Good afternoon Skoolie community! I am so happy to get to know you all. I am finally ready to fulfill my long time dream of buying and converting a school bus. As a former massage therapist, I don't have much mechanical experience; however, I excel at body mechanics, physics and geometry. I've scored in the top 96% on the ASVAB test for mechanical aptitude. I have basic knowledge / experience about home improvement and using power tools from working with my parents on their houses. I am also a hands on learner and a quick study in all things mechanical / structural.
I have done a lot of research on the conversion part of the project, but choosing a bus still seems like Greek to me. I would greatly appreciate any insight that may point me in the direction of the right bus for me!
I am looking for a mid size bus because I think it would be easier to maneuver than a long bus, get better gas mileage, and be able to access more places and parks. I am a huge fan of hiking and all things out doors. This bus is for me and my pets, cats and a dog, and maybe a partner in the future. I am quite a minimalist when it comes to interior design, and plan to maximize the available living space and make room for guests. Any ideas on space saving tips would also be appreciated.
Right now I am in FL, looking for a rust free bus. I will be moving it to OK this summer to work on the conversion, where a friend has invited me to stay on their farm while I build. I am considering possibly joining
https://wwoof.net/ to live around the country as I learn about agriculture and farming. I plan to study permaculture, massage therapy, and eco friendly / cob building techniques. I enjoy all seasons so I plan to install high quality insulation to be able to enjoy both hot and cold weather. Yay! Snow shoe hiking! Any tips on making the skoolie more winter/summer friendly would also be appreciated.
But enough about my conversion plans. I am ready to buy a bus and am still not sure which one to get. I would like one that is better for highway / long trips. Can those also climb hills / mountains? I really want to see the Rockies and the Smokies, but I'm more focused on getting around the country and finding a place to build a cob house. I am not planning on travelling often, maybe changing location once a month so, and am thinking of the best bus for long term use / ease and cost of maintenance for the next 5-10 years. I will eventually build a cob house for myself, but would still like to use my skoolie often. I may eventually upgrade to a skoolie conversion 2.0, but would not like to do so for the next few years at least. I think i would prefer having the engine in the front and have a back door, but have heard they can be loud and hot. Would an engine in the rear be better?
Since I do enjoy mechanics and working with my hands I would like to find a bus that is easy to maintain, and one I can learn to do some maintenance myself.
In your opinion, what is the most reliable midsized school bus to get for a conversion? What is the easiest to work with / learn about / maintain? Easiest / most comfortable to drive?
I have given myself 2-4 weeks to find and buy the bus, get the seats removed and load up my stuff before heading to OK for the summer. My budget is max $5000 for the bus, and $5000 for the conversion. I plan to remove the seats and register it as a personal vehicle until it can be built out. I'm hoping to purchase one directly from a school bus garage instead of an auction. I plan to inspect the bus and also find a professional or skoolie expert to inspect it as well. I don't like the idea of buying from an auction sight unseen. I would like one with a taller roof as I want extra room for insulation and taller company. I am considering a roof raise, but that seems like a steep learning curve on top of a first time conversion. I'm 5'6". It would also be a bonus to find an activity bus with storage.
I would love to hear any recommendations and why you think this would be the right bus for my conversion. I would like to choose 2-4 different models as my top choices in order to compare my options and make an informed purchase. If you've responded to this post, I greatly appreciate the time and effort involved in sharing your experience and expertise. Thank you so much!
I look forward to meeting some of you on my travels!
A new skoolie junkie!