I thought fixing my bus bathroom was going to be easy.

But if you’ve ever taken on a bus or van bathroom renovation, you’ll know how quickly things spiral.

We found rust.
We found leaks.
We found plumbing problems.

And before I knew it, the entire bathroom was pulled apart.

This video (and blog) is about putting it all back together — and finally creating a bus bathroom that actually works.

And yes… I was very, very ready for my first proper shower.

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Watch the Video Version

If you want to see the full bathroom rebuild (and a very satisfying first shower at the end), you can watch it here:

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From Total Chaos to Rebuild Mode

If you saw the last couple of posts, you’ll know this bathroom started out looking fine…

But it didn’t function at all. So I pulled it apart. And then everything got worse.

This week was all about turning that chaos into something usable again.

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Raising the Roof (Literally)

One of the biggest problems with the original bathroom was headroom. The ceiling was so low that:

• I couldn’t stand properly
• The shower sprayed in completely the wrong direction
• And it just felt cramped

So… we cut part of the roof out. Not something I ever thought I’d casually say.

But once that section came out, everything changed.

Suddenly:

• I could stand up straight
• There was room to actually shower properly
• And the whole space felt bigger

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Reclaiming Floor Space

Another issue was the awkward lip around the edge of the bathroom floor. It reduced usable space and made it harder to move around.

So I came up with a plan:

• Install a flat wooden shower base
• Remove the awkward edge
• Create a level floor

I used timber duck boards, cut them to size, and it worked perfectly. Now the floor feels:

• Bigger
• Simpler
• Much more practical

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Choosing a New Bathroom Style

After getting advice from an interior designer, I made a bold decision.

Instead of going light…I went dark.

I chose wet-area wall panels in a darker tone, which completely changed the feel of the space.

It’s a bit of a risk — but honestly, I love how it turned out.

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Exposed Copper Plumbing (Because It Looks Cool)

Instead of hiding the plumbing inside the walls, we went with exposed copper pipes.

Why?

• It looks great
• It’s easier to install
• It’s easier to fix if something goes wrong

Of course… it wasn’t completely smooth sailing.

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The Tap Disaster

We originally installed some nice-looking taps.

They leaked. Badly. So badly that:

• The water pump kicked in every 20 seconds overnight
• I couldn’t reach the switch
• And I got basically no sleep

So the next day, we went into town and replaced them with proper ball valves.

Lesson learned:
👉 Pretty taps are not worth it if they don’t work properly.

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A Very Satisfying Fix

After replacing the taps and adjusting the plumbing, everything finally worked as it should.

No leaks.
No random pump noises.
No stress.

(Well… less stress.)

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Fixing the Bathroom Window (And Privacy)

The bathroom window had already caused issues earlier with leaks and rust.

So this time, I wanted to fix another problem:

Privacy.

I tested a few options and ended up using a lightweight fluted-style panel.

It:

• Lets light in
• Adds privacy
• Looks interesting
• Can be removed for cleaning

And importantly…

No more accidental bathroom performances for anyone outside.

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The Shower Setup

After looking at a few options, I found a shower setup I really liked.

The key goal was simple:

👉 Be able to stand upright and shower properly.

Now:

• The shower head is positioned higher
• I can use it hands-free
• And I can actually wash my hair properly

This might sound basic…

But in a bus, it’s a big upgrade.

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The Finished Bus Bathroom

After all the chaos, cutting, fixing, and redesigning…

The bathroom is finally usable.

And the difference is huge.

Now I have:

• Proper standing room
• A functional shower
• More usable floor space
• A layout that actually makes sense

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The First Shower (Finally)

After everything…

It was time.

My first proper shower in the new bathroom.

And honestly?

It was the best shower I’ve had in ages.

Everything worked.
The space felt great.
And it finally felt like home.

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It’s Not Perfect (Yet)

There are still a few things I’m unsure about.

For example:

• Is the shower head in the perfect position?
• Will I hit my head on it over time?

So I’d love your thoughts.

Have I nailed this bathroom — or what would you have done differently?

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What Happens Next

Next week, I’ll show you what I did with the ceiling.

Let’s just say…

There was fire involved.

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About My Bus Conversion

I’m converting an old Toyota Coaster bus into my travelling home, learning everything as I go.

On this blog I share:

• Bus conversion projects
• Mistakes and lessons learned
• Van life experiments
• Travel stories from the road

You can also follow along on YouTube where I share weekly videos of the build and life on the road.

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