Wren Diesel

08/19/2026

Took the bus out for a little drive after adding new temperature and oil pressure gauges. Stopped by the quarry to get the wight. When we first started after stripping the bus down to just a bare shell it weighed in at 13,250 lbs. Yesterday with just about a complete bus and about 25 gallons of water in the tank we weighed in at 17,260 lbs. It's crazy how much everything adds up.

07/26/2026

A huge shoutout to Jon Andersen from the Northwest Blacksmith Association!
​During our visit to the Cowlitz County Fair, Jon forged this incredible custom door handle right in front of us. Watching a master craftsman work metal like that was awesome to see, and now it has officially found its home on our bathroom door.
​There's nothing quite like adding genuine, handmade craftsmanship to the build. Every time we open that door, we'll have a great memory and a piece of local artistry attached to it.
​Thank you, Jon, for sharing your craft and creating such a cool piece for Wren Diesel! Bus life isn't just about the build; it's about the stories and people behind every detail.
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07/03/2026

A little repair work now that I'm back home. My original combiner boxes for my solar panels did not fare well in the sun. One box failed and was filled with water. I found some metal enclosure combiner boxes that I hope will last for many years to come.
Now the count down begins. I've got about 12 months until we can go full-time.

03/08/2026

I started my next project on the bus. We've been planning out the bathroom door for quite a while now. We wanted something unique that would let some light through, keeping the open feeling in a small space. I found Trisha Thompson on marketplaceand we absolutely love her work! (I'll drop a link to her page in the comments so you can go check out her work.) It was perfect for what we wanted. A few texts back and forth, and she had created our Pacific Wren stained glass.
Then it was on to building the door. I wanted light, water-resistant, and in line with the rest of the build. I purchased a few 2"x6" western red cedar boards last summer just for the door. After almost a year, they are dry and stable enough for the build. With all of the planning and a bit of measuring, cutting, planing, routing, and fitting, I now have a door! I've still got some work to do, but I'm super excited to be at this point. I'm now working with someone to have some custom, hand-forged hinges made for it.

03/06/2026

Join us at The Bus Fair in Oakridge, Oregon in June. We still have some work to do but our bus will be an exhibitor at the fair for everyone to check out.

Bus Life Adventure

03/06/2026

Looking forward to The Bus Fair!

Get tickets online for The Bus Fair 2026 - Skoolie Exhibitors here.

02/08/2026

I was due for a beach day! With the sun shining on the Olympic Peninsula in February, I knew I had to make the most of this rare and beautiful opportunity.

01/26/2026

Based cabinets are getting closer. Drawers are complete except for handles.

01/20/2026

Late night adventure chasing northern lights. Got a little color but nothing too impressive. Maybe next time.

01/19/2026

More cabinet work. Just a little more sanding and some finish before the install.