DIY Aims and Goals

Motorhome construction

Before you begin stripping out the interior of the bus, just remember the old carpenter's adage of "Measure twice, cut once".

So lets consider the basic steps required to achieve our goals.

Basic plans and concepts
Initial preparation
Layout-Design
Major modifications
Motorhome fitout
Outside features
Plumbing-Wiring
Rego-Certifying

Basic plans and concepts

Based on the size of the bus purchased, we should now have an idea of exactly what we want to build, we just need to know how.

This is the time for many cups of coffee, and a lot of sitting and pondering, ("Measure twice, cut once") before we start ripping out the fixtures willy-nilly. Look at your drawings or sketches you made before you bought the bus. Ask yourself, is the design still feasable, will everything still fit? Do you have a recessed aisle or flat floor?

Take note of how everything is attached, the seat mounts, roof rails and bag racks etc. Look for essential brackets, braces or luggage racks that may be required to prevent the roof or walls from sagging or moving.

In some cases the seat mounting bolts are so old and rusty that they will need to be cut off with an angle grinder, so consider where those very hot sparks are going to be spraying around. One would look very foolish if one burnt one's new bus and even one's house to the ground on day one, wouldn't one?

Before stripping out the seats and existing bus features, consider whether your design allows the use of existing bus seat for you travelling companions. Just remember that even if you leave 2 or 3 existing seats in position for dining etc, they will still need to be fitted with NEW approved seatbelts and approved by an authorised engineer for registration!

If you do any modifications to the body or chassis of the bus, then you will need to have these modifications certified by an engineer before you can obtain a Roadworthy Certificate if you wish to take advantage of much cheaper motorhome registration. Modifications may include, seating, raising the roof, replacing windows, fitting bins, floor, entrance doors etc.

Your motorhome will be impossible to sell for a good price at a later date if it is not certified and compliance plated by an engineer.