The Donner family from Berlin has converted a Setra touring coach into a camper van with great passion. In the meantime, the S 315 GT‑HD has become her home - without any land boundaries.
Magazine
From the Setra S 315 GT‑HD to a rolling home.
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The Donner family has converted a Setra touring coach into their new home.
It was love at first sight when Julia and Paul Donner discovered their Setra S 315 GT‑HD just over three years ago on a farm in Upper Franconia and quickly decided to buy it. A courageous decision by the Brandenburg couple who converted the touring coach completely into an autonomous camper van themselves. With this apartment on six wheels, the family is not only on the road, the Setra touring coach has now become the home of the family of five.
From a camper van dream to your own Setra.
Camping and travelling with a motorhome has long been Julia and Paul Donner’s passion. Over the years, they have bought everything from camper vans that was freely available on the market, they tell us. “However, something was always missing and we asked ourselves why not convert a touring coach into a camper van,” explains Julia Donner about the decision that ultimately led to the purchase of the used Setra in Upper Franconia. “We saw the bus and immediately knew: this is it!”, remembers Julia Donner. A week later, the bus was picked up and brought to Berlin, where the couple embarked on the conversion full of enthusiasm.
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On the road with her converted Setra S 315 GT‑HD: here in Ferropolis, the city of iron in Saxony‑Anhalt.
On the road with her converted Setra S 315 GT‑HD: here in Ferropolis, the city of iron in Saxony‑Anhalt.
On the road with her converted Setra S 315 GT‑HD: here in Ferropolis, the city of iron in Saxony‑Anhalt.
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Conversion with courage and passion.
“Simply do it.” This was the motto of the conversion right from the start, Julia and Paul look back on the beginnings of their project. They did not have any special expertise. The Thunders acquired the necessary knowledge during the renovation work, as they did almost everything themselves. In case of heavy work or lack of expertise, such as welding work, friends and family with support. The large community that exists around the Setra brand also helps the two with spare parts procurement. This meant that suitable parts could be procured from all over Europe, Slovenia, Kosovo or Turkey, which gradually found their way into the bus. “You just have to know where the part number is,” laughing Paul Donner recalls the early days of part searching.
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Garden hose, stove, solar cells. A self‑sufficient home on six wheels is being built in‑house.
Garden hose, stove, solar cells. A self‑sufficient home on six wheels is being built in‑house.
Garden hose, stove, solar cells. A self‑sufficient home on six wheels is being built in‑house.
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Our solar cells provide enough power for the equipment on board when we are standing.
Paul Donner
30 square metres of freedom.
The interior of the vehicle was customised by the Donners with great skill. They bought what they needed from DIY stores and furnishing shops. At the end of the conversion, there is a 30‑square‑metre, fully equipped apartment with a seating area, bedroom, bathroom and even a roof terrace - all on six wheels. In their Setra S 315 GT‑HD, the couple Donner and their three children are not only on the road at small and large campsites in Germany, but also travel all over Europe. From Paris to Skagen in Denmark.
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The Donners have designed the interior of their mobile apartment to be practical and cosy.
The Donners have designed the interior of their mobile apartment to be practical and cosy.
The Donners have designed the interior of their mobile apartment to be practical and cosy.
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Only solid technology is installed under the Setra body. The bus has never let us down.
Paul Donner
Always on the road, always at home.
In mid‑2025, a new phase of life begins for the family, as the Thunders leave their previous home and move into the bus completely. The Setra touring coach, which has grown into their hearts over the first few years, is now no longer a holiday apartment, but their home. The weeks and months they travelled by bus have shown that the bus has everything the family needs on board. “We have all adapted to this and are able to make great profits,” says Julia Donner. Thus, the Thunders fulfil their dream of being able to drive to all the beautiful places they want to discover with the motorhome. In a unique way and above all: together with their children.
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Julia and Paul Donner have long been passionate about being unbound and going on great trips together.
Julia and Paul Donner have long been passionate about being unbound and going on great trips together.
Julia and Paul Donner have long been passionate about being unbound and going on great trips together.
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We should have moved into the bus completely much earlier.
Julia Donner
Into the future with the Setra.
By the end of 2026, the Donner family still wants to be on the road there. Then a bigger journey awaits, the objective is not yet set and is chosen together. They will definitely not get bored, both say with a smile. Both can't even imagine selling their converted Setra S 315 GT‑HD once. Instead, they both say, “It would be great if our children continued to drive the bus one day.”