Percent of people who actually complete their build?

[TheHubbardBus]

Kind of curious what some of you 'old timers' here guess to be the success / completion rate of people who start down the path of converting a skoolie. I'm surprised by how many new member introductions pop up, yet they never seem to stick around long.

 

[2kool4skool]

I agree with your observations. The few, the....... It's not for everyone.

 

[somewhereinusa]

I was under the impression that they are never actually finished.

 

[ol trunt]

Looking at forum numbers there are about 29,000 members and about 1,800 active members. That would work out at about 6% over the life of the forum. I don't imagine it means much but the raw data is here for someone with way more computer programing savy than I have to figure it all out.
Jack

 

[DawgBüs]

There's also gotta be a decent amount of people who just dont have time to keep up here. Like me! I'm still around and still building, but, haven't posted in a month or more. Between working 60+hrs a week and them working on the bus to get done before the sessions hit here, I rarely have time to do the forum stuff. Hopefully, once it's complete, I'll be able to spend far more time here, helping those just beginning their journeys!

 

[johnbloem1974]

I would say, like a lot of folks, is that it a work in progress that never ends! I keep on thinking of upgrades and little projects!

John

 

[peteg59]

Go back to posts 3 years ago, and most of the "regulars" posting in the forums then are no longer "active" today.
Many dreamers buy something to convert and become disillusioned for many reasons, money being likely the main factor...

 

[DawgBüs]

Go back to posts 3 years ago, and most of the "regulars" posting in the forums then are no longer "active" today.
Many dreamers buy something to convert and become disillusioned for many reasons, money being likely the main factor...

I'm glad you mentioned this... "Bansil." Bansil was apparently a very active member. He's listed as leadership here. Yet, I see no sign of him anymore. I read his entire build thread, prior to buying my little bus. I REALLY wanted to see how he finished that rear staircase. I even went as far as PM'ing him to ask. No reply. Anyone know what happened to him?

 

[david.dgeorge07]

I also wonder about Bansil. For the record, I finished mine, and did it in the year that I planned. But I was 2.5x on budget.

 

[bigskypc50]

I wonder how many that finish there build, keep it past the first let’s say one year mark. I can think of a handful of YouTubers that just sold or disappeared.

FYI I fished most of my built in three months or so. That was 2017, still love my bus and always tinkering will it even end lol

 

[Ronnie-SKO]

I also wonder how many finish their bus and once done become inactive on the forum. They have found out what they need and move on.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I'm glad you mentioned this... "Bansil." Bansil was apparently a very active member. He's listed as leadership here. Yet, I see no sign of him anymore. I read his entire build thread, prior to buying my little bus. I REALLY wanted to see how he finished that rear staircase. I even went as far as PM'ing him to ask. No reply. Anyone know what happened to him?

He can't log in. He's well and loving his herd of goats.

 

[peteg59]

He's well and loving his herd of goats.

^...Yikes...Figuratively speaking, hopefully...?:wink1:

 

[rossfree]

I haven't been active in quite a while. The bus sits squarely in our driveway and the garage is still full of bus stuff. All I need to do is get the water and greywater tanks mounted and a kitchen cabinet installed with sink and stove. Then I can insure it and register it for use.

Alas... I have had a LOT of life happening and it is hard to know when I will get it done. It's hot and sticky here in Arkansas but Fall is around the corner. I have every intention of completing it to a point of use by next spring.

Still, I come back from time to time to read what others are doing. I'm still around.

Ross

 

[jazty]

As others have mentioned, bus projects are simply never finished
There's always something to tinker with, experiment with, improve.
That being said, mine is very livable. In fact due to changes in paid employment I'm living in it right now.

 

[DawgBüs]

I notice this a lot too. Seems everyone wants to get on the bandwagon without realizing what living in a bus fulltime really is. That or they do it for the YT views, then sell.

 

[DawgBüs]

+1 to that. I'm already well over my planned budget and I still need to buy a few big ticket items. I don't mind, it's worth it.

 

[Drew Bru]

I notice this a lot too. Seems everyone wants to get on the bandwagon without realizing what living in a bus fulltime really is. That or they do it for the YT views, then sell.

Many people seem to get burned out and sell soon after they've done the demo work and before the fun part of the project.....the actual building of the camper/home/whatever. We paid someone to do the demo work after coming to the understanding that we didn't want to become another one of these statistics. We had a blast building out our bus, it's a shame more people don't push past the demo work and realize their dreams.

 

[M1031A1]

We're in year SIX of our build.

New school year. I'm up to my eyeballs in teaching in a new district with a subject area I completely enjoy. HF will - once again - take a lower priority until the dust settles a bit. Wife & I are selling off a bunch of stuff to get ready for the full-time move-in.

I suspect the old timers that finish their builds get on the road and enjoy their builds. After my spring drive to CA with HF, I observed there's not much in the rural areas for connectivity to the web. Gut suspicion, they're out there unable, for a variety of reasons, to post.

I remember Smitty's build out of Indianapolis. Top notch build. After he finished he disappeared out on the road. He was my inspiration.

I probably won't be able to post too often due to all the school activities and responsibilities I have. However, I do read up now and then.....

M :biggrin:

 

[DawgBüs]

Thank you btw. I forgot to mention that. He seemed like a really good dude, I'd like to see what he did with the bus since leaving.