Couple Spends A Year And A Half Converting An Old ’90s School Bus Into A Cozy Home, And It’s Worth All The Work
For some time now, Robbie and Priscilla have been able to work remotely so they decided to move into a home they could take anywhere they wanted. The couple bought a 1998 Thomas School Bus and transformed it into a tiny house on wheels. Now, it doesn’t matter whether the nomad lifestyle appeals to you or not, the two travel enthusiasts designed and built such a cozy place, it’s impossible to stay indifferent towards it; it looks nicer than most of the apartments I’ve been to! Not to mention, the bus is equipped with everything you need to live a comfortable day-to-day life.
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Image credits: going_boundless
Robbie and Priscilla chose the school bus rather than, for example, an RV, because they were planning to spend the next couple of years traveling and wanted their new home on wheels to look and feel like a tiny house. “We love tiny homes and admire the lifestyle of those who live in them so we thought, ‘Why not build one on wheels?'” they told Bored Panda. “We even added an actual house door to give it that welcoming look.”
Image credits: going_boundless
“Another reason is that we wanted it to be completely off-grid and customized to our needs. Some of the features that we have which are not found in your typical RV/motorhome are a wood-burning stove, real brick wall, completely solar, real quartz countertops, real tiles, real glass shower door, and more. Also, school buses are designed safer than RVs in the event of an accident.”
Image credits: going_boundless
They said they just had to break away from the monotony of their daily lives. “We were our happiest when traveling, when exploring new places, when trying new foods, when immersing ourselves in new cultures. We thrive off of experiencing new things and going on adventures. There is something magical about traveling. It goes beyond seeing different sights. It’s the experiences that change you. We would come home from our trips ready to plan our next adventure. It left us thirsty for another memorable experience.”
Image credits: going_boundless
Before the couple even started building the bus, they were traveling every chance they had. “There was one thing really bothering us though. We hated leaving our pets at home and missed them when we were away,” Robbie and Priscilla explained. “We needed a way to continue to travel and have them with us. “
Image credits: going_boundless
“When we started building, we had a dog and a cat. We only have a cat now. Our black lab was diagnosed with cancer one month before we planned to get on the road and her health declined rapidly after that. She didn’t get to come on the bus journey but she is in our hearts.”
Image credits: going_boundless
It took the couple a year and a half to remodel the bus, however, they sometimes took some much-needed breaks from the building. “If we had done it without the breaks, it would have probably been a year,” they said.
Image credits: going_boundless
During that time, they really brought the old school bus back to life. The living space is 210 square feet with a 24v system, powered by 6 360-watt solar panels and equipped with 8 6V 315AH Trojan batteries.
Image credits: going_boundless
The bus has a ceiling A/C, so cooling it isn’t a problem. As well as keeping it warm. “We have two heaters. A propane marine heater and a wood-burning stove/heater,” Robbie and Priscilla said. “The propane heater is for cold temperatures but not too cold. We used it one night when it was 33 degrees and it was comfortable.”
Image credits: going_boundless
If it were to get much colder than that, the couple would probably light a fire in their wood stove. “That one heats up the bus so much that we haven’t needed to use it yet. We expect this winter, though.”
Image credits: going_boundless
“We left our home in Orlando, FL on March 21st, 2019, and headed up the East Coast,” Robbie and Priscilla added. “We were on the road for almost 10 months and traveled all the way up to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. We visited 137 different cities on that trip without having an itinerary. We just went with the flow.”
Image credits: going_boundless
The couple then headed back home for a few months. “We had a few abroad trips planned for the beginning of 2020 but we only went on one of our trips to Brazil. The others were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.”
They were actually supposed to be on the West Coast at this time but their schedule is a little off from being home unexpectedly for 4 months.
Image credits: going_boundless
“We manage our business and investments remotely so as long as we have the Internet, we can be anywhere. We don’t use our savings for travel but that’s definitely an option that works for many people who are looking to do something similar but can’t work remotely.”
Image credits: going_boundless
This new chapter in their lives, however, has had its fair share of trials and tribulations. In fact, Robbie and Priscilla almost gave up on everything two times. “At one point, we actually had listed our gutted bus on Craigslist because our windows were leaking and we couldn’t figure out how to stop the leak.”
“We tried everything including removing them, cleaning them and reinstalling with new caulking but they still leaked. After much thought, we took down the listing and decided to get all new replacement windows. That worked!”
Turns out, the old seals were dry rotted and water kept getting through even after they caulked over the seals. “After installing the new windows, we were good to go.”
Image credits: going_boundless
“We then ran into problems after we had completed the build. The bus was finished and we were extremely excited about that but then we found out our engine had a blown head gasket and we needed a new one. The bus was in the shop for months. We now have a new engine.”
Image credits: going_boundless
Robbie and Priscilla really want to continue their long-term travels abroad. But that’s for the future. Now, they plan on finishing the U.S and Canada with their cat and buddy, Mr. Beebles, or taking very short trips abroad so they won’t have to leave him for too long.
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Image credits: going_boundless
Here’s what people said about their conversion
Nowhere for partner to sit. I truly don't understand.
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That looks awesome. I would love something like that to travel around Australia.
you know I'm a fellow Aussie..If l wasn't caring for my brother 24/7 I'd be on the road seeing Oz with my dog..as I've driven around the UK in a campervan I'd love to do the same thing here..but alas my brother DOESN'T like long drives l have to stay put..
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Not really sure how a huge heavy thing getting 6 to 8 miles on a gallon of diesel is living "off the grid". There are plenty of lightweight and very fuel efficient camping setups that would be much more resource-friendly that this beast. A woodstove. Good grief.
This is true. I did not think about gas mileage. Also repair costs, tire replacement, and how would you insure that thing? Most importantly, is it really a good idea to put a woodburning stove inside a vehicle powered by a diesel engine? And anyone who has ever ridden a school bus knows that the exhaust really stinks. All that aside, it looks really cool. It would be fun to use as a guesthouse. That way it wouldn't have to be mobile.
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I don't care what it looks like, if there is a kitty I LOVE IT. It is charming though.
Question..as someone that actually drove a thomas school bus..where does one get water for the showers/ toilet/ sink
It depends on how they built it out. Since they haven't hung anything below the chassis, I assume they don't intend to "park anywhere" but spend all their time at RV parks hooked up to services.
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@Justinas Keturka and Rokas Laurinavičius: This isa very nice story, but calling the bus a "tiny home" sounds ridiculous. Most motorhomes are much smaller, unless you go for the class that costs very clearly six figures.
Why does it sound ridiculous? It's a home and it's very small. So...?
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So many negative comments! I think its fantastic, Good for them. Its a beautiful home and I hope they get to spend many years enjoying all their hard work.
I think it looks great and good for them if they can afford it. I was very sad to read about the poor dog who passed without being able to go on the road trip. Hope the cat has fun but is safe and not wander away when they pull up to camp.
Super cool! My boyfriend & I talked about doing this, but decided an RV is a better option & are currently looking to buy one to live/travel in. We want one we can tow because of the high cost of fixing one that you drive plus I'd rather be able to take our SUV to the grocery store & elsewhere rather than having to drive a huge RV everywhere. I can't wait for the adventure!
So you put thousands of dollars into a 30 yr old school bus....that you think will run like new and take your a*s all over america,,, This is the dumbest thing i ever read...the cost of gas, the repairs would eat you alive
Did you read the part about their blown head gasket? Their engine was swapped with a rebuilt unit. Whether its an IDI or a T444E, in non-fleet service it should be quite reliable. The other thing about school buses is how ubiquitous and cheap they are. My local salvage yard has 50 or 60 of them, $2500 each. Even if they needed to do a chassis swap it wouldn't be that awful.
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TV? Don't see the laptops, and paperwork. Anyway it's beautiful. LOVE IT!
Elastic glue or not, using tiles and bricks in a moving vehicle is just incredibly dumb. As is making everything terribly heavy. The carbon footprint of htis kind of travel for just two peple is mindboggelings. Yes, the result is really pretty but the whole project is just a massive vanity act. (And the comment about how school busses are safe is just laughable. have an accident with this thing and you'll be speared by sink shards.)
You're probably right about the furnishings, but consider that they spent 10 months to travel from Florida to NS. That's 1900 miles-ish, so they only averaged 6.3 miles per day. Also, They do make acrylic farm-style sinks (39lbs, vs 110lbs for fire clay). I would be far more concerned about the burner grates from the stove. Also, the "real brick" is extremely thin plaster-based veneer, not actual modular brick. Edit: It's "real brick" only in the sense that it isn't paneling pressed to resemble brick.
Load More Replies... I have no problem with rich people traveling. But you could have bought a very nice new rv instead. Retrofitting a 30 yr old school seems like a money pit
RVs are extremely flimsy things. Check out any of the insurance liquidation websites for RVs that have been in accidents, they practically disintegrate on impact. A bus generally has much more structure. Plus this way they get exactly what they want. I've checked out some phenomenally expensive RVs, and they have the same cardboard cabinets and ugly patterned plastic walls that cheap ones do.
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Take your cat everywhere with a cat passport. You can get pet passports just like a human and shot up dates paperwork in their very own pet pack and of course chipped for id of belonging to you . People in other countries welcome people with pets because people with pets are mostly nice people.
8-13mpg is typical for a vehicle of this size. The same goes for a regular RV off the lot.
Load More Replies...
Nowhere for partner to sit. I truly don't understand.
Load More Replies... That looks awesome. I would love something like that to travel around Australia.
you know I'm a fellow Aussie..If l wasn't caring for my brother 24/7 I'd be on the road seeing Oz with my dog..as I've driven around the UK in a campervan I'd love to do the same thing here..but alas my brother DOESN'T like long drives l have to stay put..
Load More Replies... Not really sure how a huge heavy thing getting 6 to 8 miles on a gallon of diesel is living "off the grid". There are plenty of lightweight and very fuel efficient camping setups that would be much more resource-friendly that this beast. A woodstove. Good grief.
This is true. I did not think about gas mileage. Also repair costs, tire replacement, and how would you insure that thing? Most importantly, is it really a good idea to put a woodburning stove inside a vehicle powered by a diesel engine? And anyone who has ever ridden a school bus knows that the exhaust really stinks. All that aside, it looks really cool. It would be fun to use as a guesthouse. That way it wouldn't have to be mobile.
Load More Replies... I don't care what it looks like, if there is a kitty I LOVE IT. It is charming though.
Question..as someone that actually drove a thomas school bus..where does one get water for the showers/ toilet/ sink
It depends on how they built it out. Since they haven't hung anything below the chassis, I assume they don't intend to "park anywhere" but spend all their time at RV parks hooked up to services.
Load More Replies... @Justinas Keturka and Rokas Laurinavičius: This isa very nice story, but calling the bus a "tiny home" sounds ridiculous. Most motorhomes are much smaller, unless you go for the class that costs very clearly six figures.
Why does it sound ridiculous? It's a home and it's very small. So...?
Load More Replies... So many negative comments! I think its fantastic, Good for them. Its a beautiful home and I hope they get to spend many years enjoying all their hard work.
I think it looks great and good for them if they can afford it. I was very sad to read about the poor dog who passed without being able to go on the road trip. Hope the cat has fun but is safe and not wander away when they pull up to camp.
Super cool! My boyfriend & I talked about doing this, but decided an RV is a better option & are currently looking to buy one to live/travel in. We want one we can tow because of the high cost of fixing one that you drive plus I'd rather be able to take our SUV to the grocery store & elsewhere rather than having to drive a huge RV everywhere. I can't wait for the adventure!
So you put thousands of dollars into a 30 yr old school bus....that you think will run like new and take your a*s all over america,,, This is the dumbest thing i ever read...the cost of gas, the repairs would eat you alive
Did you read the part about their blown head gasket? Their engine was swapped with a rebuilt unit. Whether its an IDI or a T444E, in non-fleet service it should be quite reliable. The other thing about school buses is how ubiquitous and cheap they are. My local salvage yard has 50 or 60 of them, $2500 each. Even if they needed to do a chassis swap it wouldn't be that awful.
Load More Replies... TV? Don't see the laptops, and paperwork. Anyway it's beautiful. LOVE IT!
Elastic glue or not, using tiles and bricks in a moving vehicle is just incredibly dumb. As is making everything terribly heavy. The carbon footprint of htis kind of travel for just two peple is mindboggelings. Yes, the result is really pretty but the whole project is just a massive vanity act. (And the comment about how school busses are safe is just laughable. have an accident with this thing and you'll be speared by sink shards.)
You're probably right about the furnishings, but consider that they spent 10 months to travel from Florida to NS. That's 1900 miles-ish, so they only averaged 6.3 miles per day. Also, They do make acrylic farm-style sinks (39lbs, vs 110lbs for fire clay). I would be far more concerned about the burner grates from the stove. Also, the "real brick" is extremely thin plaster-based veneer, not actual modular brick. Edit: It's "real brick" only in the sense that it isn't paneling pressed to resemble brick.
Load More Replies... I have no problem with rich people traveling. But you could have bought a very nice new rv instead. Retrofitting a 30 yr old school seems like a money pit
RVs are extremely flimsy things. Check out any of the insurance liquidation websites for RVs that have been in accidents, they practically disintegrate on impact. A bus generally has much more structure. Plus this way they get exactly what they want. I've checked out some phenomenally expensive RVs, and they have the same cardboard cabinets and ugly patterned plastic walls that cheap ones do.
Load More Replies... Take your cat everywhere with a cat passport. You can get pet passports just like a human and shot up dates paperwork in their very own pet pack and of course chipped for id of belonging to you . People in other countries welcome people with pets because people with pets are mostly nice people.
8-13mpg is typical for a vehicle of this size. The same goes for a regular RV off the lot.
Load More Replies... 
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