I wanna build my bus in your yard

[Malene]

Hey All,


So, I have decided that I want to live full-time in short bus. I live in Canada, but plan on spending 6 months continuously in the US, once traveling for leisure is permitted again and I've received my jab


My grand plan is to travel to the southwest and to both buy and convert my skoolie there. I have no specific, hands-on skoolie/RV building experience but I'm savvy enough that I should be easily trained.


Ideally what I would love to do is be able to park at an experienced converter's property and be able to avail myself of their expertise, tools and occasional hands-on help in taking on this project. Obviously, this would be an equitable exchange of some kind - whether for some green or something else entirely is totes up for discussion.


So, anyone out there who wants to chime in on this plan?


Cheers,


M.


:Thanx:

 

[Mountain Gnome]

See this post. I know nothing about them personally. Seem nice enough to me.


https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/boondocking-and-building-in-new-mexico-34881.html

 

[ABBus]

First, I wish you to find what you're looking for.
I really don't want to discourage you (I think you should do it!) but here are some things you *may* have not thought about.
1. The main one. Even if the vehicle you buy can be imported into Canada per the RIV regulations, once converted you'll not be able to import it (modified vehicles can't be imported). Except if the vehicle is more than 15 years old and is NOT a bus. And you'll not be allowed to drive it to Canada with US plates on it.
2. Plan your time. 6 months is not a lot to find a good bus, converting it and enjoy it.
3. I forgot this one while writing 1 or 2. I'll edit if it comes back!

 

[peteg59]

Welcome to the site.

As already said, Canada has onerous restrictions on what they allow into their borders from out of the country.

A bus from Vancouver, or other coastal western provinces that don't regularly salt roads might be your best way to skoolie ownership?

Good luck, and post pics if you are able to...

 

[o1marc]

And you'll not be allowed to drive it to Canada with US plates on it.

This can't be true, a gazillion RV's go to Canada with US plates everyday?

 

[ABBus]

And you'll not be allowed to drive it to Canada with US plates on it.

This can't be true, a gazillion RV's go to Canada with US plates everyday?

Not driven by Canadian residents.

 

[Simplicity-SKO]

Here's your thread to land and experienced builders.

https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/boondocking-and-building-in-new-mexico-34881.html

PM rock-and-ruth.

Best of luck.

 

[o1marc]

And you'll not be allowed to drive it to Canada with US plates on it.


Not driven by Canadian residents.

Only if you're importing it. You can legally drive any US plated vehicle for 60 days before returning, as a Canadian. Have an American drive it across the border.

 

[Oscar1]

Only if you're importing it. You can legally drive any US plated vehicle for 60 days before returning, as a Canadian. Have an American drive it across the border.

I Believe that only applies if it is US plated rental vehicle. If a Canadian resident enters Canada with a US made purchase it is considered intent to import and is subject to all applicable duties and taxes. If that purchase doesn't comply with Transport Canada for admissible vehicles and the the registrar of imported vehicles(RIV) it will be refused entry. Not sure about that "have an American drive it across" statement? How would that conversation with Border agents go? Sir is this your vehicle? No I'm just helping my friend smuggle it in to the country so he doesn't have to pay the tax!

 

[cadillackid]

I Believe that only applies if it is US plated rental vehicle. If a Canadian resident enters Canada with a US made purchase it is considered intent to import and is subject to all applicable duties and taxes. If that purchase doesn't comply with Transport Canada for admissible vehicles and the the registrar of imported vehicles(RIV) it will be refused entry. Not sure about that "have an American drive it across" statement? How would that conversation with Border agents go? Sir is this your vehicle? No I'm just helping my friend smuggle it in to the country so he doesn't have to pay the tax!

Nope its not mine, i borrowed it to go on vacation in canada

 

[Oscar1]

Nope its not mine, i borrowed it to go on vacation in canada

Haha ya that might work but I usually make it a point to not lie to federal agents when I'm asking permission to enter a foreign country.

 

[Oscar1]

Hey All,


So, I have decided that I want to live full-time in short bus. I live in Canada, but plan on spending 6 months continuously in the US, once traveling for leisure is permitted again and I've received my jab


My grand plan is to travel to the southwest and to both buy and convert my skoolie there. I have no specific, hands-on skoolie/RV building experience but I'm savvy enough that I should be easily trained.


Ideally what I would love to do is be able to park at an experienced converter's property and be able to avail myself of their expertise, tools and occasional hands-on help in taking on this project. Obviously, this would be an equitable exchange of some kind - whether for some green or something else entirely is totes up for discussion.


So, anyone out there who wants to chime in on this plan?


Cheers,


M.


:Thanx:

Hello and welcome.
Not a horrible plan but as you can see by the responses so far without more details of your end use its really hard for anyone to provide all the right answers.
Please do your research, not just with the buses but also with Transport Canada (RIV) if you plan on bringing a modified school bus back to Canada.
Good luck
Oscar

 

[captnredbeerd]

Consider the timing of your project as well. You said you'd have a job in the US? Full time or part time? Consider that a full bus conversion takes a lot of time and a lot of work. Depending on how much free time you have after work, and even the weather season you're working during, 6 months may not be sufficient time.



Love the vision--don't give up on it.


Another thought--why not buy a Canadian bus, and convert on someone's land in Canada? then drive it down south for a visit to the USA?

 

[Bus'n it]

Didn’t BE Adventure Partners buy a bus from AAA in Phoenix, drive to Brian’s parents house in Texas to do a simple conversion? They went to DMV there and after a few trial and errors got their RV registration and drove into Canada.

 

[MrJDL]

Not sure if these people could help but they're YT'ers in AZ recording the work on their (big) bus. Beginning from this Morning

 

[Simplicity-SKO]

Didn’t BE Adventure Partners buy a bus from AAA in Phoenix, drive to Brian’s parents house in Texas to do a simple conversion? They went to DMV there and after a few trial and errors got their RV registration and drove into Canada.

Holy crap! Why didn't I think of that. Buy a bus, drive it "someone elses house" and do a "simple" conversion. Smacks forehead, "I could of had a v8".

 

[Profrog]

Awesome Possum Van Works and Recreation

This place in Texas allows DIYers to stay there. The owner "can" assist you, but he is usually booked pretty solid. There are others there who may be able to help out. There is also a machine shop on site. None of it is free, but prices seem to be reasonable.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1236262613390775&id=630977570585952&__tn__=K-R

Your build timeline is a bit ambitious. I won't say it can't be done, it's just trying to cram a lot of work into 6 months. You state you have no specific skoolie experience. Try to get one thing done before moving to the next phase. Maybe you'll decide you can't accomplish all you want to achieve in 6 months, but get a good solid start on the on the basics during the 6-month visit and work on it bit by bit as time permits later.

Be sure you know how to jump through all the necessary hoops to get a bus imported to Canada.

Best of luck

 

[Doktari]

Do you only want to use it for 6 months of the year?? What about storing it just south of the border where you can go work on it and use it easily. You could store it in Sumas, WA right on the border. I built a energy system for a Canadian Sprinter right in the parking lot there. Also I know of places to keep stuff on old dairy farms cheap in the Nooksack Valley and Skagit Valley. Great thing about a lot of the old dairy farms is they let you work on stuff. And my stuff blends in with all the old machinery, equipment, and barns. One good ol’ boy let me use his shop and tools for 4 years before his control freak interfering daughter started taking over.
I was at one old dairy for 15 years, then another for 6 months, then another for 5 years, and the current one for almost 3 years.
Also if you go to a place where the local economy has collapsed there are huge shops sitting unused all over the place. I’d you want to go professional and work indoors. Some of the dairy farms have unused barns but they are often already full of junk. And the pigeons poop on stuff. Have chased pigeons out of more than one barn. But enough space can be cleared to get a bus under cover. And a tarp works for the pigeon poop.

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Hey All,


So, I have decided that I want to live full-time in short bus. I live in Canada, but plan on spending 6 months continuously in the US, once traveling for leisure is permitted again and I've received my jab


My grand plan is to travel to the southwest and to both buy and convert my skoolie there. I have no specific, hands-on skoolie/RV building experience but I'm savvy enough that I should be easily trained.


Ideally what I would love to do is be able to park at an experienced converter's property and be able to avail myself of their expertise, tools and occasional hands-on help in taking on this project. Obviously, this would be an equitable exchange of some kind - whether for some green or something else entirely is totes up for discussion.


So, anyone out there who wants to chime in on this plan?


Cheers,


M.


:Thanx:

Shoot me a PM for contact info. You are welcome to come build here in New Mexico. Our guest from Israel is about ready to move on. He did a roof raise here.

 

[Lenore-SKO]

Shoot me a PM for contact info. You are welcome to come build here in New Mexico. Our guest from Israel is about ready to move on. He did a roof raise here.

I want you to adopt me in the future as well. That’s so cool.