Stationary Skoolie vs Tiny Home On Wheels Vs....?

[corvin]

Initially posted this in the wrong forum so hopefully the mods will see my original post (can't figure out how to delete the old one)


I've been looking at skoolies for a bit and really love the idea and the aesthetic of them, but there's a problem - I don't plan on traveling in it full time. Might take it out for a trip or two if I can find one in my budget that runs, but I mostly intend to use it as a way to own my own home that is customized to my needs, and escape skyrocketing rent prices in an affordable manner. Ideally, I could find a bus that doesn't run anymore at a salvage yard and build out of that.

Shipping container homes are another option I've seen brought up, but I'm not a fan of the lead paint, the corrugated walls, having to cut out all the doors and windows, etc. Plus, they appear to be more expensive than a junk school bus would be (from what I researched, 40 foot shipping containers tend to usually be upwards of $4000 vs $500-2000 or even free for a dead school bus) and then I'd have to pay even more for a trailer/chassis on top of that. Ugh.

So, I would love to hear from folks who live in stationary (or mostly-stationary) skoolies, whether by design or if your adventuring days just came to an end. How did it work out for you? How did you dealt with zoning and contracting and all that legal crap? What are the drawbacks and benefits? What would you have done differently and what did you do right?

And if you would like to suggest alternatives, here are my requirements:

• Must be able to be built in one location and then moved/towed to another. I cannot afford to pay a land loan AND rent at the same time. I can, however, afford to pay someone $50 or so a month to park the bus (or trailer frame, shipping container, etc) build it, and then move it elsewhere
• Be able to be moved to other locations later on - i.e. if I wanted to sell the land and move somewhere else later
• Must be at least 250 square feet - but ideally more than that. I like tiny homes but not that tiny.
• Must be able to withstand Midwestern winters (DIY insulation, etc).
• Be able to hook up to the grid, at least partially
• Must be a mostly DIY project
• Affordable. I'm talking around $25k for the whole build (and ideally less)

Here are the things I would PREFER but can deal with if not:

• Windows and doors already built in (I don't mind modifications but don't want to have to do the whole thing from scratch)
• Be created with as many recycled/reused materials as possible, I would prefer for this to be an environmentally sustainable project that uses something that already exists
• Be 300 square feet or more
• Ability to customize the design the interior to my needs (I don't want a prefab tiny house - they are too expensive anyways.)
• Sturdy and made of materials that will last

Thanks all!

 

[DeMac]

Desire vs Intention

Initially posted this in the wrong forum so hopefully the mods will see my original post.......


How did it work out for you? How did you dealt with zoning and contracting and all that legal crap? What are the drawbacks and benefits? What would you have done differently and what did you do right?

And if you would like to suggest alternatives, here are my requirements:

• Must be able to be built in one location and then moved/towed to another. I cannot afford to pay a land loan AND rent at the same time. I can, however, afford to pay someone $50 or so a month to park the bus (or trailer frame, shipping container, etc) build it, and then move it elsewhere
• Be able to be moved to other locations later on - i.e. if I wanted to sell the land and move somewhere else later
• Must be at least 250 square feet - but ideally more than that. I like tiny homes but not that tiny.
• Must be able to withstand Midwestern winters (DIY insulation, etc).
• Be able to hook up to the grid, at least partially
• Must be a mostly DIY project
• Affordable. I'm talking around $25k for the whole build (and ideally less)

Thanks all!

---------------
No responses, so far?
I'll help you get things rolling. I trimmed down your post to concentrate our conversation into a few smaller yet correlated topics.

I do have buses and shipping containers on 20 acres. But there are also several permanent structures. Before I bought any buses or containers, I first converted the existing barn, into a legal residence.

Ya know, inspections, taxes, engineering seal, home inspection, certificate of occupancy.... all prior to moving in. I did most of the work myself, the rest was built by my wife or kid. This included land clearing, new electric service, transformer, Service Entry Conductor, meter socket, both main & sub panels, new well, irrigation, septic, driveway culvert, barn. Dirt work, all us. Same with the structure: roof, framing, plumbing, electric, windows, doors & stairs... all inspected per local code. We lived inside of it for several years.

Now we live in a brick home, still on the same property. Still building.


Tit for tat.
You answer a few questions, then I tell you more about the "How To". I'm an Electricain & I can give you the in depth low down on permitting, code enforcement and owner-builder options.

-Where do you plan to construct a bus or container? - Construction site

-Where will you live once it's comepleted? - Final homesite

If you are in Florida & competent, I may be of assistance. A one trip 40'high cube container on level limerock, surounded by 1 acre fenced, private drive entry, powered by150A/240V electric pole & potable water I rent to you, land where you can build & live. Take the container you complete with you when you leave, RTO. Rent will not be $50. PM me.

My concern is that you may have unrealistic expectations of yourself &/or others.

 

[corvin]

Thanks for the response! I grew up in FL so it's cool to see your builds on it. Live in WI now but thanks for the offer.



- Where do I plan to construct?: Right now, an acquaintance of mine has some family members who may be willing to rent me out a space on their property to do the build. Still need to work out the details of that and discuss with them.



- Where will you live once it's completed? Ideally, rural enough to have around an acre of land. Probably somewhere in WI - where I live now - or MN. (Unfortunately WI does not have many laws around tiny homes so it's a big grey area) My current project before I start doing any work (or even buy anything) is to contact the various cities/counties we are interested in moving to and give a basic outline of what I'd want to do and ask if it's even legally possible. Hoping that will narrow down my list.



What expectations do you forsee being unrealistic? Costs, feasibility, etc? I'm quite new to all this so open to feedback

 

[DeMac]

Where can you do that?

Thanks for the response! I grew up in FL so it's cool to see your builds on it. Live in WI now but thanks for the offer.



- Where do I plan to construct?: Right now, an acquaintance of mine has some family members who may be willing to rent me out a space on their property to do the build. Still need to work out the details of that and discuss with them.



- Where will you live once it's completed? Ideally, rural enough to have around an acre of land. Probably somewhere in WI - where I live now - or MN. (Unfortunately WI does not have many laws around tiny homes so it's a big grey area) My current project before I start doing any work (or even buy anything) is to contact the various cities/counties we are interested in moving to and give a basic outline of what I'd want to do and ask if it's even legally possible. Hoping that will narrow down my list.



What expectations do you forsee being unrealistic? Costs, feasibility, etc? I'm quite new to all this so open to feedback

----------

Both sound completely do-able IF the land chosen for each phase is in a flexible county, preferably outside of any city or town government.

Agricultural Land Use codes are more lenient toward owner-builders than the code requirements for residential & commercial zoning. Same can be said for the Building Codes.

In most states, a landowner of A-1 zoned land can build a pole barn with or without a container underneath. Usually, the barn can be enclosed with walls and floors. Plumbed. Electrified, including HVAC. Most A-1 code allows for refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, sink, shower, commode. NO cooking surfaces or appliances All built/installed by owners. The SIZE of the HVAC &/or septic may require an engineer certification. Setbacks might require a Land Survey. But you can usually perform the work yourself.

An landowner of R-1,2 or 3 (usually) cannot do any of these aforementioned via DIY, without having a qualifying permanent structure first.

Agricultural buildings can often be converted into a residential structures. We keep our county inspectors involved in the process as we build, they keep records & collect small taxes. When we chose to convert, we, the owner/builders had to be the occupants for the first two years. Couldn't rent or sell it.

Verify that your friend's property can be used as a construction site, assembly plant, commercial/light industrial. If it's Agriculturally zoned, you're probably golden. You won't need to ask the land owner, you really ought to research the county's Master Plan and Buiding & Zoning library.

 

[Rucker]

Welcome to the forum, and great questions (and answers from Demac!).

If you are considering a Skoolie I recommend buying one that is running-even if you don't intend to travel with it. There are a lot of clapped out buses on the market to be had for cheap.

A running skoolie gives you more options if your rental situation changes; even if the bus isn't in good enough condition for a long drive, having the ability to pull up stakes may be an important consideration.

 

[corvin]

Thanks so much for all the info! I will definitely check with the county Master Plan/Building & Zoning stuff.

Another question... How much would I have to worry about weight distribution on a stationary bus?


And that is definitely something to consider, Rucker. I think my concern with a running bus would be all the additional upkeep and maintenance to keep the engine in good shape, and of course I'd feel bad using a perfectly good bus as something that would rarely/never get out and drive :biggrin: Though I dunno, much to think about...

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

depends on where you live?
we keep our buses ready to run kinda like a bugout bag but we live in a hurricane zone.
everything important in totes in the house until its time and then the buses are already stocked and camp ready.
not a prepper by any means.
your area decides what you need to prepare for.
dont limit yourself to one idea of your perfect life.
it will only happen with alot of money and time and perseverance.
the american dream was built from men and women doing what they wanted hands on.
thois has never been a cookie cutter world.
make cookies for the kids sure they look good and the kids are happy they get a cookie.
real life is all you can afford is a bologna sandwich but you want to buy a bus to live in and or convert somewhere.
to be honest i love bologne sandwiches.

 

[DeMac]

Dream a Little Dream

depends on where you live?
(.........)
dont limit yourself to one idea of your perfect life.
it will only happen with alot of money and time and perseverance.
the american dream was built from men and women doing what they wanted hands on.
thois has never been a cookie cutter world.
make cookies for the kids sure they look good and the kids are happy they get a cookie.
real life is all you can afford is a bologna sandwich but you want to buy a bus to live in and or convert somewhere.
to be honest i love bologne sandwiches.

----------------

Well stated, Jolly Roger. You're clearly a man who knows that nothing in life is free or cheap. Anything worth having takes hard work, dedication and money.


Corvin,
I included the photos so tiny house builders might understand a clear path forward. Focus on a shovel in your daydreams. Imagine yourself digging.
Alot
Fantasize about hard work and sweat. Long hours on hot days. Felling trees & burning debris in the summer sun. Intend to succeed, no matter how your body & mind feel during battle. Perseverance.

Each memory you create along the way is proof that you will succeed.

You don't need a bus or container to get started. Invest into the property where your bus or container will be built.
Start Now.

● Mark out a space for your worksite. fence it, if necessary.
● Lay out a parking spot with rock, leveling blocks or 6x6s
● Add infrastructure first.
● Run two 3/4"pvc pipes inside of one trench from the primary structure to the site. White pvc for water, Grey pvc for power.
● Add a trash barrel & maintain a solution for construction waste.
● Setup a workbench or picnic table outside, you'll want shade here: tree, canopy, tarp...
● Lockable storage (not inside the project)
● Start building a composting toilet.

Your aquantince's family will either welcome your sweat investment or run you off.

 

[daisychain]

I have a large (216 SF) 2005 Thomas bus available for conversion. Already stripped out ready for your plumbing and wiring. The original insulation comes with. I also have the manual. It runs fine. My plan was to park it and convert it to living space because if its on wheels you don't have to have zoning permission. But I have moved on to other projects, so this bus is for sale for only $4,000. No rust, no leaks, a solid body and a blank slate for your Motor Home dreams. Titled in Oregon as a Motor Home. Interested?

 

[nikitis]

@DeMac

Do you have plans to paint that Yellow Bus?

 

[DeMac]

@DeMac

Do you have plans to paint that Yellow Bus?

Its interesting that you asked that. Yes. I scrubbed the entire exterior two weeks ago to prep for paint. Weve had rain showers nearly every day since. We do have the Sherwin Williams paint & a sprayer. We're now holding out for dryer weather.

 

[nikitis]

Its interesting that you asked that. Yes. I scrubbed the entire exterior two weeks ago to prep for paint. Weve had rain showers nearly every day since. We do have the Sherwin Williams paint & a sprayer. We're now holding out for dryer weather.

Yeah the feeling that you were going to paint it came to me, so I asked. I wish you luck on it.