If you can't find what you're looking for, you can build it yourself! Find out how building a van or bus conversion can give you exactly what you need and is often a cheaper and more sustainable option than buying a traditional RV or trailer.
1. Affordability
Converting a vehicle can be a budget-friendly option compared to purchasing a new or used RV or trailer. Whether you build it yourself or hire a contractor to help, a conversion can save you money, provided you have the tools and expertise to do it safely.
2. Customizability
Depending on your individual needs, you can customize your vehicle to include features you need and leave out what you don't. It's fun to design a space based on your style and preferences.
Having separate living and sleeping areas was really important to us and is very difficult to find in a traditional RV. We also didn't see the need for a shower inside our bus, which would take up valuable space and require more water.
3. Safety
Compared with traditional RV's, buses and vans are typically safer due to their construction. Commercial and school buses need to meet strict safety standards and are usually built with steel support frames compared to trailers and RV's.
If you're DIYing it, be sure to adhere to safety codes and regulations, and if you're not a professional, it's a good idea to hire an electrician to install the solar, batteries, wiring, etc. The last thing you ant is your precious investment going up in flames to save a few hundred bucks!
4. Sustainability
Choosing to convert an existing vehicle not only helps to repurpose existing materials, but in most cases, you can customize your build to include eco-friendly features such as solar panels, compostable toilets, and water-saving faucets.
Bonus: If you're able to build an off-grid capable vehicle, you become much more aware of your water and energy consumption - a very planet-friendly habit to develop.
Getting started
There's pros and cons no matter what t pe of vehicl you decided on and it's always a good idea to "try it before you buy it". If you're interested in learning mo e about the process of a conversion and how we found our bus, check out our blog post titled "The Story Of Our Bus".