I need opinions

[Graceb2027]

I'm graduating high school this year and taking a year off to travel around north America with my best friend. We have been thinking about redoing a bus but neither of us can figure out how big we would want it. Shes 5'9 and I'm 5'7. And we both kinda like to have our own space.also it's like impossible to find dimensions for any size of bus

Please help

[JustKip]

The good news is, at 5'-7" and 5'-9" you won't need to do a roof raise. But, with 2 people each needing their own space, you can pretty much rule out a shorty. A good rule of thumb for ballpark estimating approximate living space is to figure about 28 inches in length per normal window. That's a 2 foot window. plus another 4" of frame on each side. There's often a longer or shorter window at the back, and a little space beyond the end of the back window...sometimes. You get the picture.
The inside width will all be about the same, at about 7'-3" to 7'-4". It's pretty easy to imagine what size of a travel trailer you can fit in the area of the passenger windows, but you won't have slide-outs

[Ronnie]

Our bus is 34 ft, and it would have had 11 windows, not counting the window next to the driver. We have it set up with a bedroom in the back then kitchen, bathroom, and a living room area in the front portion that can be used as another bedroom with curtains to give it privacy. Makes it nice for when we have friends with us.

[magnakansas]

Man oh man. dont know if there is enough space in my head for this one.

what is your budget? knowing what money is available for this is the first thing... that will probably dictate what happens next. If you have a large amount of funding available then you can make some other choices. First and foremost... Money.

be honest.. some are fortunate to have trust funds, really good income cause they are smarter than most, wealthy families that will fund this sort of adventure. Or just gonna do it as it comes along.... your budget will help steer in a direction that is most sustainable.


william

[shaymcquaid]

40 footers are generally cheaper than shorter busses.
But then you have to drive,park and maneuver the beast.

Just do a van and spend a lot of time outside. There is plenty of space there.
Then if you love the lifestyle consider a larger vehicle.
Good luck

[brokedown]

You need to have an idea of how much "private space" you both need. In my mind I'm thinking sleeping quarters might be enough but you may have different opinions. I think that's going to dictate much of your build and even your purchase. If you think you need individual queen sized beds and closet space that's a lot different than separated bunks or parallel bed nooks on either side of a center aisle.

Here's an interesting split bedroom idea I saw elsewhere.

[Crisfole]

Whoah, this is literally my plan for my kids' space on my bus. Super excited to see someone implement it!

[CMORGANSKOOL]

BUY THIS BUS http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f14/fs...tml#post345112

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by shaymcquaid

40 footers are generally cheaper than shorter busses.
But then you have to drive,park and maneuver the beast.

Just do a van and spend a lot of time outside. There is plenty of space there.
Then if you love the lifestyle consider a larger vehicle.
Good luck

I look at it a little bit different.

My very first RV was a 40' converted bus towing a Ford pickup.

I lived in it for 6+ years, visited 40+ states over 250k miles.

Occasionaly I thought a smaller right would be handy but if I went back and had to make the same decision again, I would do it just the same.

I did run into some places that I couldn't go but that was due more to height than length. I was a bit over 13'. Some of the tunnels in Yellowstone I couldn't pass and a notable overpass in Denver.

On the other side of the argument, I met a Canadian couple down in Mexico that has traveled extensively through Canada, the US and Mexico in a converted Sprinter van.
They were equipped to set up a fantastic outdoor space to make up for the lack of interior space.

They also got 23mpg........

I would not be to afraid of driving a large rig. It does take more attention and you need to "drive further ahead" than when driving a smaller rig. Be aware and watchful of the idiots in front of you. Most buses don't maneuver or stop like a Ferrari.....

All of us here on Skoolie want a rig that suits their individual wants and needs. Building Your Own gives you the ability to build just what suits you.