1994 School Bus Turned Off-Grid Tiny Home Excellently Blends Aesthetics and Functionality

I'm a big fan of converted school buses. They're typically reliable, cheap to build, and provide a ton of stuff to create your dream mobile home interior. But because I live in Europe, there's no point in making a skoolie as it'll be a tight fit on many European roads.

Anyways, let's start this skoolie's tour. What we have here is a 1994 Hino bus that used to seat 50 passengers, measuring 11 meters (36 feet) in length and 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in width. Moreover, it offers about 296 square feet (27.5 square meters) of space, which is way more than most campers have.

One of the most critical factors when making a school bus conversion is the budget. Even though it was built far away from the United States, the costs are very similar. Andy, the builder and owner of the rig, spent 10,000 NZD ($6,156) for the base vehicle and invested a further 40,000 NZD ($24,626) into its renovation, bringing the total price of the conversion to 50,000 NZD ($30,782).

Andy's wish for this type of lifestyle began from a traumatic experience. During the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, when 181 people passed away, Andy was stuck in a high-rise building for five hours and was expecting the worst outcome of not making it out of there alive. After that, he realized that he needed a lifestyle change. So, he started researching how people live differently, and that's how he got the idea for the bus.

One of the first things you'll notice about this rig is the many windows. In fact, Andy kept all the bus's original windows, which keep the interior very well-lit during the day. Furthermore, most of them can be opened for extra ventilation, and they also come with blinds.

For the driver's cabin, Andy didn't make any changes. The bus's interior transformation starts in the next part, the seating area. On the left side, Andy installed a long and wide couch, which comes with three seatbelts for Andy's two kids. By the way, the seatbelts are the only things Andy didn't install in his rig, as it had to be done by a certified engineer. What's more, the couch can also serve as an additional bed and features storage spaces underneath.

On the opposite side, you'll find the rig's heating system, an 8 kW Roaring Meg handcrafter wood stove. It also allows you to cook on top of it. Andy explains it keeps the interior nice and toasty, but I'm curious how much heat ends up in the rear part of the interior, the bedroom, especially since there are so many windows and, thus, less insulation. Next to the stove, there's a sizeable compartment that holds wood.

Even though it might be a hassle for some to cut or procure wood, Andy explained he prefers having a stove instead of a gas heater because he can get his hands on wood for free around New Zealand if you spend some time looking for it.

In the middle of the bus, there used to be a 200-kg (441 lb.) ceiling A/C unit that didn't work when Andy bought the bus. So, he removed it and added a skylight and four brackets to which he attached a hammock chair. It's in the perfect spot: you can warm yourself up from the stove right beside you while reading a book or admire the view through the huge windows surrounding you.

Next up, we have the kitchen. It features an enormous bamboo countertop, a decently sized sink, an oven/grill with a four-burner stovetop, and a hood to prevent the kitchen from smoking up. For storage, Andy devised various drawers and cupboards. Moreover, there are four spacious overhead cabinets on each side of the interior.

Opposite the kitchen, you'll discover a dinette area comprising two benches with a curved table in between. Moreover, both benches have storage spaces underneath.

The van's open layout is narrowed into a hallway after the kitchen. That's where you'll find an apartment-size fridge and a massive pull-out pantry, both with storage spots above. Next to them, Andy built a bunk bedroom for his two kids, complete with opening windows, reading lights, and a long shelf.

The bathroom is located opposite to the bunk bedroom. It consists of a spacious full-size shower and a composting toilet built on a platform. By the way, this rig's plumbing system has got you covered for longer periods – it comprises two 250-liter (66-gallon) tanks, one for freshwater and one for gray water, and a 15-liter (4-gallon) water heater. Andy says it's enough to last him for about ten days if he showers every day.

The last part before the bedroom is a wardrobe/utility cabinet. It offers a bunch of space for Andy to store his clothes and also holds the bus's 24 V electrical system, featuring 240 Ah batteries, 400 W solar panels, an inverter, a battery charger, and a Victron EasySolar 3-in-1 system.

And finally, we have the bedroom at the very rear of the interior. You'll find a queen-size mattress and six overhead cabinets. Because it's so big, it also serves as a lounge for Andy and his two kids. Furthermore, there's a ton of space under the bed for storing bulkier items.

All in all, Andy managed to build a fantastic tiny home on wheels all by himself. It's warm and cozy, well-equipped regarding utilities, and most importantly (at least for Andy), it allows him to live his dream lifestyle. The cherry on top is that it didn't even cost that much, proving that with the proper ambition and the right technical skills, you can still build a homey skoolie without emptying your bank account.