Nine years. It has been nine whole years since our last campervan blog post. Back then, the internet was a slightly different place, our joints didn't make creaking sounds when we got out of bed, and our previous van adventures were firmly catalogued in the memory bank.
But the call of the open road never truly goes away, does it?
Fast forward to February of this year. We decided it was time to dive back into the wonderful, chaotic, and utterly rewarding world of van life. Enter our new project: a glorious, character-rich, 25-year-old Volkswagen T4.
What's in a Name?
For the newcomers here, you might be wondering about the name. Years ago, when my son was small, he heard the brand Hugo Boss and, in classic kid-logic fashion, decided our van should be called Hugo Bus. It stuck. It’s also a perfect little pun: because with a 25-year-old engine, every steep hill is a gentle negotiation of "Hugo... no, you go first!"
The Starting Point: A Little Rough Around the Edges
We love him already, but let’s be entirely honest—Hugo came to us with a lot of "personality" from his previous owners. If you look back Hugo Snr and Hugo Jr spent quite a bit of time together in the past.
Here is the official baseline assessment of our diamond in the rough:
The Sunburned Roof & Fading Glory: Up top, Hugo’s bright red, gold fleck, paint has seen better days, sporting some distinct white patches on the roof that look a bit like he forgot his sunscreen. The bonnet is rocking a matte black bra cover, and the grill has some classic, flaky "patina" that reminds us he’s lived a full life.
The "Styled" Cockpit: Up front, we've got a custom, gold-spoked steering wheel that screams "racing driver". Unwind those windows with your scateboard wheels and some nice leather seats that have definitely seen a few miles. Hay you can't beat a Pool ball gear stick... when it's tough enough to find the correct gear in the first place.
The Living Quarters: The back features a red-and-black diamond-stitched rock-and-roll bed and a sleek black gloss "MARBLE" kitchenette unit. It's got great bones, but it’s currently a bit of a storage locker for loose wires and things that don't quite work.. sometimes.
Under the Bonnet: A wonderfully mechanical, old-school engine bay. No complicated modern computers here—just pure, classic VW machinery that smells like nostalgia (and a little bit of diesel).
New Lease of Life, New Adventures
So, what’s the plan?
We are officially on a mission to give this lovely campervan a new lease of life, a ton of love, and maybe a little less peeling paint over the next few years. We want to smooth out the rough edges, sort the quirks, and get Hugo looking and running his absolute best... like when it appeared in the T4 magazine, all those years ago.
The catch? We're in our late 50s and still both working full-time. Gone are the days of staying up until 2:00 AM wrestling with rusty nuts only to bounce out of bed for work at 7:00 AM. This time around, it’s all about pacing ourselves, enjoying the process, and learning as we go (or more luckily reconnecting with those lovely VW experts along the way).
Hugo is a 25-year-old classic, and we aren't exactly spring chickens either, but we reckon we’re all entering our prime. We have a calendar bubbling over with ideas, weekend getaways, and festival plans, and we can't wait to take you along for the ride.
Dust off your travel mugs and stick around—the tools are out, the kettle is on, and the next chapter of the Hugo Bus adventure has officially begun!
Love,
Rob & Pippa 🛠️❤️🚐