What I Learned in my Buildout.
In 2020 the Country was issued "Stay at Home" orders due to the uncertainty of a naval virus sweeping the Country. My wondering heart craved adventure and needed to find a way to "stay home" and wounder simultaneously. While I was on Pinterest looking for my next garden build, I saw a magical school bus that had been converted into a tiny home, and a light bulb went off in my brain! That is how I can stay home AND adventure, put my house on wheels. So the journey began! I have never done such a complex build before. Building a house on wheels was a large leap from the chicken coop I had just finished, but I am always down for an adventure, especially ones with high rewards. Below I have written a step-by-step of my process, mistakes I made along the way, and advice to help you with your Build.
Step 1. Finding a Bus!
I think the question I get the most is how did I find a school bus. Online, of course. Because of the pandemic, a local school district was selling a few of their buses, and when I was looking for a jeep (I am always on the lookout for my dream jeep), the magic school bus appeared in the search. I contacted the guy selling it and went for a test drive. Here is mistake #1 the check engine light was on, and the seller told me it was minor. That story is a blog of its own, but if the check engine light is on, either run the codes to see the actual problem or be patient and find another bus. Some of the places I have seen buses for sale are:
Facebook market
Autotrader
Researhpit.com
Busesforsale.com <- yes, that is a site!
Step 2. Gut The Bus
When I got her home, the next step was to take everything out. CAREFULLY! And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING! Here is mistake #2. I thought, oh, I can leave the floors and just put my floor on top of it. Nope! I tried, and my floor was uneven and bumpy and weird. So I had to take up my floor and take out the original floor before buying all new flooring to do it right. Just take EVERYTHING out. Take the ceiling out, but keep the panels because you can put them back after insulating it and do not need to buy fancy ones.
More on that later. BUT TAKE everything out and carefully, which brings me to mistake #3. There was a heater on the floor in the back. It was in the way of where I had envisioned my bed going, and a heater on the floor did not seem that safe, so it had to go. I knew nothing about those things and started taking it out. Well, there was a fluid line that fluids began to pour out all over when I unhooked it. That line was connected to the engine in the front, and the fluid was now drained from there as well. So my advice is if you do not know what something is, ask for help, or if there is a hose attached to it, follow it and cap it at its source so it does not drain all over the floor.
Step 3 Make a Plan.
First, take very careful measurements of your new cleaned-out space. Think about what you would like to have on the bus and carefully measure those items. Would you like a full bed or a queen? Would you like a table or a lounge or a table that turns into a lounge? For my bus, I wanted a double bed, a kitchen, a shower, and a table that I could convert into a second bed. Also, I wanted the bed to be high enough to have kennels under the bed for my pups. Now it is playing a game of Tetris to see how to make all that fit. This step I did not make any mistakes on because I was meticulous with my measuring. Once I had a game plan in mind, I began the Build.
Step 3. Insulating.
For the walls, I chose Insulfoam boards and spray adhesive. I found this board was easy to cut to the size I needed and came highly recommended. I measured each section needing insulation, cut the board to size, sprayed the adhesive, and stuck it on. Once the walls were done, I covered the insulation with a thin piece of plywood. For the ceiling, I used batt insulation. There was already some there from when it was a school bus, so I added a second layer. I was going to use the original ceiling panels, but if you plan to replace those, the boards may be a better option for the ceiling.
Step 4. Framing
Now that you have insulated your bus, it is time to frame. I started with the bed because it was the biggest. However, the shower was not next to the bed. I did the shower next because the shower pan had exact dimensions. The space between the shower and the bed is the kitchen, and although I measured everything excessively, I figured once the bed and shower were in place, the kitchen design could change a little if needed. The bed and the shower could not be changed due to their exact size. Once I got those two framed, I remeasured the kitchen area and started that frame. Once that side was done, I started on the table and the lounge. I am not a construction expert at all, and I do not want to advise on how to build those things, but there are wonderful YouTube videos from experts that can show you the way.
Step 5. Finish the Build and decorate!
Not gonna lie; this was my favorite part. Once the frame is in place, rest the Build is the finishing touches and making it cute and home-like. Pinterest again was my best friend when it came to cute ideas for decorating.
Step 6 Solar Panels
The fridge, water heater, and electrical outlets run off a solar panel my friends at Leadfoot Offroad installed for me. I got mine off Amazon and attached it to a rechargeable battery. The battery is then hooked up to a converter to be used by the mentioned appliances. I was scared of doing the electrical myself but was shown how and it is literally just like plugging in a switch.
A few things I learned…..
School buses will not turn on if the back door is locked. It is for emergency purposes. So, before you call your mechanic friends to figure out why the bus will not start, make sure all the safety measures are correct. Better yet, since I would like to drive with the door locked, find a way to bypass that safety feature.
My school bus had an accessory switch for all the fun lights and school bussy things. Ensure that it is off, so you do not drain your battery while in the middle of nowhere.
My best advice is to take your time. Maybe because it was 2020, and I was eager to get on the road, but I rushed a lot and made a lot of tiny mistakes. Those mistakes ended up costing more time and more money. If I had slowed down and taken my time, I might have saved money and got on the road sooner. Also, do not rush the process and ask for help if needed. Another thing my stubborn butt was reluctant on. Oh, and ENJOY!!!!!