FEATURE: George Clarke’s DIY double decker motorhome conversion

by Damien Sharkov
The bus journey is the starkest antithesis to a good caravan holiday, as we would all agree that on all but the darkest and dreariest commutes, hopping on the old double decker comes hand in hand with the hope for the shortest possible stay on board.
Indeed these monoliths of the road are not made with the intention of entertaining a passenger for much longer than 30 minutes at a time.
It seems silly to even juxtapose that with the comforts of a modern caravan. Even the most austere construction from the pre-Alu-tech era, has the omnibus beaten hands down.
Yet if you caught a certain episode of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces on Channel 4, you would know exactly why we are making the unfair comparison.
George encountered a carpenter with a very interesting plan to occupy a small, vacant plot of land that had found its way into his possession.
After spending £4,500 on a double decker bus, the ambitious craftsman, Adam, decided to attempt a bus conversion, using his brainchild as a home away from home for himself and his 12-year-old daughter.
“I have the skills to do it, but not the budget,” laughs Adam as the two survey the dingy omnibus to the ironic tune of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Crosstown Traffic’.
“You are going to need a lot of help,” insists a visibly impressed George. Adam soon shows he would much rather adopt a DIY approach in so far as it is humanly possible.
Build your own bus
The initial budget of the project was £10,000 and six months after the purchase of the bus, George pays Adam a visit to assess the ambitious conversion.
The first problem the project had encountered – the wafer thin walls, had been resolved with heavy insulation.
The damp had been a huge problem, when installing the wooden frame and interior, so Adam had taken a note out of the caravan industry, adding another layer of light aluminium and a water resistant base layer, before stacking up the wood.
The rest of the interior was also impressively done, as most furnishing was fitted by Adam himself, but he does admit to cheating a tad, by installing a flatpack kitchen unit.
The fact he managed to install a working wood burning stove, however, surely redeems his craftsmanship credentials.
The recreation area in the back of the first floor features brand new seating, while the top floor boasts two bedrooms and bunk beds by the fire escape window.
“This is my favourite part though,” admits Adam as he sits next to the stairway, at the front of the top saloon, with a rare bout of sunlight peering through the large front windows.
“It was my favourite part of the bus to sit in when I was a kid,” he adds, seated between dolphin wallpaper and an acoustic guitar, both the influence of his daughter.
Having gone only £2,000 over budget, with all but the shower finished, the double decker motorhome could be chalked off as a success, considering the size of Adam’s project.
It is not as if he is in a rush for a new shower ,as he shows George the alternative shower head, installed on the outside of the bus, with the simplest of shower curtains suspending from the window.
“I am over the moon,” says Adam, admiring his creation. “You should be,” unhesitatingly adds George “It’s fantastic.”
We agree, so long as you park it within walking distance of a bathroom with a roof. To watch the latest episode of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces on Channel4.com, click here.

Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes