-cam and from the lovely people that we have met on here and in real life. We are so thankful for this support - and it does show anyone can convert a van.
Want to know how we did it?
► Van Build Timelapse: • Full Van Build Timelap...
► View our van build playlist: • Van Conversion Series:...
► Catch up on our travels: • France Roadtrip: Our F...
What Did We Use?
►Our Build Shopping List: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/wanderb...
About our Mercedes Vario 614D
Our build started off as a van, well a light truck really and was then converted into a minibus to use as a school bus. The Vario is a bit like a European version of a short bus - we don't have 'schoolies' unless they are imported but this is what we have, it's even a similar size.
After doing many years service as a school bus and community bus we bought it and converted it into our tiny home on wheels.
- Gross weight 5990kg. You can see what it weighed in at here: • Do All Van Conversions...
- 4.2 litre engine
- 7.2 meters long
- dual back wheels
- Built in Germany, registered in the UK
Van Tour Chapters
00:00 Van Tour Details
00:00:50 Versatile Sitting Room
00:05:00 Pull Out Guest Sofa Bed
00:07:33 Custom Clever Storage
00:10:55 Van Kitchen Tour
00:14:57 Van Entertainment + Essential Upgrades
00:17:32 Van Bathroom Tour
00:20:32 Sliding Storage + Hidden Wardrobe Door
00:21:50 Van Bedroom Pod Tour
00:25:06 Van safety features
00:26:04 Victron 12v Van Install Tour
00:26:57 Plumbing + Storage + outdoor shower
00:28:12 Custom DIY Solar Roof Rack
00:28:38 How we get wifi in our van
00:29:04 Any questions + more videos
Each of the above shows what we did, but if you want to know how we did it in more detail please ask or refer to our van build videos. We have over 100 of what we did, and how we learnt to do it.
#vantour #campervantour #vanlife
“The microbial surface in the shower kills 99% of germs in 24 hours - it’s dead clever”. Dad joke of the year contender from Rich!
Seriously guys this is incredibly impressive. I’ve been watching from the start and I’d forgotten just how much you have achieved. I really like the way you’ve thought things through and as a result it works really well. I’ve taken a lot if inspiration from your ideas and they are being incorporated into my own build which will start later this year.
So what are you going to do now that you’ve finished?
LOL - didn't even clock this 😂. That's a great question and to be honest we aren't 100% on the next project but we know we want to fix up the back doors on this and build some more storage solutions and perhaps an outdoor kitchen in the doors. We want to paint or update the stripes at some point.
We also like the idea of a towable pod - or a 4x4 micro camper, or a smaller van for the in-laws... you get the idea 😂
I've watched you from the start. Still one of the best van/minibus builds on UA-cam. Built with mm precision team work and a whole load of love. Hugs from up north.
And we really appreciate it Mark, having the support of lovely people like you has kept us going and encouraged us to make more videos (and carry on in the build when it was looking bad). Really big thanks from us all - legend.
Wow! Last time I watched one of your videos was a couple of years ago when I first bought my Vario and you were early stages too but now you have a beautiful finished bus which is seriously impressive and mine is still a rusty empty shell of a wreck 😫 Congratulations on your build and thanks for the inspiration 🥰
Ah thanks so much. We are pleased with it. But they’re never finished 😂. We’ve a few things to add and tidy up. Hope your build comes along soon. They can take a while!
Very impressive. I would go as far to say, this is the best build I have ever seen. Well done! Thank you for sharing 👍
Wow, thanks! That's so kind of you to say.
Mega build this one. Fair play for getting stuck in and learning new skills. A proper built not bought project.
Thank you Tom, it's been a great learning experience for sure.
That is a beautiful van! Really lovely conversion.
Thank you, really nice of you to say
That is honestly one of the best conversions I've seen on here, love the space you get and the finish looks amazing
Thank you Pete, we are pleased with how it came out. It's got just about the right level of quirky self buildness in it for us 😊
Really good choice of van, plenty height and width. You've included things others don't bother about,you seem to thought of everything, well designed and built
Thanks Stephen. We definitely overthink things which has led us to the little add ons - we’ve got more to add actually 😆. Thanks so much for your lovely comment.
Great video guys, ❤your bus. See you next week, looking forward to catching up x
Thanks Emily. We can’t wait 😊
Superb guys,I watched all your build Vlogs, what you have built is something to be very proud of. Eletrical systems are what interests me yours is a thing of beauty 👍😁
Thank you guys, really kind of you to say. Have to agree with you on the electrics being interesting, one of our favourite bits of the build (appreciate it's a bit marmite but we love it).
@Wanderbus Adventures Well, l hate marmite, but electrics, now your talking 👍🤗
@@SimplyMotorhoming 😂
Wow ! that is fabulous !
Thanks for the high praise Mikko. Appreciate your kind words.
Without a doubt the best Vairo self build I’ve ever seen excellent work and such innovative systems that you’ve put in there. You guys think outside of the box. Absolutely brilliant….
Aww. This is a lovely comment. Thank you very much. We are humbled.
Brilliant build. So much thought on the design. The multi purpose guest bed/sofa/storage is great. There is so much storage space.
Thanks guys, really lovely of you to say 😊
Absolutely beautiful, cannot believe this much was built whilst I watched..super impressive. You’ve packed so much into that small/medium space I’d hate to think how much it cost. But it’s all functional and bespoke tailored to your needs. You both have worked your socks off to produce a home on wheels that should last for many years to come. Hats off to your OCD for precision and total piece of mind with functionality and safety at the forefront of this creative.
Well thought, well made and well done. Beautiful for any event.
Wow. Thanks so much for your kind words Simon. It has (and continues to be) a major project for sure and we are really pleased with how it’s come together. Thanks so much for coming along with us on this mad journey too
Lovely van, see you at weekend, hopefully ❤
100% we can't wait 🚐🚐🚐
Nice nice 👍🙂🙂
Thanks 😊
Lovely bus guys you've done a fantastic job and it looks amazing! youve done an excellent job on making everything have many purposes and working seemless and is definitely very bright and open! Love it!
Thank you mate. Really kind of you to say and coming from a brilliant van builder like you makes it even better. Thank you 😊
Great family, great source of info for our own builds, that man is a legend !!!!
Thanks guys, hope your build goes well. Very kind of you to say.
Love the tour, love the build . Great video again
Thanks so much Kev 😊
Some very clever touches, well done very impressive :)
Thanks Matt
Good build well done now enjoy using the van
Thank you David.
Vario amenager.... le reve de ma vie
Les avez-vous facilement en France ? Nous sommes allés jusqu'à Monaco en été. C'était incroyable.
A brilliant tour and a van to be proud off such a pro finish on everything I spotted my sticker too lol love the bedroom area and Lillie pod cosy in there well thought out seating too be great to see it for real sometime what mpg do you get out off it all the best donny
Thanks Donny, Lily loves her little sticker board and yours was one of the first we got. Absolutely, will you be at any shows this year at all?
MPG in real world we think is around 15-18mpg but it is hard to say fully as we get nervous with the gauge. We need to brim the tank and fill up after a set time to be sure. Wander is quite a thirsty beast though!
@@WanderbusAdventures 15 to 18 is good for the size I might be eyes if not maybee meet up somewhere down your way for the day weather is turning nice now still waiting on a return sticker from you guys for jenny
That sounds great. We’ve got some new ones now too 😊
Loving this and your journey. Focal mids v nice addition :)
Good spot. They are great speakers. Got similar in the mini too. Thanks for watching
Followed from the start and looked forward to every episode… inspired touches and idea’s brilliantly executed . Put simply, amazing work and so well done. Massively impressed with the finished van, everything just seems so right. 😎👍✅✅✅✅✅
Thanks for sticking with us Andrew and for your kind words, really appreciate it and your ideas along the way too. And don't worry there will be more build updates we're sure 😊
Fantastic job ....fair play ;)
Thank you 😊
You're my inspiration. I'm going to steal some of your ideas and make them my own!
Mwah ha haa 😂
Oh mate right back at you for your very helpful Vario videos. We’ve got your brake one bookmarked as ours will need doing soon.
Kan maar één ding zeggen, dikke proficiat!!!! Zeer mooi gedaan ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Heel erg bedankt, ik hoop dat het goed met je gaat.
Ja hoor, ons campertje ook in aan het pakken om voor enige tijd te vertrekken. Naar waar zien we wel.
Build from scratch, nice one
Thanks Gavin, it was a bit of a task and took way longer than we thought. Thanks for watching.
@@WanderbusAdventures that was the interesting part for me, you guys did it from scratch, the whole lot.
That was the interesting part for me
I'm looking into a camper truck myself, but for a different country - new Zealand isn't great for full time RV or self contained type travel, so I'm looking into Philippines, example, but I'm glad to got a van , then did the whole lot yourself instead of getting someone else to do it
Did you record you doing the conversion?
Absolutely. We have loved doing it and know the van inside and out. And yes we’ve documented the whole build (some of the earlier videos aren’t the best) but we’ve shown how we did it, and is some cases redid things, too.
Love this bus, it has so many trick features and it’s just mad that you started this with no experience whatsoever and it’s just awesome. A fab build series with great adventures too! Well done guys.
I’m tempted to get a lagun table mount for our rear lounge as we never use our table as it has the folding legs on it and it’s not high enough 🤔🤔
Thanks Ian. The lagun mount has worked well for us to be fair and it seems durable (famous last words). Pricey but does work well.
@@WanderbusAdventures Ta, I’m toying with one of them or a seqouia leg as we have U shaped seating so think the lagun would get in the way but not sure.
That’s a good point
Looks like a professional conversion, respect
Thanks Stephen, very kind of you to say.
You have done a great job on that van, I have an older Merc O309 bus that I hope to finish one day, you have given me some great ideas. 👍I just wish I had the skills you have. How much have you spent? 👍
Amazing, one of our favourite vans on Instagram is a 309 and it has a wicked double stripe design on it that is giving us ideas. Skills wise - you got this, just take it slow and steady. Cost wise, we need (probably) to add this up still but reckon it is circa 25k.
Amazing van guys
Thank you John
Brilliant video . Unbelievable amount of planning and thought throughout. You're all so talented . Best build I've seen, it's just beautiful ..well done. Enjoy all your adventures. X
Thank you for your lovely comment and support. Really appreciate it x
yes i can just see you Rich doing your makeup in the mirror lol great work team you should be proud of what you have built .
😂 one must look their best Dean. Thank you mate.
Very nice van. Loved that you thought out what would be best for your situation. Many little tips with a big impact to living in a van. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mike for your lovely comment. Take care
I really love your conversion! It's probably the best Vario I've seen so far. It's so liveable!
Ah thank you. That’s exciting! What sort of Vario do you have?
Wow what a lovely van! Love it well done guys
Thank you Terry
Great video. The best van build EVER 👏👏
Thanks so much for watching and lovely comment. Appreciate it.
Fantastic
Thank you so much 😀
Hey guys :) my understanding is captain scarlets vehicle had seats backwards because there's a factual improved safety in the position relative to driving:) look it up of course but I'm sure it'd be fine and better and negate moving the seats :) hopefully just glide them back and forth if at all. Nice van :)
Ha. Brilliant observation and that’s got to be true, baby seats are backwards facing. Have never compared it to Captain Scarlett though. Bravo 😊
@@WanderbusAdventures haha. I'm autistic-my mind doesn't dismiss information I'm always inspired by engineering and socio/psychology and such :) plus I'm sure I saw a show on it if not UA-cam. Maybe Robert Llewellyn on that tech show idk-a captain scarlet remake with a backwards facing screen and xbox controls on a golf buggy lol. I digress. Reason people face forward is likely mainly sickness. Factory seats are certified to structurally hold the impact I'm sure and yeah, baby seats :)
Tom scott: can you really drive backwards?
It actually shows no car sickness. What I've always loved about Jerry Anderson /Tony barrack stuff. In series, brain invented and coordinated it all. In reality, it was all inspired by real vehicles innovations and prototypes; the first episode was on a plane based on a 70s(?) Prototype plane of similar specs and appearance which is incredible given the timing with such relative recent breakthroughs. As said about the baby, its also safer for wheelchair and elderly seats :) I'd use a mirror or screen for visible interaction. It's nice to see someone else appreciates things more than discarding for fantasy or pedantically missing the point
That also makes a lot of sense. As someone who suffers with travel sickness (Rich) I always choose a forward facing seat on the train. Good point.
@@WanderbusAdventures I've always had it rich..and same name :s other day on the bus I needed to change from back facing lol but should work for the non queezies lol. Forward facing in cars also saves space of course. Anyway, I've had my bit as a nerd. You lot keep trickin and I do hope to join the van lifers soon and see you among them :D lovely van it looks way more spacious the camera and lighting compliments it all. That kid is lucky having road adventures it's awesome x
Outstanding inception and execution, well done
Thank you kindly Rich.
Excellent build 👌 just needs a nice paint job
Thanks James, we are on the hunt for some better doors and after a few external upgrades we will be looking into this - it's like you read our minds. These things are never done (we love it)
Cracking build
Thank you Bruce. Appreciate it.
You guys got an insta? Cracking content
Sorry missed this, yes we do Bruce. It's instagram.com/wanderbusadventures/
It's beautiful I love it I've watched it twice there's just no TV in there
Thanks so much for watching - especially twice! No Tv, we do have our tablet though to watch if we do get bored.
I don't know I've watched a lot of them and I don't know what made this stand out truly different from all the others and I've watched a lot I don't know if it's you guys, the build, all I can say the whole thing from you guys to the build truly amazing I still can't understand it today what made it for me to be different and feel the way I feel about this one but I must say again I am truly from the heart spirit and mind impressed thank you guys I myself will say the number one build of the year🔥🔥🔥🍻 two things missing the child👀 and the TV👀 LOL😳😂😂 but i understand why not the child.it was just something to laugh about, keep up the good work may God bless u &your family
5:15p.m.July14 2023
There's nothing like having a flat screen TV on the swivel it's like having a fireplace that's the icing on the cake tablets are like children on cell phones believe me I have one and I have to give her time on and off and she's 17 we as men we think one way trust what I tell you you get that TV your wife and your daughter will be too happy campers but no pressure love the video have a great day
@@DJ-kb1id Thanks so much, this is a lovely comment and we are truly humbled and blown away by it. It's made our day.
Only thing is too many glass windows you must reduce most of windows in areas where is toilet etc..., when you started converting bus in camper, now it's not viable to remove them.
Other than the window factor, camper is very practical, beautiful 😍 and likable 👍.
Love from 🇵🇰 Pakistan.
Thank you for your kind words. Many people do take the windows out as you say, but we wanted to keep them so it looks like a bus. We have seen one talented builder remove them and replace with aluminum after build, so that is an option should we choose to do it. But for now they work alright. Thanks again. Appreciate your support.
@@WanderbusAdventures
Only thing in glass is it don't resist heat & cool of summer🌞 & winter❄️ season. So it would be nice to insulate van at max so that living get easy and nothing else. Thankyou😊.
Keep Up the Good Work 👍
Totally. Thanks 😊
Can I ask have you a menu costing list ?
It’s absolutely brilliant 😊
Thank you, we haven't broken it down in a video actually. We might do one on two years of van costs sort of thing. Maybe.
Where did you get those reversible bucket seats with shoulder and waist seat belts?. I was surprised to see that not only are they reversible, but that they cam come out completely. How are they attached to the bus? Thanks!
Hey. So we love the seats. They are from a Ford Tourneo custom, specifically the middle row outer seats. This means you can take them out, swap them and reverse them.
We welded in a frame underneath for them to bolt through essentially. I can find the video link if of interest.
Excellent build. I've got the same type of side door. Could you please tell me where you got the locking bar.
Thank you. Kind of you to say.
This is the door bar we have used: amzn.to/3NlMaag
When we bought it there was a £10 voucher to apply. I can see it’s still there - so if you got one wanted to point out to apply it 😊
If it’s of any help the install is part of this video: ua-cam.com/video/0Gp5vBiWuw8/v-deo.html
@@WanderbusAdventures Thank you.
Great tour guys , you done an incredible job!!!!
A quick question, when you registered your van as a campervan did the tax class come back changed automatically? Assuming you registered it
Many thanks
Hey. So ours is registered as a van with windows. We’ve a few things to do before we could apply for it to be a camper van. But the tax didn’t change when we changed it from minibus to van with windows. It’s actually cheaper than our car!
@@WanderbusAdventures Hey guys thanks for the info , I've sent mine off today fingers crossed it does change , otherwise it will say campervan , and tax class bus which I cant see why they would keep it like that , couldn't find anything on that , only a separate change tax class , oh well let's hope 🤞😁 but if not then yeah seems cheap enough anyway .
Thanks again 👍
@@climblivefree8344ah perfect. Let us know how you get on. Fingers crossed.
Really turned out well, did you ever work out how much it cost and how much it would be worth if you sold it? also did you manage to trademark the "Only Vans" name and domain before making this video?
Thanks Polecat, we really should total up what it has cost. We reckon circa 25k - is it worth that, we aren't sure. We may need to trademark Only Vans to pay for for next wave of upgrades 😂
@@WanderbusAdventures well I have seen factory built with less for over £40,000 so I would say well worth it financially 👍
@@Polecat54941 totally, to get what we have in a factory built motorhome would be well out of our reach financially - and it wouldn't look retro rusty cool like ours 🚐🚐🚐
hey guys, thanks for the video. I actually just bought a 1991 version of your van here in Los Angeles, CA. I was curious if you know the name of the roof rack components, as I'm looking to do something similar to what you did and link into the rain gutter. cheers and safe travels!
Ah how amazing! So that would make yours a T2, cool van! The bars we used are called ultibar, the model is VG154 and they come in packs for 4 or 2. They’re actually for a high roof transit but worked well on our van. I think the roof is the same on yours but please check.
We also considered Tygrys feet, they are dearer overall but you can use other aluminum profiles with them.
Hope your build goes well. Keep us posted and let us know if you’ve any questions or tips to share. Safe travels
@@WanderbusAdventures Thanks so much! That's incredibly useful info! Yeah, T2 :) It's an incredible van. Finishing up the rewiring for US power and finalizing a few things. Will be sure to post a walk through and comment on one of your videos when I do. Thank you again! Love your rig - so cute and practical!
@natebaird sounds brilliant. They are great rigs. Full of character.
Hello and good day, I follow various videos of this kind, among others look for yours. Can you write, just very roughly, what the conversion or expansion cost?
Thx for this Video!!
Hey there. It was roughly 25K but we’ve yet to add it all up. Thanks so much for your question.
@@WanderbusAdventures wow, a lot, but very nice!!👍👍
Thank you. We had a fair bit of welding and the electrical system is a beast 😊
@@WanderbusAdventures Unfortunately, it can only be seen when the bare metal is there.
Thx and good Luck
Do you have a link for those fans please?
Hey Lee. Of course. This is it in black: amzn.to/3N5vF0D
Or white: amzn.to/3NqsAtw
@@WanderbusAdventures wow pricey! But in my wish list. Ta
@@lee.m.bennett2635 yes they are but are great fans. Keep an eye on Amazon. Every now and then you get a good deal. I think I got one for around £90
Main India se hun duniya ka video UA-cam per mujhe bahut bahut achcha Laga mere bhi ek dream hai aapki Jaisi kaise banaen Bhojpuri
aapaka bahut-bahut dhanyavaad. bhaarat mein aapake paas kis prakaar kee vain hain?
with the housing crisis in most "advanced" nations, governments ought to encourage repowering and conversion of older vehicles to be motohomes! if they can give rebates for BEVs which most people dun want why not rebates for these?
That would be awesome wouldn't it.