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This Couple Turned a School Bus Into a Deluxe, Off-Grid Tiny Home for a Mere $50K

School buses are ideal for living life on the road as they provide a bunch of space to store your belongings. This couple, however, went the extra mile by raising the roof of their rig, creating even more space. Their build goes to show that you don't need to spend an enormous sum to make your dream tiny home on wheels. Meet Ashley and Andrew and their fantastic school bus camper conversion.
This Couple Turned a School Bus Into a Deluxe, Off-Grid Tiny Home for a Mere $50K 45 photos
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
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This conversion is even more impressive because the duo did it themselves. It took them three years since they decided to begin the project until they completed it – most of the work was done in around five months, all while having full-time jobs.

Fortunately, the couple revealed how much they invested in the rig. The base vehicle, a 1997 International 3800 DT 466E, was $5,600 (€ 5,248), and they invested around $40,000 – $45,000 (€37,483 - €42,168) to convert it. That might seem like a hefty sum, but keep in mind that some camper vans cost way more than that. Once you see this bus's features, you might think the investment is not that much. Admittedly, they managed to cut some costs by doing it themselves, as a specialized conversion company would've surely asked a lot more.

The bus sports an in-line six diesel engine with easy access to it by popping open the hood. Andrew explains that a few million engines were produced, so getting parts for it is easy, and owners can quickly search the web for information on how to maintain or repair it.

The vehicle is 36 feet (1,097 centimeters) long and about 12.5 feet (381 centimeters) tall. Raising the bus's roof by 2 feet (61 centimeters) was undoubtedly a challenging task, but it opened up the interior and created additional storage spaces, so I'd say it was worth it.

This Couple Turned a School Bus Into a Deluxe, Off\-Grid Tiny Home for a Mere \$50K
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
When the couple got their hands on the vehicle, it had 85,000 miles (around 136,800 km), so not that much – they added around 20,000 miles (32,187 km) to the odometer in two years.

Even if you live and travel in the United States, where the road infrastructure is specially designed for cars, having a smaller vehicle is still handy. That's why the duo tows a Chevy Silverado, bringing the bus's gas mileage to about nine mpg (26 L/100 km).

There are plenty of exterior features on this bus. First of all, the roof is covered with solar panels with an impressive total power of 2,600 W. What's more, the couple added windows on both sides of the bus, with the largest one located toward the front, measuring 72 inches (183 centimeters) in width. Most windows were bought off Craigslist or Facebook marketplace, keeping costs to a minimum.

Along the exterior, there are various storage spaces, as well as one massive one at the rear. Additionally, the roof is extended with a wooden rack, where the A/C outside unit is fitted. The couple also added some hooks to hang hammock chairs.

This Couple Turned a School Bus Into a Deluxe, Off\-Grid Tiny Home for a Mere \$50K
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
The rear garage is accessible through a door. Ashley and Andrew use it to store larger objects like their bikes, tools, camping accessories, and more. It's also where the water tanks, the water pump, and the solar components are located. About that, there's a charge controller, a 3000 W inverter, and 400 Ah of batteries at 24 V, translating into 10 kW of battery storage. Andrew explains that they can go for around three days without sun until the power runs out.

Filling the 100-gallon (379-liter) freshwater rank is done via a port on the side of the bus. Inside a side compartment, two 20-lb. (9-kg) propane tanks are connected to the stove.

The couple kept the original bi-fold door, only they repurposed it to function as a conventional door, adding a residential home handle to it. Once inside, you'll notice that the driver's cabin isn't separated from the rest of the interior like in other builds. The seating area behind the driver's swivel seat comprises a cushion and a dinette table with a window beside it.

Another seating option is a 7-foot (213 centimeters) long couch with the large window I mentioned earlier right behind. It's convertible, meaning you can extend part to sit more comfortably or sleep a guest or even two.

This Couple Turned a School Bus Into a Deluxe, Off\-Grid Tiny Home for a Mere \$50K
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
Walking deeper into the bus, you'll discover the kitchen. It features a full-size oven and stove, an apartment-size fridge/freezer, a deep sink connected to a 2.5-gallon (9.5-liter) heater, and plenty of counter space. What's more, the mosaic splashback is a nice design touch that complements the white walls and cabinetry.

Regarding storage space, Ashley says it's way more than they need - huge cabinets rung along the bus's ceiling, and various other drawers and cabinets are around. It never hurts to have an excess of storage space.

The next area of the interior integrates a home office and the bathroom opposite it. Ashley uses the home office to work on her laptop while standing. The space is equipped with a small overhead bookshelf and some other minor decorations. Inside the bathroom, you'll discover a massive window, tiled walls, a composting toilet that the couple built themselves, and a teak mat. The space is separated from the hallway by a Nautilus sliding door.

This Couple Turned a School Bus Into a Deluxe, Off\-Grid Tiny Home for a Mere \$50K
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
And lastly, we have the hanging closet and bedroom right toward the rear of the interior. You will discover various other storage spaces for shoes, clothes, and other essentials, a mirror, and a king-size bed positioned slightly higher up. That's because the couple left some room underneath for their dogs. What's more, I'm fond of the fact that the duo added windows on either side of the bedroom and a skylight up top. The A/C is located on the rear wall.

Andrew and Ashley have emphasized that anyone can adopt this lifestyle, and they showed that you don't have to spend a tremendous amount of money to create a genuinely deluxe rig. However, if you take a DIY approach, be prepared to put in the time and effort.

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About the author: Mircea Mazuru
Mircea Mazuru profile photo

Starting out with a motorcycle permit just because he could get one two years earlier than a driver's license, Mircea keeps his passion for bikes (motor or no motor) alive to this day. His lifelong dream is to build his own custom camper van.
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