Couple quit jobs to spend £15k savings transforming school bus into luxury home on wheels

Eamonn McCaughan and his partner Michelle spent £15K converting an old school bus into a plush camper (Collect/PA Real Life) (Image: PA REAL LIFE)

An adventurous Irish duo, who purchased an old school bus, have invested £15,000 to convert it into a "cosy mobile flat", subsequently quitting their jobs to embark on a European road trip.

Eamonn McCaughan, a project manager hailing from Ballycastle, and his partner Michelle, a Dublin-based designer, dedicated nine months to transforming their retro Mercedes school bus into a snug motorhome before resigning from their roles and setting off for Sicily.

The pair, who developed a passion for van life during the pandemic, spotted a 1996 school bus listed on Facebook Marketplace for £3,000 and seized the opportunity.

Earlier this year, Eamonn and Michelle, both aged 31, decided to pause their professional lives and devote all their energy to converting their cherished bus into a roving holiday home.

The couple splurged £15,000 on refurbishing the 24-seater primary school bus, equipping it with homely amenities such as a full-sized kitchen, hot water shower, heaters, and air conditioning.

They even went the extra mile by installing voice-activated lights and a seven-foot projector screen for Netflix movie nights, courtesy of Starlink satellite internet.

"Every time we pass a bus stop, we are tempted to hit the doors and see if anyone gets on," Eamonn shared with PA Real Life.

"It's an old Mercedes with what's known as the million-mile engine, it's slow but it just keeps going, which is the lifestyle that we like."

"It really feels like an apartment on wheels, like you have a kitchen, you have a toilet, a good size wardrobe and a projector screen."

Eamonn said the view from our kitchen window changes every couple of days (Collect/PA Real Life) NOTE TO EDITORS: This image must only be used in conjunction with PA Real Life story REAL LIFE BusConversion. All usage is subject to a fee or incorporated into your outlets agreed content package (Image: PA REAL LIFE)

The couple's dream Italian summer getaway in July 2020 was thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting them to take a different route.

They opted for a local adventure, snapping up a £900 Ford Transit from Facebook Marketplace to tour around Ireland.

"We ended up buying an old van off a builder and just touring around Ireland," Eamonn recounted.

"It was a new experience because neither of us had stayed in a campervan before."

With no background in construction, Eamonn and his partner Michelle turned to second-hand items and leftovers from local businesses to equip their van with essential amenities like a bed and a "basic kitchen".

"We really had to learn everything, so we spent a lot of time on YouTube and on Facebook forums," he elaborated.

"We really fell in love with it that summer, it was such a brilliant trip."

The following year, the couple set their sights on an "upgrade" and soon took possession of a 1996 Mercedes 709D, which had previously served as a school bus.

"Eamonn has got an addiction to Facebook marketplace."

Eamonn and Michelle built a compartment at the back of the bus to house his vintage 125 Honda motorbike (Collect/PA Real Life) NOTE TO EDITORS: This image must only be used in conjunction with PA Real Life story REAL LIFE BusConversion. All usage is subject to a fee or incorporated into your outlets agreed content package. (Image: PA REAL LIFE)

"He's always looking at vehicles and one day in September 2021 he saw a bus," Michelle explained.

"We bought it off a local school bus driver for £3,000, which was a stretch for us but it was well-maintained and came with a full year's MOT," Eamonn added.

"He assured us it was so dependable that it would drive you to Timbuktu and back by morning."

"It would have originally been a yellow primary school bus owned by the education authority."

The couple set a budget of £10,000 for the ambitious project of converting a bus into their ideal mobile retreat.

However, dedicating time to the endeavour was more challenging than anticipated until a pivotal change last year, as Eamonn explains: "We finished up our jobs in December 2023 and decided that was it, we were dedicating ourselves full-time to building the bus," adding, "Whatever savings we had at that stage just had to be enough."

The bus renovation posed greater complexities compared to previous projects they had tackled. One of the most difficult tasks was fitting the plumbing and electrical systems, not to mention ensuring safe gas installation.

On the importance of safety measures, Eamonn detailed how they had professionals check their work and how meticulous they were during the process: "They say measure twice, cut once, but we probably ended up measuring 50 times and cutting more than once,".

To sustain their electronics on the go, the couple has kitted out the bus's roof with solar panels and purchased a hefty battery. "We run our laptops and have a fridge and freezer running all the time," Eamonn shared proudly.

Furthermore, their rolling haven is fitted with both air conditioning and heating, enabling Eamonn and Michelle to journey in comfort no matter the season.

Maximising on available space, the couple installed a fully-equipped kitchen and a shower with hot water.

Eamonn and Michelle haven't shied away from indulging in additional comforts either, incorporating voice-activated lighting and a portable projector to enjoy cosy movie nights while on the move.

"We've got a seven-foot projector screen with seats that swivel around, so we can have four seats facing it," Eamonn revealed.

"You can ask Alexa to open the projector screen or turn on the kitchen lights."

"That's just Eamonn getting carried away," Michelle chimed in with a laugh.

To simplify their shopping trips, Eamonn and Michelle ingeniously crafted a storage space at the rear of the bus for his classic 125 Honda motorcycle.

While they've modernised the 25-foot vehicle with cutting-edge technology, the couple has also retained several of its charming original elements.

"We've kept the original bus door, so you push a button and the door falls open," Michelle explained.

They installed a seven-foot projector screen to enjoy Netflix movie nights via Starlink satellite internet (Collect/PA Real Life) NOTE TO EDITORS: This image must only be used in conjunction with PA Real Life story REAL LIFE BusConversion. All usage is subject to a fee or incorporated into your outlets agreed content package. Find the copy in full on PA Explore or contact PA Real Life at RealLife2@pamediagroup.com or on 020 7963 7175 for access or queries. (Image: PA REA LIFE)

Last month marked their inaugural international journey in the revamped bus, as they ventured to Sicily to attend a friend's nuptials.

Setting off on October 8, they took a ferry to Cherbourg, then motored through the French Alps and Italy, before boarding another vessel in Genoa bound for Sicily.

"The view from our kitchen window changes every couple of days, that's one of the nicest parts of living in a converted bus," Eamonn enthused.

Looking ahead, they're contemplating trips to Sardinia and Spain, though they maintain a flexible approach to their itinerary.

The adventurous duo ultimately invested £15,000 into their bus transformation, overshooting their budget by £5,000, but they plan to enjoy the fruits of their labour for many years to come.

They've also expanded their passion project by acquiring three additional vans, which they lease out through their business, Explore and Snore, offering others a slice of the van-life experience.

Eamonn and Michelle have advised that anyone considering building a camper should consult professionals and conduct comprehensive research.

For further details about Eamonn and Michelle's vans, visit: www.exploreandsnore.com or www.instagram.com/us. andthebus.