Join us as we adventure in our self converted Mercedes Vario van. Our videos mix travel, van build + van life as a family in the UK and Europe.
We could've bought a smaller camper, van or even an older motorhome. But we wanted a project, and found wanderbus 🚐🚐🚐. We converted a 614D Vario from a rusty old school bus into a tiny home on wheels. That's how our channel started, as a way to show our build and to this day we share upgrades and updates too.
We mix our travels between short UK breaks, van life festivals, shows and longer stints in Europe. The 'bus' takes us everywhere and we wanted to share our adventures and hopefully bring you along on the convoy.
Thanks for watching, commenting and being part of our van life adventures. We really appreciate it.
Super Video, Mega Einblicke die man nicht immer so mitbekommt obwohl man jeden Tag online am Start ist seit Jahren :) bitte weiter so! Ich bin echt froh das ich jeden Tag ein kostenloses Video schauen darf was lustig , informativ, Autos, Technik und tolle Menschen Zeit . Danke !❤
Nice work. But iv used Rustoluem combi coulor . I used the matt black and a textured foam roller looked real good and very tought finish... Cheaper than Raptor
We’ve got full solar setup and B2B, so we can largely remain off grid. We’ve a play list here for most of the build videos for our Victron system. Victron Van Build Vids ru-vid.com/group/PLnQAeR30Y1dlHW6iU6wVPwKe_j4EmUPGa
The ladder, you can drop the sections in any order, really, I find it easiest to start at the top and work my way down. They don't all collapse fully with my ladder, until the bottom one; when that drops, any of the others above it that haven't dropped fully, do at that point.
Hey. We’ve found it very good for the most part. In hotter climates it can fluctuate quite a bit in terms of temperature, but we added more ventilation behind the unit to combat this. I don’t think this is isolated to this fridge to be honest. It’s a good sized fridge too, we can fit a weeks worth of food in it no bother.
Es caro pero en comparación con una autocaravana nueva lo que trae y lo que le abeis montado ustedes en el camión no es caro. Disfrutarla y pasarlo bien
Still looks pretty good to be fair. Couple of places by the back doors have a little rust but that's more on my repairs that the raptor. Overall it is holding up well. It is more difficult to wash than regular paint, but again I am hindered by the solar panels
Hi Rich and Kelly, hope Kelly is recovering from her accident, as for the box on the back door, put it/them virtual, you should be able to get 2 that way, all the best Neil
Thanks so much Neil, she is on the mend and much better. The bruises were crazy (still has some!). That's a good point re. two boxes. We do want to use the space to house either recovery boards or perhaps our levelling ramps. Take care.
Personally I think you have over complicated the doors, the tool box you want to fit I would not fit🤷🏻♂️ I would say it’s something that’s not needed and drilling holes in the back door only asking for rust🤦🏻♂️
They look really good Rich. Box horizontal gets my vote. I notice your inside door handle is pointing outward instead of inward when open? Is it mounted wrong or was there a reason for that? Looking forward to seeing this air conditioner although it’s not something we’d ever need in Ireland 😂
Could you also tell me the dimensions and thickness of the spreader plate that Roy supplied with the wheel carrier? After making my own I’m not sure if I used a big enough plate. The door skin is crowned so I didn’t want to go too big in case it deformed the door skin when I tightened it.
That’s a great eye and yes it’s on the wink. I can’t quite figure out how it comes off, but will have to change it around. Ironically it’s more accessible this way but you run the risk of walking into it. Ha, same here most of the time re. The air con. Hot one today mind!
Box would look better and be more functional if mounted horizontally imo. You have done a cracking job, you have a rear end anyone would be proud of. 😄
Always impressed with the work you’ve put in to the project Rich, but this is another level 👍 For ease of access I reckon I’d go horizontal with the box but I guess it depends on what you plan to use it for 👌 ….a big well done 👏👏
Thanks mate. Appreciate it. Can’t believe how long it took but made great progress yesterday to bring it together. Horizontal is looking fave at the moment. Thanks again mate.
Happy days! They look so much better and now so much more practical too! Well done all! What about lacquering the panels to keep the silver look but protecting them? Would that work? Oh and option 1 I think looks best for the box.
Thanks Ian. Yeah they do look alright in Ali - my worry is powder coat might scratch. Hadn’t considered lacquer, will look into it. Thanks as always matey. Hope you’re having a good weekend and enjoying the sunshine.
Well done Rich and Luke..I know it has been an Epic project ..loads of hard work. I would put the storage box horizontal and leave the panels as they are. Looks great against the wood grain . Have a wonderful summer holiday 💖
The bus is now looking good. Well done… a lot of blood and sweat and I imagine tears 🤣🤣 Have a fabulous week and to say a week left of the school term… travel time ! Take care stay safe…x
I'd love to see a video on painting if that's an option. I'm pretty sure loads of folk would be interested in worrying on their own vans re their paintwork..? 5 minutes in, loving the video!
Ah brilliant, thanks Pete. Let's see if others agree - but we do have a better bonnet that'll need painting at some point and Luke always has a project on. Plus his new booth is almost ready. Could be a goer. Thanks so much, appreciate it. This one has been a lot of work 😊
I watched your first 3 episodes a couple of nights back , as I've just bought a raw similar Mercedes bus. Came on to YT tonight, and this episode jumped up in my feeds. So could i ask two questions? My first would be your approximate costs to turn the bus into what you now have.... then i have been doing the research into reclassifying it into a motor caravan, and it states that you must have an outside door to the living area that is not the drivers or passenger doors. Could i ask how you got around that? As i were thinking i would have to leave the two back doors free? Whereas you have a bedroom. Oh i subbed a couple of nights back, but not watched all videos as yet... so apologies If this have been explained inbetween 👍
Ah amazing, thanks so much for watching. We reckon to get to this stage it's around 25k ish. But since have done quite a bit more. Thankfully we spread this out over time, doing bits here and there. You're right about the hab door, they do ask for that. I am not actually sure, our V5C is registered as a PHGV. Maybe we will attempt to get it changed one day. Thankfully come MOT time it is tested as seen. Hope this helps, and good luck with your conversion - is it a Vario too?
@@WanderbusAdventures Thanks and it is a Vario, a slightly smaller 17 seater 613D... it was a mare to insure, I thought go compare, but no...the weight, engine size and classification of use... agh. I'll get there though in time. Keep up your good work with yours though👍
Our you tube faves🥰.. Great vlog guys. Rich, you need practice with your milking technique!, Kelly is clearly a professional! Great site, love all the animals😊 x
Absolutely brilliant vlog… I have to say the innuendos were funny 🤣 Kelly you do come out with some classics.. 😂 Looks amazing campsite. Glad you had good time. Have brilliant week take care stay safe x
What a lovely place! Watch your fingers on that ladder mind, it always make me think of a guillotine when using mine 😂😂 Folly farm near Tenby is similar where they have a campsite next to it, not cheap but they have loads of animals, farm and zoo including giraffes!
Oh wow, that sounds like a mega place. And we have still yet to visit Tenby so could be a double bonus on that. Thanks mate. Yeah the ladder seems ace, if not a bit Marie Antoinette as you say
@@WanderbusAdventures We’ve been to Folly Farm as a day out a few times but not stayed there. Family have and loved it. Could always use it as your base and drive into Tenby/surrounding areas too.
That looks like a lovely camp site. Very pricey though! Ive been trying to decide between welding a rear door ladder to match my wheel carrier or buying one of those telescopic ones. I’m thinking the telescopic one makes more sense for cleaning solar panels and they are also better for security. Maybe I could mount a storage box on the other rear door instead…
That’s a good point regarding the security. We are toying with outside storage of the ladder, but considering this think it’s better off inside. Like the idea of a storage box, keep watching we have one to share in future vid when we finally get the new doors fitted.
Glad you're on the mend Kelly. ❤ Fantastic farm, everything so clean and well organised . Well worth a stay. You did well feeding those goats Rich..I dont like their eyes either! Lily was really good at milking and loved all the animals. Cool ladder, table and watering can Rich . X 😊
Rick, when handling teats, a gentle squeezing action is required. Yanking on them normally results in a hefty kick from the cow. Yanking is reserved for another male activity, which can be discussed in the very distant future . Keep up the great videos. Love watching. Safe travels. Sarah from Tasmania.
Hey guys, apologies if this is a dumb question but I have the same van and just starting the electrics now, how did you get the ply to sit flush with the wires running behind? I see in later videos you have holes drilled and it pulls through but where the ply attaches to the chassis Iwould’ve thought your wires got in the way
Great question and the answer depends on where you saw us pull it. The only place we have wires behind the plywood is by the front passenger seats. For this I actually ran the cable long the ceiling in the internal gutter but and down the pillar behind the drivers seat. For all other wires i ran them in conduit either up and over the ceiling or surface mounted behind all the cupboards. Hope this helps.
Ah behind the cupboards! What a great solution. Was thinking I’d have to build a frame around the walls so the wiring could run behind but that’s an easier solution. Thanks mate! Desperate to start putting walls up and the electrics are the last hurdle
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!
