In August this year we submitted the following article for inclusion in the November issue of Practical Motorhome Magazine. On the 26th September 2007 the article below, with a few changes by the magazine was published.

We are the Weller family, Brian, Dawn and our three children Amy 15, Alex 11 and Sam 8. We live in Oxfordshire and until recently we ran a catering unit from our garden that backs onto a busy lay-by next to junction 8a on the M40. One dismal day in May 2006 our unit was closed due to extreme bad weather. Brian and I sat at the kitchen table, rain streaming down the windows and we decided our life needed a new direction, we were bored. After a brief discussion we decided to to sell up and travel. Brian came up with the idea to convert a double decker, it seemed to suit our purpose, large enough to fit five comfortably, it was quirky and he had always dreamed of owning a bus. We viewed several vehicles around the country then in June we discovered a 1973 Leyland Atlantean in Kimbolton, it cost £2,100 including delivery with one months tax and MOT. It was mechanically sound and well maintained. With adequate space at the house for parking and armed with some knowledge of carpentry, welding, plumbing and electrics we decided to undertake the conversion ourselves. Mainly due to cost, but in the end we would know every inch of how things worked. The goal was a comfortable home with on board computers for home education, comfortable beds and seating areas, a quality kitchen and a spacious bathroom.

Although we didn't prepare any technical drawings we had a general floor plan of the designated areas.

Upstairs the floors sloped on either side, a metal framework was made to span the whole floor to level it. In the cavities we ran 2.5mm stranded cable, twin & earth for the sockets , CAT 5 cable for computer networking, hot, cold and waste water pipes. We over boarded with 19mm ply wood, then laid a laminate floor. Although headroom was slightly reduced, Brian was the only person affected by this.

Three bedrooms were constructed from 2x2” timbers covered with 9mm MDF, insulated with polystyrene. All joints were covered with white plastic edging purchased at double glazing company. We planned that two rooms would have custom built bunk beds, made from 19mm far eastern ply wood. All storage units were shop bought and altered to fit. The third room had a single bed constructed in the same materials and fitted over the casing of the back seat. Beneath this bed we fitted a custom made 53 gallon fresh water tank purchased from CAK tanks in Kenilworth. They also provided us with a custom made waste water tank that fits underneath the bus. In the walkways upstairs we allowed the minimum amount of space, just enough for Brian to get through, on this basis everyone else would fit. The bathroom is located at the front of the bus. We purchased a Thetford C200 CS cassette toilet, with the cassette door accessed from the hallway. The vanity unit and taps are a household unit from B&Q although this did have to be altered to fit. The shower consisted of a standard fibreglass tray from CAK tanks and a household mixer shower. The whole upstairs is very much a combination of house and motor home supplies with inventive changes to make things fit.

Downstairs the right hand side of the galley kitchen incorporates the original luggage rack into which the sink neatly fit. We removed the central doors, spanned the floor cavity with a 25mm right angle iron framework and fitted a domestic fridge and a Cannon LPG cooker, a domestic extractor fan helps with any condensation problems. A wall hung Morco super compact water boiler supplies hot water on demand to the sinks and shower.. A small 12v pump, sits neatly next to the water tank and pumps the water along to the boiler. We can now, within reason, lavish in as much hot water as we need. The LPG tank fits under the bus and supplies the gas fire, cooker, boiler and outside barbecue. It hold 45 litres of LPG, this type of tank would normally be fitted on LPG vehicle conversions. The connectors to reduce the pressures to the various appliances were difficult to locate but eventually we travelled to Crewe to a Calor Gas agent to collected three in-line regulators. We decided a washing machine was essential and made a place for this at the end of the kitchen.

The left hand side of the kitchen was build on a 25mm right angle iron framework. This created a space underneath for the batteries and inverter. The framework continues along the bus and is inlaid with 19mm ply wood to form the basis of the seating area. We supplied the fabric and the cushions were made to measure by a re-upholsterer in Cannock. The back seats were also re-upholstered and look fabulous, as these will be the travelling seats we have fitted five seatbelts. The computer station was purchased from PC World but as with everything was re-designed to fit.

The electrics had always been Brian's main concern, he had never undertaken such a complex job. We opted for a Pure sine wave inverter, with UPS/battery charger SL series from Power Master Systems in Huntingdon, this one unit manages 230v/240v hook up, generator and the solar panels. This connects to a bank of six 160 Aph deep cycle gel batteries also from Power Master Systems. The hook up power line is wired into a twin polarity consumer unit that protects the inverter from reverse polarity. The AC out runs into a consumer unit fitted with an RCD and two 16 amp mini circuit breakers. A battery isolation switch fits between the inverter and the battery bank on the positive side, a 35 amp fuse fits on the negative side, both purchased from a local boat builders. Two solar panels sit on the roof, supplied by Road Pro in Daventry. To finish downstairs we used flotex carpet, this is hard wearing but comfortable underfoot.

Outside the aperture of the old central doors holds an outside shower, purchased from CAK tanks, our 230v/240v hook up and gas barbecue bayonet.. Our computers operate via WIFI giving access to the internet to assist with eduction for the children, our luxury item a Camos static satellite dome was supplied by Road Pro.

Apart from a slight hiccup, we had to take a Class 2 LGV test as we were over the 7.5tonne weight limit, the build has gone to plan if not on time.

In hindsight we were a little naive and unprepared for the challenge at the start of the project. It has been a very steep learning curve with all our skills tested to the maximum, however, I think this goes to prove that with determination you can achieve your goal. It has been hard work but worth every moment. The children have been involved throughout and are keen and excited about the trip. We intend to spend a few weeks in the UK then on the ferry to Bilbao from there who knows, let the adventure begin. If you have a moment check in on our website www.usonthebus.com