Kinda rubbed me the wrong way.

[aaronsb]

Somehow, buttering a piece of toast, taping it to a cat and sliding it off the countertop to generate infinite energy is in the same region of thought. I've tried and it never works out for me.

Originally Posted by Tango

If only I had been paying myself that $80 bucks an hour all this time!

[1olfart]

There always seems to be a better way to do everything, in someone else's mind. I read everyone's opinion, and filter what may or may not be for me, and I try to bookmark things that I plan to use. There always seems to be 'that guy' who just wants to have a measuring contest. and I say piss on 'em.
If you can, and want to spend ANY amount of $$$ on YOUR bus, I say more power to you. My plan is to minimize my spending by doing things smarter. (THAT is a big issue since I'm what they used to call, thick), Ask questions, read answers, get er done, and enjoy your finished product.
Have a nice day!

[roach711]

Originally Posted by Tango

If only I had been paying myself that $80 bucks an hour all this time!

Get a shrink to claim you have a dual personality then sue your alter ego. Hey, someone's gotta pay!

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

Good thoughts David.

I find the most difficult aspect of these forums is remembering that not everyone lives like I live, in the same conditions, with the same resources, and with the same goals.

An excellent example is running the A/C all night. I typically think that is crazy in all but unusual circumstances. I'm current sitting in Missouri (very typical weather) and cannot bear to NOT have the A/C running all night! Oh yeah.... now I understand what those folks were saying!

and people Love to call me Crazy because i NEED to have good cold A/C and hot heat while driving.. I dont think they realize the only time im in my busses is when im driving them.. since im not making the home/RV/weekender conversions.. everyone;s need / want is pretty different..

-Christopher

[Tango]

"To thine own self be true"...or...


"It's your thing, do what you wanna do".

[TJones]

Originally Posted by Tango

"To thine own self be true"...or...


"It's your thing, do what you wanna do".

Or as my high school wood shop teacher would say "its your dog...walk it"

[Iceni John]

I am NOT keeping track of everything I've spent on my bus! I do however spend a lot of time researching everything I need to know and every part I need to buy, maybe almost as much time as I spend actually making and doing things to the bus. It's pointless to attach any financial value to that time, because A) I wouldn't be earning money otherwise, and B) the bus is my hobby. I have a bus because I like buses, I'm converting it because I like working with my hands and making things, and if I wasn't doing this I would be doing something else equally involving. Everything I buy is from my fun money, and if one month I don't have any extra to spend on non-essentials then I simply don't buy any bus stuff. Nothing goes on the credit card. I will still use that time thinking about and planning the work I will do when I can next afford to buy things, so my time is always spent productively whether I spend money or not.

I look at all the high-dollar RVs in the yard where I keep (and work on) my bus, and I know that when I've finished the conversion work I'll have something better than anything in the yard, better designed, better made, better functionality, for a tiny fraction of what it would cost to buy an RV even half as good. I reckon I'll have spent $25K to $30K total, including the bus itself which was at the top end of the typical skoolie price range, the complete solar system (it cost almost as much as the bus itself), and all the upgrades and improvements I've made along the way. And I don't begrudge one cent of it. It's the best thing I've ever made or done, and it will potentially allow me to have an enjoyable and interesting retirement with only a moderate income.

John

[somewhereinusa]

Originally Posted by Iceni John

I look at all the high-dollar RVs in the yard where I keep (and work on) my bus, and I know that when I've finished the conversion work I'll have something better than anything in the yard, better designed, better made, better functionality, for a tiny fraction of what it would cost to buy an RV even half as good. I reckon I'll have spent $25K to $30K total, including the bus itself which was at the top end of the typical skoolie price range, the complete solar system (it cost almost as much as the bus itself), and all the upgrades and improvements I've made along the way. And I don't begrudge one cent of it. It's the best thing I've ever made or done, and it will potentially allow me to have an enjoyable and interesting retirement with only a moderate income.

John

I agree and, said better than I could.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by somewhereinusa

I agree and, said better than I could.

Plus try to find commercial RV's with any kind of innovations like solar, large electric car battery banks, motorcycle lifts, and many of the other custom built items that can be put into skoolies that are not even offered on commercial RV's...



-Christopher

[KatM]

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who have gone before. If we decide to unlurk and actually head towards nomadry, I suspect that the ideas (and mistakes) from this forum will SAVE us in the $10k plus range at minimum. That's after the 30k "savings" we received from finding skoolie.net and thereby taking a used RV off of our possibility list. Thank you all very much!

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

It takes time and effort on each individual's part to find and make what they want there's to be.
It takes time and money but in the end you know exactly how it is built. Where everything in it to be maintained is . How to get to it? And exactly what your looking at.
Cause YOU built it.

[crbcoates]

I did a pretty cheap build on my bus because my goal was to travel and just have a place to sleep and store my stuff. I put about 6K into the bus and could have done it for less if I had more experience or did more research before diving in. I definitely see other builds and feel like they are in a totally different class. However, the pictures that get the attention are the ones that look amazing, not the mediocre ones that function well enough to keep us happy. Just my two cents

[WanderingLass]

Originally Posted by crbcoates

I did a pretty cheap build on my bus because my goal was to travel and just have a place to sleep and store my stuff. I put about 6K into the bus and could have done it for less if I had more experience or did more research before diving in. I definitely see other builds and feel like they are in a totally different class. However, the pictures that get the attention are the ones that look amazing, not the mediocre ones that function well enough to keep us happy. Just my two cents

We took a lot of ideas from the "just functioning" ones! We started with "make it an RV" mindset, changed to "whole point is to get out and do things and not sit inside it all the time" and so we have a mid-way outfit. Lots of open cabinets, etc. but it still looks nice enough to spend an evening playing board games. Details still can (and probably will) be added but for now? It's a perfectly functional work in progress.

[mhurlene]

I am loving this thread too! Getting my laughs in! And some good life lessons as well.

[Smokey's pipe dream]

why did you bother answering him wow! i bet you could **** out a gold brick and hed be mad walmart wouldnt cash it in

[MrBoogie]

Totally agree, I have bought most everything second hand. I do spend a lot at Home Depot & did buy a new roof top air unit (I'm in Florida, there are somethings you can't do without). Besides if you have a lot of money that takes the fun out of it. Buy a motor home & drive on down the road. I'd rather be riding in something I converted with the help of friends as well.

[Smokey's pipe dream]

i hear ya i paid a grand for my skoolie at auction and lucked out i went to get camp grade double v-match pine and he didnt have ant so he gave me a 1000 lft lift of select for the same price $.45 Lf lol was a good startafter a month i was up to 1450 and the interior was half done i was pretty happy then things started getting costly but i went with out rolled my own cigs stayed at home never went out for over a year now ive been spending 75% of my army ret check on my schoolie and eating rich mans food rammin noodles and crap to barely live so i could build this thing

[Smokey's pipe dream]

but now hehehe now ive been saving not paying rent my next one gonna be pimped out like king saudi lives in there lol but ive got to build it still

[Alan N]

When we first converted our bus the motto was "it's a trip not a project".
We did the conversion went on the trip and have been working on the project ever since.

[MrBoogie]

Originally Posted by Smokey's pipe dream

but now hehehe now ive been saving not paying rent my next one gonna be pimped out like king saudi lives in there lol but ive got to build it still

Cool just keep at it & have fun, My bus is all about working to retire & let your company pay for your travels. I'm an IT trainer & do support in the down time when not on site. The bus is an extra for me & them as it can save money on hotels & they will still pay for RV rent along the way. I fly when it's too far to drive but drive when I can & get .55 cents a mile to boot! Where there is a will there is a way.

Here's a link to my FB site: https://www.facebook.com/ & YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3..._as=subscriber

Have fun & keep in touch!