Vanny

Off-grid campervan conversion from an old school bus

Duration: 2017 to 2018

Type: Campervan Conversion

Vehicle: Citroën Relay (ex-school bus)

Description

Jo and I bought a partly converted campervan which had previously been an old school bus. The existing conversion was basic and tired, so we stripped it back completely and rebuilt it from scratch to a high standard. We installed captains seats, a full 12V electrical system with a custom switch panel, a gas cooker, gas heater, gas water heater, a solar panel with leisure batteries, a water tank, a TV, handmade curtains, a dedicated workspace, a shower cubicle, carpet throughout, and quality oak finishing throughout.

On the outside we fitted an awning, a bike rack, and a roof rack to carry the PV panel. The van was designed to be fully off-grid — we could wild camp for days without needing to hook up to mains power or water.

We travelled a large chunk of Western Europe in Vanny, including driving from the UK to the far end of Greece and back — an incredible adventure that took us through France, Italy, and across the Balkans.

Before & After Photos

Drag the slider to compare the before and after photos