Researching Buses in Oz

I had the opprotunity to visit a friend in northern Victoria to check out their bus conversion. They are only partway done, but it was good to get inside a bus to have a feel for the space and see what issues they've had with their conversion. It is a different style of bus than I'm planning to buy but the space is about the same. 

This  is their bedroom. I want a bedroom as well, but I feel like they have wasted a great deal of space in placing tttheir bed this way, however they did want to both be able to get in and out of bed which I don't really need as I'll be sleeping alone - unless something changes! Which is entirely possible, but I am not planning for it. Their under bed storage is only accessed by lifting the mattress platform up, which I think is too cumbersome. They don't have any overhead storage either  other than a small cabinet over the back window. With my schoolbus, there will be an exit door at the rear, which they don't have. I want to have a raised platform that I can shove Rubbermaid bins under, several of them and will organize my storage by season I reckon. I also want overhead storage all around, particularly on the sides of the bus. The school bus I'm looking for will have shorter windows than this bus, so I'll have more room to build above. I also want built in nightstand next to the bed, as well as two clothes closets, one on either side. They don't need to be very deep, just the width of a clothes hanger is enough. 

Theis toilet is a chemical toilet that you empty via a tray from outside. It's a bit cumbersome and I already know that if my toilet depends on a weekly effort from me, it probably won't happen, particularly in winter, stormy weather, pissing rain, etc. I just don't want to deal with blackwater at all if I can help it so I have sourced an incinerator toilet - they can be quite spendy, as the first I saw were about $7500, but I managed to find a company that sells them for $2500, so totally doable. Not having to deal with blackwater means I will only have graywater, which can be dumped just about anywhere as it's just the water from showers, washing clothes, dishwater, etc. For me, it is totally worth it. The incinerator toilet is very environmentally friendly and has no smell, no smoke, and no waste at all. You simply line the toilet with a paper cone, do your business and then incinerate. It does use electricity which I will have to keep in mind when designing the electrical/solar system, but it is a must for me. 

They plan to run the kitchen cupboards along the right hand side and the applances along the left. The WAECO box is their propane fridge, which I also plan for my bus, however they are also very spendy. I wanted a full-sized fridge, but they cost a fortune and will use quite a bit of propane, so I am rethinking the need for a full-sized fridge. I've lived with a bar-sized fridge before and it was a bit rough, but there is no need to store so much in the fridge as I have been used to, and if I get myself off milk entirely, I won't need nearly as much fridge space. I reckon I can build a root cellar wherever I park for the season, or craft a cool box under the bus in the storage area for things like vegetables and fruit. So really all I would need to store in the fridge are things like cheese, poultry, meats, etc. 

They  have a shower built in but no tub, and for my conversion to be registered as an RV in Canada, I have to have a bathtub, no matter how small, so I'm thinking just a 3-4 foot RV tub with an overhead shower. In this bus the shower and toilet are in separate spaces, but I am thinking I want them all in one space, so I can leave the other side open to the rest of the bus, which would mean I couldn't have two closets, so I'll have to give that some more thought. I just want to be able to see through the entire bus from the bedroom, mostly for safety sake as I'll be living in it alone - I don't want any corners where someone can hide. I will also run kitchen cupboards along both sides I reckon, with the fridge next to the bathroom wall, and the kitchen sink next to that so the plumbing stays along one wall. I saw a great idea for a storage pull out shelf between the bathroom wall and the fridge and my friends are planning the same thing. It would be plenty of space to carry all my canned goods, spices, cooking sauces/oils, and so on. Then the cupboards will only need to store the dishes, cookware, and other dry goods like flour, sugar, etc. 

I've been thinking about what I want in a stove, and initially I wanted a full stove with full-sized oven, gas operated, but I realized I don't actually use my oven much at all anymore as I've always had a toaster oven. The toaster oven is electric though, so I have to factor that in. It is a much smaller space to cook with, which is fine, but will solar be able to power it if I have to roast something for a couple of hours or more. I have seen some simple cooktops with 3 gas burners like I had in the cabin in Sooke some years ago. Then I don't lose that cupboard space below. 

They have shelving in one of their closets which I'm not sure I will go for, unless I can make the shelves adjustable. I'm building my home for the next few decades, so I want to keep some of it with options to make changes as my needs change. Somewhere in all of the storage MUST be a kitty room where I can stash the cat litter, complete with ventilation and an exterior door for changing it and for kitty access to the bus. 

We talked about security and how to secure all entrances/windows. I'd like a deadbolt on the back door that can be locked from the inside. On the folding bus door, I want a lock that prevents the door from being folded, so some sort of steel bars that can be slipped in to secure it. I also want security caging on all the windows, so no one can break in through the many windows. It will have to be a custom job, but so worth it for peace of mind, particularly given I will be living in it alone, and traveling alone most of the time. 

We were having a look underneath in one of the compartments. They haven't installed their water tanks yet. I want to be able to hook up to a water hose/system, but also need a storage tank for when I'm in transit, so the tanks for fresh water and graywater will be underneath in this space. There should also be lots of room for garage type storage for tools, tarps, camp chairs, barbecue, batteries, etc. This is my friend, Chars looking underneath. That's my car parked behind. The windows in their bus have only small panes that open, while the rest is sealed. They have also covered over some of their windows, but I don't want to do that as it cuts down on natural light. I will have curtains for all windows, some with blackout pieces that can be taken off. 

I'd also like an outside deck, something that can be transported and then simply attached to the side door, and maybe to the back door. Up on the roof, I want a ladder to the roof, and a small roof-top deck., as well as a small garden, in addition to all the solar panels that will cover most of the roof. In considering power, I plan to light up with LED which are a very low draw on power. I'll also need power for the toilet, and a few small appliances like the toaster oven, mixer, etc. I'll also need to power the electronics, like my television, computer, phone charger, iPad, etc. They are low draw as well so hopefully won't require much power either. The toilet will require most of it. I'll need enough 12V batteries to store the energy as well, so have to speak to an electrician about that. I wish my Dad was still alive, as he would know all about these things. I'm sure he will be watching over me though. 

I'm thinking once I make it to Canada and really kick this plan into gear, I may begin adding video posts as well so you can get a better feel for the conversion, and perhaps I might interview people about theirs to add to my site here. I'd like to document through video and photos the process of converting a bus to a tiny home, with all its trials and tribulations, as well as the successes, big and small. 

So there you have it, the latest.