Claire Edwards

Our New Bus Conversion and Tips On How To Get It Right The First Time

February 4, 2021 by Claire Edwards Leave a Comment

We’ve done it again! We have sold our much loved Toyota Coaster, and decided to do a new bus conversion on our Mercedes Vario. You may thinking why? Well after living in it full time for almost 18 months, there were a few things we decided really didn’t work for us. Rather than trying to fix them, we decided to sell up, and start again! Read below to see what kind of bus we bought and why, what we will be doing differently, and bus conversion tips to help you get it right the first time.

The New Bus

Our new bus is a 1997 Mercedes Vario. It is a 4.2 litre, 4 cyclinder turbo diesel automatic.

It is approximately 7.8 metres long, with an internal height of 1.9 metres and a width of 2.1 metres at the floor, and even wider at the windows.

So not only is it longer, but taller and wider than the Coaster. This will allow Shane to stand up freely, and for us to have a much wider hallway. We never imagined how much extra space that little bit of length and width would give us. Oh and its automatic – Shane can finally drive it! And maybe even one day get his licence 😉

roaming on rubber - bus conversion tips - mercedes vario

So why did we decide to sell our Toyota Coaster and get a Mercedes Vario?

Office space –

The first and foremost reason we decided to do a new bus conversion was because of the office space. Both Shane and I are constantly using our laptops for this blog, our YouTube series, and study. Shane has also continued to work remotely 3 days per week as an IT Technician. In the planning of our Toyota Coaster bus, the office space was an afterthought. We had a fold up dining table which Shane would use, but no space for an office chair. The solution was a boat chair mounted to our lounge for Shane, and I ended up doing everything whilst sitting on the lounge. This was not convenient, or comfortable! Not planning this was a poor decision, and the office space should have been at the forefront of our minds considering how much we require it.

We could have remodelled the Toyota Coaster to fit a better office space in however, after thinking long and hard we decided that to do that we would be compromising too much on our lounge and dining areas. We felt as though a slightly bigger bus with a better layout would be better.

In our new Mercedes Vario, a larger, more comfortable office space has been in the plans from the very beginning. We are going to ensure there is a large enough desk for both of us, as well as having comfortable office chairs. The plan is to find office chairs that can be used throughout the day, and stored underneath the desk when not in use.

Thin hallway –

When we were building our Toyota Coaster, we were trying to think about the layout as much as possible. We tried to build it in a way that made sense – starting from the back; bedroom, closet, bathroom, kitchen, with living area at the front. What this meant though was the two largest things (the bathroom and fridge) were almost opposite each other.

This caused a very small entrance to the hallway and made it feel quite claustrophobic.

Not only did it feel very tight, but it meant that we had two very large walls right near the entrance of our home. This closed the entire bus off.

roaming on rubber - bus conversion tips - Toyota Coaster

The idea for the new bus is to have the larger things (fridge and bathroom) on the same side. Whilst this is not as appealing as having the fridge on the same side as the kitchen, we believe the benefits of space will overcome this.

We have also arranged for any internal walls to be as close to the rear of the bus as possible. By doing this, we hope the bus will feel a lot more open and not so claustrophobic!

In all honesty, these were the two main things that we wanted different that were enough for us to build a new bus. Even though these were the primary things, there were other things we have decided to change in the new bus.

Things we want to do differently

Dinette –

In our Toyota Coaster, we had a small drop down table that was used as a dining table/office area. Whilst it was handy to use as a table, it was not in a convenient location that could be used to actually eat at. The plan for the new bus is to have a removable table top and leg that will be stored in the lounge. It can come out when necessary and be used along with the lounge to eat at. We will also have captains swivel chairs in this bus as the driver and passenger chairs. The same removable table top and leg will have a position in between the swivel chairs for a more formal dinette area.

Lounge –

Our previous lounge had all the bells and whistles; slide out to make a single bed, lift up for storage, and lift up foot rest. The problem was it had so much going on, that it was too much! It ended up being difficult to use, hard to access the storage, and we gave up on the foot rest idea. We had custom cut foam, and had covers made up to fit. It was very expensive, and after a long time sitting on it, it became uncomfortable.

The new bus will be much more simple. It will just be a lounge with storage. It will house our hot water system, cat litter, and our fold down table. We will have 2 small collapsible ottomans, so they can be put down and stored when not in use.

The lounge cushions will be thicker on the base, and we will have large softer cushions for the back.

Kitchen –

Kick panel. Omg we need a kick panel! In our Toyota Coaster, the idea of a kick panel seemed like wasted space. However, after opening the cupboards endlessly on our toes, we can definitely see the need for a kick panel! And now realise why it is called a ‘kick panel’…

Even though it takes up space, we have plans to have our air conditioner come up from under the bus into the kick panel area, at least then it is hidden from the inside. So still useable space!

All of our cupboards will have either drawers, or slide out storage; making everything much easier to access.

We have decided to buy a flatpack Kaboodle kitchen from Bunnings this time rather than build it ourselves. Whilst it is heavier, it will save us a lot of time, effort and surprisingly money to do it this way.

Our bus conversion tips; how do you get it right the first time?

Consider your bus size, plan and priorities –

Before even buying your bus, draw up some plans and work out how much space you will need, and what you want to have in your bus.

You might find that if you will be living in your bus full time, your needs may be different than if you are just using it for travel. For example, you may want a full toilet, shower and kitchen. Consider whether you will be staying in remote places and need to be off grid, or will primarily be staying in caravan parks. This will determine if you need a generator/solar, batteries and onboard water storage.

If you will be working in your bus, or like to do a lot of things online, do not underestimated your office space! Prioritise it. Comfortable seating and a good work area is a must.

What are your hobbies, or interests? Make sure you have the room to store things if you need to, or plan your design around them. Don’t leave anything to the last minute like we did.

We have a helpful planning guide here if you want to have a read in more detail 🙂

Photo of drawn up plan for our Toyota Coaster bus conversion. Roaming on rubber- things you should know before doing a bus conversion

Don’t overcomplicate things!

One of our biggest bus conversion tips is don’t overcomplicate things! It may sound simple, but when you have limited space you may find you are trying to squeeze as much in as possible. Sometimes this just makes it too hard, takes too long, costs too much and doesn’t always work out. The saying “keep it simple” really is relevant here.

We have spoken to other people who have done their own bus conversions, and most agree that generally when something is too complicated, it ends up not being used.

Learn tips from others –

If you have an idea, you can pretty much guarantee someone else out there has had it too! There are so many great forums, blogs and pages like this that have tonnes of bus conversion tips, information and ideas. And like us, not all of them have worked and we all learn from each other.

Don’t be afraid to message people directly and ask their opinion, ideas, or what they would have done differently. Most people love to share their knowledge in the hopes it will help someone.

Also, check out our in depth guide “Things you should know before starting a bus conversion“. We discuss budget, time to build, planning, buying a bus, licenses and more!

So now that we have sold our Toyota Coaster, we are well on our way to completing our Mercedes Vario. It has been a big change, but so far are glad we have done it. We hope that these bus conversion tips have helped you to get it right the first time, and avoid having to do a whole new build like us. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to send them through 🙂

Things You Should Know Before Starting A Bus Conversion

January 21, 2021 by Claire Edwards 3 Comments

When we started building our Toyota Coaster, we were completely new to the idea of building our own tiny home. There was so much we didn’t know, and so much we had to learn. Our motto was always “wing it”, or “let’s just see how it goes”. We are now on our second bus build; our Mercedes Vario. We have learnt so much in the process, and so far it has made this bus build go a lot smoother. That’s why we thought it was finally time to share with you the things we wish we had known before starting a bus conversion.

Roaming on rubber- things you should know before doing a bus conversion

The Emotional Rollercoaster –

The first and foremost thing we need to talk is the emotional rollercoaster of a ride your bus conversion will take you on. Everyone knows about budget, and time, and we will talk about those things too, but not everyone tells you about the journey of emotions that goes along with it.

When you start your bus conversion, you might think you know someone. It could be yourself, a partner, family member or friend. You know how they work, what causes them stress and how they handle certain situations. Well, this build will test everything you thought you knew!

There will be breakdowns and many different levels of stress. The bus conversion will occupy every second of your thoughts. We would spend hours looking at inspiration on how we can achieve a design or look we want, only to then spend hours more lying in bed unable to sleep thinking about the same thing. Sometimes you will want to give up, but other times completing a job no matter how small will give you the motivation to keep on going.

If you are building with someone it will test your relationship. There will be arguments and conflict, disagreements and differences in opinion. You will be trying to explain something and there will be trouble understanding. Both of you will have different ways of wanting to do the same thing. You won’t agree on the plan, or the design of everything.

This all sounds horrible, and you are probably thinking ‘why would I start with this?’, and ‘is it even worth it?’ Well the answer is yes! It absolutely is! Even though this is a huge undertaking, it is all part of the journey.

As much as there a lows, there a highs as well. After each completed task there is a sense of pride, along with the joy that comes from seeing it take shape.

From our experience, we have learnt that sometimes we just need to step completely away. Take a day to remind ourselves why we wanted to do this in the first place. If we don’t agree, we can work on something different or each come up with a new idea that the other may agree with. There is always ways to overcome this.

In the end, when it’s completed, you won’t look back and think of the stress, or all the arguments, you will stand there and look at what you have created with a smile on your face. It may not be perfect but it is yours, and you did this.

Roaming on Rubber - Free camping tips Australia -Esperance

Budget –

The main question we get asked is ‘how much does it cost to do a bus conversion?’

This is probably the hardest question to answer, and when starting your bus conversion, you may have no idea. There are so many different factors which can result in huge price differences. Some people think it is cheaper to do their own conversion, and others to buy one already done and remodel to their liking. Whilst it can be cheaper starting from scratch, it can also end up more expensive, take longer, and is definitely a lot more work! But when you are getting exactly what you want, does that make it worth it?

So, what costs the most money?

A couple of questions on what you want will start to determine your costs –

Do you want to be able to live off grid? How long for?
Do you want a shower and toilet?
Will you want a kitchen inside, or are you happy with outdoor cooking facilities?
What about hot water?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, already your costs are going to start creeping up.

So having a clear idea for your budget is a necessity. It might mean you need to look at second hand items, or compromising on some of the initial things you had planned.

Not only is there the expense of buying all of the items and appliances you want, but there could be service costs. For example, if you are having gas or 240v electricity, you will need a gas plumber and an electrician. Or if you are starting from scratch, you will need to pay an engineer to certify the bus into a motorhome. There could also be diesel heater installers, air conditioner installers, solar installers, mechanics, panel beaters, glaziers, automotive tinters, and so much more! Not to mention registration costs after all that…

For our original Toyota Coaster, we had a budget of $40,000. This was to buy our Coaster, and fit it out.

Our bus cost $21,000. After buying this and adding up what we wanted for our electrical system, kitchen and bathroom, we quickly realised the costs were going to blow out. Eventually the end figure was closer to $60-$65,000.

However, we did purchase everything new, had no tools to start off with, and bought almost the top of the range of everything at the time. So we literally were starting from scratch!

Our biggest tip when starting your bus conversion is not to forget about the small stuff. It adds up! For our new Mercedes Vario build, so far we have spent almost $300 just on screws, bolts, and silicone alone! Not to mention we used any of the previous stuff we had left from the Coaster…

Time to build the bus and time of year –

Something to consider when you are looking to convert a bus into a motorhome is how long it will take to do.

If you have experience in building, have the funds on hand, and have the time than building a bus may only take you a few short months.

If, however, you are like us, with no experience and are still working, then the reality is it could take a lot longer. We had anticipated for our Toyota Coaster to take around 6 months. With work and life commitments, it ended up taking us 13 months to complete.

So it is definitely a good idea to be realistic with your timeframe. Keep in mind things like work, family commitments and holidays. Have a general goal and regular targets to keep your plan in line.

Trades like gas plumbers and electricians can also have long lead times. For our Mercedes Vario, we learnt to book well in advance. If you aren’t ready you can always reschedule as you get closer, but at least you are booked in just in case.

Another very important thing to consider is the weather. When building our Toyota Coaster, we did the majority of work in the Summer. Each day was well over 40 degrees Celsius and it slowed us down tremendously. When working outdoors in the heat (and also when its freezing in Winter!) it can be very difficult. Not only more physical exertion, but jobs like silicone and painting are not achievable.

In saying that, when working outside, the rain also affects what can be done too; roof hatches, and holes in the bus become no longer possible.

So that leads us into our next thing to keep in mind…

Where will you build the bus?

This is extremely important! Converting a bus into a motorhome takes space. It is a good idea to plan where you will build prior to purchasing a bus. If you own or rent your property and have a large enough yard with a good storage shed or similar then you are set.

If like us, you do not and have nowhere to park a bus while you work on it, then you may need to look at other alternatives; family members, friends, rentals, or storage facilities. Try and think of things like electricity, water and shelter, and anything else that you may require.

Our Toyota Coaster was located 45 minutes away from where we lived. This meant that it was hard to do a few hours after work. We could only really work on it in full day blocks.

If you are lucky enough and can park it inside a large shed or undercover area, then the weather will not affect your build as much.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you need to rent a property, or move elsewhere, then try and make sure you have close access to a decent hardware shop! Sometimes we ended up at Bunnings 3 or 4 times a day! Our current Mercedes Vario is located around an hour from a Bunnings, so we have to plan very carefully and make our trips worthwhile. This can be difficult as not everything always goes to plan.

Buying the bus itself, and what to look for –

Now we are definitely not mechanics, so if you have a trusted mechanic friend, best to take them with you! But there is a general list of things to look for when buying a second hand bus or motorhome.

Shape of the bus – A bus with curved walls makes building hard! Our Toyota Coaster walls were curved and everything seemed more difficult. One of the reasons we opted for a Mercedes Vario the second time round was the walls have much less curve to them!

Water damage/leaks – Check the bus floor/walls for water damage. If you see anywhere that may look like there is water damage this could be an indication of a leak. Leaks, depending where they are could be an easy fix. Replacing the entire floor due to water damage however is not, and can be costly!

Rust – This may sound like a small thing, but rust is kind of like the tip of an iceberg; you may only be able to see a small bit on the surface, but there could be a whole heap underneath!

Surface rust is to be expected, especially on older vehicles, and with some sanding, and repair work can be fixed. When looking for rust, you want to be looking around things like the chassis, and the windows, or anywhere that could indicate a much larger or structural problem.

Transmission – Something small, but do you want a manual or automatic. Will it bother you driving either large distances?

Tyres – Check the tyres for acceptable tread, or any indication of uneven wear. Also have a look at the wheels/rims for any cracks or damage. Replacing 6 bus tyres isn’t cheap.

Chassis – As mentioned above, it is a good idea to check this for rust. This is the bones of the vehicle and you want it to be in good order. Also check to make sure there are no cracks, bends or repairs, to ensure no damage has been done.

Engine/leaks – Check the engine and see if there are any leaks or faults. When you take the vehicle for a test drive, return it and park in a different spot. This gives you the chance to look at the ground underneath where it was parked, to see if there is any oil or anything left behind.

Age of the bus and history – Always good to know the history of a vehicle and whether things like services and repairs have been up to date. Online checks can be done for a fee which will tell you if a vehicle has been written off/repaired.

Knowing what the bus was used for will give you a good indication of if it has had a hard life.

Again though, we are not mechanics, and this is very general information. It is best if you can have someone review the vehicle or go with you. Mechanics can be booked and charge a fee to perform a pre-purchase inspection.

Licence types –

One thing which may not even cross your mind when buying a bus to convert is what sort of licence is required.

C (Car): Vehicles up to 4.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). Vehicles that seat up to 12 adults, including the driver.

LR (Light Rigid): Rigid vehicles with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes, but not more than 8 tonnes. Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes. Vehicles can carry more than 12 adults, including the driver.

MR (Medium Rigid): Rigid vehicles over 8 tonne GVM, but no more than 2 axles. Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes. Vehicles can carry more than 12 adults, including the driver.

HR (Heavy Rigid): Rigid vehicles over 8 tonne GVM, and 3 axles or more. Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes.

It is highly unlikely that you will require a licence other than those listed above. It ultimately depends on the weight, axles and towing capacity of your vehicle.

To give you an example, our Toyota Coaster had a GVM of 4.99 tonne, which falls into the LR licence category. This meant that Claire had to upgrade her licence in order to drive the vehicle; in turn costing more money.

Our new Mercedes Vario has a GVM of 8.2 tonne. This falls into a MR category licence – once again Claire had to upgrade further.

There are courses available for this, and typically cost upwards of $1000.

Just something to keep in mind is that the bigger and heavier you go, you may be required to upgrade your licence.

Roaming on rubber- things you should know before doing a bus conversion - claire driver training nsw

The design of the bus –

Before you go buying a bus and starting your bus conversion, it is a good idea to have an idea of a design or layout. If you have a general idea, then you will know what kind of bus and what size to look for.

There are a few factors which you should consider when designing your bus.

If you are going to be living in it full time, you should consider things such as a shower/toilet, full fridge, cooking facilities and storage. Whereas if you are going to be living in it part time, these things may not be as high a priority.
What are the seating requirements, and how many do you need to sleep.
Do you want to be able to live off grid? This means not requiring access to water or electricity and having your own onboard.
What is important to you? Living spaces, desk areas, entertaining space etc.

Once you have a general layout planned, you can work out what size bus might meet your requirements and this will narrow down the options available for you. Because we planned ahead we knew when changing from our Toyota Coaster to our Mercedes Vario that we would need a bus that was around 8m in length and at least 2m wide (It helps when you have done one before). This allowed us to narrow our search to a specific few vehicles.

Are you going to start your bus conversion from scratch, or buy one already done and remodel?

There are pros and cons for both buying a bus and starting from scratch, or buying one that has already been converted.

If you buy a bus from scratch, they are typically cheaper than one already classed as a motorhome.

You then get to design it yourself and have everything as you want it. However, depending on your design, by the end of the build, it may end up costing a lot more than buying one already converted to a motorhome.

By building it yourself, you will know exactly what has been done to it, so if there are any problems, or any questions, you will have the answers the majority of the time or know where to look.

However, buying a bus and converting it from nothing is hard work. Do you have, or are you willing to learn the skills required? For example there is generally wood working, welding, plumbing, flooring and more.

Do you have the money? Even though the vehicle itself may be cheaper, turning it into a motorhome can be expensive. Having a budget, and expectations of things that could go wrong here is a must.

Do you have the time? If you are on a time limit, it may be much more beneficial to buy a bus already converted to a motorhome. If you can find one close enough to the design you are looking for, it could save you a lot of time and money if you only need to make minor adjustments, you just might not be getting exactly what you want.

Buying an already converted bus will still give you the luxury and convenience of buying a motorhome, but typically at a much cheaper price.

It’s a good idea to review all options to decide what is going to best match your budget, and any other restrictions.

Our final thing you should know is to enjoy it!

Converting a bus into a motorhome is hard! It is such an emotional journey. It is tiring, overwhelming, and will physically and mentally exhaust you. But it is also a fantastic time in life. If you do get the opportunity to do something like this, appreciate it, learn new skills, and take pride in what you accomplish.

You will watch so many Youtube videos, read blogs like this, join Facegroup groups and chat to other like-minded people. There are so many people these days who are looking for alternative lifestyles that this idea of bus conversions is booming.

When it gets hard, and it will get hard, just remember this, it might help to keep the motivation going!

Good luck ?

Shane and Claire removing the vinyl flooring in our Toyota Coaster bus conversion. Roaming on rubber- things you should know before doing a bus conversion

Tips for Free Camping in Australia

January 7, 2021 by Claire Edwards Leave a Comment

Free camping in Australia is an excellent way to see our beautiful country without breaking the bank on accommodation, hotels or flights.

Solar panels and batteries have come along way in the past few years, which has made the idea of free camping much more achievable for those looking to try it. While these things aren’t necessary to camp freely, they do enhance the experience and make for longer stays, with fewer city stops possible. However, there are plenty of people who travel with nothing but a bag and a tent!

Read on to see our best tips on getting the most out of your free camping experience.

There are many different ways you can freecamp around Australia.

A lot of people opt for a motorhome, or car/4WD with caravan. However, you can also ride a motorbike with a tent or swag, sleep in the back of a car, or any other means you can think of!

Motorhomes and Caravans –

Motorhomes are readily available for hire, and there are plenty around if you want to purchase one.

There are many benefits of using a motorhome; onboard cooking facilities and water tanks, storage, and in some cases a shower and toilet. Most can be driven on a car licence, and fit into 2 car parks. If you have solar panels, depending on your capacity, you can run things such as a fridge, lights, laptops or even an air conditioner! Battery storage also allows you to run these things when the sun isn’t out. Water is typically easy to come by, and onboard tanks can be filled for free or a small fee at many locations.

One negative with a motorhome or caravan is finding parking in larger cities. Whilst most places have long vehicle parking, we have found that particularly in coastal towns there may not be a lot, and they can be quite busy.

A car/4wd and caravan has the benefit of being able to be unhitched, and is a great option for free camping Australia. This means you can park your caravan, and take the car where you need to go. Definitely a benefit around town.

The other benefits of a caravan are pretty much the same as a motorhome, with the exception you have a vehicle for around town. Just means you have to be comfortable to leave your van somewhere!

Camper, Car or 4WD –

Another option for free camping is a camper, car, or 4wd. Whilst these options may not have some of the luxuries of a motorhome or caravan, they tend to be cheaper, smaller, and easier to get around town in. You have the option to carry cooking facilities, a bit of water storage, a portable solar panel, and even a portable toilet. There are a lot of people who have already converted these vehicles for travel, and you can find them for sale quite easily. Being a smaller vehicle, there are more campsites that can accommodate you. Sometimes a larger vehicle can struggle, particularly if there is a tight bush or 4wd track.

Motorbike –

Then of course there is a motorbike. It might not sound like the most popular option, but a motorbike and swag/tent will do the trick. This is probably the most fuel efficient option available. Downside to this, is having to set up a swag or tent each place you decide to stay, and having to deal with this in different weather conditions.

These are just a few of the most popular options for free camping in Australia, all with their own benefits, and just a few negatives.

What are the biggest travel expenses?

Petrol –

The most expensive cost by far, is petrol. Australia is a large country, and in some places, towns are few and far between. This means large distances to travel to see everything. It is a good idea to be realistic when it comes to fuel costs. Whilst you are saving by not paying accommodation, you may spend a lot more in petrol than you expect, especially if your plan is to cover a lot of Australia.

Our tip here is to plan. Have a weekly budget you know is maintainable and stick to it. Work out your estimated costs, based on how far you want to travel prior to your trip so you have some sort of idea. After this, add in some miscellaneous fuel. There is only so far planning will take you, and you will always see a sign or something you want to check out that wasn’t on your original itinerary.

Something to also take note of is fuel costs in more remote places. For example, we found that diesel was anywhere up to 50 cents per litre more expensive on the Nullabor, as opposed to larger towns.

Remember to keep up your vehicle maintenance too. You don’t want to get half way around Australia and breakdown. Regularly check and top up your oil and coolant levels, tyres, and anything else you can think of. Be prepared if something does happen, consider roadside insurance, or have the tools to be able to fix most common problems yourself.

Food!

If you are anything like us, you will have good intentions of not eating out. You’ll buy cereal and bread for breakfast, have the stuff to make salad sandwiches for lunch, and all the goodies to cook for dinner. But then you see that amazing looking pizza, or that breakfast menu, that pie that claims to be the best in the state, and then it all goes through the window!

Food can be expensive. Especially if you have a partner, or family. It definitely adds up and can cost a lot more than you planned or budgeted for. Food can blow out your free camping around Australia trip!

So what’s our best tip here? We knew going away we would want to eat out. We decided to allow ourselves one expensive meal per week. So that means going out to a restaurant for dinner, or ordering that big, expensive, fancy pizza.
If we happened to walk past somewhere that looked amazing, but wasn’t planned, we would ask ourselves if we would prefer to eat here, or save it for a day we knew we would want to go out; in particular if we knew we were staying at a certain place coming up.

It’s not easy, but it is a good rule to follow to help save money.

Roaming on Rubber - Free camping tips Australia

Accomodation –

Accommodation is also something that can cost quite a lot. You are probably thinking why is there accommodation costs when I’m free camping around Australia? While you can almost free camp anywhere, there are places that have absolutely no free camping. Trust us, we have looked.

Most of these places tend to be cities, or some coastal towns, which is quite often where we want to spend a fair bit of our time. So for example, cities such as Melbourne and Sydney don’t offer free camping, and it is very difficult to find free camps around coastal towns like Margaret River in WA. There are rest stops outside of the cities, but if you want to spend more than one day in the area checking it out, this can be frustrating having to drive this distance everyday just to park.

So how much is it for accommodation? Well this varies.

Caravan/RV park fees typically vary from around $30-$60 per night, depending if you want access to power or not. If you are somewhere that has a showground, these tend to be cheaper at around $20-$30 per night, which often includes power and amenities.

Other times you may find areas requesting a donation. We have stayed at quite a few donation areas, and just put whatever cash we have into a donation box – typically this will be around $5- $10 a night.

There are also private Facebook groups such as “Driveway Sharing Australia“. These are private people who offer up their driveways for people to park. Some have restrictions, and do charge, so best to look and book beforehand.

So even though you are free camping, it is a good idea to put a little money away for accommodation just in case. Our tip here is to set aside enough money for one night’s accommodation per week. We quite often didn’t use our one night per week, and would save them up to spend a few nights in a city.

And finally, there is sightseeing –

There are information centres, and signs everywhere pointing out all the amazing things every place has to offer. Realistically, no one can afford to do every single thing, it just costs too much.

It is a good idea to chat to the team at the information centre, as there are a lot of free things to do which can be amazing – walks, hikes, beaches, sights etc.

If you know you are going to be wanting to do things that cost money like cruises, theme parks or other activities, it is a good idea to have a reasonable budget here and stick to it. Again, if you see something on a whim, ask yourself if you would prefer to do that now, or go to the place you had planned to pay for originally. At least that way you are deciding what means more for you.

So they would be the most expensive costs while free camping around Australia. Remember to keep a budget in mind, and allow extra for unplanned things.

Roaming on Rubber - Free camping tips Australia Port Macquarie

What are the kind of places I can stay when I am free camping in Australia?

Roadside rest stops –

These are easy to find, generally have plenty of space, and most have a toilet available. Whilst they would not be our first choice of free camp, if you are looking for a quick stop they are definitely a good choice. Some roadside stops are near highways and can be a little loud, but when it’s free, who can complain!

Car parks –

There are a lot of places, in particular small towns that offer a car park for travellers to pull up and park for free. They could be at a sports oval, park, or just on the side of the road. This option may or may not have a toilet available, but most towns have public toilets close by.

Bylong - Roaming on rubber free camping tips australia

Beaches –

Have a 4wd and a beach permit? Then the beach could be the perfect place for a free camp. Don’t forget to have everything you need in case you get stuck!

National Parks –

National parks can be a great place to stay. Some have entry fees, so make sure you do some research and know what you are getting into for each park. The last thing you want is a fine!

Even though national parks are beautiful, they can also be quite strict. If you have cats or dogs, you may not be able to stay. There are a lot of rules to protect the animals, and plants in the park.

Bush Camping –

This is similar to national parks camping, but without all the rules. There are quite a lot of bush tracks available and not all are for 4wds. We found we stayed quite often in the bush, however made sure we stuck to well-known areas.

RSL’s, Bowling Clubs, or Pubs –

And believe it or not, some RSL’s, Bowling Clubs, or pubs can offer free stays for self-contained campers. Some do ask that you dine in for dinner, others don’t mind. Either way, we find a free night for the cost of a meal really isn’t too bad!

Something to keep note of is to only park where you are allowed to. There are typically signs that say “No parking” or “No Camping”. These areas are generally patrolled by rangers, and can be quite strict.

So how do I find all these free camp places?

Wikicamps App –

We found the Wikicamps App by far the most useful app to find freecamping spots in Australia. Not only could we find heaps of places to stay, there was information on public toilets, laundromats, dump points, information centres, points of interest and more! You can download all the maps before leaving so that if you are somewhere without internet, you will still be able to access the information.

The app has a free trial, but after this it costs around $7 for a lifetime. We found this a little fee considering the amount we use it!

One thing we love about this app is there is a section for comments on each place. This is where people can leave photos and give honest information after being there. This is how we know if it is a good spot or not!

Campermate –

Campermate is similar to the Wikicamps App, however it is free. After looking at both, we found we gravitated towards the Wikicamps App due to its ease of use, and for us it appeared to have a lot more information. For a free option though, this is definitely worth a look.

Word of mouth –

Talk to people! You would be surprised at how many other campers we have spoken to that have told us about awesome places to stay.

Websites and Books –

And then of course there is websites and books.

Websites such as –

https://www.campsaustraliawide.com/

and

https://www.visitnsw.com/things-to-do/caravan-and-camping/free-camping-nsw

And each states National Parks website provide good information on camping and if it is free and what requirements there are.

Books such as Camps Australia Wide are awesome if you know you’ll be somewhere with no reception and like having a physical book.

So now I know where to free camp, and how to find a spot, what are the best things you should have?

The most important things to consider having while free camping are –

Fresh drinking water – keep a drum handy in case of emergencies.
Mobile phone or satellite phone – You never know what emergencies could come up so staying somewhere with mobile or satellite phone coverage is pretty important.
A power source – If you have a mobile, laptop, fridge, or anything else that requires power, you may want to consider a power source. This could be portable solar panels or a generator.
Cooking facilities – Unless you plan on just having snack food, a portable gas burner or similar is a good cheap way to cook meals. A fridge, or esky for food is a must!
A portable toilet – Whilst this isn’t a necessity, a lot of free camps do not have a toilet available, so this is definitely a good idea to make your stay more comfortable!
And lastly, a first aid kit, torch, tools, and any backup vehicle equipment like oil, spare tyre etc.

Caravan Toilet Blog - Portable camper toilet

Where do I shower, do my washing and leave my rubbish?

It can be so exciting at the thought of free camping in Australia, that there are a lot of things you may not think of. All of a sudden you have been on the road a couple of days and realise you haven’t had a proper shower (those baby wipes only last so long!), have no clean clothes, and have a full bag of smelly rubbish.

So what can you do?

Surprisingly, finding somewhere to shower can be pretty simple. Some larger roadside service stations have showers available for truck drivers and just ask a small fee – maybe around $2-$5.

A lot of caravan parks also allow you to use the amenities without staying, and also charge a fee, typically around $5-$10.

Then of course we have seen the rare information centre that has amenities, and believe it or not but some country towns have public showers available.

If you are okay with cold showers, there is always the beach, just pop some swimmers on!

Alternatively you can carry your own portable shower with you. These can start from as little as around $20 and use the sun to heat up the water through black plastic. Easy!

Finding somewhere to do washing is pretty simple. There are laundromats available in most towns, but be careful, some can be a bit pricey especially for the dryer! And most caravan parks will again let you use the washing facilities for their fee.

It’s always a good idea to carry your own washing liquid or powder as over time the cost of purchasing single sachets can add up.

Otherwise, if you have the water, can always wash clothes in a bucket or the sink!

There is a very clear rule for travellers and rubbish – leave no trace.

What does this mean? Exactly what it says. If you are staying somewhere, when you leave, make sure you do not leave any sign or trace that you were there. In other words, take your rubbish with you. Not only is this the right thing to do and better for the environment, but if rubbish is left too often it can affect the campsites. A lot of good campsites have closed down due to the amount of rubbish left. So it’s really important to make sure that you take any rubbish with you.

Rubbish bins are literally everywhere; roadside stops, parks, dump points, information centres and more. Just make sure you are not dumping illegal or household waste and it is only what you use on the road and you should be fine. If you have toilet waste, this can only be dumped in designated dump points.

The good thing about the Wikicamps app is it will also tell you where to find showers, laundromats, and rubbish bins!

How to be safe while free camping

As you are not staying in caravan parks or places that may have security, you will more likely be in more remote places and need to be mindful of safety while free camping.

Things to consider –

Mobile/satellite coverage
First aid kit – consider doing a first aid course so you have the basic skills if something were to happen.
Security – cameras, Crimsafe window covers, keeping doors and windows locked.
Park in well-known or lit up areas; consider only parking where others are instead of alone, and staying by streetlights just in case.
Let people know where you are and keep in contact, provide them with regular updates of your travels.

So what are our favourite free camps?

There are too many to choose from, but the first few that come to mind are:

Bunda Cliffs Campground –

This campground is literally on the edge of Australia. Off the Nullabor, this beautiful place overlooks the water, and you can see right off the cliff edge. We saw groups of dolphins playing in the water.

There is no phone reception or amenities and it can get pretty windy. It is a little harder for larger vehicles to enter (it was tight in our Coaster!), and can be a bit bumpy. If you can get in there though, it is definitely worth it!

Bunda Cliff Lookout - Great Australian Bight - Roaming on rubber free camping tips australia

Carcoar Dam –

Carcoar Dam is around 40 minutes South West of Bathurst. It is a large free campsite with toilets, and showers! There are plenty of spots to park. The spot has some breath taking sunsets and is very relaxing. There are a few people who live here permanently in vans and we found them all to be very friendly. It can get a little busy during the popular seasons.

Ponto Falls Reserve –

This hidden gem is located in between Dubbo and Wellington beside the Macquarie River. There is plenty of room along the river and it is suitable for all types of camping. There are a couple of drop toilets, bins, and a dump point. You can stay up to 14 days for free. Just be careful when driving as some of the holes can be quite big!

Bunjils Lookout and Maude Recreation Reserve –

Bunjils lookout is a small camping spot located in Victoria, around 1 hour 20 mins West of Melbourne. You are on top of a hill looking out over the valley. The sunsets and view are absolutely spectacular.

There is toilets and BBQ facilities available.

Bunjil's Lookout - Shane Patmore Photography

So that’s it for our tips for free camping in Australia. This is a large, and beautiful country with so much to offer. Now it’s time to explore it!

How to change a bus into a motorhome and register it in NSW

September 29, 2020 by Claire Edwards 6 Comments

Note; Please contact Service NSW, or an engineer for specific information, this is a guide only on turning a bus into a motorhome.

We have a lot of people asking us how to change a bus into a motorhome, and the registration process. It seems to be one of those grey areas where there isn’t a lot of readily available information. Starting from scratch with a bus can be daunting, and not knowing where to start, or what to include in your conversion can be costly if not done right. So we thought it was time for a post to help anyone looking to convert a bus to a motorhome, and then to register it.

This post will focus on converting a bus to a motorhome from scratch. There are a lot of variations though, and we will try and answer some of these towards the end of the post.

So, you’ve gone and bought a bus (Yay!), and now want to change it to a motorhome and have no idea where to start. The first thing we recommend is to get familiar with the requirements of a motorhome.

So, what are the minimum requirements for a motorhome in NSW?

Seats and a table
Sleeping areas
Cooking facilities
And storage areas

And, what are the basic steps I need to do to get it registered?

This is a quick guide for what steps you need to take with a more in depth breakdown below. This is based on an unregistered bus with variations to this at the end of the post.

Contact your engineer to confirm your requirements for a motorhome, and anything specific your engineer of choice may want done.
Plan and complete your fit out. Make sure you meet all NSW requirements (below).
Take your bus to a weigh bridge for certificate.
Take your bus to the engineer so they can check all requirements and compliance is met. They will put a compliance plate on once complete.
Finally its time to take your bus for a safety inspection at an Authorised Safety Inspection Station (blue slip for vehicles under 4.5 tonne, or brown slip if over 4.5 tonne).
Purchase Compulsory Third Party insurance (green slip).
Attend Service NSW with all paperwork, proof of ownership, and any number plates on the vehicle. Fill out an Application for Registration, purchase new number plates, and register vehicle.

Done!

Please note, even though your bus is unregistered, you are allowed to drive it for the purpose of registration to the closest available inspection station . If you are not going to the closest, you should obtain an Unregistered Vehicle Permit from your local Service NSW.

So that is a very basic guideline of what needs to be done to register a converted bus into a motorhome. Of course, things are rarely ever as simple as we want them to be! So let’s get into some specifics.

What do I need in my motorhome to make it compliant?

Everything in the above list of minimum motorhome requirements needs to be rigidly fixed to the vehicle. However, you can have a table which can be folded down, or converted to a bed.

Safety –

The first thing an engineer will look at is the safety requirements. Everything must be fitted or installed so that it cannot cause damage or harm to someone. This is while the vehicle is both stationary, and moving. For example, you cannot have sharp edges, or items which will go flying while you’re driving and you cannot have any holes in the floor (we got caught out with this one!). All tables and chairs need to be installed so they cannot move or dislodge.

Sleeping Berths –

When it comes to sleeping areas, a very important requirement is that you must have at least one seat, per sleeping berth. So for example, if you have 4 beds in your bus, you must have 4 seats to use while travelling.

Seats/Seatbelts –

Seatbelts are important and something the engineer will definitely look at. If you are using a seat that was originally fitted, and in its original position, you do not need to make adjustments to any of the seatbelts. However, if you move any of the seats, or make any sort of adjustments (for example, change to captain’s chairs, or recliners) then the vehicle needs to be fitted with new seatbelts that meet compliance.

Seatbelts cannot be fitted to a non-designated seat.

Doors –

In NSW, a motorhome must have an outward opening door on either the left hand side or the rear of the vehicle.

So those awesome bi-fold doors? No good unfortunately.

There are a few options here however; you can replace the bi-fold door with an outward opening caravan door, or you can modify the existing bi-fold door with different hinges, and by welding the 2 pieces together to make it a bi-fold door.

A door that slides on the outside of the vehicle is fine.

There can be no obstructions to the door, and it must be easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Gas Appliances –

Any gas appliances, such as ovens, stoves, hot water systems, heaters etc, need to be installed by a licenced gas plumber. You will need to get a certificate for the appliances installed. Your gas plumber will also need to provide a gas plate which he will attach to the vehicle which states it meets the gas regulations. This paperwork will all need to be provided to your engineer to be compliant.

There are certain requirements with gas that are very important in your floor plan. For example, the gas bottles must be in a completely sealed box and only accessible from outside of the vehicle. Also, they cannot be within 1.5 metres of any ignition source. So this means that you need to have a gap of at least 1.5 metres from your gas bottles to your stove, and hot water system.

Electrical Appliances –

If you are having mains connection in your bus, your electrical installations needs to be done by a licenced electrician.

You must get a safety certificate from your electrician stating that the work is compliant to motorhome standards. This is then taken to your engineer as well.

12V and 24V wiring can be done by yourself, however if unsure, please contact an auto electrician.

Ventilation –

This is one where we got caught out and had to make a last minute adjustment!

Depending on the size of your motorhome, depends on how much ventilation you must have.

The standard rule is that at least half of your windows must open, you must have another source of ventilation (for example, our caravan door has a permanent vent to allow air), and you have to include either two whirly birds, or a roof hatch towards the rear of the bus.

We didn’t realise this, and a few days before we were booked into the engineer we called to clarify we had everything and realised we did not have a roof hatch. Luckily there was a caravan shop close by we could get one and put in in time.

Toilets, Sinks, Showers –

Any toilet installed in a motorhome must be emptied into a tank. So this means, it cannot just go straight to the ground!

The tank must be vented to the atmosphere.

Any sink or shower needs to drain into a tank that also vents to the atmosphere. It cannot drain into a toilet, or the same tank as the toilet waste goes into.

TV’s –

This might be a small thing, but still important.

A TV or visual aid cannot be installed somewhere that can be seen from the driver’s seat and needs to be securely mounted. It also cannot obscure the driver’s vision, or get in the way of movement in the vehicle. In other words, it cannot be a distraction!

This does not include GPS.

Fire Extinguisher –

Every motorhome must have a compliant fire extinguisher mounted no more than 1.2 metres from the floor in the living space.

Smoke Alarm –

A compliant smoke alarm is a requirement to be passed by the engineer. It is also a good idea to consider one with a CO2 monitor.

Standard vehicle requirements –

And then there is all the other standard vehicle requirements you must be compliant with to change a bus to a motorhome.

For example, all vehicles need to be within a certain width, and height and not have too much rear overhang.

Every vehicle must be right hand drive and within its weight limits.

All the lights and reflectors must be in working order and windows must be transparent with compliant tint.

Tyres need to be the correct size for the vehicle, and have plenty of tread.

So now that that’s out of the way, what are some of the variations?

My bus is already registered –

So you have bought a bus that is already registered. That is perfectly fine and not much different in terms of converting to a motorhome.

Make sure to attend a Service NSW centre to pay and transfer the bus into your name. You have 14 days from the date of purchase to avoid being charged a late payment fee.

You can then follow the above step by step process up to step 4. After this however, once you have your compliance paperwork from the engineer, you can take this, and your registration papers to a Service NSW centre. They will update the information on their end and change it to a motorhome.

They may still charge you a fee as there may be a difference in the registration cost from a bus to a motorhome.

You may also need to contact your CTP company and advise them of the changes.

My bus is coming from interstate –

That’s okay, if it is coming from interstate, the process is exactly the same as if it were an unregistered vehicle in NSW. You will however need to surrender the interstate plates when you go into a Service NSW centre.

If your vehicle is registered when it comes from interstate, you have 3 months to change it into your name in NSW.

I have purchased a motorhome from interstate –

The first thing we would suggest here is to contact an engineer in NSW.

As the motorhome is coming from interstate, it may or may not be compliant with NSW motorhome requirements. In this case, you may need to make adjustments to your motorhome, then attend the engineer to get a NSW engineer certificate.

You would then attend a Service NSW registry to complete the interstate transfer process. You will need to provide proof of purchase for the vehicle, as well as surrender the interstate number plates.

What if I want to decrease or increase my GVM?

If you want to change your GVM, or are concerned with your weight, it is really important to keep this in mind throughout the process of your build, and speak to your engineer.

The situations where a motorhomes GVM can be changed are very limited.

The most common thing people would do here is decrease the GVM so the vehicle can be driven on a different class of licence.

We enquired about this with our engineer originally, and they said they could, however would need to make an adjustment to the springs on the bus. We opted against due to cost, and decided to keep the extra weight allowance just in case.

So, that’s it!

So that gives you an expanded list of requirements for a bus to be changed to a motorhome in NSW, as well as a guide to getting it registered. A lot of the states are similar but do have different requirements.

It seems like a lot, but as long as you know what you are expected to do, it makes the process a whole lot easier. There are definitely a lot of variations, and most certainly things we have not covered here. So again, when in doubt, contact your engineer or Service NSW for clarification.

And good luck!

Caravan Toilet Guide

September 22, 2020 by Claire Edwards 1 Comment

If you are considering having a toilet in your caravan or camper, there are a few things you need to consider prior to purchasing one.

Do I want it to be permanently installed, or portable?

Will there be many people will use it? How long does it need to last?

How often will I need to use it? (For example, will I be staying in caravan parks mostly or not?)

How much am I willing to spend?

Do I need to be water, electricity or environment conscious?

How do I empty it, and how do I clean it?

What are the benefits of a caravan toilet?

There are a few very obvious benefits of having a toilet in your caravan or motorhome. The first, and probably most important –convenience, and practicality! Having an onboard toilet means you are less likely to need to stay at a caravan park, increasing the ability to free camp. Depending how many people are using it, you can go days without having to leave to empty your toilet. You also don’t have to use public toilets, and let’s face it, sometimes they are not so nice!

Another important reason – privacy. Have you ever been in a public toilet and almost walked out because of the smell? Or even worse, the noise? Sometimes it’s nice to know you have this little private sanctuary in your RV.

So what caravan toilet options are available?

Cassette Toilet –

A cassette toilet is a permanent option in your RV or caravan. It is secured in place, and has a waste holding tank underneath.

Once you flush the toilet, the waste goes down into the cassette and is stored until emptied. The waste holding tanks typically are between 15-20 litres in size. Depending on use and the amount of people, this typically will last a couple of days. A lot of people opt to carry an additional waste tank if they know they will not be near a dump point for some time.

Most cassettes are accessible from the outside of your motorhome via a small door.

The idea is to remove the cassette tank, and empty when needed into a dump point (a specific spot for dumping motor home waste – we have found these to be quite common everywhere in Australia, most RV friendly towns have one available). Once emptied, you can hose the tank out for a bit of a clean, and reinsert back into your motorhome.

RV Toilet Blog - Dump point - Shutterstock image for decorative purposes only

The good –

Easy to find dump spots – readily available in most RV friendly towns.

Convenience – No need to find a public toilet, or a nice spot on the ground!

Space saving – some cassette toilets come with a swivel seat which means it can be turned in any direction. This is handy in smaller spaces like ours.

The bad –

The smell. Yes, it can smell!

We use specific toilet chemicals which help to break down the waste, and basically turn it into slush. This is what comes out of your cassette and into the dump point. The first time you dump your waste can be a bit of a shock to see what comes out!

Some dump points are definitely more cleaner than others. Most have a hose to rinse the dump point when you are finished using it, the ones that don’t tend to be a little smelly!

Inside, the smell is mainly when you open the toilet and you can smell it from underneath. When closed, it is not as much of an issue.

We have found regularly cleaning the toilet, rinsing it at each dump station, using the chemicals, and a few drops of eucalyptus oil every now and then helps with the smell.

Another negative – the waste tank can be heavy when full. To help with this, a lot of cassette waste tanks come with an extendable handle and wheels to roll it along the ground to the dump point.

Some examples of Cassette toilets –

Portable Toilet –

A portable RV toilet is essentially the same as a cassette toilet, however the waste holding tank is attached to the toilet itself, and the whole thing can be moved around as a unit. This is a good idea if you are not wanting a permanent plumbed in toilet, or do not have enough space for a bathroom but want the convenience of a toilet just in case.

The good –

Easy to find dump spots – readily available in most RV friendly towns.

Convenience – No need to find a public toilet, or a nice spot on the ground!

Space saving – if you cannot have a permanent bathroom, at least you can still carry a toilet around with you. Most people tuck them away under a bed, or in a cupboard when not in use.

Typically a lot cheaper than a cassette toilet, so better for those watching their budgets!

The bad –

Generally a smaller waste saving tank, so it needs to be emptied more often.

Not a permanent feature, so needs to be carried around with you.

The smell! Always the smell haha!

Some examples of portable toilets are –

Camec Portable Toilet – 20L (10L also available)
Thetford Porta Potti 365
Dometic Sanipottie 976

Composting Toilet –

Have you ever chucked all of your vegetable and kitchen scraps somewhere and just left it to breakdown?

That is essentially what a RV composting toilet is.

It works by separating the liquids from the solids, and an additive such as peat moss, or sawdust helps to break it down.

After you have used it, it can then be emptied anywhere you would normal compost. It is definitely recommended not to empty the compost around any edible plants, herbs, vegetables, fruits, seeds etc.

The liquid can be disposed of at a dump spot, or even in a normal toilet as it has no chemicals in it.

The good –

It is the most environmentally friendly option. It is a dry toilet and doesn’t require water to use. If needed a quick spray of water from a bottle should do the trick.

Easy to find dump spots.

Convenient!

No chemicals required.

The bad –

Typically the most expensive.

If you need to use toilet paper, it takes much longer to break down than the waste does, so you will be able to see this and would probably need to dispose of at dump stations. Alternatively, you can put your used toilet paper in a bin instead of the toilet.

There is RV specific toilet paper available. It is generally a lot thinner than regular toilet paper which helps it to breakdown quicker. Downside to this is the cost.

As it separates solids from liquids, it is not great for anyone who may be sick; sometimes there is an in-between!

It is recommended for use for only 1-2 people. As there is no large waste holding tank, it is not suitable for families or large groups.

They require a bit of understanding to be able to be used properly. If used properly, there is typically no issues with smells, or clogs.

There are not a lot of composting toilets around, however a good example is the Natures Head Composting Toilet.

Gravity Flush –

If you are going to be staying at a lot of caravan parks, a gravity flush toilet could be the option for you.

They work using pressurised water and gravity to flush away the contents in a tank located directly underneath – kind of like a pretty long drop toilet!

As you need pressurised water to clean it, typically you need to be plugged into mains water for this to be effective.

The tank is then emptied at a designated dump spot, just like a cassette toilet.

RV Toilet Blog - Dump point for toilet - Shutterstock image for decorative purposes only

The good –

Simple to use.

It does not require electricity to work – They are operated by a foot pump.

Low water usage

The bad –

Can smell, just like a casette toilet.

The toilet has a higher chance of clogging.

As the toiler needs pressurised water, it is not as good at being able to be used off grid.

Some examples of gravity flush toilets –

So what did we decide?

After looking at all of the caravan toilet options available, we were tossing up between a cassette toilet, and a composting toilet. We wanted a permanent toilet and both of these fit what we were looking for.

After watching a clip on YouTube describing the composting toilet, we opted against it. The idea of being sick, or even for a girl during that time of the month and not being able to use the toilet turned us off a little. Not to mention it was more expensive!

Because of this, we decided on a Dometic CTS 4110 cassette toilet.

Roaming on rubber rv dometic cassette toilet - toyota coaster motorhome conversion

All of the toilets listed require the use of a dump point. Dump points are readily available in most RV friendly towns. We found the easiest way to find them was using the Wikicamps App. Not only does this app help with dump point locations, but also camp sites, information centres, laundromats and more.

Even though most of them can smell, there are plenty of chemical options such as Thetford Aqua Kem blue, or Porta Pak sachets available to help. You can purchase these at caravan shops, camping shops, some auto shops, and in country places some supermarkets stock them. We tend to use the sachets, as we have found for us they last longer and work better.

A toilet is definitely a personal preference, and they are all good in different ways. After living in our Toyota Coaster motorhome for quite some time now, we are happy with our decision to put in a toilet and wouldn’t ever build another motorhome without one!

If you want to see how we installed our toilet, check out our page here –

Toyota Coaster Motorhome Conversion – RV Shower Cubicle and Dometic Toilet Install

Product Review – Thetford Caprice Mk3 Motorhome Oven

August 24, 2020 by Claire Edwards 1 Comment

One of the first large purchases we made for our Toyota Coaster, was an order from Coast to Coast RV at the Caravan and Camping show in Sydney. In this order, we purchased our Thetford Caprice Mk3 duel fuel fan forced oven. Wow, what a mouthful! Now that we have been living in our motorhome for over a year, we thought it was time to give a proper product review.

So let’s start with the basics, and let’s be honest one of the most important things; how does it look?

The Thetford Caprice oven’s black glass lid, silver handles and brushed metal give it a sleek modern look.

It is one of the larger options available at 644H x 513W x 500D, and a net weight of 26.8kg. It has a 36 litre oven capacity, 23.7 litre grill, as well as 3 gas hotplates, and a larger electric one at the rear.

So yes, while it is larger than other ovens available, it is one of the only ones out there that has both a decent size oven, a grill and 4 hotplates. Not to mention a fan forced option. The fan forced model is particularly good for the cooking performance. It helps to spread the heat and give even temperature distribution.

The appearance was a huge appeal to us when we were looking for an oven. We wanted it to look good, but also be useful. So not only, is it physically attractive, but quite versatile with the tempered glass top which acts as additional bench space when closed. If you are not sure on the glass lid, you can also get a laminated lid option. It is a slide in insert which matches and blends in with the rest of your kitchen décor.

The oven is big enough for a couple or family with plenty of room to cook.

When considering the ovens size, one thing to keep in mind is that it does not fit into a traditional oven cabinet, and this may need to be a custom cabinet if you are looking at building your own kitchen.

Toyota Coaster Bus Conversion - Thetford Caprice Review - MK3 Motorhome Oven

So how much does it cost?

As it is an oven, grill, and cooktop, it is one of the pricier options available. If you shop around, you can get this oven with the fan forced option for around $1500.

Caravan RV Camping sell the Thetford Caprice oven at the time of writing for $1464.

Now, even though the oven itself costs that much, it is important to remember that being gas, this needs to be connected by a certified gas plumber. This is at an additional expense.

If you are having other gas appliances, such as hot water or heating, it is not such a big thing to have this connected as well, just something to keep in mind.

So now that we know the Thetford Caprice MK3 oven looks good and how much it costs , but what about how it works?

First things is starting it. It has a 12V ignition button and then it is as simple as pushing and turning the dial. It starts almost every go. We have found the only issues we have had is when we have been in extremely cold temperatures and had a little trouble with the gas. However, the amount of times this has happened could be counted on less than one hand.

The oven heats up quickly, cooks evenly and has low gas consumption. It has a light switch so you can see inside while things cook without having to open the door.

It also has a safety switch built in to the lid. So if you have any of the burners turned on and the lid is accidentally closed, it will automatically shut off all the burners. Very handy!

However, one thing I will say here is that it doesn’t have a temperature dial. Instead, it has a numbered one. For example, if you set it to number 5, and you have something on the middle shelf, this would be approximately 180° Celsius.

So when we first started using it and didn’t bring the instructions, we had absolutely no idea how hot we were setting it to!

Actually… we mostly just ended up guessing the entire time we used it. For this post though, I have attached a conversion so you get some sort of idea how the temperature works.

Gas Mark	Temperature (based on the middle shelf)
¼ – ½	110°C
1	130°C
2	140°C
3	150°C
4	160°C
5	180°C
6	190°C
7	210°C
8	220°C
9	240°C

Another thing is the tempered glass top. While you can use it as additional bench space, it is not scratch resistant. We have found after using ours it does have small scratches on the surface.

So it looks good and works well. What about noise?

The oven doesn’t make much noise at all, until the fan kicks in. The fan is surprisingly noisy. Not enough for it to be a deal breaker, but it is noticeable. Not only this, but the fan can stay on anywhere up to around half an hour after the oven has been turned off.

And cleaning and maintenance?

One thing we particularly like about the oven, is the option to remove the metal grate over the burners. This allows easy access to the brush metal underneath to clean as well as cleaning the grate. It simply lifts out, and pushes back in.

The oven door has a removable glass panel which protects the front of the oven. It slides out, can be cleaned and placed back in.

Being glass, and brushed metal means that it does mark easily. If you are like me, a little OCD when it comes to cleaning, this can be a little frustrating, again though, not enough to be a deal breaker. Streak free glass wipes became my best friends.

Regarding maintenance, the only thing we have had to do is replace the oven light globe. This was because Shane originally wired the oven up to 24v instead of 12v which blew the bulb the first time we tried to turn it on. It was easy to find a replacement at Bunnings, and as simple as changing a globe at home.

So that basically sums up our review of the Thetford Caprice MK3, dual fuel, fan forced oven.

Do we like it? Yes!

Would we buy it again? Yes! However, we have never used the electrical hot plate. Not once. So if we were to buy it again, we would have to decide if we would go gas only. The issue with this, is the only one that is fan forced is the dual fuel. So for us, we would need to decide if the fan forced option is worth sacrificing an additional gas hot plate.

There are a few small negatives about the oven, however nothing that is a deal breaker. The positives definitely outweigh the bad. We have used it every day consistently for over a year. We have cooked roasts, desserts, pastries, bakes and more without issue.

If you are a couple who like to cook, or a family looking for an all-rounder, this is definitely a good option to consider and a worthy investment.

If you are interested on the install process of the oven, check out our video here –