Why Would a Converted School Bus Make an Excellent Home?

Converting a school bus into a skoolie provides a comfortable, low-cost living space that can go wherever the road takes you.

When you think of a school bus, you might not think of it as a possible place to live. That’s completely understandable. We’re used to pull-behind campers, motor homes, conversion vans, and tiny houses, so why not a bus? There are four compelling reasons.

Owning a skoolie is a fantastic way to live

It allows you to roam freely. “Home is where you park it” is just one phrase that sums up skoolie life. Unlike most homes, your skoolie will be unique and tailored to your specific needs and preferences. When you travel by car and arrive at your destination, your house will always stand out rather than blend in, making it feel even more special. You will also make skoolie friends! When you meet another skoolie owner, you feel a connection like no other. You will share the same skoolie language, experiences, and, most importantly, a similar perspective on how to live alternatively.

A school bus is extremely long-lasting

A vehicle designed to transport 72 young lives is built for strength and safety. Bus manufacturers such as Blue Bird and Thomas build school buses on heavy-duty commercial truck frames. The school bus body is made of steel tubing and covered in steel paneling. Rub rails are thin sections of corrugated steel on the bus’s exterior that are designed to minimize body damage from sideswiping and add to the bus’s structural integrity.

A steel-framed, rounded metal roof on top of a school bus is designed to withstand extreme pressure from a rollover accident. Inside, light-gauge steel panels on the walls and ceiling are most commonly attached with rivets, but they can also be attached with regular screws (especially in older buses). Nearly all school buses are powered by diesel engines, which are known for their commercial-grade durability and power. Needless to say, a school bus is made to last!

Tiny homes are well-built and typically use the same materials and construction as larger homes, but they are intended for permanent residence rather than frequent travel. Tiny houses are frequently mounted on trailers to avoid building code restrictions and to make them technically movable (as in nonpermanent dwellings). They are not intended to be driven on the highway on a regular basis.

School buses are well-kept

School districts keep their buses in a fleet. It’s a good thing to see the phrase “fleet maintained” in ad listings! Routine oil changes and thorough inspections are performed on each bus, and repair and maintenance costs are budgeted in advance to ensure that problems are resolved quickly. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a low-cost used RV, it’s possible that the previous owner neglected to repair an issue in a timely manner, which could lead to additional wear and tear on other parts as well as a compromised overall mechanical function — issues you’ll have to deal with as the new owner.

School buses are affordable

Every year, some school buses are retired due to age or mileage. Most buses, I’ve discovered, are kept in service for up to ten years or 250,000 miles. Typically, retired buses are auctioned off or sold in bulk to a dealer. A typical school bus could be auctioned off for about a tenth of the price of a used motorhome or tiny house.

The value of a used school bus simply cannot be matched by used RVs or tiny homes. Sure, there are many happy people traveling in traditional motorhomes and sleeping in trendy tiny homes, but you might not have that kind of budget, and you might want to enjoy your life and independence sooner rather than later.

Furthermore, skoolies are simply cool! Skoolie owners enjoy receiving frequent thumbs-ups and peace signs from other drivers and sharing a glimpse into their creative, unique, and liberating skoolie lifestyle with curious couples at every stop.

Whether your budget is large or small, how many windows your bus has, how elaborate your interior is, or how large your solar array is, owning a skoolie promises an adventurous life in a comfortable home that is also a reliable vehicle.

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