School Bus Camper Has a Loft Area and a Ducted A/C, Was Built for a Very Reasonable Price

So, why is a converted school bus an excellent home? First, school buses are very durable – after all, they're built to transport youngsters, so safety and sturdiness are a priority in their design. Compared to RVs, which are mostly built with affordability and lightweightness in mind, school buses are a way safer option.

Second, school buses are very well maintained, as they get routine oil changes, inspections, and regular maintenance. When you want to buy an RV or a van, you don't have the assurance that they are well-maintained. And lastly, school buses are very affordable – you might think that since they're bigger and sturdier, you'll have to empty more money out of your bank account to get your hands on one, but it's in fact the exact opposite.

Dan is the owner and builder of this 37-foot (11-meter) 1999 International Thomas school bus. The first thing you'll notice about this rig is its considerable roof rise. The vehicle is finished in a distinctive blue paint. Moreover, its roof boasts a white color given by an elastomeric paint. Long story short, elastomeric means the paint is thick and rubberized, offering a waterproof barrier and reflecting heat and UV rays.

You'll discover plenty of modifications on the bus's exterior. For instance, Dan closed off the bus's original front door and devised another one, complete with a lock toward the middle. One of the best parts of converting a bus into a camper is that you have many exterior spots for extra storage spaces or to add various utility systems.

In this case, on the driver's side of the vehicle, you'll find an additional storage space, a slot for propane tanks, and a tankless water heater. Let me briefly explain what the deal is with tankless water heaters since you don't often see them in camper builds.

They use much less energy than conventional water heaters, which heat a full tank of water regardless of whether it all gets used or not. Furthermore, they take up less space and can offer a virtually endless supply of instant hot water, provided you have enough power to run it, either via electricity or propane. On the other hand, they are typically more expensive and are more sensitive to fluctuations in water pressure.

At the rear, Dan added some accessories that significantly improved the driving experience of this bus. While school buses offer more real estate, they can be more challenging to drive and park. Dan fitted reverse parking sensors and two cameras: one acts as a rearview mirror, with a display inside showcasing its feed, while the other is used when backing up.

He also upgraded the stop lights with LEDs and installed a Master lock for the rear door. One thing I would add that would make this bus even more practical is a trailer hitch with a bike rack, but that's just because I wouldn't hit the road without my e-bike.

On the driver's side of the vehicle, Dan fitted an outdoor shower, a 4 kW generator, fills for two 65-gallon (246-liter) freshwater tanks, a mini-split unit, connections for a 35-gallon (132-liter) gray water tank and a 55-gallon (208-liter) black water tank, and a battery box.

Dan moved the entrance to the middle of the bus to make it easier to go to the front and back of the bus. This change is also reflected in the interior design of the vehicle.

As soon as you step inside, you'll discover a timeless modern design featuring a plywood floor and a bunch of other wooden elements, all arranged in a clever layout. Let's start from the front.

One of the most distinctive parts of this bus is its driver's cabin. Because Dan sealed the front door, he had enough room to add an extra swivel seat for the passenger, as well as a window on the right side. Moreover, Dan pretty much left the dashboard as it was before the conversion, with the exception of a few minor details – he added a cup holder, a backup camera display, and an iPad holder. He also removed the lever that opened the front door.

My favorite feature in this area is by far the loft bed, something I've never seen before in a skoolie. It's such a simple yet useful thing to have – it has two puck lights, 12 V and 110 V outlets, two fans, and plenty of space to fit two extra souls.

Moving deeper into the vehicle, you'll find a seating area complete with a futon on one side and a massive flip-up table with an epoxy pour on the other. You'll probably be surprised to discover that Dan also installed a hidden TV, which can be electronically raised at the press of a button.

Before we go further, I'd like to emphasize how practical this rig's utilities are. So, as I said before, it has four water tanks. The electrical system is housed underneath the futon, and boy, oh boy, is it powerful. It features three 200 Ah lithium batteries, a smart charger, a links distributor, and a Victron 3,000 W Multiplus unit. Moreover, a lot of energy is fed by six solar panels on the roof, with a total of 1,400 W.

Another notable feature regarding utilities is the ducted A/C system. The bus's roof hides a bunch of ducts connected to the mini-split, and Dan devised many vents along the ceiling, heating or cooling the whole interior in a uniform way. What's more, the intake unit is integrated into the rearest wall of the bus, behind a vent.

Next, we have the kitchen. Right next to the futon, there's a decently sized countertop with a cabinet underneath, which houses two garbage cans. Alongside, there's an enormous, apartment-style fridge/freezer, as well as a "control center" devised above for the water tanks, temperature, and water heater

On the opposite side, you'll notice a decently sized sink, an oven with a three-burner stove, and a bunch of storage space in the form of drawers. While we're discussing storage, I'd like to point out that the lounge area I mentioned earlier comes with many storage spots via many overhead cabinets on both sides of the interior.

Moving on, we have the bathroom, which Dan divided into two parts. The first one features a tiny sink, a vanity mirror, a frosted window for privacy, a cabinet, and a toilet. The second part, which is near the bedroom, consists of a 36 x 36-inch (91 x 91-centimeter) stand-up shower with a tiled floor and vinyl flooring for the walls.

In case that's not enough, the next part of the interior is dedicated to storage. The hallway that leads toward the bedroom features two huge pantry drawers, an open area where Dan plans to add a very useful washer/dryer, and a hanging closet with two large drawers underneath.

And lastly, you'll find the bedroom at the very rear of the bus. It features a full-size bed, two shelves, two large windows with black-out shades, two fans, power outlets, and four spacious overhead cabinets.

All in all, this is a fantastic tiny home on wheels with features you don't typically see in skoolie, such as a ducted mini-split and a loft area above the driver's cabin. It's clear that a lot of work went into this conversion, as it boasts most of the utilities you can typically find in a conventional apartment.

You're probably curious to find out how much this all cost - the total price of the rig, including the base vehicle, amounted to a mere $32,500 (€29,880) - that's an amazing deal considering how well-equipped this mobile home is.