Coach Bus Was Turned Into a Unique, Deluxe Tiny Home on Wheels With a Modern Living Space

Most of the bus conversions I've written about were done in North America and meant to travel on North American roads. Although European infrastructure is not as suitable for large rigs, that shouldn't stop you from building one if that's something you're dreaming of. The tiny home on wheels I'm checking out today was created in Portugal.

Meet Catarina and Gianni, the owners and converters of this mobile home, a Volvo B12 measuring 41 feet (12.5 meters) in length and 12 feet (3.6 meters) in height.

This bus sports a 12-liter engine with a fuel efficiency of around 30 L/100km (7.8 MPG). Keep in mind that fuel in Europe is more expensive than in North America. According to the couple, they can drive for a whopping 1,800 km (1,118 miles). Based on the current diesel price in Portugal, which is €1.6 ($1.7) per liter, a full refill of the tank costs a whopping €864 ($926).

During the pandemic, their former camper burned down. They found themselves in quite a pickle, to say the least – they couldn't travel due to restrictions and didn't have a home to live in. And so, they took the radical decision to convert this coach, something not many would've done.

But why did they go for this specific bus? Well, to begin with, they found it for a good price. Furthermore, it was well-maintained and in good shape. Given their circumstances, they were in a rush to get their hands on a new project, and from the three coaches they checked out, this was the best option.

Regarding the financial side of this rig, Catarina and Gianni purchased it for €10,000 ($10,710) and invested around €40,000 ($42,841) into the conversion, taxes included. In fact, the taxes for this mobile home cost almost just as much as the bus itself. As the couple said, you might want to reconsider if you plan on building and registering a tiny home on wheels in Portugal.

So, is €50K a lot? For a bus conversion, it's not that much – most projects I've written about are in the $30,000 to $40,000 (€28,010 to €37,347) range. However, I'll let you be the judge of that once you've seen everything inside this bus.

Before we step inside, let me tell you more about the exterior. One advantage of converting a coach into a mobile home is the sheer amount of exterior storage space. There are compartments on both sides of the rig where passengers used to store their luggage.

On the passenger side, you'll find an enormous compartment where the couple installed a 92-gallon (350-liter) greywater tank. Another smaller one on the same side of the bus houses a 90-gallon blackwater tank and a huge 132-gallon (500-liter) freshwater tank.

Since the bottom part of their former camper didn't catch on fire, they were able to take these tanks and install them on the new rig. Another compartment at the rear holds tools, cables, and other stuff. Moreover, Catarina and Gianni blocked part of the entrance on the passenger side and used the stairs there to install the electrical system.

That's it for the exterior, so let's head inside. Since the coach already came with proper insulation and double-glazed windows, the duo didn't need to make any modifications or additions regarding insulation. However, they removed the top storage compartments and covered the middle passageway to make the floor level.

Regarding design, the couple opted for a modern aesthetic with many black, white, and grey details. It feels very spacious due to the tall ceiling, which is 6'1" (185 centimeters) high in the middle but lower on the sides due to the curved roof. What's more, humongous windows on each side let a lot of light shine inside - they run along the entire length of the van.

The driver's cabin looks just like when they got the coach. Moreover, they kept two seats and attached them at the front of the bus. Besides that, the entire layout and interior were changed.

Behind the driver's cabin, you'll discover a sizeable liquor cabinet. What's more, behind the two passenger seats, Catarina and Gianni added a large couch that can be extended into a bed. It faces a TV, which has yet to be safely mounted. For now, it's sitting on a small step and a box.

Next up, we have an L-shaped kitchen. It features a larger countertop, a four-burner stove, a coffee machine, a cool vent hood that electronically raises from the countertop, a deep sink, and a gigantic fridge/freezer. You'll also notice a portable A/C nearby. Furthermore, storage space isn't an issue here since the drawers and cabinets can hold a lot of stuff.

Past the kitchen, the walking space narrowed down into a hallway on the passenger side of the interior. The first door on the right as you walk deeper inside the bus leads into the bathroom, which is by far my favorite part of this mobile home.

The bathroom boasts a minimalistic yet striking look that looks straight up out of a modern hotel. It has a hexagonal mirror, a sink mounted on a cabinet, a toilet, and a spacious walk-in shower. The only thing I'd add is a curtain to cover the large window. Still, this bathroom is better than 90% of the bathrooms I've seen in other campers.

The next room is Catarina's small office. It's a straightforward space with a tiny desk, an office chair, a large speaker, and two wall-mounted monitors.

Finally, like in many other converted buses, the rear of the interior is occupied by the bedroom. You'll find what looks like a queen-size bed, a skylight, two reading lights, steps on the sides with storage spaces underneath, and a closet that isn't yet finished.

Underneath the bed, the couple devised a sleeping spot for their dog. Moreover, the bed can be lifted to reveal an enormous storage spot.

All in all, Catarina and Gianni were faced with a very tough situation, but they pushed through and came up with a fantastic tiny home on wheels. Even though there are some minor additions to be done, it's already packed with so many features that make life on the road enjoyable and comfortable.

Now that we've seen everything, I'd say the €50K investment was worth it. By comparison, some specialized conversion companies ask this much to convert a van that's a fraction of this bus's size - and this price doesn't include the cost of the base vehicle, which can be anywhere from $8,000 (€7,490) for an old van and can run up to $70,000 (€65,541) for a new, high-end van.

However, keep in mind that money isn't the only thing you're investing when building a tiny home on wheels by yourself. You will also invest lots of energy and time - in this couple's case, it took them one year to bring the rig to its current form.

How about you? Do you feel €50K is too much, too little, or just right? Let me know what you think in the comments below.