Hello from Central Fla.

[TMartineau]

Hello everyone my name is Thomas. I've been really interested in skoolies for some time. I am a t3 paraplegic who loves to be outdoors go camping and see new things. After I got married we looked for an accessible rv. We all know how that turned out. So we bought a 2009 kz spree toy hauler... The ramp got me in and we just had to modify some bathroom walls and it worked with a lot of effort. During my search for accessible rvs I came across a few skoolies and the light blub went off... Instead of paying 150 -300k+ for an accessible rv I could probably come in much less doing a skoolie even if I paid for someone to convert the bus for me. And I know that skoolies are often times much better quality than the cheap stuff in my current camper.

I also want to be independent and travel with just my dog and I. The travel trailer I can not use on my own. If you think I'm crazy you are probably right. My wife and I ride horses and both cut and pen cattle. SO we are used to figuring stuff out and making things work. And we both have an adventurous side!

I spent 5 years in architecture school, but that culture is so toxic and literally almost killed me and I got paralyzed while I was in the military, if that says anything about toxic cultures. I had to slow down a bit so I fell back on a past love Growing Stuff. Food, flowers, plants... I love getting my hands in the dirt. I am about to finish up my bachelors degree in sustainable food and farming from UMass Amherst.

Now the plan! Find a 38'-40' bus with working lift. Along with a bunch of other specifics that I think I've researched. Everyone's unicorn am I right? lol (After 2 years of reading and watching youtube I'm sure I still have no clue) The bus would be used as my home while I visited different farms and worked "Woof" style. I want to just soak up knowledge from as many people while also seeing the country. I'd also like to try and work in an "office" mobile design studio. My plan is to become a food systems designer.

During and after my "learning sabbatical" or "extra long externship" whatever you want to call it, I would also be using the bus when we go to horse shows and camping trips. Now that I am about a year away from graduation I am finally coming out of the shadows to interact and pick yalls brains. I am about ready to pick up a bus. I have a place under our pole barn where I can work on it. I was an aircraft mechanic while I was able bodied and in the Air Force. So as long as I can reach it I am pretty capable. I learned quite a bit of wood working while I was architecture school The shop guy was a cabinet maker by trade, and I also learned a bit of welding... e's or c's...

I am under no illusion that I will be or can do this alone. I have a ton of questions but I am reading as many posts as I can before I wade into the boards...

...to the journey, cheers everyone!https://www.skoolie.net/forums/images/skoolie/smilies/greetings.gif

Thomas

 

[Janet H]

Welcome to the board

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

welcome.
wish yall the best of luck.
your are surrounded by several skoolie members in florida that might be willing to help.

 

[DeMac]

Welcome to skoolie.net. You're located near us and a large group of helpful skoolies.

I also sent you a PM.

 

[magnakansas]

Find a bus

The lift can be added. Look on marketplace for an “Orion “ front drive. Low floor.

There is one in the Kansas City area.

Big thing is that you feel like it will do what you want it to do.

William

 

[syntaxterror]

Welcome,you are in a good spot.

 

[TMartineau]

Thank you

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I had not heard about the orion front drive. I will look into it thank you for the tip. I do have a friend who came across a working bus lift that I could put in a non lift bus. So its an option. I am also excited to have fellow Skoolies close by for community.

 

[sandbagger2u]

Hello everyone my name is Thomas. I've been really interested in skoolies for some time. I am a t3 paraplegic who loves to be outdoors go camping and see new things. After I got married we looked for an accessible rv. We all know how that turned out. So we bought a 2009 kz spree toy hauler... The ramp got me in and we just had to modify some bathroom walls and it worked with a lot of effort. During my search for accessible rvs I came across a few skoolies and the light blub went off... Instead of paying 150 -300k+ for an accessible rv I could probably come in much less doing a skoolie even if I paid for someone to convert the bus for me. And I know that skoolies are often times much better quality than the cheap stuff in my current camper.

I also want to be independent and travel with just my dog and I. The travel trailer I can not use on my own. If you think I'm crazy you are probably right. My wife and I ride horses and both cut and pen cattle. SO we are used to figuring stuff out and making things work. And we both have an adventurous side!

I spent 5 years in architecture school, but that culture is so toxic and literally almost killed me and I got paralyzed while I was in the military, if that says anything about toxic cultures. I had to slow down a bit so I fell back on a past love Growing Stuff. Food, flowers, plants... I love getting my hands in the dirt. I am about to finish up my bachelors degree in sustainable food and farming from UMass Amherst.

Now the plan! Find a 38'-40' bus with working lift. Along with a bunch of other specifics that I think I've researched. Everyone's unicorn am I right? lol (After 2 years of reading and watching youtube I'm sure I still have no clue) The bus would be used as my home while I visited different farms and worked "Woof" style. I want to just soak up knowledge from as many people while also seeing the country. I'd also like to try and work in an "office" mobile design studio. My plan is to become a food systems designer.

During and after my "learning sabbatical" or "extra long externship" whatever you want to call it, I would also be using the bus when we go to horse shows and camping trips. Now that I am about a year away from graduation I am finally coming out of the shadows to interact and pick yalls brains. I am about ready to pick up a bus. I have a place under our pole barn where I can work on it. I was an aircraft mechanic while I was able bodied and in the Air Force. So as long as I can reach it I am pretty capable. I learned quite a bit of wood working while I was architecture school The shop guy was a cabinet maker by trade, and I also learned a bit of welding... e's or c's...

I am under no illusion that I will be or can do this alone. I have a ton of questions but I am reading as many posts as I can before I wade into the boards...

...to the journey, cheers everyone!https://www.skoolie.net/forums/images/skoolie/smilies/greetings.gif

Thomas

Go for it. Don't let anyone talk you out of it. Just work slow and damn carefully. It would be great if you had some help.