I'll be converting a van in 4years after finishing school and will travel through Europe with my boyfriend. I'll have a 159" wheel base van because it fits into parking spaces in EU and I can do stealth camping more in a van than a bus. Love the layout of your van and will be doing a fixed bed but not a Murphy style. Sending love from Slovenia 🇸🇮😊
I am a huge fan of converted ambulances. Not sure if you would have significant height and or width restrictions but the solidity (usually high performance engines), the clever built-ins and the storage cannot be beat in my opinion.
Box Truck! The cab is technically a van, but I am building out a box truck. Height is an issues, but I love it. It's short enough to mostly fit in most parking spots. Almost everywhere you can park your van, I can park my box. It is a bit tallish because my box sits a bit high. A van is pretty easy to find if you have the cash to go dealership. Short buses (like 25' feet and under, van completive length) are getting pretty popular and pricy to get.
I’m team bus! I’m planning to launch The Great American Field Trip Project to provide virtual and interactive field trips for school children, so I’m looking at midsize buses. I’m out to make education great again!
We love it! Buses built with a purpose and a mission make so much sense and mid size is truly the largest we would ever comfortably be able to do again.
Good video, though I get a hint of some bias, I agree that plan ing the key. Couples would probably be better off in a smaller vehicle for sure. I'm unfortunately a family of 6, so a van is out of the question. The bus is and would only be our only option for long term living. Again, it ALL has to do with your particular situations. But great points for each types if living.
I really enjoy your videos. They are very well done. They are very straightforward and informative. You both are very personable and easy to watch. I wish you well in your adventures.
I have lived in a 9 metre (29 ft) bus and a 7 metre (23 ft) bus. I now live in a caravan (travel trailer). I am retired, so the caravan works well for me as I can stay in one place for weeks/months and still have my tow vehicle for day to day use. The caravan is also LOT cheaper to maintain etc. The only downside with the caravan is the setup etc, but this is only really relevant if I am wanting to move every few days. Of course the caravan also doesn't have as big a payload.
Enjoyed your video as always - we now travel full-time in our Sprinter 144 4x4 and love it - we had a Winnebago View which we loved (and is small) and it was still a bit big for certain situations. So, when Covid stopped our full-time international travel - we knew we wanted something small and less complex then even the small View - so we did our own buildout with that in mind. We learn a few years ago that bigger is not always better as we had a 32' Nordic Tug that we sold and bought a 22' C-Dory - and we love the smaller 22ft boat much better - never say never but we'd never go back to a bigger boat. So anyway, fun discussion for us to listen to as we understand the smaller the better. PS: We are from the Madison WI area originally - we noticed in one of your videos going back to that area. Have a nice evening.
Your Van is absolutely beautiful and I love it, but the space for me is very limiting, and the capacity to carry the things that you might want for water sports, grilling, water capacity, separate toilet/shower facility, etc. I am definitely a bus person because of the room, the ability to travel and pull a vehicle, so you can really do sightseeing in a small vehicle, but then come home to a really spacious home, and the biggest thing for me is the bathroom - the composting toilet is a non-starter for me - I would much rather deal with a black tank, and I hate wet baths - I love the fact that you have a separate shower that keeps the water confined to one space and also I like that you have the ability to have a sink in the bathroom - I have issues with # 2 then going to the kitchen sink and touching those faucets after that job - much rather contain everything of that nature to the bathroom....I always thought OMGosh what are they doing when they let that bus go - that was one of the most beautiful bus schoolie's I had ever seen - from the layout to the bathroom, the large bedroom that you could keep as a bed all day long and you had other space to watch TV, do your work from the road, etc. I guess I am just not a van person, but both builds are beautiful - and if you want to have a family I can not see a van working at all. Thanks for letting me be hones - love watching your channel - have been a fan since almost the beginning - coming from Central Illinois!!!
I feel most of your pain points with the 40 ft bus and full time travel. It also just doesn't bother me that much now that we're not doing like 3,000 miles a month. I wish we could be team van, but I just don't see how we can go that small with 2 kids. I would go smaller bus, but higher MPG's than the 8-10 you max out at with a bus would really free us in many ways. If I could find a 15 mpg vehicle between a bus and a van that can gracefully fit 4 seats that would be amazing. Something 25-30 feet. The size really doesn't bother me once you knock 25% off that 40 ft bus. It seems like in Europe there are more options built on these van chassis' that are longer and better built. It's out there somewhere and I'm going to find it! Will I build it out once I find it? Not sure. But I will find it haha.
Team cutaway van, 23 feet long 10'2" high 80" wide 84" interior height 12 mpg, 7.3 liter 430-450 hp for towing a modified Jeep. 1,200 watts of solar on the roof plus a Maxxair fan and a 24x24 boat hatch.
We are moving to a bus. We want our adult daughter to be able to come visit for long periods and we have large dogs, We are probably going for a 9 window bus so hopefully under 30 feet which should give us a little more freedom. I love following your adventures from my home in East Tennessee.
I like shuttle buses that I've seen... But, if I could afford to have someone build out a van for me (I'm disabled and not able to do it myself), I'd want as short a wheelbase as I could find with a high top. Maneuverability is the most important thing to me given that I live in a country with narrow roads and narrow parking spaces. Sprinter makes sense because it is more narrow than many of the vans on the market.
If you wish to Drive down the Andes in Sudamerica, I think a LWB Sprinter 4x4 on big-wheels is good (but you may need to carry bikes or motor-cycles of some sort for some inner cities. A regular BUS will force you to miss out on too many places. However, If you were to Start in Chile, & then do Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay & sul do Brasil, a 40 foot bus is very good. But note-well if you are not a real bus-service many of these countries limit "ordinary" vehicles to 12 metres (about 40 feet), and 2.5 metres wide (very slightly more than 8 feet) (about 8 foot 2 inch). True busses in Brasil however can be (3 axle rigid) 14 metres, (4 axle rigid) 15 metres, or articulated (bendi) 18 metres long.
To be honest, I really think that your van is the best layout I have ever seen. Although I have heard that repairs on a Sprinter cost more than say, a Ford Ram. I could see the same layout in a Ram though. I am drawn toward a or 6 window skoolie, although I am not sure I would be able to drive it. LOL... Love you guys, and thanks for the info! God bless!
Very informative video, great job! I will disagree on finding a van vs a bus. I could get a promaster today while it took 1 year to find the bus we wanted😂. We will be on the road in a couple months. Any advice on apps to plan trips? Thanks for the great video, I’m sure it will help a lot of folks out✌🏼
Team van for sure! No intention to travel off of North America. Still haven’t decided on my van size but I’ll probably go with a Ford Transit or Dodge Ram ProMaster. Sprinters sound super reliable but repairs sound costly and less easy to obtain.
I have neither. However my ideal is definitely team bus - it’s my husband and I with our 8 year old son, dog and two cats. Plus I can’t see our son being satisfied if we weren’t able to I corporate space for his fish tank. Lol.
I simply love bus conversions. However, I have to resist that temptation. Can't afford it. Currently I have a trailer caravan, that spends most of the time on a fixed plot of land. However, I do tow it behind my car for trips away. I am now newly semi retired. So am looking to travel more. I am thinking a van conversion with the ability to take a motorbike might suit me well. Still have a few loose ends to tie up before I decide. Thanks for the advice.
My husband and I are considering buying a van or a bus to live out of. Both seem pretty overwhelming at this point, but I think we’re leaning more towards a van, especially after this video. Do you just learn as you go?
I don't know if you remember I did buy a bus and then Covid hit I've not seen my bus in a year I'm planning on selling the bus even though I never took it out on the road on a trip and I'm going to get a van because of my disability I think it'll be easier to live in a van anyway stay safe stay strong stay up and god bless and enjoy life ✌💖💪👨🍳🎅🚌
I loved your bus but I also love your van . I myself would love a schoolie . It's my dream. I tell my grandson all the time if I find a bus will u build it for me he laughs n says Nana I'm 10 lol . Whole I can dream . Stay Safe Always God Bless n God Speed
I LIKE YOUR VAN, IT IS THE BEST PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL THAT I HAVE SEEN ,WHAT I WOULD DO WOULD BE TO LIFT IT AND PUT A 4X4 .KEEP MAKING WONDERFUL VIDEOS.
I LOVE you guys and following your adventures! And I love your van-and the layout is perfect. But my immediate dream is to live on a boat and do The Great Loop. 🛥🌊🐟🐬💕
Van life forsure... The bus had restrictions and parking was hard for you guys.... I feel like you guys had to stay close to water and couldn’t fit in woods and go camping.
There’s really no way we were ever comfortably exploring forests in the bus. BLM and water spots near cities were really the only way we were able to make it work. We’ve truly enjoyed the van so so much.
OMG, people would just walk right into your bus?????????? Home or not, who thinks it's acceptable to go into any vehicle that isn't theirs? That's so weird to me.
Couldn’t agree more. On several occasions people walked right in our bus without any notice, while we were working, filling up fuel, pulled in for a quick break at a travel plaza. Very strange occurrences.
We're still currently having that discussion. We love the space we get with the 170" and how even being larger it can fit in any parking space we want, but I think if we intend to do some true overlanding, we'll be most comfortable (or we'll find a way to be) in a 144" 4x4.
I find a lot of people judge me by the bus as a drug dealing homeless person. If I'm parked in a lot the police are there almost immediately just to check what I'm doing. A van is treated more like an RV or just a car. I've traveled with a friend. My bus is painted with cute curtains and open windows. Her van is old and kind of creepy looking but I'm the one who gets questioned by security constantly.
hi, you could help the NEAGLE channel, they bought a school bus, but they are not finding any place to insure the bus, making it impossible for them to drive the bus, they are from Orlando, florida, they are brazilian. if you can help, we appreciate
Your bus was so gorgeous but when it comes to the lifestyle of traveling...van definitely is more what I would choose. And your van is one of the most beautiful I've seen:) Also, covid travel requires more flexibility which the van provides. Interesting video; it will be helpful for a lot of people considering this lifestyle. Thank you for sharing your wonderful journey:)
Definitely on Team Bus here. That being said, we're not living full time in ours, but really REALLY appreciate the space that it affords us.
I'll be converting a van in 4years after finishing school and will travel through Europe with my boyfriend. I'll have a 159" wheel base van because it fits into parking spaces in EU and I can do stealth camping more in a van than a bus. Love the layout of your van and will be doing a fixed bed but not a Murphy style. Sending love from Slovenia 🇸🇮😊
That’s so awesome!!! Sending love right back!
I am a huge fan of converted ambulances. Not sure if you would have significant height and or width restrictions but the solidity (usually high performance engines), the clever built-ins and the storage cannot be beat in my opinion.
Ambulances on the right chassis can be SOOOOO GOOD.
I’d rather be in a van - I wouldn’t want the size restriction. BUT I loved your bus!!
Box Truck! The cab is technically a van, but I am building out a box truck. Height is an issues, but I love it. It's short enough to mostly fit in most parking spots. Almost everywhere you can park your van, I can park my box. It is a bit tallish because my box sits a bit high.
A van is pretty easy to find if you have the cash to go dealership. Short buses (like 25' feet and under, van completive length) are getting pretty popular and pricy to get.
I’m team bus! I’m planning to launch The Great American Field Trip Project to provide virtual and interactive field trips for school children, so I’m looking at midsize buses. I’m out to make education great again!
We love it! Buses built with a purpose and a mission make so much sense and mid size is truly the largest we would ever comfortably be able to do again.
Like Ms.Frizzle and her Magic School Bus. I loved that series as a kid.
VAN! Really just want to buy yours. Perfectly done!
Might be possible soon!
Wow!
Good video, though I get a hint of some bias, I agree that plan ing the key. Couples would probably be better off in a smaller vehicle for sure. I'm unfortunately a family of 6, so a van is out of the question. The bus is and would only be our only option for long term living.
Again, it ALL has to do with your particular situations.
But great points for each types if living.
I really enjoy your videos.
They are very well done.
They are very straightforward and informative.
You both are very personable and easy to watch.
I wish you well in your adventures.
Thank you so much friend 🥰
I have lived in a 9 metre (29 ft) bus and a 7 metre (23 ft) bus. I now live in a caravan (travel trailer). I am retired, so the caravan works well for me as I can stay in one place for weeks/months and still have my tow vehicle for day to day use. The caravan is also LOT cheaper to maintain etc. The only downside with the caravan is the setup etc, but this is only really relevant if I am wanting to move every few days. Of course the caravan also doesn't have as big a payload.
Definitely team bus. I love the amount of space and would prefer to have a regular car to actually get to my destination in.
I got excited when I got your notification 💛
Enjoyed your video as always - we now travel full-time in our Sprinter 144 4x4 and love it - we had a Winnebago View which we loved (and is small) and it was still a bit big for certain situations. So, when Covid stopped our full-time international travel - we knew we wanted something small and less complex then even the small View - so we did our own buildout with that in mind. We learn a few years ago that bigger is not always better as we had a 32' Nordic Tug that we sold and bought a 22' C-Dory - and we love the smaller 22ft boat much better - never say never but we'd never go back to a bigger boat. So anyway, fun discussion for us to listen to as we understand the smaller the better. PS: We are from the Madison WI area originally - we noticed in one of your videos going back to that area. Have a nice evening.
Your Van is absolutely beautiful and I love it, but the space for me is very limiting, and the capacity to carry the things that you might want for water sports, grilling, water capacity, separate toilet/shower facility, etc. I am definitely a bus person because of the room, the ability to travel and pull a vehicle, so you can really do sightseeing in a small vehicle, but then come home to a really spacious home, and the biggest thing for me is the bathroom - the composting toilet is a non-starter for me - I would much rather deal with a black tank, and I hate wet baths - I love the fact that you have a separate shower that keeps the water confined to one space and also I like that you have the ability to have a sink in the bathroom - I have issues with # 2 then going to the kitchen sink and touching those faucets after that job - much rather contain everything of that nature to the bathroom....I always thought OMGosh what are they doing when they let that bus go - that was one of the most beautiful bus schoolie's I had ever seen - from the layout to the bathroom, the large bedroom that you could keep as a bed all day long and you had other space to watch TV, do your work from the road, etc. I guess I am just not a van person, but both builds are beautiful - and if you want to have a family I can not see a van working at all. Thanks for letting me be hones - love watching your channel - have been a fan since almost the beginning - coming from Central Illinois!!!
We just bought a bus! Just in the process of doing it up now ❤️
I feel most of your pain points with the 40 ft bus and full time travel. It also just doesn't bother me that much now that we're not doing like 3,000 miles a month. I wish we could be team van, but I just don't see how we can go that small with 2 kids. I would go smaller bus, but higher MPG's than the 8-10 you max out at with a bus would really free us in many ways. If I could find a 15 mpg vehicle between a bus and a van that can gracefully fit 4 seats that would be amazing. Something 25-30 feet. The size really doesn't bother me once you knock 25% off that 40 ft bus. It seems like in Europe there are more options built on these van chassis' that are longer and better built. It's out there somewhere and I'm going to find it! Will I build it out once I find it? Not sure. But I will find it haha.
A 4x4 van is the dream!
170” wheel base 4x4 high roof, with slide out, Now that would be the ticket for me
Slide outs would be so epic.
Team cutaway van,
23 feet long
10'2" high
80" wide
84" interior height
12 mpg,
7.3 liter 430-450 hp for towing a modified Jeep.
1,200 watts of solar on the roof plus a Maxxair fan and a 24x24 boat hatch.
We are moving to a bus. We want our adult daughter to be able to come visit for long periods and we have large dogs, We are probably going for a 9 window bus so hopefully under 30 feet which should give us a little more freedom. I love following your adventures from my home in East Tennessee.
I like shuttle buses that I've seen... But, if I could afford to have someone build out a van for me (I'm disabled and not able to do it myself), I'd want as short a wheelbase as I could find with a high top. Maneuverability is the most important thing to me given that I live in a country with narrow roads and narrow parking spaces. Sprinter makes sense because it is more narrow than many of the vans on the market.
I want a shuttle bus! And I would love to travel internationally! I’d love to travel anywhere!
Shuttles are a great in between!
If you wish to Drive down the Andes in Sudamerica, I think a LWB Sprinter 4x4 on big-wheels is good (but you may need to carry bikes or motor-cycles of some sort for some inner cities. A regular BUS will force you to miss out on too many places.
However, If you were to Start in Chile, & then do Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay & sul do Brasil, a 40 foot bus is very good. But note-well if you are not a real bus-service many of these countries limit "ordinary" vehicles to 12 metres (about 40 feet), and 2.5 metres wide (very slightly more than 8 feet) (about 8 foot 2 inch). True busses in Brasil however can be (3 axle rigid) 14 metres, (4 axle rigid) 15 metres, or articulated (bendi) 18 metres long.
I'm saying box truck 🚛 is going to be my choice .
To be honest, I really think that your van is the best layout I have ever seen. Although I have heard that repairs on a Sprinter cost more than say, a Ford Ram. I could see the same layout in a Ram though. I am drawn toward a or 6 window skoolie, although I am not sure I would be able to drive it. LOL... Love you guys, and thanks for the info! God bless!
A six window Skoolie would be so much fun! God bless you as well friend!
Very informative video, great job! I will disagree on finding a van vs a bus. I could get a promaster today while it took 1 year to find the bus we wanted😂. We will be on the road in a couple months. Any advice on apps to plan trips? Thanks for the great video, I’m sure it will help a lot of folks out✌🏼
Team van for sure! No intention to travel off of North America. Still haven’t decided on my van size but I’ll probably go with a Ford Transit or Dodge Ram ProMaster. Sprinters sound super reliable but repairs sound costly and less easy to obtain.
Big fan of the diesel AWD transits!
I’ll keep that in mind! Thanks for the recommendation!
Really interesting and informative comparison. Love your videos!!!
What a great video, laying it all out like that, thanks x
I have neither. However my ideal is definitely team bus - it’s my husband and I with our 8 year old son, dog and two cats. Plus I can’t see our son being satisfied if we weren’t able to I corporate space for his fish tank. Lol.
Buses are great for being able to truly find space and a place for anything!
I simply love bus conversions. However, I have to resist that temptation. Can't afford it. Currently I have a trailer caravan, that spends most of the time on a fixed plot of land. However, I do tow it behind my car for trips away. I am now newly semi retired. So am looking to travel more. I am thinking a van conversion with the ability to take a motorbike might suit me well. Still have a few loose ends to tie up before I decide. Thanks for the advice.
I’m currently on team van - just bought a low top Ford econoline with my partner!! Maybe a bus someday though!
My husband and I are considering buying a van or a bus to live out of. Both seem pretty overwhelming at this point, but I think we’re leaning more towards a van, especially after this video. Do you just learn as you go?
Team van for sure! Can’t wait to do my own build🙌🏻
We’re right there with you!
I don't know if you remember I did buy a bus and then Covid hit I've not seen my bus in a year I'm planning on selling the bus even though I never took it out on the road on a trip and I'm going to get a van because of my disability I think it'll be easier to live in a van anyway stay safe stay strong stay up and god bless and enjoy life ✌💖💪👨🍳🎅🚌
We do remember! It’s a huge project to tackle and a lot to drive around. God bless, friend!
I loved your bus but I also love your van . I myself would love a schoolie . It's my dream. I tell my grandson all the time if I find a bus will u build it for me he laughs n says Nana I'm 10 lol . Whole I can dream . Stay Safe Always God Bless n God Speed
I LIKE YOUR VAN, IT IS THE BEST PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL THAT I HAVE SEEN ,WHAT I WOULD DO WOULD BE TO LIFT IT AND PUT A 4X4 .KEEP MAKING WONDERFUL VIDEOS.
Thank you friend! 4x4 for sure!
I LOVE you guys and following your adventures! And I love your van-and the layout is perfect. But my immediate dream is to live on a boat and do The Great Loop.
🛥🌊🐟🐬💕
We’ve got the itch for a boat as well🥰 sending love right back your way!
Thank you for the link to this video
Absolutely James! I hope it helps. We LOVED the bus, but it’s truly just a bit too large to be comfortable traveling.
THANK YOU
Team Van!
Awesome video I love both but I will keep my trailer and truck 30 years in a trailer just use to it. Very good video 👌🛠️🇨🇦
Badge! When’s the freaking border going to open so we can hang out!
@@mariajoseandchase I am hoping in may or June. We got campground here no problems 👍🇨🇦🛠️
I'm team van!!!!
I love motor home
I could recommend a Mercedes Vario for a more family friendly.
Very informative
Thanks Mike!
Van life forsure... The bus had restrictions and parking was hard for you guys.... I feel like you guys had to stay close to water and couldn’t fit in woods and go camping.
There’s really no way we were ever comfortably exploring forests in the bus. BLM and water spots near cities were really the only way we were able to make it work. We’ve truly enjoyed the van so so much.
OMG, people would just walk right into your bus?????????? Home or not, who thinks it's acceptable to go into any vehicle that isn't theirs? That's so weird to me.
Couldn’t agree more. On several occasions people walked right in our bus without any notice, while we were working, filling up fuel, pulled in for a quick break at a travel plaza. Very strange occurrences.
If you could do it all over again, would you chose the 170 or 144 wheelbase ?
We're still currently having that discussion. We love the space we get with the 170" and how even being larger it can fit in any parking space we want, but I think if we intend to do some true overlanding, we'll be most comfortable (or we'll find a way to be) in a 144" 4x4.
So helpful!
Thanks friend!
Team van.
We have a ProMaster van. It is the best way to travel.
Love the vans for sure.
Hola chicos me encantan sus videos besos enormes desde Argentina
Hola chicos, su Van tiene control de velocidad crucero? Saludos desde Chile
Buenos Diaz! Como estan este dia? Me levante muy temprano como ustedes, saludos de Hartselle Alabama
I find a lot of people judge me by the bus as a drug dealing homeless person. If I'm parked in a lot the police are there almost immediately just to check what I'm doing.
A van is treated more like an RV or just a car. I've traveled with a friend. My bus is painted with cute curtains and open windows. Her van is old and kind of creepy looking but I'm the one who gets questioned by security constantly.
If you don’t mind me asking; How much did you sell the Bus for?
Don’t mind at all. We sold the bus for $40,000
i feel a couple with kids n pets would be better off wif a bus?
We’re currently converting another bus.
Can I be #teamboth?? We're converting a 28ft bus, but we'd love to also convert a van! Great video this week guys. :)
Absolutely! No rule books to how many creations you can have at the same time or at any time.
Buenos dias amiguis😘
Buenos Dias! 🥰
hi, you could help the NEAGLE channel, they bought a school bus, but they are not finding any place to insure the bus, making it impossible for them to drive the bus, they are from Orlando, florida, they are brazilian. if you can help, we appreciate
To be totally honest I miss the bus more room more space and the doggies had more space to..😔 Amigos pendona sirve de algo malo just being honest..
Your bus was so gorgeous but when it comes to the lifestyle of traveling...van definitely is more what I would choose. And your van is one of the most beautiful I've seen:) Also, covid travel requires more flexibility which the van provides. Interesting video; it will be helpful for a lot of people considering this lifestyle. Thank you for sharing your wonderful journey:)
Thank you Sheila! 🥰 we figured it was about time to give our personal experience and input.
❤🌈🌻
Hii
van
Hear that!