Meet Nick, John, Dan, Amy, Sam, Nicky K, Rory and Michael. They got together to put their big dream into reality.
The Dream
It all began with the students finding an old school bus for sale cheap. They then embarked on a quest to fully transform it by investing their own money, at an amount of $20,000.
For several months, they worked on this amazing bus to change it from junk heap to livable space. Come and join their amazing journey!
The Beginning
The main protagonist of this building fairytale, Nick, already had some degree of experience in building as he previously worked as a project manager for a general contractor.
He also has handyman experience and knows how to deal with renovation projects. The first step of his dream was to buy an old bus; the chosen bus was a 40 feet tall 1995 Carpenter school bus.
The main protagonist of this building fairytale, Nick, already had some degree of experience in building as he previously worked as a project manager for a general contractor.
He also has handyman experience and knows how to deal with renovation projects. The first step of his dream was to buy an old bus; the chosen bus was a 40 feet tall 1995 Carpenter school bus.
The Potential
The owner of this old Carpenter was a blacksmith who had a similar dream as his buyers. He too wanted to convert the school bus into an RV.
However, he didn't even come close to transforming the bus into an RV. He had painted the bus a bit and ripped several of the seats out, but there was still so much work to be done for the bus to become an actual home.
To get this project done, the students needed to be serious about their projects and their plans, or else they'd fail just like the blacksmith had done.
The bus was priced around $3,000 and purchasing was just the beginning. Now the schoolie was in the hands of new owners, and they saw its potential.
Old Junk
They surveyed the inside of the school bus and saw that not only did it have an unfinished paint job, it was full of a random collection of junk including bricks, a soda and an oven. Despite the bus's condition, they were excited about their project.
Starting From Almost Scratch
Some of the work the blacksmith did, such as painting the exterior and removing seats, plus making minor repairs, really did help them out,. Of course, they were far from done and the work was about to begin.
Starting From Within
First on the list of repairs was the interior. The bus needed to be cleaned thoroughly with all of the junk removed so that they were able to work inside an empty shell. After the cleaning was completed, the team began building the framing for the infrastructure inside.
The Buzz Begins
Everyone who was on the project knew that was going to be something special, and they felt a buzz among them as the bus was slowly coming back to life. The members of the team documented the process of renovating the old bus on Facebook and other social networks as a way to share their remarkable story with everyone.
The Design
The first real test for the students were the logistics of making the bus into an actual home on wheels, but they soon overcame the challenge. The bus had to be able to accommodate up to 8 people, which meant they needed to have ample space for everyone.
Four Parts
Bunk beds were a good way to alleviate the sleeping concerns, but they then needed to add the other comforts of a home or apartment. The team knew that to best enjoy the thrill of the open road, they needed to make the place livable. Their plans for the school bus consisted of four parts -- the bunks, a bathroom, the cabin and a sitting area, which could convert into a large bed.
A Whole New Look
While the bus needed work on the inside, the exterior of the bus was just as in need of attention. They were ready to give the bus a whole new look, as this tired and ugly girl needed to be transformed into the beauty she was before.
Reveal and Cover
They put on safety gear, grabbed their equipment and the fun was set to begin. First they sanded the bus' exterior to reveal the original yellow color, and this would let them have a smoother foundation for the white primer.
Preparing To Paint
The interior also needed to be painted, and they did the same, sanding it as much as possible to the yellow paint. Suddenly, their big plans were taking shape as the bus began to take on a new life.
Before and After
The sketches below show how the floorpan for the school bus changed throughout the project. The changes had be made along the way, as it was important for the group to have a decent amount of common space, and a sleeping quarter for each and every passenger.
Sketch and Resketch
There would be eight passengers, so making even the smallest mistake could compromise the project, which is why they had to go carefully through each step. Since they did the whole project by themselves, just imagine how much they learned!
Wiring
The second challenge that was one that Nick had problems with in the beginning was - electricity for the bus. They had to seek help from others who had made RVs out of buses, and luckily, those people were happy to offer up their advice.
Modern Needs
Rory took on the task of adding electricity to the bus, and installed the lights, plus a charging station to make it like a Tesla. He used a five-battery bank to power everything in the bus, and the bank was able to charge computers, plus power appliances like a microwave and air conditioning unit.
Electric Shoes
They stored the breaker box in an improvised cabinet, which, funnily, had shoe storage under the counter.
Extra Large
You can just see the size of their project when you compare the length of their bus to another school bus on the road. They also had to work through the heavy winters of Indiana, which wasn't easy or enjoyable.
Hard Working
Over a period of seven months it was likely pretty difficult to keep going, but this resilient team never had the intention of giving up. Not even the heavy rain or an encroaching blizzard could stop them from their goal.
The bus started looking better than ever as they continued the project. They used every spare moment they could have to fix up the bus, but this made them very tired, and often forced them to fall asleep whenever they could steal a few moments for a nap.
Plank Floor
To make the home feel welcoming and warm, they added a vinyl plank floor. Vinyl plank floor has several great qualities and is a good choice for any home, and especially a bus like this. The material is flexible, light and is also waterproof, which makes cleaning easier.
Using Every Inch
Once they began framing out the bus' built-in bunks, the inside started looking less like an empty shell and more like a home. As there were eight people that were to sleep in the bus, they decided to place four bunks on each side of the bus. The process took a bit of time to do, but it was a way to better accommodate their space needs and still make the bus enjoyable for all.
Rooftop Terrace
The more work they had put in the bus, the more they felt comfortable with their skills and abilities. They even decided to add to their workload and be even more ambitious by adding a rooftop deck to the school bus.
With a Little Help From My Friends
Mike called his friends to help them construct the deck for the low yet good price most college students love -- a case of beer. One fact that the students took pride in was that they didn't have to use a single ladder or sawhorse to see their project come to a satisfying end.
Artistic Touch
Samantha, who goes by Sam, accepted the task of giving the interior back its life, color and pride. The empty space left behind when the seats were thrown out was a blank canvas just waiting for her touch. Sam is a graphic designer, and so she used her exceptional talents and experience on the bus.
Old Maps, New Look
She decided to create one huge map of Yellowstone National Park consisting of nine smaller maps which dated all the way back to the 1900's -- it was a great way to add a classic piece of American history to these young people.
The Plumber
Every house needs a bathroom and this school bus was no exception, especially as there could be up to eight people in the bus at once. The task to set up the bus' bathroom was given to John, the team's plumber, and he had to set up a plumbing system from scratch.
Some Privacy...
The process understandably took time and plenty of hard work, as it consisted of a water tank, a fresh water tank, two sinks, and electric water pump. The bus also featured a faucet which could be a shower, a hose hook-up, and a portable toilet. John's project was definitely innovative and acceptable for a school bus bathroom.
For Safety Reasons
The kitchen was the next place to get a makeover, as it needed not only color, but function. The initial idea for the kitchen was to use gas appliances, but that idea was abandoned, as several fireballs almost caused the bus to go up in flames. The group decided on electric appliances, which are a lot safer in these type of cramped conditions.
Small Scale
Because the process of adding the kitchen to the bus was so involved, they decided to leave the task to the professional. The kitchen was quipped with a small fridge, a sink and a stove, just the right amount of things needed to make simple meals. To give the bus a little dining area, they added a table with a fold-down leaf. The kitchen would let them do old-fashioned cooking on the road with ease.
All From Local Shops
The team was lucky because they were able to find most anything they wanted at a shop nearby, which made their project a little bit easier than if they had to special-order everything. The home improvement stores were able to give them quality products for a reasonable price, and the stores were also full of people who could give helpful advice when the team needed it.
Shopping with Moral Values
The cabinet doors and doors for the storage were purchased at the Habitant For Humanity ReStore, a store that takes donations of building materials and items to sell to the public. We could easily compare the process of that to what the students were doing, as they restored faith in imagination and creativity. They showed that there are no boundaries when you have the will and want to accomplish a goal.
A Place For Everything
Despite the size of the bus and the amount of space that it featured, it still seemed tight inside, so they had to use every square inch they could for storage. They were able to maximize their storage by adding bookshelves and cabinets on the walls, so they could store a puzzle book or novel to read in their downtime.
Storage For Everbody
They also installed extra storage under each bed as well so the space underneath wasn't wasted. They didn't stop there either, as they added a bit of storage underneath the driver's seat. With eight people in a bus, each person needs a bit of storage, and these solutions were the right choice.
Making it Softer
It was time to outfit the bunks with everything they needed for a good night's sleep. They decided to shop on Amazon Prime for the necessities, including their mattresses. The mattresses they chose were 4 6-inch memory-foam queen-size mattresses were ordered for the low price of $80 each.
King Size
As they had Amazon Prime, they received the shipment for free, and then they cut each mattress in half with a hand saw, turning their four beds into eight. The students were never short of coming up with easy and quick solutions, as you can see.
Under The Mattress
Each bunk was equipped with a personal cubby and place to store things, such as blankets, clothes, and sheets, underneath the cubby. To make it easier to lift the bed to retrieve items from underneath the mattress, they decided to add handles to the storage units.
A bit of Privacy II
When the work was complete, the handles looked professionally-done, and it was easy to get what they needed. Curtains were added to each bunk so that the occupant could have a bit of privacy and quiet when needed. You have to admire that they thought of each and every detail for this bus.
The living room section of the bus received two large sofas, but again, as the students were resourceful, they decided to make the furniture rather than buying it. They were able to adjust the sofas to the size they wanted, and this proved to be very flexible in the odd-shaped space.
The entire set-up was done by their design, so it was a mark of their handiwork. It seemed that if they sold the bus after they finished, that person would probably have to renovate the bus again to make it their own, because it was customized precisely to these each students' individual tastes. The sofas served a dual purpose, as they could also be turned into a large bed, expanding the amount of space for relaxing and sleeping that the bus offered.
Since the size of the sofas was an awkward size, they needed to get custom-made curtains. The students turned to a company called Murano Inc., and they came to their assistance. In just a short time, Murano Inc was able to make them cushions, and the work came at an affordable price too.
When you're in trouble and need help with a project...who do you call? Your mother, right? That's just what these students did next! Two of the students' moms jumped in and started sewing custom covers for the new cushions. There's nothing like having a piece of your mom's handiwork contribute to your own project, is there?
As I mentioned before, one thing this bus was full of, besides the students' positive energy and adventurous spirit, was storage.
Yes, storage was everywhere you looked, under beds, counters and even under the newly-installed sofas.
Sponsored by the chain
One of the girls, Amy, worked at a McDonald's restaurant. She decided to connect them with the company, and see if they could be a sponsor.
Treated as V.I.P
McDonald's sponsored the students and they were given meals along their journey across the United States, with a local franchise even holding them a send-off event.
Launching the Trip
The last day of completing the bus was rough and they worked on the final touches until 4 in the morning. It was important to "burn the midnight oil" and make sure all of the little things were taken care of before they hit the road.
On the Road
Shortly after 4 A.M., they took off on their trip, their euphoria high and in a slight state of disbelief of everything they'd accomplished with the bus. The adventure was ready to begin, and all of their hard work and time was going to pay off.
The Adventure
The bus had received a complete transformation and looked amazing, both inside and out. If you entered it, you would think you're in a luxurious apartment and not an old school bus. The team's work showed that the bus was just waiting for the right person to come along and give it a new life.
The crew assembled for the journey, everyone said goodbye to their loved ones, and headed out on the highway. Of course, each of them felt a bit scared embarking on such an adventure, but that feeling always appears when you’re heading to the unknown. They were headed west and it seemed like the world was there for the taking. After all, it's not everyone who can turn a bus into a home!
Hitting The Road
Rory was the first person to sit behind the wheel and for a while, he was the only one brave enough to do it. The other students were a little frightened at first to drive, but eventually they got a rush of excitement and also wanted to drive. It must've been amazing to sit hovering above other vehicles, and feel the power of the machine around them. Soon the students were driving the road as smoothly as silk. The trip came to a slight stop in South Dakota, but 7 days later and $7000 less they were hitting the road again.
The SerenditpitiBus
