Off-Grid School Bus Conversion - If Not Now, When?

Have you had enough? Ready to try something different?

This is literally bring your bag and go.

As a heads up, I will have to winterize the water system within the month if it isn't sold, so time for me to pay more attention to making that happen.

I am not in a position to offer financing or any arrangement other than a cash sale. I don't meant to be harsh about it, just being realistic and want you to be also.

I believe this is fairly priced and given the challenges of the last seven months would like to see someone, a couple or family, make the most of this tiny house rather than having it sit waiting for me to maybe take a trip in June 2021.

This is solid off or on grid and terrific solution for a self-contained manageably sized place to live or travel in. I am confident in all of the mechanical, electrical and water systems.

Thanks again for your time, interest, and above all if you have been following this listing since I first put it on, for your patience. I too had a good bit of uncertainty in my life this year.

Converted School Bus Tiny House - Adventure of A Lifetime

I spent the 2019 summer traveling from Connecticut to Colorado and back with my two big dogs and we had a blast.

Find stuartlipson on Instagram and you can see some photos, at least as far as Illinois heading west.

We avoided interstates the entire way and this bus is perfect.

Long enough that we had plenty of space, yet short enough that it fit in almost any parking lot with two spaces set up facing each other.

Solar power and three deep cell batteries provided all the electricity we needed for internet and any electronics we were running.

The family that built this bus were really smart about so many little things, from storage to lighting to how things were designed and configured.

The only thing I really did was add a front hitch so I could bring my bike and never worry about if it fell off (there is also a hitch in the back).

A couple of great surprises driving a school bus (think about how many people you see driving kids in your community who have figured it out) is that it is really easy.

Turning, parking, getting comfortable with where you can and cannot go.

Also, and this was really big...

Thomas school buses have an amazing network of dealers across the country for service and the parts and rates were really reasonable. Again, think about all the buses on the road and the system they have in place to support them. I never thought about it before I got this one.

I'm 6'3' tall and never felt cramped in the back bedroom and there are windows with screens throughout and with a small fan in the back and using the two fans installed in the ceiling portals, there was all the circulation and cooling we needed.

The bus is also really well insulated. I did bring along a tower air conditioner for my dogs when I was in a campground and would plug that in up front for them. They did just fine!

The only other work I did was mechanical preventive maintenance along the way, before I headed back to Connecticut from Colorado and made sure the electrical systems were all tight and solid once I got back.

We drove 6,000 miles during the summer of 2019 and never had to do anything other than fill the tank with diesel and the coolers with ice!

Cummins Diesel engine in the back (really quiet up front), 107,000 miles on this bus.

Here is the description of the bus from the family I bought it from in the Spring of 2019. It is time for the next person or family to take advantage of this great home where you can live anywhere you want to be.

Perfect for a family of 5. Features a cozy master bed in the back, three bunks toward the front, and a spare bed/ snuggly couch when the dinette is lowered. Off-Grid, Solar-equipped, no generator needed. Split bathroom with Nature's Head Composting toilet and sink as well as solar heated shower with pocket doors for privacy. Full working kitchen including propane stove. Wood/coal stove for colder temps (we were able to easily maintain temps in the high 70's in record snowfall and frigid temps). Seats with seat belts installed into front cab area. Seating for 5, room for carseats if needed. Tons of storage throughout.

The Dream:
We bought this bus in 2013. We spent 2 years converting it and when it was finished we, along with our 3 children, moved into it and travelled the country. I can't even begin to tell you how life changing this was for us as individuals, as a couple, and as a family. We covered 32 States and 13 National Parks in just 3 months on the road. From staying on a farm in Virginia to hiking through the Santa Elena Canyon, to beaching it in Encinitas- we have seen and done so much and it has changed us forever. We lived in it just shy of a year and loved every minute of it.

Why we're selling:
It's bittersweet, but the time has come to see her off to another family seeking the adventure we got to live. I have spent the last two years building a business in my hometown and I'm coming to terms with the fact that if I want it to grow the way I envision, I need to stay put and give it everything I have. We decided that keeping our bus for a few short vacations a year just doesn't make sense. We would rather see another family enjoy it full time.

Why a School Bus?
We had people ask us this during our conversion all the time. Here's why- School Buses are made of steel. They're incredibly safe and built to last. The parts are readily available in almost any part of the country and usually they're inexpensive. Because the frame is steel, customizing one is easy and more importantly, safe. School buses are also meticulously maintained with detailed records as they are federally regulated. You aren't getting any of that with an RV.

Bus Life:
Living in a bus is pretty amazing. Life is simpler, slower, and far more relaxing. Because you live in a Tiny House, you learn to not only live with less, but to LOVE having less as well. You become immune to consumerism. Trips to Target are safe because you learn to appreciate the beauty of things without buying- there's no room for anything unnecessary! The cost of living is incredibly low. Whether you find a place to park and live or you travel around, your expenses will be low enough that you can actually LIVE and have time for leisure. What a concept! Raising kids in a bus has some pretty amazing perks, too. State and National Parks become their backyard, historic libraries and free museums become their school, and the amazing people you encounter become unexpected teachers and in some cases, friends. My personal favorite perk of all? When you don't like the 10-day forecast, you can drive your house somewhere else.

If you're in the market for the adventure of a lifetime, reach out.