My Dream--Convert a School Bus into a Liveable Home

[chochiyo_sama]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux8tjZnEfR0&feature=g-vrec

All custom made for the people who live in it.  I love to imagine making my own conversion.

Comments

[the_godiva]

These are called Skoolies are there are a lot of groups out there. There is a yahoo group that is free and easy to join and would probably have tons of links and resources, plus friendly people to talk to. They guy who used to live across the street was always working on one bus or another. He'd buy one, convert it, then he and the wife would go out camping with friends, then he'd sell it and start working on the next one. The last one he worked on he cut the entire top of and then raised it 2 feet. He was an auto mechanic and could weld so he did a lot of his own work. He was in his 90s when he died and I think there was a bus or two in his back yard at the time. His wife still lives in the house. Never painted his house the entire time they lived there. Eyesore of the block. But at least he kept his buses in the back yard behind a gate.

I think converting a bus is the way to go. First, it's more square feet. Second, it's already a weather tight shell with windows. And you don't have to worry about having a car powerful enough to pull your tiny house trailer. Those 2x4s and plywood add up to weight. Aluminum studs are lighter and easier to work with in the bus. Composting toilet the way to go. Plenty of RV and camping appliances although I did like the PV and solar fridge this guy had.

Think what you could do with a double decker?



Or this one. You could probably get friends to help you weld a cut down van on the top, but I think the pop out is beyond your expertise and budget. But it's still a cool idea.



The awning is totally doable and in my opinion mandatory. This gives you outdoor living space.



Of course the downside to a bus is the maintenance. If it breaks down you're stuck. If you're not a mechanic you have to pay one to keep it running. And if anything is major, like having to replace an engine, you're stuck until you raise the money to do it.

The codes are about the same. To build the tiny house it has to be registered as a "trailer" or RV so no difference there.

If I did a Skoolie, I think I'd move the back wall forward and put a little porch on the back. Better place for plants. They can be moved in when the bus in in motion.

This guy has a fabulous bus, but I'd add an awning over the outdoor drop down picnic table mounted to the side of the bus. I'd lose the kayak and add more solar panels and make that back porch into a real porch, deeper, and I'd hang the begonia window box of the back of the porch rail only when I was parked. There'd be fresh herbs in the window box too. Oh. Looks like he already did the PV and awning thing.

The problem with the tiny houses built on trailers is that they all have loft beds. That means climbing up and down ladders. With a bus, you are on a single level.

Unless you buy a British Double Decker, but you still have stairs.