Van Life

The conversion of this shuttle bus into a livable home has leveraged familiar mechanical engineering skills while also requiring learning many new ones. Much of the design work I completed using Autodesk Fusion 360. In addition to the component design and space layout, I devised 3 systems to power the bus:

  • Solar: 600W of solar feeds our two 12V 200aH LiFePo4 batteries, powering ceiling fans, our water pump and tankless water heater, lights, CO detector, etc. We also use an inverter to help power our freezer-turned-fridge, various chargers, and an AC unit in a pinch. 
  • Water: A stainless steel water tank paired with a particle strainer and traditional fuler allow for clean water on the road, heated by a tankless water heater.
  • Propane: Two 20lb propane tanks feed our tankless water heater and dual burner stove/oven.