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Old 05-10-2019, 08:32 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Austin, TX
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Still "On The Fence" About Bus Life

We've been discussing/planning our own conversion project for a while, and my wife is still a little bit on the fence about the idea of bus life. She would love to take a look inside a converted bus to get a feel for what living in one would be like. We've watched a ton of the YouTube videos out there, but I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for checking out a finished skoolie first-hand. Maybe someone who happens to be parked in the Austin, TX-area and would be willing to give us a tour of your bus? I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask

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Old 05-10-2019, 09:16 AM   #2
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Not in the Texas area but I know a lot of folks are. Have you looked to see if there was a tiny living show happening in your area this summer?

I've got a primer article I wrote for people considering a bus conversion, although it's geared towards someone who knows they want to have some sort of RV and are just deciding on the specifics. https://wanderlounge.net/are-you-con...us-conversion/

You can also see a lot of folks on instagram posting photos of their buses, check out my feed (wanderlounge_bus) and the #skoolie hash tag. Be forewarned that most people are using instagram filters to make photos look a bit better than reality though!
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Old 05-10-2019, 09:46 AM   #3
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Location: Brevard County, FL
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We are in San Angelo State Park until the 14th at the earliest. If you want to come by, let us know. We are on Instagram as well. @patchesthebus
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Old 05-10-2019, 12:07 PM   #4
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Ninjakitty I'm still sad we didn't get to meet you guys but now that we're on the road I hope to have a second chance. Are you going to any shows this summer? We're looking at tinyfest midwest in kansas in June and another skoolie gathering in indiana in July.
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Old 05-10-2019, 09:29 PM   #5
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Yeah, it's a bummer we missed each other. Not sure what the summer holds other than ND for July and OR in June.
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Old 05-11-2019, 05:19 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
Ninjakitty I'm still sad we didn't get to meet you guys but now that we're on the road I hope to have a second chance. Are you going to any shows this summer? We're looking at tinyfest midwest in kansas in June and another skoolie gathering in indiana in July.
I told ya you gotta meet Nick!
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Old 05-11-2019, 07:00 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
Not in the Texas area but I know a lot of folks are. Have you looked to see if there was a tiny living show happening in your area this summer?

Thanks brokedown...that's a great idea. I know they had a tiny house show in Austin last year, but I don't see one scheduled for 2019. I'll keep looking.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjakitty View Post
We are in San Angelo State Park until the 14th at the earliest. If you want to come by, let us know.

Thank you so much! That's about 5 hours away from us, and would be a difficult trip to make, but I appreciate your willingness to help.
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Old 05-11-2019, 08:07 AM   #8
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I'm nearly 3 hours E of Austin, long hike for me to, ATM.
Just Googled the park, it looks eminently well worth a visitation!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjakitty View Post
We are in San Angelo State Park until the 14th at the earliest. If you want to come by, let us know. We are on Instagram as well. @patchesthebus
What're the rates, and best features for you and your Skoolie?
I read online registration was a breeze, but also something about having to check in daily..?
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Old 05-11-2019, 08:57 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960 View Post
I'm nearly 3 hours E of Austin, long hike for me to, ATM.
Just Googled the park, it looks eminently well worth a visitation!What're the rates, and best features for you and your Skoolie?
I read online registration was a breeze, but also something about having to check in daily..?
You don't have to check in and out everyday.

We bought the Texas State Parks Pass so that saves us from having to pay the daily entrance fee. This has worked out well as we have been here for 18 days. We didn't register online. The staff has been great.

The park is great really, as is the town. Boat launch on the lake if you have that equipment. 50/30/20 amp service and water hook up. Park has a dump station. Pads are pretty level. They have overnight spots, walk-up, reserve, and allow long-term camping.

Sites with e/w are $20 a day or $100 for 7 days.

Best features so far:

Less than 10 minutes from most major stores

Cool playground for kids

Showers!

Bison and Longhorn roam in a fenced area near some roads.

A plethora of awesome hiking trails.

A lot of other wildlife as well. After viewing the Bison yesterday, I also saw a grey fox and two deer.
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Old 05-11-2019, 08:58 AM   #10
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We are headed to Carlsbad as soon as the new batteries arrive
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Old 05-11-2019, 09:26 AM   #11
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Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: E Central Tejas
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Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
Engine: T444E w/ Spicer 5-speed MT
Rated Cap: I prefer broad-brims hats
Awesome sauce! Sounds even better than I'd read.
Might need to look into getting one of those passes, once my build progresses a bit more.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjakitty View Post
You don't have to check in and out everyday.

We bought the Texas State Parks Pass so that saves us from having to pay the daily entrance fee. This has worked out well as we have been here for 18 days. We didn't register online. The staff has been great.

The park is great really, as is the town. Boat launch on the lake if you have that equipment. 50/30/20 amp service and water hook up. Park has a dump station. Pads are pretty level. They have overnight spots, walk-up, reserve, and allow long-term camping.

Sites with e/w are $20 a day or $100 for 7 days.

Best features so far:

Less than 10 minutes from most major stores

Cool playground for kids

Showers!

Bison and Longhorn roam in a fenced area near some roads.

A plethora of awesome hiking trails.

A lot of other wildlife as well. After viewing the Bison yesterday, I also saw a grey fox and two deer.
Thanx for all the info, it sounds to be a dandy: rates, sites, and sights! I will have my kayak, so [emoji106] on the boat launch.
Are bikes permitted on the hiking trails, do you know. I enjoy hiking, but looo-ove riding!
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Old 05-11-2019, 09:28 AM   #12
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🤢
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjakitty View Post
We are headed to Carlsbad as soon as the new batteries arrive
So jealous! It's been dog ages since I last spelunked.
Nowadays tho, a civilized cave is prolly all I could manage...
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Old 05-11-2019, 10:29 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjakitty View Post
Yeah, it's a bummer we missed each other. Not sure what the summer holds other than ND for July and OR in June.

Gonna look you on in IG now. Any set plans in Oregon?
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Old 05-11-2019, 10:30 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960 View Post
🤢So jealous! It's been dog ages since I last spelunked.
Nowadays tho, a civilized cave is prolly all I could manage...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjakitty View Post
We are headed to Carlsbad as soon as the new batteries arrive
I'm just beggin' to go cavin'!
Been years!
[[remember: cavers rescue spelunkers]]
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Old 05-11-2019, 10:32 AM   #15
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Implication being..?
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Originally Posted by Mountain Gnome View Post
[[remember: cavers rescue spelunkers]]
[emoji848]
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Old 05-11-2019, 10:48 AM   #16
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Implication being..?

[emoji848]
A true caver would know.
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Old 05-11-2019, 10:55 AM   #17
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Please note:
Quote:
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A true caver would know.
I used the proper past tense form regarding spelean activitivities. (Not expecting that too many folx know, or have engaged in cave bashing)
Followed by an assertion that wild caves are now likely to be beyond my capabilities.
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Old 05-11-2019, 11:09 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960 View Post
Awesome sauce! Sounds even better than I'd read.
Might need to look into getting one of those passes, once my build progresses a bit more.



Thanx for all the info, it sounds to be a dandy: rates, sites, and sights! I will have my kayak, so [emoji106] on the boat launch.
Are bikes permitted on the hiking trails, do you know. I enjoy hiking, but looo-ove riding!
They have hiking, biking, and horse trails. Some trails are multi use
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Old 05-11-2019, 11:11 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by Rovobay View Post
Gonna look you on in IG now. Any set plans in Oregon?
Not really. Wanted to go to the bus Faire on the 8th but will probably miss that. Planning to hopefully meet up with a couple.other busses and scoot around OR for a couple weeks before we head to ND.

IG is @patchesthebus
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Old 05-11-2019, 11:12 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Gnome View Post
I'm just beggin' to go cavin'!
Been years!
[[remember: cavers rescue spelunkers]]
I got two little ones (2&5). We will.just stick to the well known, easy, trail/caves.
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