Wanne – Berlin police camper van

Wanne is a Mercedes-Benz 508D police bus from Berlin that is almost 40 years old. The name 'Wanne' was the nickname for this van in Germany and refers to its large size: in German it means 'bathtub'. On the side you can still see the print of the letters 'Polizei' and you can see the mountings of blue sirens on the roof. It is a tough, solid and reliable bus, ideal for people who enjoy going on adventures with a special vehicle.
With this bus we have been able to camp in the wild in the most beautiful places: we often manage to visit the more difficult roads given the higher ground clearance and the double rear tires.

Wanne is perfect for you if:
- you like an original bus with a story
- you are looking for a reliable, strong vehicle
- you like to take it easy and don't expect to race down the highways at 120 km/h
- you do not need great luxury, but you would like to travel comfortably
- you want to take a lot with you: there is a lot of storage space under the bed, under the benches and above in the nets
- you like waking up with a view: you can open the back door for stargazing or coffee in bed
- you enjoy being on the road: you can dream away through the large windows

More information about Wanne:
- It is from 1985 and it weighs approximately 3100 kg
- The bus is spacious, but not too big; you can park it in a normal parking space. The standing height in the bus is 170cm, we could stand in it quite comfortably. We can stand completely upright under the roof hatch.
- There are three seat belts in the front, including the driver's seat. The previous owner from Germany traveled in it with four people (two children and two adults), we removed one seat at the back.
- The interior is very similar to the original. The nets on the ceiling were already there for the police: this was to store equipment such as helmets and sticks.
- We have furnished Wanne in an old style, practical, sleek and modular.
- You can drive comfortably around 80 km/h, the top speed is around 90 km/h. Taking small roads is more fun with Wanne: beautiful views and nicer than on the highway. On these roads you often don't drive slower than other cars. On the highway you drive with the trucks.
- Shutters for the wind and open windows make it nice and cool quickly while driving, even without air conditioning.
All basic facilities are included:
- A cool box with freezer function (works for about 3 days without recharging)
- A household battery in combination with a 230v inverter and a 12v cigarette lighter plug (charges while driving)
- A folding table
- A sink, jerry cans for “grey” and “fresh” water, with a simple foot pump system
- There are three seats next to each other on the bench.

The bus also includes:
- A folding bed with a mattress of 140x190cm (including mattress protector and fitted sheet) and a 200x200cm duvet with duvet cover and covers for two pillows. All linens are as good as new (only used for our last trip). The summer duvet has been made, and we provide an extra layer to make it a warmer duvet for colder nights.
- Curtains, wooden storage boxes, seat cushions, storage bags and packing cubes (for under the bed), a gas burner, camping tableware, a rug, a hanging plant, a washing-up brush and washing-up liquid, tea towels and towels, a floor brush, and storage nets
Of course you are free to choose what you want to use or not.

Handy to take with you:
- Pillows
- Possibly: extra pans, own cutlery, crockery, coffee cups, cutting knife, etc.
- Possibly: camping furniture such as folding table or folding chairs for sitting outside (we can also borrow this)

Extra information:
- Noise: The engines of these types of vans make a lot of noise while driving. You can have a conversation with each other or listen to music on a Bluetooth speaker, but it is not silent.
- Driving: It is not the easiest bus to drive, it is quite large and has no power steering. It is very spartan driving. We liked this, but it may take some getting used to. You will not be bored and we found being on the road much more fun than on a modern bus.
- Digital nomads: I have been able to work comfortably from Wanne and have had online meetings. The unfolded table and bench work well as a nice workplace.