School Bus Gets Full Tiny Home Makeover, Sports Conventional Home-Like Amenities

I'm increasingly amazed by the fantastic tiny homes on wheels people create from school buses. Today, I'd like to share yet another skoolie conversion that might blow you away with its cozy design and practical features. Meet Ginnie and Austin and their rig, "the Bumpin Bus."

Ginnie and Austin met in the Army, and they both wanted to travel. And sometimes, just like they demonstrated, that's all it takes to start this journey. What makes their story even more inspiring is that neither had any skills for building stuff. However, they saved up some money, found a place to store the bus, and invested lots of time and energy into converting it.

Used school buses are cheap, reliable, and provide plenty of space. However, if you're from somewhere other than North America, it's a bit harder to find one and drive it on narrow roads, such as those in Europe.

The couple found this school bus on Facebook Marketplace and spent just $4,000 (€3,664) on it. The conversion cost $28,000 (€25,645), bringing the total price of this rig to $32,000 (€29,308). I'd say that's a fantastic price for a skoolie, considering there are vans that go for much higher than that. However, Ginnie and Austin would've surely paid more than that if they opted for the services of a specialized conversion company.

So, let's get into it – I'll start with the exterior. It's hard to miss this bus on the road. And I'm not just referring to its sheer size; its bright paint makes sure everyone sees it. They initially wanted to do a two-tone paint job but ended up with one. What's more, the goal was to make it red/orange, but it turned out to be a pink hue.

The bus sports a 5.9-liter Cummins engine, which is known to be reliable. Ginnie and Austin drove the bus until it reached 218,000 miles (350,837 km), but the odometer broke down, so they didn't exactly know how many miles they had traveled.

On the passenger side of the vehicle, the couple added an outdoor pop-down table where the two could enjoy a nice meal. Next to it, a propane-powered water heater and an outdoor shower are integrated. You'll discover 800 W solar panels and two Maxxair fans on the roof. The duo also mounted Starlink to have a permanent Internet connection regardless of the location.

You're probably expecting the rear door of the bus to open and lead to the couple's garage or bedroom, just like in most skoolies. But here's the catch with this vehicle. Its rear door cannot be opened fully because Ginnie and Austin installed a hitch-mounted rack where they store some gas and diesel, as well as a full-size mini-split. It never hurts to have extra storage spaces, whether inside or outside your camper.

Luckily, their bus was originally a handicapped bus, so they have an additional side door on the side. It leads directly into the bedroom and into their garage space, located under the bed. Another notable exterior feature is a water connection that leads to their 55-gallon (208-liter) freshwater tank and the colossal 100-gallon (379-liter) grey water tank. Furthermore, the couple removed some side windows for better insulation.

But enough about the exterior – let's head on inside. The entryway features three steps with welcome mats. You'll notice that the interior feels very open, especially since the driver's cabin isn't separated from the rest of the space, like on other rigs.

Above the driver's seat, the couple devised small storage spaces and installed two speakers. In between, there's a large TV. On the left side of the driver's seat, there's a panel with a bunch of switches wired to lights, fans, and more.

Ginnie and Austin describe their couch as the "center point of their bus." That's where they can relax, watch some TV and sit with guests. Moreover, it can be turned into an extra bed. Underneath the cushion; you'll discover the electrical system. Opposite the couch, you'll notice some additional seating in the form of a small cushion with storage underneath.

Step deeper into the bus, and you'll reach the kitchen. I really like that the couple didn't hold back on devising a bunch of storage space in the kitchen. It features a large countertop, a spacious sink, a pantry, a full-size oven, a stovetop, cabinets, and drawers. Ginnie shares some camper wisdom by recommending wooden plates instead of glass ones.

I'm fond of the design the couple chose for the bus. There's lots of wood, many plants, vinyl flooring, and various warm-colored elements. What's more, the kitchen has a tiled background – even though it looks like the real deal, it's a fact peel-and-stick.

Opposite the pantry, there's a dinette table with two cushioned seats. Initially, a wood stove was supposed to take part in this space, but the couple eventually chose a diesel heater.

Instead of going for a wet bathroom like in most campers, Ginnie and Austin separated the bathroom into two different spaces. One houses the compost toilet they built themselves, a sink, and a mirror. Just opposite, you'll find the spacious shower, complete with a stunning green tile wall. This time, these are actual tiles.

And finally, we have the bedroom at the rear of the bus. It's positioned sideways – Ginnie describes that the only disadvantage with this arrangement is that it's hard to make the bed. Other notable elements inside the bedroom are the mini-split, some small storage spaces, as well as a projector, and a projector screen to enjoy a movie night.

It's incredible what these two have achieved all by themselves without any prior experience. Indeed, it took a while, but the result is an affordable and practical bus camper with a beautiful design. Austin said they significantly used Google and YouTube and managed to figure it all out in the end. If you're looking to go on a similar endeavor, arm yourself with lots of patience and energy, as well as a well-defined and realistic budget, and anything is possible.