Roaming on Rubber

Unplanned and Unstoppable

Claire Edwards

Guide to Gas in your Motorhome or Bus Conversion

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Disclaimer – All gas work on a motorhome, caravan or bus conversion must be done to Australian standard AS/NZS5601 by a licenced gas installer. This is a guide to gas and a general information post only. Everything should be checked with your gas installer. The standard is often being revised, and incorrectly installed gas can be very dangerous.  

Most motor homes or bus conversions have some sort of gas appliances. Gas is a good alternative to electricity as it is cheap and gas bottles can go for weeks/months without replacing or refilling. There are a lot of rules and regulations when preparing for gas so we thought we would write a post with a few helpful things we have come across to help you when designing your bus conversion. This guide to gas post also includes our tips so you don’t struggle like we did! 

Gas bottle locations –  

It is very important that you read the regulations and rules in your state when you prepare for gas. There are rules where the gas bottles, and appliances can be located, and how they need to be installed.   

There are two options where you can mount your gas bottles. You can mount them externally, for example on a drawbar, or in a box inside the vehicle. If you decide to mount them inside the vehicle, the gas box cannot be accessed from inside the vehicle, only the outside. This is discussed further in the next point. 

In NSW, where we are, the gas bottles need to be at least 1.5 metres from any ignition source; for example, an oven. This is for safety purposes, in case of a gas leak. This 1.5 metres is measured from the ventilation hole in your gas box (refer to the ventilation section for more details about this).  

Roaming on Rubber - Free camping tips Australia

Gas bottle box requirements –  

Your gas box can be premade, or custom made depending on yours, and your gas certifiers preference.  

If you are going to make it yourself, it must be completely sealed from the inside of your vehicle and only accessible from the outside. This is in case of a gas leak, there is nowhere for the gas to vent inside your bus or motorhome, only outside.  

Gas Box - completely sealed. caravan gas certificate

The gas box needs to have a hole for ventilation at the bottom, taking any gas that may escape down and out of your bus or motorhome. Alternatively, your gas box door may have a suitable ventilation source at the bottom. 

If you are going to make it yourself, your gas certifier may have other specific requirements; for example, check what they would like you to make it out of. We used 12mm plywood in our Toyota Coaster, however some installers may prefer metal or fibreglass.  

There are premade boxes available for purchase. Whilst these can be a little pricey, they save a lot of time and effort and you know they are completely sealed and should meet standard requirements.  

Some premade boxes –  

Caravan RV Camping 9kg Cyliner Box 

DIY RV Solutions make gas boxes for certain vehicles.

Our Mercedes Vario Gas box - Pre fabricated - roaming on rubber

Restrictions for where appliances can be located –  

All appliances have to be installed as per the instructions for your units. Some appliances can only be installed in certain locations, and must not be below any opening windows, doors, or annex areas; for example a hot water system. If something like a hot water system is installed here, the window will need to be permanently sealed. This is so the gas doesn’t vent outside the bus or motorhome, and back in via the open window or door. 

Copper Pipe – 

Copper pipe should be located outside of the vehicle, with each appliance having its own branch pipe that enters the vehicle adjacent to the appliance. This pipe needs to be protected from damage; which can be covering it with a hose or pipe. 

Each appliance must have its own shut off valve that is readily accessible. 

There are a lot of rules surrounding the pipes, pipe length, joins and junctions. This is a guide to gas post only, and as this must be done by a certified gas installer we have kept it brief and leave this step up to the experts. If you would like to know more it is best that you speak to your installer or purchase a copy of AS/NZS5601.  

 Ventilation –  

Ventilation is extremely important if you will have gas appliances in your vehicle, for example a gas cooktop, oven or even some gas fridges. It is a requirement that you have two forms of ventilation in your vehicle; these vents need to be classed as ‘permanent’ and unrestricted. The two vents need to be at opposite ends of your motorhome with one at the top towards the roof (typically a skylight/hatch of some sort), and the other needs to be near the ground at the opposite end of the vehicle (generally a vent in the door).  

Depending on how long your vehicle is, will also depend on how big these vents need to be. This is a general table –

  • Vehicles up to 4 metres long – 240 cm2 of ventilation  
  • From 4 to 5 metres long – 300 cm2 of ventilation 
  • Any from 5 to 6 metres long – 360 cm2 of ventilation 
  • Vehicles over 6 metres long – 420 cm2 of ventilation 

This amount of ventilation gets split between the two vents inside the vehicle.  

Roof hatch - roaming on rubber - guide to gas

General –  

Prior to registration any connections will need to be completed by a licensed gas plumber, and a certificate provided for the work completed. You will also need a compliance plate attached to your bus or motorhome, which confirms it passes the regulations.   

If you are unsure of any rules or regulations where you are located, it is best to speak to a gas plumber or engineer directly. That way you can get the correct information.   

We found that a lot of gas plumbers were uncertain of the rules for motor homes or were unsure if they were able to do the job. There is a lot of information online and the instruction manuals are invaluable. Don’t lose them! Whenever our gas plumber was unsure, we turned to the manuals for help. There are specific gas plumbers who work on motorhomes and we have found these to be the most knowledgeable.  

It was also extremely helpful for us to talk to the engineer throughout the entire build. Not only did this build a working relationship where the engineer knew what stage we were up to, but it also ensured the problems, if any, were minimal. They know what they are doing, and what is required, so don’t be afraid to chat to them.   

Our Tips –

Book your gas plumber in advance!  

Our first, and most important tip is to book your gas plumber in advance.  

Gas plumbers who are able to work on motorhomes are few and far between, and get very busy!  

With our Toyota Coaster, we didn’t realise we were ready for a plumber until around a week before. There was an approximate 2 month wait list. We ended up calling around and finding another gas plumber who could squeeze us in around other jobs. This issue with this was the plumber was not well versed with motorhome standards and things took a little longer than they may have ordinarily.  

This time with our Mercedes Vario, we have booked well in advance. As we get closer to the date, if we do not believe ourselves to be ready we will reschedule. However it puts a little bit of pressure on the timeline, and will hopefully make us work a little harder!  

Cut any holes needed in your bus before you put your internal walls in!   

It may sound obvious, but cutting the holes for vents, and gas bottles beforehand is a step we skipped in our Toyota Coaster and 100% regret.   

 If the holes had been cut in the metal wall of the bus before we installed our internal ply walls, we would have had our gas box closer to the edge of the bus. Instead, we had to build a ‘make-shift’ aluminium surround between the hatch and the box to cover the approximate 10cm gap. So much more time, money and effort than we wanted!   

It also would have been so much easier to line everything up. Cutting one hole is easier than 2! As we had our ply wall already installed, we had to cut through both.   

Long story short, don’t wait until you have installed your internal walls! Plan it and cut the hatch space, or any other required holes first!    

Now that we have our Mercedes Vario, we have cut the holes prior to putting walls up, and also purchased a pre-fabricated gas box like the ones mentioned above. It took so much less time and effort!  

Try and have the gas plumber come in as early in your build as you can.   

By the time we got around to having a gas plumber come to do the work on our Toyota Coaster, we had already built a lot of the structures.   

This meant when trying to run the gas lines, we had to cut through our completed walls. It would have been much easier building the walls around them.    

When trying to connect our hot water system, the physical access was extremely difficult. We had not planned and left much working space around the unit. The plumber struggled to run the lines and organise the connections. And to top it off… he also kept hitting his head!   

Just a couple of tips when you prepare for gas, but definitely some good things to keep in mind.   

There is a great guide to gas on the Caravans Plus website for gas installations, so may also be worth a read.  

Now to actually build it….. good luck!  

Our video of making and installing our gas box on our Toyota Coaster

Toyota Coaster Motorhome Conversion – Building Your School Bus Lounge

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Everything needs to have 2 uses. That has been our thought process along this entire journey. There are so many options for motor home or bus lounges, which meant there was a lot of inspiration when designing our lounge. Our school bus lounge has not 1, not 2, but 3 uses!

Building a lounge is not something you have to do. There are a lot of pre-fabricated options available and a lot of places will be able to custom make one for you. We have seen a fair few people who use these and have no issues.

As with everything we have done so far, we decided to build our lounge for a few reasons; cost, space, storage and design. In our school bus floor plan, we explain that our lounge was very important to us and we knew we could get exactly what we wanted if we built it ourselves.

Toyota Coaster bus conversion - lounge framing DIY for beginners

The design for our school bus lounge –  

The first step for the lounge framing is to work out what you want from it.

The most obvious function is a seating area. We want it big enough to comfortably sit both of us, and an extra 1-2 people if we have visitors. It also has to be big enough that we would be comfortable, and could stretch out when watching a movie. We then decided to add an ottoman which will provide extra foot space, and also double as storage and a seat.

Toyota Coaster school bus conversion - building your school bus lounge

Storage is the next most important thing. With everything you build in your school bus conversion, storage has to be a consideration, and under the lounge is a perfect area . We had planned where our appliances were going so knew that the height and width of our lounge had to meet the size of our Suburban hot water system which we had decided to place underneath. There is then more room left over for other items that need storing, as well as the extra in the ottoman. 

suburban hot water system - toyota coaster school bus conversion - school bus lounge framing

Most builds we found either choose seat and storage, or seat and sleeping area. We wanted it all, so we designed our lounge so that it could perform all 3 functions! Our original plan was to have it extend so that we could turn it into a doubled bed. We didn’t have enough space to make a double bed, but we did manage to make it extend to the size of a single bed which is sufficient. It also means that while we are watching a movie or just relaxing, we can extend this and have a bigger space to relax for ourselves also.

Toyota Coaster school bus conversion - building your school bus lounge

How were we going to achieve this? The base (where we sit) would have interlocking panels that would separate and slide out to become the bed. It would then have hinges to lift the entire base up to access the hot water and storage underneath. We then decided to have the front lift so we have a partial foot recliner as well. It was such a complicated design but we managed to make our lounge frame work.

Confusing? Let us get into more detail.

Building our school bus lounge – The base frame  

First we used 35mm x 70mm timber, and built the initial base frame, which provides the structural support and attaches to the floor and wall. We used 50mm wood screws as well as wood glue to make the joins secure. We started with the floor pieces, then attached the uprights followed by the top pieces.

Toyota Coaster school bus conversion - building your school bus lounge

The Interlocking System 

The base frame was the easy part. Planning out the interlocking slide out system was the difficult part. Shane and I wanted it to be separated in half, so that they could pull apart and extend separately to make a corner lounge, and together to make a bed. This would also allow them to lift separately to access different areas of storage. These interlocking pieces were made using 19mm X 64mm dress pine.

Toyota Coaster bus conversion - lounge framing

Every second slat is referred to as ‘fixed slats’. These are attached to a row of dress pine, and fixed at the back with hinges. The front end of the slats are attached to another piece of dress pine on the inside of the lounge frame. As we want the slats to lift up to access storage, they had to attach to something that was not attached to the base frame. This is why we have added these additional pieces of dress pine.

Toyota Coaster bus conversion - lounge framing

The pieces that slide out are also attached to a piece of pine, on the outside of the frame. This piece keeps all the slats together as one, when being slid out. If you look at the picture below, two of the slats are made longer. When the lounge is pushed together, these longer pieces sit on the edge of the lounge and prevent the slide out pieces from falling down.

Toyota Coaster bus conversion - lounge framing

These longer pieces continued to get stuck on the edge of the frame when we pushed the lounge back together, which can be seen in the video. We ended up placing a washer underneath the longer pieces which lifted them slightly. We also sanded back the edge that they sit on, providing a rounded lip, rather than a corner. This has prevented them from getting caught and allows them to slide and sit in together without issues. 

Toyota Coaster bus conversion - lounge framing

After this, we added a smaller piece of wood cut to size which is fixed in between the two sliding halves. This provides a guide so that they slide out straight and prevents them getting stuck. 

Toyota Coaster bus conversion - lounge framing

The ‘Recliner’

The front of our lounge has been made using 12mm ply. It provides the ground support when the lounge is extended for the bed. As our lounge ended up being slightly shorter than we wanted, we joined this 12mm ply on with hinges. When lifted up, a small 20cm piece of dress pine (also attached with hinges), falls down from underneath, propping the front 12mm piece of ply up on a slight angle. This gives us our ‘recliner’. 

Toyota Coaster bus conversion - lounge framing

Our back rests are made with 35mm X 70mm wood, cut into the base frame. We then attached 12mm ply to the front of them, which provides the back rest.

We will use Dunlop foam for all of the lounge cushioning. This cushioning we will get custom cut to size and then we will make covers for the cushions ourselves.

After building our kitchen frame, the lounge was a huge step in our Toyota Coaster bus framing and we are so amazed we were able to pull it off.

The more we build ourselves and the more experienced we get, the better things worked. As hard as it has been to do on our own it has been worth it.

If you haven’t already, watch our video below of our build and let us know what you think.

Toyota Coaster Motorhome conversion – Building Your School Bus Kitchen

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Building and framing your school bus kitchen can be a difficult job if you don’t know what you are doing (like us!). There are so many different types of wood, screws, adhesives, joins, cuts and more. We were in way over our heads when we decided to start our Toyota Coaster bus kitchen and thought we could get it all done in 2 days. Ha!

Building the frame for our kitchen has been something we have been looking forward to for such a long time! We had ‘planned’ to spend 2 full days at the bus; framing the kitchen, lounge, bathroom and bedroom, and were hopefully going to smash it out. Everything was prepped. The materials were bought. The car was loaded and we had been to Bunnings for the last time. We were set, and it was time to go.Framing your bus - Claire on the trolley at Bunnings getting wood for their Toyota Coaster Bus kitchen conversion

So where do you start? 

After chatting to a builder friend about our bus conversion floor plan, it was decided to start with the most functional place first; the kitchen. Our thoughts were, once the kitchen was finished, we could then work on the lounge room and bathroom, leaving the bedroom until last. Getting the most practical and ultimately the hardest part done and out of the way first, would hopefully mean a much smoother fit out. Our bed will run across the back wall of our bus in front of the wheelchair access ramp and make it much more difficult to get things such as wood and appliances in and out of the bus, so leaving it until last seemed like the best option.

Why did we decide to build our bus kitchen ourselves and not get it built for us?

The way you decide to fit out your bus is all personal preference.

There are a lot of companies who offer the service of fitting out a bus for you. A lot of people also opt to use pre-fabricated or ready to go kitchens to save time and effort. Functionality, space, cost, electrical, plumbing – there are so many factors contributing to the bus layout and framing.

Shane and I chose to build our kitchen ourselves for a few reasons. Design; we are getting exactly what we want and where we want it. Money; motorhome and bus kitchens can be expensive. We saw this as a cheaper alternative to do it ourselves than to have someone build it for us. Materials; we had the option to buy a pre-fabricated kitchen from a kitchen place or even our local hardware shop Bunnings. However, we decided against this as we had read a lot of forums that had discussed the kitchens being too heavy and affecting their weight restrictions, and also not being structurally strong enough to withstand being in a motorhome.

Whatever you decide to do, it is definitely something to consider thinking about prior to starting. Trust us, it only gets harder and more complicated.

What’s in our bus kitchen?

We wanted a relatively open layout in our Toyota Coaster bus, with lots of storage, but also with everything required to live comfortably on the road. Our kitchen was to have a 175 litre fridge, a combined oven and stove, a sink, washing machine, and a microwave. It was also to have plenty of storage, overhanging cupboards, a backsplash, and external access to the batteries.

Sounds like we don’t have much at all to squeeze into a 2.4 metre space do we?

That’s when we instantly saw our bus kitchen was going to be tight, really tight. We had drawn countless diagrams, measured multiple times and were trying to work out the best possible way to squeeze it in. It was decided, we just couldn’t do it. Shane and I were trying to fit all the conventional items from a house sized kitchen and laundry into a caravan sized kitchen.

We came to the decision that the washing machine was to move. We would fit it elsewhere. This compromise would allow us to fit everything we needed to into the space we had. So now that was decided, it was time to get to it, and actually build it.

What tools and equipment do you need for building your bus kitchen?  

Shane and I have no experience with bus framing, or any sort of framing at all. We failed to seek a professional or someone who was more capable than us to help, so we decided to try our luck ourselves. With time restrictions and trouble organising schedules, we researched to come up with a plan, and a design for the frame.

We decided for the majority of the framing, we would use 19mm X 64mm pine wood for our main frame, and 35mm X 70mm wood for the things that were requiring a bit more structure.

The original plan was to use 35mm X 70mm timber for everything, however, after looking at our space, and working out measurements, we decided it was not a viable option and would take up too much room. Both of us have seen plenty of kitchen layouts using similar sized wood or no frame at all. The thinner pine framing would have to do. It was a bit more expensive than we originally wanted. It was decided for the space it would save us, it would be worth it. We were still going to use the larger 35mm X 70mm for our lounge and bed, as they will be carrying more weight.

Toyota Coaster Bus Conversion Framing - Bus Kitchen Wood

As with everything, the structure and what materials you use for your bus kitchen and framing is definitely a personal choice. Whether you decide to use the thinner pine, or the structural wood it is up to you. We have seen a lot of people who have done bus conversions! They have used metal for their framing, and some have just used the walls for their cupboards and had no framing at all. So whatever you decide, as long as it is structurally sound and meets any sort of regulations your state or territory may have, it is all a personal choice.

It was time to splurge a little! We purchased a nail gun to help with our bus framing. We got nails in various sizes, big enough to go through any of the wood we purchased to tack pieces together. The reason we decided to buy this was for convenience. It would be so much easier to tack the frame together with nails before screwing, to make sure it was right and to make it easier on ourselves.  The different sizes gave us variety, and easily accessible options when required. This would have to be one of the best purchases we have made to date! It is definitely something we recommend for anyone who is going to be doing a bus conversion themselves.

We also purchased timber screws, and metal screws. The timber screws were for the frame when attaching wood to wood, and the metal screws were to attach the 7mm plywood panel we got for the walls, to the bus. The metal screws were also for any structural support pieces of framing that needed to attach to the bus’s metal beams.

Toyota Coaster school bus conversion - building your bus kitchen

For each joint, we also used wood glue for added strength.

Shane tells me I like to go over the top with our bus build. I figure, that this is going to be our home, and I don’t want it falling apart on our first rocky road, or ditch that we fall into. I want our Toyota Coaster bus frame to be structurally sound.

Where do you start framing in your bus conversion? 

The walls and wheel arches; that’s where we started.

The amazing thing about Bunnings, is they cut wood to size for you.

We had measured our walls and wheel arches and knew the measurements we needed our pieces. We decided on plywood.

Plywood is a relatively inexpensive option for bus wall framing and if thin enough, it is easy to bend and manoeuvre along the curves of the wall.

Originally we were going to go thin for the walls – 3mm, however decided after looking at it, and knowing it may be damaged easily, we decided for us thicker would be better. We have read many forums and seen a lot of people who have used 3mm ply for their walls and they love it and it works. This is a personal choice, and there are a lot of considerations such as weight and structure that need to come into it.

Unfortunately, there is no happy medium between 3mm and 7mm unless you get marine ply. Marine ply is amazing as it is made to be used in waterproof areas such as boats etc. Amazing things generally come with a price. For each piece, it was $10 more expensive, and we were going to need a lot of it. 7mm ply for our bus walls was decided.

Toyota Coaster School Bus Conversion - building your bus kitchen

We had Bunnings cut each piece for the walls to 73cm high. We knew this would take us to our window level. The benefit of Bunnings cutting it was one, it made it fit in the car so much easier! Two, it saved us so much time and effort, and three, it was ready to go when we got to the bus. It was also free! An amazing service provided. It’s a great idea to check with your local hardware store of timber yard, wherever you purchase your wood to see if this service is provided.

So we returned to our Toyota Coaster bus, 7mm ply cut to 73cm high in tow, ready to go.

We purchased sheet metal screws at 20mm length, and self-drilling metal screws at 32mm for the walls. These would be long enough to go through the ply, and into the metal walls of the bus without penetrating through to the outside. If we knew then what we know now, we would not have purchased the sheet metal screws. We found they are not strong enough to penetrate the metal walls easily and we have not used them since. We would have saved a lot of money had we known that earlier.

Our Toyota Coaster bus has curved walls; this makes it difficult to create right angled joints which are attached to the metal structure of the bus. A plan was put in place. By marking where our cupboards were going to go to, we then measured the depth in two different places; the floor and the window sill, to the edge of our cupboards. The difference in these two depths showed us how big of a support piece we needed behind our cupboards so that there was no curve with our frame. It worked out to be 35mm – the exact width of the wood we had purchased. So, we screwed a 35mm X 70mm beam across the ply at the height where it would start to bow. While difficult to explain, it meant that our bus kitchen cabinet would have a structure behind it where the walls curve, rather than sitting on nothing. It would be supported.

Toyota Coaster bus conversion floor plan - wall installation and wall insulation

Now that our beam was attached to our ply, we attached our ply to our bus wall using the self drilling metal screws.

It took a little bit of effort and a bit of patience, but piece by piece the walls went into place. By pushing hard and flexing the plywood as we went, it matched the curve of the bus beautifully without cracking. If we had used thicker wood, it may not have had the flex to get the curve as well as the thinner wood. And if we had gone with the 3mm, it may not have had the strength to withstand the pressure required to screw it into the metal bus frame. So we were happy with our decision to use 7mm plywood for our bus walls.

Goodbye bus wall insulation!

The wheel arches protrude into our kitchen area a little. So we decided to build a box using 9mm ply to cover them. This is not a necessity, but we decided it would be easier to build around a box, than a curved wheel frame. It is not a structural piece, so we just used wood glue and the nail gun to tack them together.

The kitchen framing –  

Simpler is better.

Start by measuring everything. We measured all our appliances, measured the space we had, and made it as even and neat as possible. We drew a diagram, which had all our measurements on it so we could constantly refer back to it.

They say measure twice, cut once. And I am very glad we did because we got it wrong the first time!

Deciding not to over complicate things, we had hoped we would get it done nice and quickly.

Starting with wood glue on each piece, we used the nail gun and tacked each of the 19mmX64mm pieces together in the form of our kitchen.

Our screws we picked were 30mm X 8G.  8G is the thickness of the nail. And it was too thick! After we tacked each piece we also screwed the joints together. Unfortunately this was causing some of the ends to separate and split. Not good!

Toyota Coaster bus conversion floor plan - bus kitchen framing

Back to Bunnings we went. We thought maybe thinner screws would fix the issue. We purchased the same 30mm length, but in 6G thickness. It didn’t work. For us, we are extremely new to this and it began to get overwhelming. So we decided to try and pre-drill the holes prior to putting our screws in.

It worked! No more wood splitting. This is something we have continued to do throughout the rest of our framing since and is definitely a recommendation for anyone who is going to embark on a similar journey. Sometimes, we forget or get lazy and don’t pre drill. Almost every time we regret it as we have the same issues with the wood cracking and splitting. So take it from us – pre drilling works – do it!

The pieces came together, and our bus kitchen framing took its shape.

Toyota Coaster bus conversion- Shane and Claire bus kitchen framing

Once we were satisfied with the framing and had double checked our measurements, we decided to attach it to our bus floor and walls.

Butting it up against the 35mm X 70mm piece of wood we had used to tackle the curve of the bus wall, we manoeuvred it into place and used 40mm wood screws to attach it to the floor and the walls. This was just a very basic structure that still needed support however once screwed into place was already feeling solid.

Stepping back, we then took a good look for where we would start next. We found if you start with the most complicated bits first, it is easier to work out the errors if something was to go wrong. And we had so many issues! It sounds easy as I write it all down, but it’s not. We had problems with wood not aligning correctly, being the incorrect size, splitting, drill pieces breaking and more. It happens! This is why it took us so much longer than we initially planned.

Framing your bus kitchen. Claire and Shanes Toyota Coaster conversion bus frame.

The restrictions with installing an oven into a bus – 

So our next thing to tackle was where our oven would be placed. This was the main structural item that needed to be built into our kitchen framing and it was probably going to be the hardest.

We had purchased a Thetford dual fuel fan forced oven. There are a lot of restrictions with an oven inside a motor home. This is not something we had taken into account when we initially started the framing and our bus conversion plan and design. It needs to be certain distances from cupboards, walls, and anything else that could be a fire hazard. There needs to be a hole underneath where the gas can be tunneled so it can then go to an external vent outside. All these restrictions and regulations left us scratching our heads and coming up with new plans and workarounds.

Taking into account our bench top thickness, we start by measuring from the top down to where the bottom of our oven would be placed.

We then used our 19mm X 64mm wood to build a frame and place a piece of 7mm ply on top to provide a base support for our oven. After this, we built walls using 19mm thick wood to match our current framing. This stops any external droughts coming into the area where the oven will be located.

Cutting the bus kitchen bench – 

The next step was something we had greatly anticipated; the bench top.  It needed to be cut to size and then have the oven and sink holes measured and cut. We initially were going to have a wooden bench top; however decided due to the upkeep and maintenance of wood, we went with a laminate bench top instead. This also saved weight.

Measuring up the sink and oven was relatively simple; measure twice, cut once. So glad we did this! We just had to decide on their exact placement and take into account the overhang of the bench top at the front and rear. Once measured and drawn up we started with the sink hole. Pre-drilling a hole and then using a jigsaw allowed us to easily cut the hole required. The oven was even easier, still using the jigsaw slowly make the straight cuts.

Framing your bus - Toyota Coaster school bus conversion framing. Claire and Shane cutting their bus kitchen bench for their bus.

Once it was put into place and checked to make sure it fit, we used 40mm wood screws to attach our base to our bench. It was screwed from underneath so the screws are hidden.

This process of the oven frame and bench top took an entire day. There were issues with the oven not fitting and constantly needing to make adjustments. We also had a measurement issue where we forgot to take into account the overhang for the bench top. It was super frustrating but we are so happy with how it turned out!

Framing your school bus - Toyota Coaster school bus conversion -bus kitchen bench top frame

The next step in our bus kitchen frame will be to make our cupboards and install them. We are hoping as with everything that will be the easy part. We will also begin work on our lounge and anything else we can to finish our home!

Must See Markets In The Hunter, Newcastle and Surrounds

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Everybody loves going to a market! Whether it is a farmer’s market, a handmade market, or a second hand goods market; there is something for everyone. Both Shane and I have been to our fair share of markets. We have explored the items, checked out the venues and tasted the many wonderful things you come across. Not only have we been to see them, we have also participated and been a stall holder at multiple markets across the Hunter area! So what better way to share our experiences and review them for you, as a must see markets in the Hunter, Newcastle and surrounding areas post! It’s time to introduce you to what the areas have to offer.

Depending on your interests and what you are after will depend on the market you want to go to.

So let’s start with Farmer’s Markets –

Must see farmers, handmade and mixed markets in Newcastle, the Hunter and surrounds

Farmer’s markets are full of fresh fruits, vegetables, jams, honey, spreads, biscuits, cakes, sweets, dairy products, meat, wine and more! They include products like soap, creams, candles and lotions. They are where you want to be if you want the freshest produce and locally produced food and drinks from the farmer’s and artisans directly.

Newcastle City Farmer’s Market –

Where – Newcastle Showground, Curley Rd, Broadmeadow NSW

When – Every Sunday 7am-1pm

The Newcastle Farmer’s markets are the biggest market of its kind in the area. They cover the showground and have plenty of options for parking; on site and street parking available. Extremely convenient being on every week so you can get to know the locals and keep returning! If you are a foodie, not only can you get all your fresh fruit, veggies and meat, but you also get to taste so many different cuisines. There is your standard take away options like hot chips, burgers and hot dogs, but then there is pancakes, waffles, fresh juices and more! It is a great, big all rounded market where you can find all your fresh needs.

Pro’s –

  • Regularly on
  • Lots of variety
  • Meet the farmer
  • Plenty of food options for breakfast and lunch
  • Plenty of fresh produce

Con’s –

  • Parking – street parking and can be quite difficult and a bit of a walk.
Lake Macquarie Famer’s Market –

Where – Speers Point Park

When – Every second and fourth Saturday of the month 7.30am-1pm

The Lake Macquarie Farmer’s market is located in Speers Point Park. It is no where near as big as the Newcastle Farmer’s market, however still has some nice local stalls featuring fruit, veggies, and other locally produced goods. Being on regularly, it is a great chance to go out in the morning, walk along the lake and pick up all your fresh produce on the way back to the car. Be careful though, some items can sell out very quick, so it could be best to get in early!

Pro’s –

  • Nice area. A good spot for a stroll on the water after looking at the markets, and a park for the kids to play.
  • Plenty of parking
  • Good variety
  • Regularly On

Con’s –

  • Quite small, only a few stall holders
  • Being such a beautiful area, and having lots of space, could definitely have many more stallholders
Handmade Market’s –

Claire Edwards Art and Shane Patmore Photography at the markets. Must see farmers, handmade and mixed markets in Newcastle, the Hunter and surrounds

Handmade markets are our specialty. They are where Shane and I attend as stallholders wherever possible. The markets are full of handmade items, gifts, clothing, jewellery, art and more, individually crafted by the stall holders themselves. There are locally produced foods and wines, cheeses and breads. If you are looking for something a little bit more unique and personal, this is where you want to be.

Handmade in the Hunter –

Where – Corner of Broke Rd and Halls Rd, Pokolbin

When – Every Saturday 9am-3pm, some Sundays during peak times

Handmade in the Hunter is located at Sobel’s Wine in Pokolbin. Right in the heart of the wineries, it is a beautiful spot and focuses on local handmade crafts, goods, foods, and drinks.  While it is not a huge market, there are lots of things to see and do in the area so it can be included on a day trip to the Hunter Valley. When you arrive, the white gazebos catch your eyes, so it is easy to see from the road where they are. You start from one end and work your way through, exploring the candles that look like desserts, chili that burns your taste buds, and look at all the beautiful handcrafted items. Located close by are chocolate and cheese factories! My favourite.

Pro’s –

  • Regularly On
  • Stallholders are rotated so there is no duplicate stalls – lots of variety
  • Beautiful location
  • Everything is handmade! And you get to meet the maker as they are the stall holder

Con’s –

  • Street parking – a little bit difficult when you have children especially. There is some off street parking, but not a great deal.
  • Only approximately 30 stall holders, so quite a small market.
  • Not many food stalls at the market itself, however lots of restaurants and cafes in the area for a meal.
Olive Tree Markets –

Where – Civic Park, Newcastle Corner of King and Darby Street

When – 1st Saturday of every month, 1st and 3rd Saturday during November and December, 9am-3pm

Olive tree markets is an art and design market. It features lots of talented local artists and creators selling their works. There is fashion, jewelry, home wares, travel accessories, food and more.  It is in the heart of Newcastle, and is always full of people and buzzing with music and the smell of food. For an art market, it really is huge! We were quite surprised the first time we went with the amount of people milling around the stalls. Even the stalls themselves are set up with such style and it creates a beautiful mood to the market. Once you have done the rounds, there are lots of food vans with options for lunch. Alternatively, take a stroll down Darby Street where there are lots of cafes and restaurants. We have been multiple times now, and never get tired of going. There is always something new and exciting to see!

Pro’s –

  • One of the biggest markets in the Hunter
  • Very talented artists, selling amazing works – If you are looking for something unique and original, this is a good place to start
  • Lots of food options for a meal at the markets, but also in the streets close by
  • Locally produced goods where you can talk to the maker/creator

Con’s –

  • Parking can be difficult, on street paid parking and not many close by car parks, so you may need to walk
  • Very busy traffic in this area
Mixed Markets –

Must see farmers, handmade and mixed markets in Newcastle, the Hunter and surrounds

Then finally, there are what I am going to class as the mixed markets across the Hunter. They are the markets that can sell anything! Second hand goods, imported items, hand made bits and pieces, food, drinks and alcohol. We have attended these markets as both stall holders and just to browse. Almost anyone can find something interesting at these markets.

Maitland Markets –

Where – Maitland Showground

When – 1st Sunday every month, 1st and 3rd Sunday during Oct-Dec, 8am-2pm

Maitland markets are the biggest market of its kind in Newcastle. They cover the entire showground. Featuring a mix of handmade goods, second hand items, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, plants and more, they are a great choice for anybody looking for something in particular, or just for a browse. There are multiple entries to the market, so depending which one you enter will depend what you see first. One end is full of fresh produce,flowers and plants. The other is full of second hand items and antiques. There are the undercover stalls which are generally handmade items, and then there is everything else! They also have regular events like ‘Christmas in July’, ‘Father’s Day’, animal/zoo displays and more. For the kind of market it is, I never tire of going here. The stalls always vary and there is always something new to see.

Pros –

  • Regularly On
  • Huge market – plenty to see!
  • Lots of takeaway food options for breakfast or lunch, as well as seating
  • Lots of varierty
  • On rain or shine
  • Great place to grab a bargain

Con’s –

  • Some stalls are very similar or carry similar goods
  • Parking – the showground gets very busy, so street parking is generally the way to go and it can be quite difficult and a fair walk to get to the markets
Adamstown Markets –

Where – Corner of Brunker Rd and Glebe Rd, Adamstown

When – Every Sunday except public holidays and January 7am-12pm

Adamstown markets is regularly on, and has been running for a long time. It is mostly second hand goods, and antique items with a few local produce and plant stalls. It can also be described like a large ‘garage sale’. As it is primarily second hand goods, it can be a good place to pick up some bargains. There are a lot of stallholders that sell clothes and children’s toys. While it is still an interesting market to check out, we find that for us, it is something we can attend every couple of years and that is okay. There are larger markets in the area on regularly that we prefer to visit. For those that love a garage sale, you should check it out.

Pro’s  –

  • Regularly On
  • Great place to grab second hand goods

Cons –

  • While larger than some markets, it is still quite small
  • While it is good to look, I find we can be in and out within 20 minutes, not something to do if you are planning on a nice day out!
  • Not many food options
Warners Bay Markets –

Where – The Esplanade, Warners Bay

When – Third Saturday of every month 8am to 2pm

Warners Bay Markets is located on the waterfront in a beautiful location. The market is full of handmade items, locally produced goods, second hand items, fashion, jewellery and more. It is buzzing with people, music and food. There are lots of locally produced goods where you can meet the maker, and discuss how they got to where they are. For the ladies, there are so many unique stalls selling clothing and jewellery, and you can find some amazing bargains. We find parking is the biggest negative here. There is little street parking which is generally full and reverse angled. The alternative is parking behind the street front in a car park that is also always. Keep in mind you may need to walk a little to get to the stalls. Overall though, it is a great mixed market in a popular location that we never get tired of checking out.

Pro’s –

  • Plenty of stalls, lots of variety for everyone!
  • Great location – on the waterfront, walking and cycling paths
  • Lots of shops and restaurants across the road to choose breakfast or lunch
  • Dog friendly area

Con’s –

  • Parking can be difficult and may be a bit of a walk if you park in the shopping area
Other markets of interest –

Now these are most definitely not all of the markets in the Hunter/Newcastle region. These are just the markets both Shane and I have been to personally and have the knowledge to review. They are just our opinion and yours may be completely different, so don’t be scared to check them out! It does give you a good all rounded idea to what there is available and shows there is something for everyone.

The more markets we go to, the more we will keep growing our list, so stay tuned!

 

 

Australian Beginners Guide to Japan – Planning Your Trip

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We are such beginners. Such ‘tourists’!

There are so many things that we learnt and would do differently. That’s why we thought a beginners guide to Japan and planning would be a perfect way to start our travel posts off.

Japan is a country we had talked about and was at the top of our list of places to visit. It is a place where the first thing that comes to mind is ‘sensory overload’ but is also contrasted with so much history and culture.

So how did it all start?  

We got an email. Both Shane and I have signed up to multiple travel agencies and airline companies, which means we get a lot of emails notifying us of sales. And some, some are just tempting enough to get us.

The title of the email ‘Fly over, fly back free!’, it had us. It didn’t matter when the flights were for, we jumped at the opportunity to go to Japan. A place we had not been before, and somewhere we had been wanting to explore.

That’s our first tip for beginner travelers.

Sign up to travel companies and different airlines mailing lists! It is generally free and you get emails notifying you of upcoming sales, special offers, and just general travel information. It is a perfect way to make sure you are saving money and getting a good deal. However, before jumping on the first sale that pops up, shop around. Just because they say it’s a great offer and you are saving money, make sure you do your own research just to confirm.

That’s exactly where we started. The prices sounded great. What was the catch? Reading the fine print, it was a base fair, it did not include luggage allowance or a meal, and it was to Narita Airport, which meant for us leaving from Sydney, there was a stopover at the Gold Coast. The flight from Gold Coast to Narita is just over 9 hours. However, luggage could be added on to the flight and it would still be a good price, we could eat at the airport, take snacks onto the plane and it looked simple enough to get from the airport to Tokyo. It was decided, Shane and I had purchased our tickets to Japan!

Shane and Claire at the airport heading to Narita Japan

Sales come with downsides –  

Spur of the moment sales and flights, come with downsides. Typically they are only for certain dates. For us, this meant we were going to Japan in the middle of their Summer, and also over a Japanese public holiday. Being from Australia, both Shane and I are used to the heat so assumed it wouldn’t be too bad. One thing we did not expect was the humidity; definitely something to keep in mind if you are going to Japan in Summer – be prepared to sweat!

We researched and found that during the Obon festival, (the public holiday occurring while we were going to be there), a lot of places closed during this time, and a lot of people returned to their home towns to be with their families. For us, we decided on this day, travel would not be advisable, and maybe just exploring the local area of the town we were in would be a good idea. We ended up taking a trip to Shibuya to check out one of the busiest crossings in the world. As it was a holiday, there was a festival on and the streets were blocked off to traffic. This was an amazing experience and ended up working out in our favour as at any other time we would not have been able to experience this traditional festival.

Shibuya Japan at sunset

The different seasons – 

Japan’s seasons are opposite to Australia’s, so while it is Summer here, it is Winter in Japan. Each season has it’s own unique characteristics, which makes it a well-rounded place to travel anytime during the year. Spring has the cherry blossoms; a pale pink flower which covers the trees and provides magical sights. Summer is very hot and humid which we learnt! However, it is a great season to go if you are interested in festivals and fireworks as there are a lot during this time. Autumn is the time where the weather cools down and becomes more mild. The landscape changes colour and shows just how beautiful it really can be. Finally Winter; Japan is renowned for it’s Winter and fantastic places to snowboard, ski, and experience snow festivals. It really is such a diverse place and every season has something to offer.

So now that the sale was done and booked, it was time to decide where we wanted to go in Japan and what we wanted to see so we could plan our itinerary.

Why we chose what we chose, and other ideas we considered –  

There are so many things to see and do in Japan, you should research. Think about what you want to do, what you want to see and where you want to explore. For us, Japan was an extremely different atmosphere to anything we have ever experienced and was very overwhelming. It really was a sensory overload! If we had gone with no plan or idea with what we wanted to do, we would of missed out on so much, and had no idea how to do a lot of the things we did.

So we researched. We wrote lists, word documents, got a map and studied it. We worked out where we could go, what we could do when we were there, and because we had a basic plan, we could work out how many nights we would stay in each place and where we would travel from that ‘base’ hotel.

Tokyo was decided on first, (being that we flew into Narita Airport late at night, it made sense we would stay here first), then travelling to Osaka, and then returning to Tokyo before flying out of Narita.

There is a downside to planning; missed opportunities.

As much as you can research, there are so many hidden gems that aren’t advertised and you can’t plan for them all.  One thing we would recommend is to allow a day or two spare, wherever you are for these things you may not have planned for. When we decided to stay in Osaka, we had planned for a day just to explore around the city. It wasn’t worth it for us. We found it to be a very commercial and business like area with not many attractions or sites.

Kyoto was initially planned to explore in one day. When we arrived there via train, we realized just how amazing it was and how much there was to see and do. There was so much culture and beauty that we decided to return the following day to go back. In doing this, it pushed back our plan to go to Hiroshima to the next day where the Shinkansen tickets were all booked out every way we tried. This meant we missed being able to go to Hiroshima which was a huge disappointment.

So while it is great idea to plan and organise your trip, it is also advisable to allow spare time for things that you may not have considered or realized.

Getting around –  

It was time to work out how we would get around while we were there. Every article, travel website, and blog recommended the Japan Rail Pass.

The Japan Rail Pass is a widely used pass that allows a visitor access to local and express trains. The pass also gives you the option of using the Shinkansen (the bullet train – a must!), local buses and more. It is available to anyone who is classed as a ‘visitor’ to Japan and obtains a visitor stamp in their passport on arrival.

Now, it is expensive, a 14 day pass, which is what we purchased, will set you back AUD $565 per person, and you have to order, and wait for it to arrive before leaving to go to Japan as they do not sell them locally. They do also have a 7 day pass, and a 21 day pass, with options to change the class, and smaller passes which just cover certain areas of Japan.

However, we recommend it 100%. It was fantastic! At every train station, there is a manned gate and you walk up, a quick flash of the pass and through you go. We decided to check the price of the trains and the Shinkansen on their own and found with the amount we used it (multiple times a day!), it was definitely money well spent. The Shinkansen on their own are quite expensive, approximately AUD $165 one way from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto, so if you are going to be travelling large distances, even just for this you should consider it. We traveled on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka and back again.

Even though it is a bullet train, it does not feel like you are travelling as fast as you are, and you still get to experience the beauty of the surrounding areas just as you would on any normal train. You get an allocated seat, and there are trolley carts rolled around offering food, free wi-fi, and comfortable chairs that can be extended back. We recommended booking in advance for these, as we said earlier, they can book out quickly. It is quite simple to book, at most major stations there is an information centre/ticket office, where you can book directly and ensure you get a seat.

Wherever you want to go, from a main station, there is generally a express or standard train every few minutes. They are very full and always on time. If they are late for any reason there is notifications advising you. The signs are in Japanese and English. They also typically have a kiosk in English where you can check times and platforms. So if you are like us and barely know any Japanese except ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’, you will be fine!

In Kyoto, we found the best way to get around was by bicycle! Japan are renowned for their use of bicycles and in being so, have made it very user friendly. There are bike stations everywhere, where you can hire bikes, park bikes and more. They are inexpensive, and if you are like me and not so great at cycling, you can even get a electric assisted one. In AUD they only cost around $10-$12 per day. We were given a free bike map of the city and cycled around 30km viewing all different temples and sites.

There is so much culture everywhere in Kyoto that you are constantly riding past something unique and beautiful. Even just the experience of riding the bicycle was one to remember. The feeling of wind running through your hair as you cycle past restaurants and markets, temples and gardens. It was amazing and the highlight of our trip.

Shane riding a bicycle in Kyoto Japan

Look at a map –  

When it came to booking where we were staying, we were a little bit fussy. We like great quality, but at an affordable price. I don’t want to brag, but I have become a little bit of a master at shopping around.

There are a lot of districts in Tokyo, so we decided to start there and work out which district we wanted to stay in.

The districts all known for different things; culture, fashion, food, nightlife and more.

We got out a map. Marked out the train lines and the major stations, marked out where we wanted to go and where would be a perfect base place. That’s when we decided on Shinjuku. Shinjuku is a major hub in Tokyo, a place of lights, colour, sound, food and everything else in between. Shinjuku for us, would be the definition of ‘sensory overload’. It is extremely overwhelming but such an experience. There are constantly lights, and sounds and tempting smells around every turn, no matter the time of day. It is also home to a major red light district. So when you arrive at 10pm at night, make sure you know how to get to your hotel from the train station because…. trust us, it’s very easy to get lost. When you are sleep deprived and have jet lag, it is not a fun experience!

Once we had decided on our first location, we then continued looking at the map and decided on our next base place for a few days – Osaka. This would allow us to be able to do day trips to Kyoto, Hiroshima and more.

As we were flying out of Narita airport, we decided to stay in Tokyo again prior to flying out so as to break up the travel a bit. We stayed in the Shinjuku district again. Looking back now I am not quite sure what prompted us to stay here again, there were so many other districts and places and yet we chose another hotel a few hundred metres from the first one. I actually think it may have been that Shane wanted to stay in the hotel with the fire breathing Godzilla. This is one thing I would change if we were to go back, not stay in the same district twice.

Godzilla Hotel Gracery Shinjuku Japan

There were so many other interesting places. We explored most of the districts and found that we loved Harajuku. The streets were full of markets and stalls, food and culture. There were owl, cat and hedgehog cafes, and so many different options for food. We should have decided to shake it up a little!

Shane holding an eagle - owl cafe Harajuku Japan

Shopping around for deals –  

Now that a base plan was decided on, it was time to pick our hotels. This is my domain. I am a bargain hunter, a sale monger, anything you want to call it!

I researched, read books, studied travel magazines and everything in between. Tokyo is quite expensive to stay and for us, budget was something we were needing to consider. We wanted quality and yet affordability.

Now, I knew my local travel agent provided a ‘price match’ policy so I used that. I found the hotels I wanted for each of the 3 stops, found the best price online on all the hotel sale sites and I took those details to our travel agent. With this, you need proof. I had the websites with up to date prices ready to go, so it was simple. I showed the travel agent my choices, the prices I found, and they lowered theirs to match and we were in.

Be prepared, if you are going to do this, you need to generally be able to pay straight away. As they were price matching, they did not allow us to pay it off. We had also gotten cash out of the bank as opposed to using a debit or credit card as they charge a surcharge. I believe in just doing that we saved around AU $18!

With each of the hotels, we walked out getting the rates at around 50% off the standard. They were all 4 or 5 stars and we got them at a great rate. I was happy. Don’t be afraid to shop around and be savvy if you want to, it definitely helps those on a budget.

The hotels we decided on were Granbell Shinjuku for our first stay. Then the Crowne Plaza Osaka, and finally the Gracery in Shinjuku on our last stop in Tokyo. So many people warned us that the rooms in hotels were very small in Japan; so we were not surprised when we arrived and they were tiny! Nice, but tiny. In all of the hotels we stayed, the staff were extremely accommodating and very friendly. Of these hotels, 2 included breakfast. Please be aware, breakfast is very limited in Japan! We found we had trouble finding anywhere for breakfast as a lot of places don’t open until at least 10am. So it was extremely handy to have a continental breakfast available in the hotel.

If we were to do it again, not only would we not stay in the same district twice, but we would also stay in a Ryokan; this is a traditional Japanese Inn and would have been such a cultural, one of a kind experience.  We would not have stayed in Osaka for so long, and stayed in Kyoto instead. There was so much more to see and do. We also would head further out of the main cities to places like Nara.

Pre holiday preparation – 

This might sound obvious, however it is definitely not something to skip!

Pre-holiday preparation isn’t just about booking flights and hotels, it’s getting everything prepped to go; airport transfers to and from the hotel to avoid the issues like we had.

Travel plugs; Japan uses the same adapter as the USA so it can easily be found at most electronic stores, or luggage places. We found by just purchasing one and taking a power board, it covered all our needs.

Money is a big one.

There are a lot of ATM’s available in Japan and quite often you can be charged extra to use them. Some fees can be quite steep. Shane and I found taking some cash which had already been changed into the local currency, Yen, was best. Then, when we withdrew from local ATM’s, we took out enough cash to last for a few days so as to lessen the ATM charges.

Travel insurance is a must. Overseas medical costs can be very expensive. The small price to pay for insurance it is worth it if anything were to happen. Our credit cards cover travel insurance, this could also be an option for you to check if you have one.

It’s also about checking the weather, making sure you have the right foot ware, umbrella, jackets and more.

Medication is a big one; make sure you have them all in their correct boxes and packaging and check what is and isn’t allowed into the country (some medications that are allowed here in Australia, and in other countries are prohibited in Japan). The list is too long to check so jump onto this site and read just in case.

And then it is just the little things; making sure you have someone to take care of the house and animals, copying your passports and travel documents and leaving them with someone at home, just in case. Also registering your travel plans with Smart Traveller (An Australian government service that allows you to register where and when you will be going) and keeping updated on local news and issues occurring prior to leaving.

We also decided on a Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card while we were there, to save money on currency conversion and ATM fees. A travel card could be worth the investment as most standard debit and credit cards carry hefty fees for overseas transactions.

If you are staying in Japan as a tourist for less than 90 days, you are not required to obtain a VISA. However if you are going for longer or are going to work, you will need to look into the requirements that is needed.

Depending on where you are travelling in Japan, you may also require vaccinations. It is a good idea to have a chat to your GP regarding this to get the most correct and up to date information.

There are so many things to consider, and this is just the beginning!

I find writing a list helps. Start writing down things a couple of weeks prior to leaving, that way when you think of something on the spot, it’s not too late. I have never forgotten a charger yet!

So that’s our beginners guide to Japan. It is a place where the senses go absolutely wild. It is beautiful, bright, colourful and loud. There is flashing, music and sound constantly. It is such a busy and fun place full of culture and life. When you step outside the city, it is quiet and peaceful. We would change a few things if we were to go back again, however, we would definitely go back in a heartbeat!

Shane and Claire at the robot restaurant Shinjuku Japan

 

Toyota Coaster Motorhome Conversion – Window Tint Removal and Application

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Our Toyota Coaster windows are already tinted, so why would we want to change it? Well, we are a little bit special that way and like things to be new and clean. So Shane and I decided it would be a great idea to replace the old, tired window tint in the bus with new ‘do it yourself’ window tint. As with everything we have done so far, we thought, ‘how hard could it be?’. Well I can tell you, the window tint removal was fun. Turns out when you follow instructions, it can be hard to the point of stamping your feet and crumpling the tint up into a ball. Yep, as you can see towards the end of the video, that is what happened.

So back to the decision of window tint. We purchased Altrex extra dark smoke 5% from our local Supercheap Auto store. This is a super dark tint, with only 5% of light being allowed in.

We decided to go with the darkest tint we could find, for the windows that were going to be directly behind the bathroom cubicle and the fridge. We did not want to be able to look in from the outside of the bus and see the back of these.

The Removal Process –

Removing the old window tint was the first step.

I had purchased a scraper blade from our local hardware shop, Bunnings, and had planned to just scrape it off. I began by removing the window lock using a phillips head screwdriver and taking out two screws. I set this aside to put back on after the new window tint was in place. You can leave the window lock on and cut the tint around it, but I found that the ease in removing it was much more convenient than trying to work around it.

I then began to scrape the window tint off piece by piece. Two hours, and half the window tint later, I decided no more. There must be an easier way; that’s when I turned to Google.

Heat.

I found a hair dryer, heated the edges of the window tint and used my scraper to start a peel. It worked. What had taken me so long on my own, took only 15 minutes to complete the rest of the window with the hair dryer. Time for the next window.

Once the old tint was removed from all of the windows we decided on, they were cleaned with ammonia free glass cleaner to get them ready for the new tint. We are not sure why it was necessary to have ammonia free glass cleaner; the instructions said so and we decided it would be best to follow them, just in case. We wiped the windows with paper towel so as not to leave any dust or marks.

New Tint Application, First Try –

The process was supposed to be simple. We purchased all the items required –

  • Tint
  • Bucket
  • Mild dish washing liquid (Mix approximately a cap full with 4 litres of water and fill spray bottle)
  • Spray Bottle
  • Squeegee
  • Utility knife
  • Large 60cm ruler
  • Clear tape
  • Ammonia free window cleaner
  • Paper Towel
  • Cleaning Cloth
  • Butchers paper for the outline
  • Marker

All the tools for do it yourself window tint installation in our toyota coaster school bus conversion

The instructions said, measure twice, cut once.

So that’s what we did. We measured the window, drew it up on the butcher’s paper, and cut out the paper only to reveal it was too small. Time to measure again. This piece looked better. We then placed our piece of butcher’s paper up against the new tint, cut around it, and left approximately 1 centimeter around the entire outside. This was just in case there were any issues, and it could be trimmed later.

The next step was a bit fiddly. The new tint has a thin protective layer which once removed, meant that we could adhere it to the window. Using 2 pieces of sticky tape on either side of the tint, and pulling gently, it allowed us to separate it. Once we had done that just a little, we wet the window and tint with a mixture of dish washing liquid and water in a spray bottle. While ever the window and tint were wet, you could move it easily. We learnt this probably a bit too late; our first attempt started to dry and no matter what we did, we could not get it to line up.

It was so difficult! This is where I ended up stamping and crinkling it into a ball.

Our piece of tint was too small. It didn’t work. Measure twice, cut once they said. It didn’t work!

Back to the drawing board.

New Tint Application, Second Try –

We decided not to measure the window up this time. It was time to ‘wing it’.

We held the tint up against the window and cut a piece big enough to fit with plenty of excess around the edges. We decided it would be easier to just trim around the edges once in place. We separated it, and kept it completely wet throughout so it did not crinkle as we got it in place, and stuck it on. And… it worked! Our way worked! Once it was in place, we used the squeegee on the new tint. Shane gently pressed it, and pushed all the water to the outside edges to get it flat, remove the air bubbles and all excess water from underneath.

The utility knife was then used to cut around the edges of the excess tint and make it a nice clean edge.

It was done. And with our way, the second and third windows were complete without issues.

And for a ‘do it yourself’ job, it looked fantastic! We were super happy and decided that possibly one day, definitely not too soon, we would do the rest of the windows, just not as dark.

So that was the window tint. The final step before we could mark out our layout in the bus and start framing!

The Layout –

We have talked about our design before and what we want in our bus. It was finally time to tape it up on the bus floor and get an idea of where we stand. Both Shane and I had been wanting to get to this step for so long. We wanted to see if everything we had discussed and hoped would actually work.

The day was beginning to fade so this would be our last job before leaving. We got out our plan, measured and taped it out. It started to look real.

Thankfully, just about everything we had talked about and measured worked. We will go through this in more details once we start framing, but it was just exciting to get it up and running!

Keep an eye out for next time, the exciting stuff begins!