AN ADVENTURE-loving couple who spent £15,000 transforming an old school bus into an apartment on wheels have since quit their jobs and used it to travel across Europe.
Eamonn McCaughan and Michelle, both project managers from Ireland, developed a passion for van life during the pandemic.
Their journey began when their summer holiday to Italy, planned for July 2020, was disrupted by the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.
But not to be dissuaded, they instead decided to buy a £900 Ford Transit van to explore Ireland, which ignited their love for van life.
Despite having no prior building experience, they quickly learned the process through watching YouTube videos and studying Facebook forums, and by using family hand-me-downs and local business scraps to outfit their van.
Then, Eamonn came across a 1996 Mercedes school bus available to buy on Facebook Marketplace in September 2021 for £3,000.
Upon picking up the vehicle, they set themselves a budget of £10,000 for the conversion, and despite exceeding their budget by £5,000, they view the project as a long-term investment.
They incorporated sustainable features on the bus such as solar panels and a large battery to power their devices, ensuring the bus is habitable all year round.
Having paused their careers in December 2023, they dedicated nine months to converting the bus into a comfortable camper, complete with a full-size kitchen, warm water shower, heaters, air conditioning, voice-activated lights, and a projector screen for Netflix with Starlink satellite internet.
In October of this year, they embarked on their first tour abroad in the revamped bus, attending a friend’s wedding in Sicily.
Their journey took them through France and Italy, with plans to explore Sardinia and Spain.
They also offer rental services through their company, Explore and Snore, for those interested in van life.
This comes as van lifers were given a sneak look into the world’s “most pimped out white van”, which has been kitted out as a custom camper with some top-of-the-line features.
The stunning motor is the product of a collaboration with a household-name manufacturer.
And an almighty new motorhome with a full kitchen, luxury living room, and even heated flooring has just been unveiled with a staggering £1million price tag.
The monstrous machine, built by iconic tuning company Brabus – known for their long-running association with Mercedes – is the ultimate home on wheels.
It includes a mini cinema inside which is linked to Netflix via Starlink[/caption]
