Skoolie!, by Will Sutherland

Have you ever thought about living in a converted school bus or converting a bus to use as an RV?  Neither have I.  But after perusing Will Sutherland's Skoolie! How to Convert a School Bus or Van into a Tiny Home or Recreational Vehicle it doesn't sound too far-fetched and even seems pretty attractive.  Sutherland takes readers step by step through the process of buying a used school bus, stripping the interior, and fitting it out for living space. 

This sort of project is for the dedicated DIYer who is comfortable with a plumbing, carpentry, metal work, electricity, and more.  Sutherland goes into a lot of detail that provides a good starting point for anyone taking on such a project.  The greatest thing about this is cost.  He pulled off this conversion for under $12,000.  I haven't shopped for RVs lately, but I know this is a tiny fraction of what you might pay for a new or even a used RV of similar size and amenities.  And as he points out, school buses are build more solidly than typical RVs.

I don't know that the Skoolie lifestyle is for me, but Sutherland tempts me to think about making it work.  No property tax, mortgage, lawn care, utility bills, same old neighbors and same old view, the list goes on.  Why not make it happen?  By chronicling his own project and showing many examples of other Skoolies, Sutherland will show you the way.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!