One Woman’s Three Year Journey Converting A Bus Into Her Home

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By the age of 27, Jessie was frustrated with the hustle and bustle of city life. She wanted something quiet and more manageable that wouldn’t lave her stressed out and broke. Seeing the struggles of those around her who were simply trying to survive but facing massive rents and insufficient income inspired her to search for a better way to live. She wanted to escape the pitfalls of living in an expensive city and transform her life into one she could truly enjoy. This would drive her to embark on a DIY project that most people wouldn’t even dream of trying to accomplish.

Appreciating The Outdoors

During her time studying for a degree from Binghamton College, Jessie found a new appreciation for the outdoors. Close to the campus of Binghamton College is a nature reserve that became her sanctuary during her four years at the school. This left her with a longing to spend all of her time in nature, something that is nearly impossible to do when living in New York. Jesse was seeking a way where she could close to nature but still have a roof over her head at the same time. It wasn’t until 2015 that Jessie’s idea began to take shape. She began her quest to fulfill her dreams by researching prospects on the Internet. This would lead to the life-changing purchase that would eventually become her new home.

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Like many people, Jesse enjoys traveling whenever she can. She decided there would be no better way to do this than to create a mobile home that would give her the best of both worlds. In an attempt to figure out where and how to start the project she needed to find something that would inspire her initial ideas. The answer to her prayers was when she watched Garbage Warrior, a documentary film she was seeking ideas from.

Garbage Warrior: The Documentary

The film is about ways that people can achieve sustainable living without using traditional methods to do it. The person who made the documentary is an eco-architect and this is something Jessie was looking to emulate. The idea was to create a home using recycled materials. Once she completed watching this documentary, Jessie knew the next step in the process was to find a vehicle that would become something she could call home.

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There were several choices in vehicles, though Jessie was turned off by the way RVs are generally designed. They fail to include the aesthetics she wanted in her new home. As a result, she chose to look for an alternative to the typical RV. Jessie made the decision that a vintage bus was something that she could work with. Her next step was to browse the listings on eBay until she found one she liked the looks of. When she did, she purchased it for $7,000.

1966 Greyhound

The $7,000 she spent went to an old 1966 Greyhound bus. The look of the bus should already be familiar to anyone who has seen Speed. Though she didn’t purchase the same exact bus, it is the same model that was used. In total, the living space inside the bus equals 400 square feet. The first hurdle that Jessie has to tackle is the fact that while she was on the East Coast, the bus was located on the West Coast, in California.

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The second hurdle to overcome was the fact that being a lifelong New Yorker, she never obtained a driver’s license. Before she could even bring her new purchase home, she’d have to endure the rigors of becoming a licensed driver in New York. The next problem was the fact that in addition to simply learning to drive, she had to take it one step further and learn how to operate a stick shift.

Getting By With A Little Help From Her Friends

To save time, Jessie enlisted her friends to drive the bus from California to New York while she prepared to get her driver’s license. Jesse’s first idea was to travel upstate to rent a space where she could start converting the bus into her home. However, the idea she settled on was to get the bus to New Jersey, where she could leave it in the hands of capable remodeling professionals.

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Jessie’s friends pitched in to help her renovate The first step in the process was to gut the bus completely. Before they could do anything else they needed to get all the seats out of the bus. Rather than throwing those seats out and letting them go to waste, Jessie found a restaurant that needed chairs and struck a deal with them to purchase the seats from her. The next step was to apply a coat of metallic white paint to the exterior of the bus. These were the easy tasks that needed to be accomplished. However, it would become much more complicated after that.

Additional Help

Jessie always enjoyed projects she could do herself. However, the construction work involved in this project was more than she knew how to do. She needed help to be able to prepare the bus to handle appliances and amenities that she would need. This meant that the bus had to have an electrical system, air conditioning and plumbing. In order to be able to live on the bus, Jessie needed to make sure the inside of it was fully converted. She needed an experienced carpenter to help her designate rooms within the bus. She and her friends worked together to brainstorm on how exactly she wanted the makeover of the bus to go.

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The process of figuring out which room could go where on the bus was complicated. It involved determining what functions she needed and wanted each room to have. Anything that was going to be built for the bus had to be secured so that when she drove it somewhere, the items would stay where they belonged. Careful precision had to be taken in determining the angles each structure on the bus needed to have. It was open to always be able to open and close doors safely. This had to be the case even if the bus had to be parked at a specific angle. As a result, woodworking was a very time-consuming part of the project.

Sustainability

When it came to sustainability, the first room Jessie and her friends and hired help tackled was the bathroom. The buss’s high ceilings allowed for the installation of a standing shower with all the functions of one in any house. Next to the shower, the floor had slots in it. This is where Jessie could stand to dry herself off after having just gotten out of the shower.

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In addition, there was a hardwood floor directly outside the bathroom. Due to the slots in the floor, it would be easy to drain the shower of any lingering water. Below the floor of the bus, a water tank was attached. This meant that Jesse could be sure her unused water was being recycled.

The Comforts Of Home

The bus’s interior was large enough that Jessie would have more living space than most people would realize when they first see it. Jessie was able to use some of the interior space to build three entire closets. Her bedroom on the bus was equipped with LED lights which could be dimmed at any time, providing just the right amount of light.

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A group of electricians wired the bus. They knew Jessie would need a water heater, propane tank, a refrigerator, and a washer and dryer. When Jessie was shopping for her appliances she took the time to find those that were labeled energy-efficient, as she was committed to the sustainable living idea. With the help of her friends, Jessie was able to bring all the appliances to the bus and have them installed in the proper places.

A Dream Kitchen

Jessie was able to have a vast window in her kitchen, a luxury most homeowners don’t get. Her enthusiasm for her kitchen meant that she worked alongside her team of helpers to create wooden countertops. The kitchen also included a high quality stop and an oven tucked neatly into the corner, allowing her to do everything she would have been able to do in a traditional home.

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Turning a bus into a home isn’t easy, but Jessie had many design ideas for her unique home. Yet she was still open to the suggestions of those who have previous experience with this type of project. Jessie took to Instagram to gain inspiration. She looked at the accounts of others who were taking non-traditional spaces and making them a viable place to live. Jessie was also inspired to make it easy for people to follow her progress.

A Cozy Bedroom

Jessie’s bedroom was designed to be as relaxing as possible. She was even able to hang velvet curtains and create a space for her books. By adding a table in the back she was able to have a makeshift library. With the table being lined up with her bed, she wouldn’t even have to get up to reach a book.

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The finished project took three years to complete. By this time it was a functional a living space as any apartment ever could be. As a result of the renovations, the completed mobile home has a total of three walk-in closets and two units for air conditioning, along with water and electricity systems that fulfill Jessie’s desire to have a home that is sustainable for the environment.

Settling In

With all the necessary changes made to the bus to transform it into a home, Jessie could then concentrate on making it feel like her own. The one thing that most people have in their homes is a TV. But Jessie didn’t have one in her new home and didn’t have any desire to. Being able to park her home in the middle of nature was the only entertainment she was interested in having in her life.

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While the finished product was completed nicely, the one thing it lacked were splashes of color. Jessie made the rounds of Goodwill sales until she found an oil painting. She purchased it, brought it home and hung it on the wall of the hallway she had created. This wasn’t the only way she chose to personalize her new home.

A Personal Touch

Part of settling into her new kitchen meant bringing some meaningful items from her former apartment. Having been passed down in her family for generations, a set of dishes with sentimental value to her were the crown jewel of her new kitchen. On Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Jessie’s great grandmother was struggling to survive. Her home was in a building for immigrants to America who were having trouble making ends meet. Despite her struggles, the woman was able to purchase a matching set of fine china. The set has stayed in the family and now belongs to Jessie.

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As a natural-born organizer, Jessie was prepared to live in a small home. Though she had very limited space in which to keep her belongings, she was able to make the most of the space that she did have. Since she had lived in a tiny apartment in Manhattan, she knew how to make everything fit, as well as what she would have space for and what she wouldn’t.

A Home To Be Proud Of

By the end of the process, Jessie was proud of what she had accomplished. Along the way she learned valuable construction skills while she worked alongside professionals in the industry. The skills she acquired meant that she was the one that made the kitchen countertops, with guidance from those who had already done so. Despite how pleased she was with the finished product, she did realize that she had some regrets in regard to it.

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One regret that Jessie had about the project was that for the three years she spent on working on it, she neglected hobbies she enjoyed, such as reading. The many regrets that Jessie had about the project led her to once again, change the interior of the bus.

A Change Of Heart

Ultimately, Jessie decided that the right thing to do was to sell the bus. When she listed the bus on Craiglist it had 100,000 miles (ca. 160,934 km) on it, with an asking price of $149,000. Jessie was overwhelmed by her unusual home and decided it simply wasn’t for her. She wanted whoever bought it to benefit from it as much as she had hoped to.

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Jessie’s bus was bought in California, renovated in Asbury Park, New Jersey and ultimately ended up back in California. It is currently located in the Joshua Tree National Park. Those who travel to the desert can book a stay in the bus through Airbnb. The bus holds as many as four people.

Facing Skepticism

When Jessie first decided to take on this project she shared her thoughts about it with the people around her. Knowing her background, many people she knew didn’t believe what she was about to embark on was a good idea. One of the people who was skeptical about it was her mother. Even to ABC News, Jessie mentioned during an interview that her mother was in disbelief at the idea of converting a bus into a home.

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To fulfill her wanderlust, Jessie took a job that allows her to work remotely. Her desire is to use that flexibility to spend some time overseas. She had decided that being the owner of a bus she lived in wasn’t as freeing as she thought it would be. She wanted to be free to travel without having to deal with taking the bus with her everywhere she went.

More Bus Conversion Stories

Stephanie in Tennessee

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Jessie is far from the only person to take on the project of renovating a bus to live in. A woman in Tennessee, named Stephanie, viewed an online auction from which she purchased a 2000 model, $2,125 school bus that measures 220 square feet (ca. 20 m²). She drove it to a friend’s house and enlisted her daughters to help. After stripping the interior she was ready to begin creating her new home.

Much of the items in the converted bus had dual uses. For example, what serves as the sofa during the day turns into a bed for one of her daughters overnight. The kitchen table can also be used as an entertainment center and desk. Its efficient layout means that the counter serves as a butcher block and the underside of the cabinets hold mason jars that are screwed to the surfac.e. Also included in this kitchen where a washer/dryer, refrigerator and stove. Lastly, the bus’s composting toilet was replaced with one Stephanie and her daughters could use, completing the necessary additions to make the bus a fully functional home.

Patrick in California

Another story of a bus becoming a home comes from an unemployed California resident named Patrick. In March 2016 he purchased an old school bus at a cost of $4,500. Over the next three months, Patrick and his father would work on converting it into a home, which Patrick spent $9,000 of his own money on.

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Once the bus was completely renovated, he embarked on a journey to Florida, with stops in 30 states along the way. His journey was made easier thanks to the installation of solar powered electronics and converters in his new mobile home.

A Midwest Couple’s Story

A couple in the Midwest bought a school bus and spent 18 months renovating it, so they could live there. They took it a set further than most other renovators and raised the roof 24 inches (0.61 m) higher. Then the couple had skylights installed in the roof. In addition, they had multiple windows and two beds in their new home, as well as propane and water tanks with a 100 gallon (0.38 m³) capacity each.

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The kitchen included the type of four burner stove that any traditional home would have. Yet the couple also had a cast-iron stove and a dining table they could expand if they wanted to accommodate dinner guests. What they considered the master bedroom is a loft, which they constructed to be over the space their daughter’s bed was located.

A Bus Project For The Children

A couple in Australia wanted an easy way to raise children on the road. They decided the best way to do this was to take on a bus restoration project of their own.

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They started by gutting the bus completely. The first major step in their renovation was to equip the bus with a new electrical system. They then installed and painted new paneling. The couple then turned to transform the exterior of the bus.

Inside/Outside Job

However, certain parts of the frame were found to be rusted. As a result, the couple had to remove every steel panel on the bus.

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Once they had repaired the frame they treated it with paint that was rustproof. For this part of the project, they had help from a friend who was a professional welder.

Preserving the Bus

To help preserve the condition of the bus, the couple chose to replace the steel panels with aluminum instead. This would keep the bus’s frame from becoming rusty again. The panels that had to be replaced and riveted were each customized for the bus’s frame.

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The couple wanted to have a kitchen that would provide them with storage space. They made sure to reinforce each of the joints so their belongings wouldn’t become jostled while the bus is in motion. The couple’s renovation also meant that they were able to designate enough closet space. When the project was completed, the couple was relieved to be able to finally enjoy the fruits of their labor.

A New Way of Life

One couple choose to ditch normal living for an easier life. They purchased an old school bus at a cost of $3,000. The 27-foot-long bus would become a happy home for them. Their first goal was to create the bathroom of their dreams. As a result, the bathroom in their converted home takes up 15% of its entire space.

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This takes the place of the bathroom in their previous residence, which had a garden tub the couple loved relaxing in. The home is solar powered, as the electrical system cost the couple $6,000. The solar panels give the couple light in their home for three weeks at a time. Together with their two-year old daughter, the couple is now enjoying life on the road. They have driven cross-country in their new home.

A Completed Project

Another couple chose to purchase a bus and would spend one and a half years making it into their home. When they were deep into the project the bus’s engine died. This delayed the start of the couple’s new life. In the meantime they turned the walls of the bus into a white delight.

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The ceiling was made over with cedar and included stylish grooves. The kitchen of the converted bus includes a pantry that pulls out, a farmhouse style sink, countertops made of quartz, and soft drawers and cabinet doors. The oven range and full sized refrigerator make the kitchen completely functional.

Space Savers

The couple saves space in their home in a creative way. Underneath their bed is the only space they need for their dryer and washer. There is also space under the bed that the couple uses for storage. Because of this, the bed also acts as a step stool. The bathroom of their home has a large shower adorned with brass accents.

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In addition, they have two outdoor showers they use when they are on the road. Despite the fact that the couple’s home is a converted bus, they have all the comforts of regular homes. This includes air conditioning, a skylight, LED lighting and even a fireplace. This energy efficient home runs on eight Trojan batteries (315 AH,) and six solar panels with a wattage of 365 each.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the stories of people who shunned a traditional home in favor of converting a bus and living in it. Each story includes struggles and triumphs. This growing phenomenon is appealing to many people across the country who simply can’t afford to rent or own a traditional home.

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It is also gaining popularity among those who want a comfortable home to live in that allows them the luxury of traveling in comfort. Either way, there is a lot to like about the idea of living in a converted bus.