2 days. 2 grand. Let's go!

[beyns]

So you CAN strip out your whole bus, spend 20 grand, and make it look like Bilbo's hobbit hole, but if, like me, you have 8 kids, little time, and even less budget, it can still be done. Here's how to get a fully functional 48 seater skoolie that sleeps 6 big kids and a set of toddler twins, in 2 days, for (bus cost plus) 2 grand:

1: take your three back seats out on one side. And your one back seat out on the other. Now you have enough space for a queen size on the right, and enough space for a mini kitchen on the left, and you've wasted no time moving the heater.

2: Now buy 3/4 inch threaded pipe. 7x12'. 6×4'. 13x6". 8 x Ts. 2 x FF elbows. 2 x MF elbows. 13 x FF couplers. 6 x screw-in feet. Msg me if you can't figure out how to build your metal frame from the picture.
Wrap it all with pool noodles and duct tape.

3: Now get an adjustable tow hitch, install it by drilling 4 holes in the bus frame and tightening 6 nuts, then slap in your cage luggage rack thing off the old explorer. That's where your genny will go.

4: Next buy 6 hammocks, a queen size mattress, a fridge, a microwave, a two ring electric burner, a generator, and an extension chord. I got everything from my house or a garage sale, except the hammocks; I got those on alibaba.

Hammocks tie on the metal rail, and come down each morning. Curtains, too. Backpacks can also be hung for easy access when travelling.

Queen mattress can go on some kind of frame, if you wanna get fancy. Mine's on the floor.

Stove top goes on micro. Micro goes on fridge.

Now get going!

[crazycal]

Pictures or it never happened.

[beyns]

I'm trying to figure out how to post pictures...

[beyns]

There. Now it happened.

[crazycal]

Originally Posted by beyns

I'm trying to figure out how to post pictures...

Not so fast. I see a school bus with school bus seats. How do we know you didn't pull that off the net?

[OMGIBoughtABus]

Very nice if that works for you.

The amount of gum alone I have seen and the certainty that 30 years of damp conditions have left all sorts of nastiness behind the ceilings and the walls and the soft spots under the floor prompt me to continue tearing out after which I will rebuild as pleases me.

[beyns]

I'm not suggesting this solution works for everyone, but it's a quick n efficient way to get on your way.

[nat_ster]

More pics

Nat

[LRflip]

Wondering how you were able to get insurance with this setup?

I had to prove that I wasn't transporting 48 people by taking all of my seats out...or by getting it down to less than 14 pass.

either way, whatever floats your boat...but, I'd take the rest of the seats out and build some bunks...my back hurts just looking at those hammocks.

[marbury]

Hmm. To me this is one of those "just because you can doesn't mean you should" sorts of things. I'm glad it worked for you and your family, but the whole purpose of doing a skoolie conversion to me is for the experience! I WANT to build and engineer and strip and grind and paint and saw and wire... and I understand that to get what I want that will cost more than $2k.

The biggest thing in your build to me is that your kids are safe. If they travel well in those bus seats and sleep comfortably and stay warm/cool and can play safely and have a spot to potty that is sanitary then more power to you!