This video comes from a moment of genuine uncertainty — the kind that decides whether a chapter continues or quietly closes. Several chapters it turns out in my case. I was back in Australia, wondering if my van life adventures were about to end, or if I could find something that would let me keep going… just differently.

Instead of rushing into a decision, I did what I do best: I went looking. Vans, buses, half-finished projects, suspicious bargains, and a few vehicles that should probably never be allowed near electricity again. Some were solid but unfinished, some were beautifully built, some wildly expensive, and some were cheap for reasons that became very clear very quickly.

What started as “let’s look at a couple of vans” turned into a full-blown tour of very different options — from aging motorhomes to school buses, ghost tour vehicles, and finally, something that just felt right the moment I stepped inside.

This wasn’t just about buying a bus. It’s about decision fatigue, trusting your instincts, and learning (again) that the cheapest option is rarely the least expensive in the long run.

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🎥 Watch the Video

If you prefer watching rather than reading, the full video is here.

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🗺️ What This Video Covers

• Looking at 10 vans and buses across Queensland
• Prices ranging from $5,000 to $40,000
• Old motorhomes, school buses, and multiple Toyota Coasters
• What unfinished renovations really look like
• Licensing, headroom, and layout realities
• One very long drive… twice
• The moment I knew this was the one

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📍 The Story Behind the Scenes

The first few vans were exactly what you’d expect when you’re shopping at the lower end of the budget spectrum: solid bones, questionable decisions, and renovations abandoned halfway through. One was completely gutted and mid-reno, which raised the question I kept coming back to — is it worth buying someone else’s unfinished ideas?

Another was an aging beauty that had clearly been expensive in its former life. It showed in the quality, but so did the years. Beautiful cabinetry, a shower and toilet… and a price tag that made me pause.

Then there were the familiar shapes — vans that reminded me a lot of Kenny, my old European van. Comfortable, known, tempting. But also loaded with memories of the problems that came with it too.

And then things escalated.

School buses entered the picture. Cheap. Big. Full of potential. Also full of seats, subfloors, and some very serious headroom issues. One Mitsubishi Rosa made sense on paper — affordable, easy parts, money left over to convert it — until I realised the rebuild would be enormous. Floor, roof, licensing upgrades… suddenly “cheap” wasn’t cheap at all.

One Toyota Coaster nearly made it. Mechanically sound, good engine, decent price — until a Queensland regulation about passenger doors started to cause challenges with the roadworthy certificate. Then the deal blew completely because the owner had a tragedy and really needed it for a family member. So I let him send me the deposit back and knowing how the story ends, I’m genuinely glad it fell through.

There was also the haunted ghost tour bus. Yes, really. RIP numberplates, a wasp nest in the wheel, solar panel where logic clearly didn’t apply and half a million more kilometres on the clock than promised. It was a nine hour round trip to see it but it was an easy no.

By the time number ten came along, I was tired, cautious, and trying not to get my hopes up. But within ten minutes of stepping inside, I knew. The craftsmanship felt different — like something built by someone who understood space and movement. And then I saw it: a Murphy bed. My dream feature.

Decision made.

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🧠 Things I Learned

• Cheap vehicles often come with expensive lessons
• Headroom matters more than you think
• Old buses can be brilliant — but regulations matter
• A good layout beats shiny finishes every time
• When something feels right immediately, it usually is. Thats how it worked with my other two vans too.

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🔗 Related Videos / Posts

https://youtube.com/@helenwheels4444?si=t64kTzNlskzegd1S

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💬 Over to You

Have you ever bought a van or bus — or walked away at the last minute?
And most importantly… what should I name the bus?
Let me know in the comments — I read every one.

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