Hello PattiK, I can assist.
A bus can provide you with a lot of room and you can build it up quickly without doing a whole lot.
So I like to separate builds into 3 categories.
Category 1: Toss it in and GO!
This requires minimum removal of bus seats to make your room. You leave the sidewalls and skins, lights, floors, everything. Removal of seats is the toughest part because you either need to grind the bolts which is tedious or have a helper under the bus and you in the bus with 2 socket wrenches to work together to remove bolts, unless it's newer with a track system, then they can come out easier.
Once seats are gone, you can throw in an air mattress, or a real mattress, camping stove, static composting toilet, and a sink with bucket and water barrel and connect sink to them to have water. And add a kitty litter stations for the kats to make use of. Cat pee'ing on the floors will RUST them VERY FAST! Kitty's need to be potty trained for this to work. This build can be done within 1 day to 3 months easily, and will feel totally livable but it will not feel luxurious. It will feel more like a permanent camper than a home, but you could live in it. Category 1 buses don't tend to last as long but could give you 10 years in one easy. This is because the floor isn't fixed when building, you're just going with what's there.
Category 2: Floor check and bounce.
This requires seats to be removed and the floor rubber removed plus tracks. This is more intensive but it's to give you an idea of the shape of the floor. Kids likely spilled all kinds of drinks over the hears and worked its way to your metal sub floor. many people will leave the upper skins but remove the sidewalls so they can mount wooden mounting struts to mount frames like home built couch frames, bathrooms etc. This requires ability to frame things up like in a house, you ensure your floor is in good condition. If it is not, then you have some metal work to do. then you build your cushions for your couch, and bed frame you framed out to give you some height with storage underneath. Storage areas for kitchen can be built. This Category requires a bit more work, but ensures your bus will last a long time. This build will take you 6-12 months, but can feel really comfortable like a tiny home. You'll add vinyl flooring and walls which will make it feel better than a simple camper.
Category 3: Complete rebuild
This requires everything be torn down to the wiring, framing removed, inner ceiling skins removed as well. The benefit is to allow one to know where the rust is, every square inch of it, and treat it. This also allows for the most customizability because you can add your own ceiling etc. This kind of build will take you 2-4 years realistically, but will feel like a house when done right. You'll be able to build lighting into the ceiling, drywalls if you like, or plywood painted. You can add your own electrical easier for items since the walls were torn down completely. It will produce the best build but will take the average joe 2-4 years to complete.
So.. Judging by the criteria above, which best suites you?
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