School Bus Tiny Home / Adventuremobile

This is a fully operational adventuremobile, but also always a work-in-progress. This project is at a great stage for someone else to take over because it's ready for adventures right now, but there are still a number of stylistic touches left for you to make it your own.

CHASSIS

The chassis is a 1992 Blue Bird TC-2000 school bus. It is already registered and titled as an RV in Oregon, so you do not need a commercial driver's license to operate it. It runs and drives great, with zero mechanical issues. School buses are generally built like tanks to be super tough, safe, and reliable. Blue Bird is one of the oldest and most respected bus makers, so this one is especially bullet-proof.

ENGINE

The engine is the legendary first generation Cummins 5.9L turbo diesel, also known as the "6BT". It's powerful, reliable, AND efficient, while also being super simple and easy to find parts for...

"No diesel engine on earth is as legendary as a 12-valve Cummins. Not only is the inline-six known for its awesome stock torque figures, but the 1,100 pound iron hulk from Columbus, Indiana has a reputation for being almost literally unkillable, even after it’s been modified to produce prodigious power figures. The “five nine” is a tough sunovabitch. Perhaps the toughest of all sunovabitches..." Read more here: https://jalopnik.com/heres-why-the-cummins-12-valve-is-one-of-the-greatest-t-1795746543

This engine will literally run for one million miles. I thought this was a joke until the second or third mechanic asked me if the odometer (showing 170,000) had rolled over. It has an Allison transmission, which are also known to be awesome and indestructible.

CONVERSION
* "Limousine" tint on all the side and rear windows for privacy and heat deflection.
* Custom curtains for added privacy at night
* Maxxair ceiling vent/fan
* Stainless steel sink
* Propane stove
* Custom soft-close cabinets
* 25 Gallon fresh water tank, with electric water pump and pressure accumulator.
* Shower with on-demand hot water (difficult to photograph this because the room is small)
* Air Head composting toilet (These are awesome! Read more about why this is way better than gross septic tank: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/composting-toilet, https://airheadtoilet.com/advantages/vs-conventional-mobile-systems/)
* High-efficiency LED interior lights
* The battery bank has 70 amp-hours of electricity, re-charged by the engine whenever it runs. It has a 300 watt alternator with 120V sockets and and USB plugs.
* The floor has been upgraded for thermal and sound insulation (this is BIG job) and sealed with polyurethane.
* Queen bed w/ memory foam mattress (in private room)
* Kerosene heater (safe for indoor use)


PAINT

As you can see from the photos, it's ready for a new paint job. I have a couple estimates from commercial shops to do a professional paint job for $4-5k. Color is personal, so I've waited to let you choose a color that's right for you. You could also do a DIY paint job for ~$400 in materials and a week or two of elbow grease. Or maybe you like the scrappy "sleeper" vibe...