The reasons for choosing a school bus over other vehicles are plentiful but every dwelling on wheels has it’s pro’s and cons. School buses are robust, strong, and safe. They are designed to withstand impact and can support their own weight upside down. The same can’t be said for an RV. Who knew? They are cheap, easy to find, and perpetual with school districts nationwide selling off used buses every year. This results in many opportunities every month to buy a lightly used vehicle for $3-$7K that cost around $100K when new that was presumably fleet maintained directly from a school district. Where else can you do that?!
School buses can be nimble with shorter buses spec’d for urban markets able to navigate all but the smallest 17th century streets. But you can also buy 40 foot long land juggernauts equipped with engine and transmission combos to climb mountains all day. The school bus with the front engine, rear engine, dog nose, short bus, van-chassis, etc. provides for a wide variety of mobile house-building platforms. But if you’re going to build a tiny house in a school bus be sure to “dial in your exact needs” (hyperlink to next article), and find the bus that is the right size and the right shape, and has the right engine and transmission for you.
But as always there are other options that are arguably just as fun as a Skoolie that might make more sense for your individual needs such as a vintage travel trailer, tear drop camper, conversion van, utility van, european style sprinter/transit/promaster van, box truck conversion, unimog, transit bus, delivery van, overland SUV, tiny house on wheels, etc. or perhaps taking off on a sailboat is right for you. If you don’t even want to build your own but still want an attractive and well built RV you can still find several interesting mobile dwellings such as the Bluebird Wanderlodge, the GMC Motorhome, Japanese camper vans, the VW Westfalia, and van’s built out by Airstream, Sportsmobile, and many other modern outfitters. Don’t pick a school bus just because we did. Pick a school bus because it is a cheap, common, and sturdy platform to build your dream home on wheels and that’s what you want.
25 Comments
Can you do another bus tour of your home
Sure. What would you like to see that you didn’t see in our first tour video? Would you rather have a virtual reality walkthrough or a standard tour?
how do you make money to live?
I want to do this but have no idea how
It’s pretty complicated. Someday I’ll make a video about it!
Hi… Just watched some of your videos on youtube. I’m about to install a/c on our short bus and I think I’m going with the mini split as well. I’ve installed 2 in our house so fairly familiar with them. Curious why you said to not get the 220v version??
Thanks,
Justin B
You can go 220V but it’s more complicated to invert DC power into split phase 220V. It’s doable, but in 2019 when I was installing people weren’t doing 220V much.
Do you convert buses as a business?
I don’t. I make videos as a business. Sort of. It’s currently more of a hobby and maybe someday a real business!
I am an insurance agent and I have had a few people come to me for insurance on conversions, two busses and a Sprinter van. I was unable to find a carrier willing to insure them. I was curious if you would share who you get your insurance with so I can provide my clients an option even if it is with another agency or carrier. I appreciate your time and help.
Hey Brian. Good question. We pretty much all call and end up getting coverage pretty easily with one insurance agent. It’s actually pretty amusing. Her name is Kelly Newsome at AllState: 352-326-9300 and I hope she never retires! But as of 2021 that number should work.
Hi lovely Family. I like your project and that little lovely fam. For me, can you say how much the hole work and material costs ? The Bus was buying for 7k, i have seen this Nummer. 🙂 my Name is Marco and i come from austria. So my english is Not soooo great. Hope you understand my question.
Thanks for answer.
Greetings Marco
Hey Marco I made a really in depth video answering that question. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDblVecqorc&t=1098s
Started watching your videos a few weeks ago. love your process that you use. I am in Ocala and see you are close and I did a bus conversion last year on a shuttle bus ie airport shuttle style and doing a van now. would love to chat sometime and thanks for todays video on the roof rack and iron ridge. Going to use them for sure, been looking for 400 watt panels and struggling to find anyone who will sell them one or 2 at a time…I am pretty new to this but could use your help knowledge wise lol I bought the van in St Pete. It is a diesel at least. 2 YouTube channels one for the van and the other for drone, diving, detecting, etc. hope to hear from you and collab maybe someday just camping etc. 352-263-0166
Hey! Check out CED Greentech in Tampa for those racks and I bet they’ll sell 1 or 2 panels at a time 2216 51st Ave E Unit 111
Palmetto, FL 34221
How much money you think you spent on that bus transformation?
Hey! I feel like the answer to that question is more complicated than you’d think…so I made a 20 minute video about it! lol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDblVecqorc&t=107s
Hi Justin, love all you guys are doing, I bought a Gillig Phanton 42 (Transit Bus) and would like to hire your consulting services let me know if that’s something you are willing to do.
I’m up for consulting for you during your build and thanks for emailing me as well.
Hello Justin. I am Diego From Argentina i love your bus and you have a very nice family.
Take care of them.
I saw all your videos i bought a double decker with a Scania 420 i make the maintenance for the motor i paint outside and i am making the process of take out all the seats But i do not know where i am
GOint o put all of them jajajaja
I do not have to much time i am a cnc lathe programing. But i like. To adavnce with the proyect thank you for share your experience
It was a good suport for me you are very clever. And take care. You speak spanish also? I need to do floor plan for my RV.
Hey Diego! Thanks for watching all of our videos. It’s always a delight to hear that we’ve inspired others. I can’t believe you bought a double decker bus. That’s sweet! Hopefully your CNC experience will come in handy. I do speak a little Spanish. Vivi en Puerto Rico por 6 meses.
Hey Justin. The Bus for your friend are looking great also. I am going to. Do something on the bus this weekend.
I only have free on sunday. I am. Looking to wire also my double decker. I am going to send photo by mail. Of the adavance.
If you. Came to Argentina come to visit me. Your baby are so nice. Spend all the time you could with her the childten Grow to fast i have 3. Camila 20. Delfina 17 and Marcos 15 make more videos and how you edited thems wich program you use to do the videos ? They look so great take care. And peace. And make something on the bus you too jajajaja
This is the funnest video I’ve watched in a long time. I live in the high desert east of San Diego and I own a big blue bus that is fallow. It would be great to do a conversion but I do not have the brains for it – nor the cash – nor the courage to drive it out of here. Someday the right person will come along to take it off my hands. Such a treat to see your baby grow thru the film. I wish you all great adventures.
Hi. I just watched your video on the battery you recommended. How do you know how many you will need? It’s so incredibly confusing to me. I’m in Kissimmee and we are about to buy our 03 International dt466. We won’t have a stove but will have a microwave and a toaster. We definitely want to have air conditioning that can run at night. Any help and advice will be so greatly appreciated!!! Love what your doing.
Hey Alysha. Did you see this video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a5FPD-4yQg It should help you make that decision. How much solar power you plan to install will play into this, but I imagine 6 batteries would do well if you have a mini split AC like us, and 8 batteries if you’re going for a rooftop air. GL!
Great point about a bus being strong. RV’s are so weak and, most, are poorly built in nearly every way.
I’m mostly think of a step van (Cummins drive-line with manual or Allison automatic) in which I’d duplicate my parents old ’72 Winnebago Brave floorplan with long seats at the back that can be transitioned into a large bed with another bed over the front. (I want a small washer/dryer set or single unit) but with today’s appliances I may not even want a microwave, stove or oven. Maybe just an air fryer and portable electric grill so would want a good-sized kitchen counter and farm style large sink.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks