Schoolbus Converted Into Motorhome? Yes, inexpensive school buses can be converted into RV motorhomes. This particular job was done about 15 years ago or so, so it should be even easier to do now, with more available materials, tools and tech.
This school bus to motor home job was shared originally by a guy called Old Scout.
What is probably interesting to DIY motorhomers out there is the scalability of this type of project. You could potentially buy a school bus, paint it, and sit it on your property, working on the project as you had time and money. It’s the shell that gives space for your bed, cargo, and any amenities you add. You can always throw in a Mr. Buddy heater and some containers of water to get started, and work on more luxury RV interior stuff later on.
If you want to build walls, you could start out with plywood, and then later finish them or paint them or whatever. Maybe cut a hole in the ceiling for a fan or skylight, add a propane tank for power (or a solar power system) and a fridge and sink.
They can be pretty inexpensive RVs, too. Here’s a quote from a guy called TellicoToy who did one: “The total cost of the bus for me and my dad was $1100. All of the seats except for the one beside the driver were already taken out of it. It was painted white because it was used as a church bus. It has a Volkswagen motor underneath in that drives the compressors for the A/C, and then we took out all of the duct work inside. It only had one small rust spot on the side of the front swing out door. I think we got a heck of a good deal considering it runs perfectly and is in really good condition. And the best part is that between everyone in the whole camp we each only have about $250 total in the bus and lumber we used to build the bunks. The frosted windows is the perfect idea. ”
I added a couple other photos here too: other ideas for a schoolbus camper. One is a rooftop deck, where you could also store luggage and equipment, and your water for gravity-running-water. The other is a patio, in the case of the photo its a back patio. Another thing you could do is build a small toy-hauler style cargo rack for motorbikes and RVs. You can also see Michael Fuehrer’s converted Tony House school bus for another example, and the Corabean shingle-sided school bus home one wheels.
