Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
read more
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school bus in Arkansas so they could build their tiny home on wheels. The story they share not only made us laugh, but it inspired us because they show exactly how they pulled up their boots, jumped over some red tape, and just made it happen.
There were some hurdles that Joseph & Jennifer had to navigate right out of the gate because of how Arkansas registers their school bus fleets. With the desire to live a life of freedom before hitting their 40’s, they aren’t letting any excuses (or “rules”) get in their way of turning their dreams a reality.
See how a young couple started the process to get their school bus titled as a motorhome in the Dallas Fort Worth, Texas area even without a title from the school district they bought it from.
DISCLAIMER: Everyone's situation is different. Laws for titling and registering a school bus as a motorhome vary from country to country, state to state, province to province and even city to city. Also, laws, rules and regulations can change without notice. What works for someone in one place, may not be the same for someone else. Use this Skoolie Title Story as a guide to give you the language you need and to get you going. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to verify what's current in your area. This article is for entertainment purposes only and should not be substituted for legal advice. Please consult your local title and registration governmental agency for current processes & procedures.
How to register an old school bus and get RV insurance in DFW, Texas
Regardless of where you live, registering a school bus as a motorhome and getting insurance can be tricky. With a little patience, research, and endurance, we believe that you can do it, just like Joseph and Jennifer did in DFW, Texas.
What first intrigued you about building a Skoolie?
We love the freedom having a skoolie offers us. We are almost in our 40’s and we want to travel in our prime and according to our schedule not in our twilight years when we can’t hike or be active. Also, we love the challenge of learning completely new skills to build our bus!
When did you acquire your Skoolie?
October 2020
Where did you buy your school bus?
Online auction.
Due to COVID-19, the school district was getting rid of their excess busses to save on expenses. Truth be told, we kind of bought the bus on accident! My wife and I collect uranium glass and we use an online auction site to buy a lot of what we have. We had been kicking around the idea of setting up a booth at an antique store and traveling the country to buy antiques to fill our shelves. We had talked about doing van life or building a skoolie, but that’s crazy, right?
Well, one evening in October 2020, I was searching the auctions for antique glass while watching skoolie youtube videos. For fun, I typed in school busses just to see what was there. Lo and behold, I found an ISD in Arkansas that was offloading their unused busses.
After doing zero research, I put in a $3,000 bid on a 40′ Thomas Saf-T-Liner school bus fully expecting to be outbid. I then told my wife and she about had a heart attack. LOL! However, after talking about it for a while, we got excited at the prospect of winning the bus and building a skoolie!
The next day, I called the ISD and talked with the superintendent over their transportation division and asked him about the buses that were being auctioned off. He gave me his opinion on each one and thankfully, I picked the best bus out of the lot.
My wife and I decided that we’d keep our bid at $3,000 and if we won that would be great and if we lost, that would probably also be great…so, win/win. The next evening the auction completed and we won our bus!!
The problem was, I didn’t read the fine print…I had a two-hour window to pick up the bus the NEXT DAY 500 miles away in Arkansas! So, I called my brother and father-in-law and asked if they wanted to drop everything and go (of course they did!). So, I packed an overnight bag and we left on our adventure!
When you bought your school bus, how did you get it from the seller’s lot to your conversion location?
I would love to say that everything worked out perfectly. But, I can’t.
Unfortunately, our insurance didn’t start until the Monday after we were supposed to pick up our bus. Also, the school district could not give us the plates for the bus, nor could they provide a temp tag.
So, our options were to be safe, do the right thing and pay for a tow back to DFW.
Or, risk everything and drive this 40′ monster (which none of us had any experience driving) all the way back by ourselves.
Well, we’re Texan, damnit!
I put my boots on, spent 10 minutes driving in the bus barn parking lot, and then hit the road!! LOL! We got her home safe and sound. Only hit 2 curbs while turning the whole trip back. LOL!
Want our used school bus visual inspection form? Get It Free
What components did you need to install to meet the Ontario mobile home title requirements to go from school bus to RV?
We needed all of them. We had none of them. We registered as a private bus for now. Will change it later when we meet the requirements.
What were the steps required to register & title your school bus as a motorhome / RV in DFW, Texas?
It was not a fun process, there are multiple steps and you have to register it in stages before you can get a full RV/Motorhome registration. My situation might be a little different than others. So your experience may vary a bit. I bought my school bus from an ISD in Arkansas. Evidently, in Arkansas, they do not have to title their school buses. The bus number acts as their license plate. So, when I picked up my 1999 Thomas Bus, they gave me a bill of sale and the certificate of origin.
Step 1: Get insurance on the bus asap!
Most of the conventional insurance companies won’t be able to help you until your bus is titled as a motorhome. I went with Good Sam. They know about skoolies and will insure your bus in stages and they will require a ton of pictures before moving through the stages.
Stage 1 is “demolition” and they only will provide legal liability insurance. This is fine (unless you have a lien that requires full coverage).
Stage 2 is construction, they will require pictures of each step of your build process.
Stage 3 is “livable.” (has a toilet, water tanks, electricity, bed).
Stage 4 is completed. That is when you will get full coverage insurance (sometimes in stage 3, but don’t count on it.
Step 2: You will need to have your bus safety inspected.
I would find the dingiest diesel shop that also has a certified inspector onsite. They will take one look at your bus and tell you that they can’t do it. Inform them that they are not inspecting a school bus or a commercial vehicle. Let them know that it is an RV and will be titled as such. They’ll say okay charge you $7 and walk right back in their shop. (they may actually go look at it out of curiosity, but that’s about it) No emissions test and they didn’t even attempt to drive mine.
Step 3: You will have to get a certified weight certificate.
Most large truck stops have CAT scales. I went to a local metal recycling company and they set me up for $15 cash.
Step 4: You have to go to your local tax assessor collector’s office and start the registration process.
Do this within 30 days of buying your bus (and after the first 3 steps). This establishes a timeline and that you attempted to follow state laws. This is a worthless step as they are going to stare at you with confusion on their faces, they are then going to tell you that it’s not possible (keep pushing them, they will eventually call over their supervisor). They will then tell you that you don’t have the right paperwork and will tell you that you need to go to your local regional TXDMV office and they will provide the letter of approval needed.
Step 5: Make an online appointment to visit your local TXDMV (they do not allow walk-ins).
Choose the option for vehicle registration. Once you get there at your appointed time, be prepared to wait! There will still be a line. I had to go multiple times and figured out a trick, I showed up an hour early and they put me right in line, and was seen much faster (not much of a trick, I think they only care if you have an appointment number).
Step 6: Explain to the TXDMV that you are converting a school bus into a private bus/RV.
They will ask for your pre-filled registration paperwork and will look it over. Depending on where you bought the bus and if you have the correct title, 10 out of 10 times they will probably make you get a form 68A (it’s an inspection by a vehicle fraud task force). Hopefully, they will give you a list of local Cities with police departments that will do this for you. If not, be prepared to go to a major city. But, they typically only inspect vehicles once or twice a month and the inspection slots fill up fast, so make an appt right away. They will also give you a two to three-digit number to give them when you get there. Don’t forget it as they will turn you away if you don’t have it. They will also require that you get the bus appraised by a local dealership that is certified to sell the bus (most are). You can also schedule an appraisal with a certified appraisal firm (but they will charge you). TXDMV will probably give you the form the dealership needs to fill out.
Step 7: Drive your bus to the inspection station (the one I went to was in Fort Worth and was an hour’s drive away).
Bring all of your registration paperwork with you! A State Trooper or LEO will enter your bus and match the VIN numbers on the bus with your paperwork. They will then go off and print the form needed by the TXDMV.
Step 8: Get your bus appraised.
I’d find a big dealership with room for you to move around or has a lot where you don’t have to actually pull into the dealership. This step sets the value the tax office will use for your sales tax.
Step 9: Make another appointment with the TXDMV.
Bring all of your paperwork. If it all looks good to them they will take it and print out a letter of approval for the local tax office. This allows the local tax office to change the registration from Commercial/School Bus to Private Bus. This letter cost $25.
Step 9a: Get a “Bonded Title”
If your bus was like mine and did not have an out-of-state title, they will require you to get a “bonded title.” This means for the next 3 years, if another person has a claim to your bus, they can attempt to take it from you (like a lost lienholder or something). For 3 years you will have a bonded title and then it goes away and is replaced with a full title.
Step 9b: Pay the Bondsman
You will have to go to take all of your paperwork, plus the new letter from the TXDMV to a bondsman, and pay for a bond. My bond was $300.
Step 9c: Once you get your bond, you have a max of 30 days to register your bus!!
Otherwise, you will have to start the whole process over and get another bond.
Step 10: Go back to the local tax office and give them the mountain of paperwork you acquired!
They will charge you for registration, sales tax, and other fees. I was out around $600. Once I paid for everything, they gave me my registration sticker and my new Private Bus plates.
The next step is to get Motorhome/RV plates. But, you can’t do that until you have made the actual conversion. They will require pics of the whole process and new inspections.
What was your Texas DFW skoolie insurance process AND what kind of RV policy did you need?
We are currently insured through Good Sam. Our insurance coverage is liability only. As we complete our build, the insurance company will add more coverage. I applied for insurance prior to driving the bus off the lot. Unfortunately, they were not able to approve our insurance prior to us having to pick up the bus.
So, we did the only rational thing…
We drove that sucker without insurance or plates 500 miles back home!
Do you live in your Skoolie full-time?
I’m building it right now & planning to live in it full-time!
What’s one piece of wisdom you’d like to give people who are considering converting a school bus into a Skoolie that you wish you knew before you got started?
If you are going to build the bus right, you need a lot more time and money than you think. Also, have a game plan for your build!! I cannot stress that enough! You do not want to get a project completed just to realize you should have completed another project first.
What do you think your superpower has been throughout your Skoolie build?
My ability learn a new skill. I did not have any construction skills prior to this build. Now I have them all! Lol!
Until Next Time... Adventure On!
- Brian Garcia
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations. Quite frankly, this topic was one of the toughest ones for me to grasp because neither Erin nor I are an electrician. There are a lot of variables that contribute to building a skoolie solar system. Erin and I wanted to design a system that would power all of our appliances, camera gear, and tools while traveling indefinitely off-grid.
Because there’s not a one-size-fits-all system, we had to figure out how all the pieces fit together. This article is the one I wish we had read when we started our research. We hope our journey and months of research helps you understand how to begin designing your own DIY skoolie solar system to BE off-grid longer. Enjoy!
This article is going to explain how to begin designing a DIY skoolie solar system.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Note that we are affiliated with products and services we use and trust. If you click a link and make a purchase, we’ll earn a small commission at not extra cost to you. This helps us to continue producing content and we hope that you use our links if our blog posts or videos have helped you in any way!
Not gonna lie, designing a safe solar system is not that exciting (for Erin, at least… For me, I thought it was going to be an excellent adventure & I was up for the challenge!) When designing an RV solar system for a skoolie, like most people, I used to think that we needed to start by figuring out how many solar panels and batteries we needed to acquire. Come to find out, that’s not the best way we found to begin our solar system design research. The best way to begin designing a skoolie solar system is by calculating the solar system energy load.
ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING
Electricity is useful but can be deadly when not handled properly. Practice caution when working with electrical systems. BE Adventure Partners assumes no liability for anyone’s actions resulting from the use of the information contained in this article or on our website. The content on this page is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a licensed electrician if you’re unsure of what you’re doing. Have fun & BE Safe, y’all!
Calculating Solar System Energy Load
When it comes to building a skoolie solar system, back when we got started we should have begun by documenting the appliances and energy-using devices that the solar system would supply. We did not, and that led to a massive amount of confusion. Luckily, we endured the pain because the reward of off-grid power generated from the sun is so much sweeter!
So let’s clear the clouds out of the sky now and shed some sunshine on this soon-to-be clear as a summer day topic.
To begin calculating solar system size, we first begin by writing out a list of devices that consume energy.
Here’s a list of the appliances we plan to use with our skoolie solar system:
- Laptops
- Refrigerator
- Induction Cook Top
- Toaster Oven
- Water Heater
- Washing Machine
- LED House lights
- Hair Dryer
- Dehydrator
- Blender
- Hand Mixer
- Himalayan Salt Lamps
- MaxxAir Fan
- Coffee Grinder
- Camera Battery Chargers
Now that we’ve made a list of the energy guzzlers… excuse me, energy-consuming devices, it’s time to figure out how much energy they guzzle!
Take the list of appliances you just wrote down, and make a set of columns that include things like:
- Quantity of each item
- How many hours a day you plan on using them?
- Voltage
- Amps
- Watts
The results of the list you just created are all that’s needed to get a rough estimate of daily energy usage.
With this information, formulas can then be applied to each row to determine the Watt Hour Rating for each device. Amps, Volts, and Watts for a device can usually be located on the energy label affixed to the device. These numbers are usually the highest rating for the device, which may not be actual usage.
FORMULA: Calculating Daily Watt-Hour Rating
- Amps x Volts = Watts/hour
- Watts/hour x Hours/day = Watt Hour Rating/day
Keep in mind that this is the ROUGH estimate.
To get a more EXACT estimate, we used this kilowatt meter, plugged in our appliance/device, and used it like we normally would. The result of using the kilowatt meter was a precise measurement of energy consumption that made our calculations closer to real-life use.
Instead of writing all this information down, I created a spreadsheet that allowed me to type in all the numbers and the formulas would automatically calculate the results. If you’re not the mathy type, and our plug-n-play spreadsheet would help, it comes as a download with our online course called Get Your Skoolie On.
After calculating each line item of appliances, adding up the individual totals will give you the total daily energy usage the skoolie solar system would have to provide.
Now comes the parts that most people skip to – Skoolie Battery Bank!
Skoolie Battery Bank Considerations
The previous step is probably the most time-consuming because it took us several days to run through all of our appliances to test their consumption and record their results. But that step is probably one of the most important because without knowing how much energy the appliances are using on a daily basis, it’s impossible to accurately calculate any other part of the skoolie solar system.
Now’s the time to figure out which type of battery is going to be used in the off-grid skoolie solar system.
There are two main types of batteries suitable for skoolie solar systems:
- Lead-Acid (or AGM) Batteries
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (or LiFePO4) Batteries
I know that there are more types of batteries with various different chemistries, but these are the main two that are used in rv solar systems, which is why we’re just going to chat about them.
Lead-Acid Batteries Pros & Cons
Lead-acid batteries (aka AGM batteries) are cheaper but come at a cost. It’s not advisable to discharge lead-acid batteries more than 50% of its capacity. So if you have a 1,200 Watt AGM battery, you can only safely use about 600 Watts of its rated capacity (what a jip, right?)
Any further discharge below that 50% capacity threshold could damage the battery cells, therefore reducing the life of the battery. Also, lead-acid batteries don’t perform well in freezing cold temperatures. There is fluid inside the battery that can freeze and crystalize, which can cause components within the battery to fail. Lead-acid batteries are also about twice the weight of one Lithium Iron Phosphate battery.
The only pro I could see with lead-acid batteries is that they are cheaper in price. However, even though they appear to be cheaper, to get the same capacity as a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, we’d need twice as many batteries!
Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries
Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries, which also go by their periodic table of elements name combination, LiFePO4, are the type of batteries we have in our motorhome solar system.
Right out of the gate, the only con we found is that they are typically more expensive than lead-acid batteries. However, some LiFePO4 batteries outperform lead-acid batteries so much, the cost is quickly thought of as a no-brainer. Battle Born Batteries did some side-by-side comparisons with lead-acid batteries and the results are quite impressive.
Read Battle Born’s Lead is Dead White Paper: Cold Charging Study »
In a nutshell, LiFePO4 batteries capacity can be used nearly 100%, which means that we only need one battery for every two AGM batteries. This alone is a space and weight saver. LiFePO4 batteries also recharge super quick. The batteries weigh about 33 lbs each and are the approximate same dimensions as a typical AGM battery making their output twice as much in half the footprint of two AGM batteries.
After calculating our energy consumption, we have determined that we needed 6 Battle Born Batteries LiFePO4 BB10012 which are 100Ah and 1,200 Watts apiece.
To figure out how many batteries we needed, we divided the total Watt Hour Rating/day by 1,200 (which is the number of Watts each battery has in its capacity.)
FORMULA: Number of Batteries Needed In The Battery Bank
- Total Watt Hour Rating/Day ÷ 1,200 = Minimum # of batteries needed for the battery bank
Now that we know how many batteries we need for our system, the next thing to calculate is how many watts of solar panels are needed to charge that battery bank.
Choosing Skoolie Solar Panels
Solar panels come in a variety of rated capacities & sizes. Just because a panel’s rating is 100 Watts doesn’t mean that it will produce that much. Most of the time, the rated capacity is achieved by having the solar panel at the perfect tilted angle to the sun, optimum operating temperature, and crystal clear atmospheric conditions. All of which are rare realities.
A few factors contributed to finding the right solar panels for our skoolie solar system’s application.
The first factor was space on our roof. With solar panels on our skoolie roof, we wanted to be able to get up there to clean them when necessary, which is why we started to layout a floor plan on the roof (or would that be a roof plan?) The proposed roof plan helped us decide where we could mount the panels and how we could create a rooftop deck so that walking up there wouldn’t be a life safety hazard.
Besides creating a rooftop layout plan, we also had to figure out how many panels we needed to charge the battery bank and to work into that layout. To do this, we took our calculations for total daily Watts and divided them by 6 because 6 hrs is the minimum number of hours the panels might receive in a day. This is when knowing WHICH battery you plan on using comes in handy.
FORMULA: Calculating Minimum Number Of Solar Panels
- Total Daily Watt Hour Rating ÷ 6 hrs = Solar Panel Watts Needed To Charge Battery Bank
- Solar Panel Watts Needed To Charge Battery Bank ÷ Watt Rating of Desired Panels = # of Panels Needed
As you can see, the system is starting to take shape. Next, divide the number of Watts of solar needed to charge the battery by the Watts of each panel, and that’ll give you the starting number of solar panels needed of that particular size.
If you are looking at 100 Watt panels and you need 1,200 Watts of solar on the roof, that would be 10 panels.
However, if you had 330 Watt panels, and you need 1,200 Watts of solar on the roof, that would be just 4 solar panels (which would equal 1,320 Watts of solar and that’s at least meeting or exceeding the 1,200 Watt minimum that is in our example).
For our rooftop layout plan, we ended up getting 4 of the 330 Watt Canadian Solar monocrystalline panels. Once deciding on the panels, it’s now easier to further develop the rooftop layout plan because now we have the dimensions of the panels.
The next question is how do the solar panels connect to the rest of the skoolie solar system? That’s done partly through the solar charge controller.
What Does The Solar Charge Controller Do?
In a skoolie solar system, the solar panels collect the sun’s rays and converts those rays into energy in the form of electricity. That electricity then gets passed through the wires connected to the panels, into a combiner box and then over to the solar charge controller. The solar charge controller then turns that electricity into a stable usable source of electricity to charge the battery bank.
There are a ton of different-sized charge controllers that are rated for various solar panel array configurations. Because there are so many, we’re going to just say that the easiest way to know which charge controller you need is to work with a company that will help customize a system with you.
However, there’s a formula for everything, and here’s one that could help guide you to getting a ballpark idea of which sized solar charge controller to begin looking at.
FORMULA: Calculating Solar Charge Controller Amperage Rating
- Combined Solar Panel Rated Watts ÷ Battery Bank Volts = Minimum Solar Charge Controller Amperage Rating
This formula should get you close to the right solar charge controller. However, before buying any of your equipment, we advise creating a diagram of what products you plan on using and then consult with the manufacturer to make sure their products are within specifications for your particular application.
To match or exceed our solar panel’s output, we installed the Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 150/85 TR VE.Can Charge Controller with Bluetooth.
Here’s a low-resolution version of our Skoolie Solar System Diagram:
Want the high-resolution version to download? It along with all of our downloads and detailed videos comes with our online course, Get Your Skoolie On.
Solar System Inverter
Now that the solar panels are harvesting power, the solar charge controller is feeding the battery bank, how do you use that electricity to power your laptop, TV, or refrigerator? A device called an inverter is connected to the battery bank. The inverter steps up the 12V power stored in the batteries and outputs 120V of power to the breaker panel.
Inverters come in various Wattage capacities and is typically selected based on the load requirements of the system. In most situations, not ALL of the appliances from our list are used simultaneously. Therefore, having an inverter capable of running everything at once is not too common. However, there may be a couple of devices running at the same time that would require a beefy inverter.
In order to choose the size of inverter that would work well with our skoolie solar system, we went back to our original list of appliances and started to look at what appliances would run at the same time. Adding up the wattages will get you close to the inverter specification that will work best for your skoolie solar system.
Besides operating wattage, be sure to check to see if the equipment being used has what’s called a “Start-Up Wattage.” This is when the appliance uses an initial spike in energy above the rated run wattage. A perfect example of this is a microwave. Even though the microwave may be rated for 1,000 Watts, in order for the microwave to get started, it uses a spike in energy up to about 2,000 Watts. So finding an inverter that can handle the higher spikes is essential not only to the equipment’s safety but also to your’s! (Ain’t nobody likes equipment failures!)
We ended up going with the Victron Energy MultiPlus 3000VA 12-Volt Pure Sine Wave Inverter 120 amp Battery Charger, which has been working well in our skoolie solar system. One thing we really like about this inverter is that it has a battery charger built into its system. When we need to hook up to shore power or a generator, it’s this device that will turn those inputs into the battery bank charger.
Another thing to note about inverters is that there are TSW, True Sine Wave aka Pure Sine Wave Inverters, along with MSW, or Modified Sine Wave Inverters.
The Pure Sine Wave Inverters produce cleaner energy. This is important to take into consideration because most laptops, microwaves, medical equipment and electric blankets will not work on MSW inverters. Although MSW inverters are cheaper in price, the long-term peace of mind from having a Pure Sine Wave Inverter makes the equipment well worth it.
12V Fuse Block & 120V Breaker Panel
Once the solar panels are collecting the sun’s rays, the charge controller is taking those rays and charging the skoolie batteries, there are two ways to use energy from the battery bank with appliances.
The first way power is distributed into the skoolie is a 12V Fuse Block that is connected to the batteries.
Using a 12V Fuse Block allows appliances to be attached to the skoolie solar system that are powered by 12V. Each appliance gets a spot on the fuse block and a blade fuse is inserted to protect that equipment from potential energy spikes.
Below is a list of the 12V components we have on our skoolie:
- MaxxAir Fan
- Freshwater Pump
- Water Holding Tank Heating Pads
- Off-Grid Cell Booster
- Underbody Storage LED Lighting
The second way power is distributed into our skoolie is through our 120V breaker panel.
The Victron Inverter has an AC Out terminal block connection that allows us to connect a cable from the inverter to the 120V breaker panel. From the breaker panel, we have various circuits to power normal plug outlets and lighting. Most of our appliances use 120V AC, which makes having an inverter that can handle a high amount of Wattage & Amps essential.
Here’s a list of the various appliances run from our 120V breaker panel:
Generator & Shore Power
The last piece of the skoolie solar system puzzle that had us stumped was how do you connect a generator or shore power to juice up the system in the event of prolonged cloud coverage, shade, or darkness?
That answer lies within the Victron Inverter.
On our Skoolie, we installed a 30 Amp exterior receptacle that is wired to the “AC IN” terminal block inside the Victron Inverter. The inverter then takes the incoming energy and sends it to the batteries and the 120V breaker panel simultaneously.
From that 30 Amp receptacle, we can plug into any electrical source (shore power), up to 30 Amps, or even turn on a generator and plug in to do what we call “juice the system” which is basically topping up the battery bank during prolonged durations of inclement solar gathering.
Originally, we were talking about getting a vehicle-mounted diesel generator until we saw the price tag. Those things are SUPER pricy. So instead, we opted to get a little backup generator that runs on gasoline. If we ever have a long period of low solar production, we’ll be able to plug-in and juice the system to get us through in a pinch!
Our Skoolie Solar System Component List
Although we just mentioned the major components to our skoolie solar system, we wanted to put them in the list below along with their quantities so that they are all in one place for you to start shopping for your skoolie solar system.
Skoolie Solar System Component List
- 6 @ Battle Born 100 Ah 12V LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
- 4 @ Canadian Solar 330W Monocrystalline Solar Panels
- 1 @ Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 150/85 TR VE.Can Charge Controller with Bluetooth
- 1 @ Victron Energy MultiPlus 3000VA 12-Volt Pure Sine Wave Inverter 120 amp Battery Charger
- 1 @ Victron Energy Lynx Distributor
- 1 @ Victron Energy VE.Bus Smart Dongle (Bluetooth)
- 1 @ Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor & Shunt Kit
- 1 @ Midnite Solar Photovoltaic Combiner
- 1 @ 100 Amp MEGA Fuse
- 1 @ 125 Amp MEGA Fuse
- 1 @ 300 Amp MEGA Fuse
- 1 @ 400 Amp ANL Fuse
- 1 @ ANL Fuse Block Holder
- 1 @ Blue Sea Systems 300 Amp m-Series Battery Switches
- 1 @ 12V Blue Sea Systems ST Blade ATO/ATC Fuse Blocks
- 1 @ 120V Square D Homeline 125 Amp 12-Space 24-Circuit Indoor Breaker Panel
- 25’ Red @ 4/0 Gauge 100% Copper Premium Industrial Grade Extra Flexible Welding Cable 600 Volt
- 25’ Black @ 4/0 AWG 100% Copper Premium Industrial Grade Extra Flexible Welding Cable 600 Volt
- 10’ Black @ 6 AWG 100% Copper Welding Lead & Car Battery Cable
- 25’ @ 10/2 with ground Romex residential indoor electrical wire
- 250’ @ 12/2 with ground Romex residential indoor electrical wire
- 120’ @ 10 AWG Solar Cable
- 8 @ 6 AWG 5/16 Ring Crimp Copper Wire Ring Lugs
- 36 @ 4/0 AWG 5/16 Ring Crimp Copper Wire Ring Lugs
- 4′ Red, 4′ Black @ 3/4” Heat Shrink Tube 3:1 Adhesive-Lined
- 1 @ 3:1 Dual Wall Adhesive Heat Shrink Tubing kit 2 Colors 7 Sizes
- 1 @ 30A 125V Locking Stainless Steel Shore Power Inlet
- 1 @ Generac Gp2200I Generator
Some of these components were not mentioned herein, because this article is a brief overview of the main skoolie solar system components and their relationship to one another. If you’d like a complete video walkthrough of our skoolie solar system, our downloadable hi-resolution solar diagram, step-by-step tutorials on how we put our entire skoolie solar system together, and access to us in our private community, then you’ll want our online course called Get Your Skoolie On where all the details are included.
Conclusion (TLDR)
Building a DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer can be as simple or complicated as you want it. That’s the beauty in designing your own skoolie solar system. To get started fast, start off by calculating your system’s anticipated load. Then figure out your battery bank type and size (we went with 6 Battle Born 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries). Now that the battery bank is designed, the 12V fuse block is connected here. It’s now time to choose the solar panels that can handle charging those batteries in less than one day (we installed 4 Canadian Solar 330W Monocrystalline panels). From there you’ll be able to decide which size of solar charge controller can handle the incoming solar watts, amps and voltage. After that, go back to the original appliance load list and see what size of inverter will be needed for your specific application and connect that to the 120V breaker panel. You could stop there and have a functioning system. However, if there are ever multiple days of low amounts of solar production, having a way to connect to shore power or run a generator to juice the system is essential.
Until Next Time… Adventure On!
– Brian Garcia
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA to Canada. Importing a school bus (or any style of bus) from the USA to Canada can be confusing. Once we heard that they had imported a couple of buses to convert into motorhomes, we jumped on the opportunity to ask them how they did it. Well… They spilled the beans, and it’s a lot easier than we had thought it was going to be.
In this article, we’re going to outline the steps to import a bus from the USA to Canada.
So if you’re looking for a school bus to convert into a tiny home on wheels in Canada and have only seen rust buckets while shopping in Canada, then heading below the snow belt into the US may be a viable option for a less-rusty or even a rust-free bus!
Meet Yvan & Sylvie from Québec, Canada. They imported TWO buses from the USA to Canada
Yvan & Sylvie imported TWO buses from the US to Canada. They have a YouTube channel called Lacroix Cruiser where they have been documenting their adventures with converting school buses into motorhomes amongst other fun adventures.
Note that this article is to give you a brief overview of how to import a bus to Canada from the US (or vice versa). The “authorities” change rules & steps without notice, which is why Step 1 in this overview is important! If you try to import a bus and don’t have the right paperwork, the border crossing guards can impound your vehicle or give you a fine. So this article should give you a good starting point of information so that you can begin the process to import a school bus or coach to Canada.
Let’s Get Into The Bus Import Details!
Get A Customs Broker To Import A Bus Into Canada From The US
Right out of the gate, Yvan & Sylvie advise getting a customs broker to import a bus into Canada. Is it possible to import a bus into Canada without a customs broker? Yep! It sure is possible, but having a customs broker is like having a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) prepare your taxes. You’re less likely to get an audit if a “professional” prepares your paperwork than if you do it yourself.
Customs Brokers are a few hundred bucks for their service and can provide peace of mind that everything will be lined up and ready for you when driving across the border from the US to Canada.
If you need a customs broker, here’s the contact info for the one that Yvan & Sylvia used and they are very happy with her service as she was great, efficient, and responsive to communication:
Here’s a list of things a Customs Broker will do for you:
- They take care of all the paperwork to import a bus
- They make sure you have the RIGHT paperwork when you arrive at the border
- Get a customs broker BEFORE heading to your destination to purchase your bus
Before Buying Your Bus, Have Your Customs Broker Do Some Research
Not every bus (or vehicle) is permissible for importation. There are a lot of rules that the “authorities” have created, which makes importing vehicles difficult for those not familiar with the process. It’s just another way “authorities” are working to control people. Even though this may be a roadblock for some, for others it is the opportunity to study what’s being imposed and learn what needs to be done to achieve the goal of importing a less-rusty-bus to Canada.
Before buying your bus, contact a customs broker who has experience with importing vehicles, like school buses, transit, or coach buses. Open up a conversation and ask your potential customs broker what you need to do to secure their services as you go through the process to find a bus. This is important because they are going to guide you through the process BEFORE you buy your bus!
After securing the bus customs broker import service, start bus shopping! Find a bus that suits your needs and then check with the customs broker to make sure it could be imported, and the cost. There are too many variables with vehicle make, model, and year to give an exhaustive list of which buses can or cannot be imported. The customs broker will need to research each model you find independently. That’s why having a customs broker on your side is essential! They work through the process with you, so that you don’t buy a bus that is not permissible to be imported.
Once your customs broker has given you the green-light to buy the bus, only then should you proceed to make your purchase. Get your plane, train or automobile tickets ready and go visit the bus you plan on purchasing to inspect and test-drive. As soon as you are satisfied that the bus you’re looking at is for you, complete the purchase and provide your customs broker with the information they need to complete the bus import paperwork. They will either mail or email you the paperwork you’ll need to drive the bus across the border. The customs broker will also direct you to the correct border crossing location, because you’ll have a window in which you have to pass through
What paperwork do you need to import a bus?
Paperwork is probably the first thing that will hang you up while driving across the border. All the import documents must already be filled out, signed, and paid for BEFORE arriving at the land border crossing into Canada. That’s where the customs broker REALLY shines! They know what paperwork will be necessary based on a lot of variables. Basically, the customs broker knows the hoops that need to be jumped through and they will set up the paperwork so that you spend less time at the border so you can get to converting your bus into a motorhome faster!
Here’s a list of the paperwork that may be required. Keep in mind, not all imports are the same, so this will give you a starting point:
- The applicable government forms
- A proper title
- The Bill of Sale – Must be an official document from the seller including the following information:
- Milage
- Serial Number
- Age
- Make
- Model
Get An OLDER Bus
There’s something to be said about classic cars as well as classic buses! For one, older buses are relatively easier to work on because they are more mechanical than electrically operated. Newer buses have a lot of “computer” components built into them, which can make working out a problem in the middle of nowhere harder. While older buses have the advantage of being able to more easily swap out parts without having to have expensive computer diagnostic equipment to see what’s going wrong.
Here are some tips for getting an older bus to import:
- If you try to import a newer bus, you’ll have more complications
- Import a bus that is 25 years or older because NOW it’s considered a “classic” vehicle, which doesn’t have as many hoops to jump through
- Things like “Daytime Running Lights” are required in Canada. So if the bus doesn’t have that, it may not pass inspection (or you may have to install daytime running lights before getting it inspected)
Import Taxes
Just like everything in life, the “authorities” feel they must impose an import tax on the bus you import into Canada. When Yvan & Sylvie imported their bus, they had to pay the provincial sales tax based on the purchase price listed on the bill of sale. For vehicles less than 25 years old, taxes will be based on current book value, and other fees come into play like duty, RV, and federal taxes. Basically, to import any vehicle, you’ll be nickel and dimed the entire way because everyone wants a piece of your bus pie. So you gotta decide if it’s worth it to have a less-rusty-bus (or even a rust-free bus) to build your tiny home on wheels. For Yvan & Sylvie, it’s worth it because they wanted a strong platform in which to build their tiny home on wheels!
Getting The Safety Inspection
After getting through the border crossing, the next step is to get the bus inspected to make sure it passes the vehicle safety regulations of Canada. This is a mechanical inspection and may be different from province to province. Even though the bus may already be titled as an RV from the US, the first inspection may be treated as a “Commercial Bus”.
After the first inspection, Canada wave’s its Parliamentary wand and says, “That’s an RV now, eh! Go take’er for a rip, Bud!”
When Yvan & Sylvie took their MCI bus to get inspected, it didn’t look at all like an RV. It had the driver’s seat and the entire interior was empty. There were even holes in the floor, but those holes were over storage bays and weren’t accessible to the exterior. This just goes to show that even if it is NOT an RV/Motorhome YET, it can still pass the safety inspection.
To get the safety inspection completed, go to any big truck mechanic, Canadian Tire, or other location that is certified by the MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) to perform this inspection task.
HOT TIP: You may call ahead to see if you need an appointment and to make sure they are a qualified location to perform this inspection.
Licenses and Insurance
So considering the bus is considered a commercial vehicle initially, you need to have a driver’s license and insurance that allows you to drive it as such. This is a sticky subject because there are rules around all sorts of vehicle types, length, weight, and brake types.
In Ontario:
- If your vehicle is less than 11k kilograms, you can drive it with a regular G license.
- If the vehicle is greater than 11k kilograms, you need a D license (however, there are many other license types depending on the vehicle, so you’d have to ask your customs broker which licenses you’ll need based on the bus you decide to get)
- If there are air brakes, you need to get the Z air brake endorsement.
As for insurance, you may have to have a commercial vehicle insurance policy to drive the bus into Canada, and then once the bus is registered as a motorhome, it can be switched over to motorhome insurance. Call around to insurance brokers and find one that will work with you through the process. However, if you ship the bus (instead of driving it across the border), then you might be able to skip the commercial insurance and just finish the registration process followed by getting the motorhome insurance. There are too many variables to say which way is the best way to go, but this article should open up the possibilities of how to go about the process.
Titling a bus as an RV in Canada
In some provinces, it’s very difficult to title a bus as an RV because of the way it looks. However, in some states in the US, it’s extremely easy to title a bus as an RV in that you can do the title change by mail. You don’t even have to present yourself at a Title & Registration Office. So, when buying a bus in the US to import to Canada, try to get a bus that either already has an RV title, or get it titled as an RV before importing it to Canada. You could even negotiate that the bus has an RV title as a term of sale to the seller before purchasing. If the seller can get the bus titled as an RV, then it will make your life a lot easier.
But if you cannot get the bus titled as an RV before coming into Canada, then the place to go next will be the local MTO office with your stack of paperwork showing that you’ve imported the bus and the safety inspection is complete. You’ll then be able to acquire the license plates.
Conclusion
The biggest takeaway from this article, besides the process outline for you in great detail, is that if you’re going to import a vehicle from the US to Canada or vice versa, get a customs broker involved. They will guide you through the bureaucratic red tape so that you can start working on your tiny home on wheels!
We’d like to give Yvan & Sylvie a HUGE thanks for taking the time to answer our questions about importing a bus into Canada. Considering they had done it successfully, twice, it made sense that we’re confident to publish this information so that others can navigate this sea by land.
Not a reader? Check out the video that Yvan published on his YouTube Channel, Lacroix Cruiser. Feel free to subscribe to his channel for more informational videos on building a tiny home on wheels in Canada.
Until Next Time... Adventure On!
- Brian Garcia + Erin Nicole Bick
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa) appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>How To Register An Old School Bus & Get RV Insurance In Ontario Canada
Nolan Reid dove through the Service Ontario hoops, leaped over the Insurance hurdles, and achieved something that so many people from Ontario have simply deemed impossible. He got RV Insurance on his old school bus AND to top it off, he got his bus titled as an RV with a simple yet temporary setup.
If you’ve been calling around, and banging your head against the wall trying to figure this out… You’re definitely going to want to read Nolan’s story.
Learn how to get your school bus titled as a motorhome in the province of Ontario, with a temporary setup.
With all of our research, and talking with others who have obtained RV insurance for their skoolies, plus a motorhome title… We’ve learned that each country, province, and state does it a little differently.
The nice thing to know is that once you start to know the language behind the mysterious registration & insurance curtain, you can start to ask your local authorities the right questions.
We have heard of way too many people giving up on their tiny home on wheels dream because the initial set up of RV insurance and titling are too darn difficult.
This is why we are so grateful that we connected with Nolan because FINALLY, we got our fellow Ontarians an Ontario RV insurance & title success story.
In this article, we’re featuring Nolan Reid from Hamilton Ontario, who successfully got his bus insured & titled as an RV. Here is his story.
DISCLAIMER: Everyone's situation is different. Laws for titling and registering a school bus as a motorhome vary from country to country, state to state, province to province and even city to city. Also, laws, rules and regulations can change without notice. What works for someone in one place, may not be the same for someone else. Use this Skoolie Title Story as a guide to give you the language you need and to get you going. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to verify what's current in your area. This article is for entertainment purposes only and should not be substituted for legal advice. Please consult your local title and registration governmental agency for current processes & procedures.
How to register an old school bus and get RV insurance in Ontario Canada
When it comes to getting RV insurance in Ontario and registering an old school bus as a motorhome we had to really search for someone who had successfully gotten both.
Many people we had talked to had gotten the RV title, but then got dropped from insurance for one reason or another.
Because Brian + I are doing our conversion in Ontario this is the number one question we get asked! However, we ended up going another route for our RV title & insurance because we have a bit of a unique situation with Brian being American and me being Canadian. In this article, we go over why we chose to buy our bus in the USA, and what to consider before you buy an old school bus that’s for sale in Ontario Canada.
In short, something we discovered while bus shopping in Ontario was that the insurance & registration process really isn’t up to speed with this whole school bus conversion/tiny home on wheels movement.
Lucky for all of us, Nolan Reid from Hamilton Ontario was willing to share his RV Registration & Insurance story with us. Honestly, we’ve searched for months so Nolan really did us & our community here a solid!
Here’s what Nolan had to say about how to register a school bus as a motorhome & get RV insurance in Ontario.
What first intrigued you about building a Skoolie?
Watching family’s on YouTube converting old school buses, and needing a space at the family cottage.
When did you acquire your Skoolie?
September 2020
Where did you buy your school bus?
A private bus company for a private school.
When you bought your school bus, how did you get it from the seller’s lot to your conversion location?
The owner drove it to my parked location, and also got it safetied for me as well.
What components did you need to install to meet the Ontario mobile home title requirements to go from school bus to RV?
There were 5 things that I needed:
- Kitchen sink
- Toilet
- Power Source
- Fresh Water
- Heating/AC
If you want more details about what we like to call The Ontario Method for getting an RV Title CLICK HERE.
What were the steps required to register & title your school bus as a motorhome / RV in Ontario?
- Took out seats
- Put in a temporary bed
- Added a temporary cook top
- Threw in a mini-fridge
- Set up a generator
- Set up a bucket with a toilet seat on it
- Painted the whole bus a different colour
- Removed all bus strobe lights & stop sign
- Got Emissions Test – Ontario Drive Clean
What was your Ontario skoolie insurance process AND what kind of RV policy did you need?
To get an RV title for your school bus in Ontario, you needed to take pictures to Service Ontario to prove that your Skoolie Motorhome has at least 4 of the 6 Creature Comforts that are necessary. I made sure I had 5.
Learn more about the necessary documentation for Service Ontario & “Creature Comforts” HERE
Once the bus was switched to RV status, I had to get an appraisal from a registered appraiser.
“Economy” is my insurance company. I had a temporary bed, kitchen, and bathroom set up when the appraiser came to take pictures.
I also sent the insurance company photos of the ownership showing that I in fact had RV status. After that, the appraiser sent the report in.
Then with insurance, I could go and get plates and a sticker.
Do you live in your Skoolie full-time?
I’m building it and planning for it to be our weekender or part-time home for our family.
What’s one piece of wisdom you’d like to give people who are considering converting a school bus into a Skoolie that you wish you knew before you got started?
It’s more money than you think to convert an old school bus into a motorhome.
Also, find a used RV parts supplier. There is a great one towards London Ontario.
What do you think your superpower has been throughout your Skoolie build?
I work hard, and I am mechanically inclined.
Love within, love around... Adventure On!
- Erin Nicole Bick
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post How To Register An Old School Bus & Get RV Insurance In Ontario Canada appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>Getting Titled & Registered As An RV Motorhome In Vermont Without Living There
For Lacey Carpenter, her school bus conversion journey started with a big idea that drove her to take action, and see what she was capable of.
If you’re looking to get a Vermont Motorhome Title for your converted school bus, then Lacey’s thorough story will certainly help you.
Learn how to get your school bus titled and as a motorhome in Vermont, even if you live in another state.
No matter what country, city, state or province, registering a school bus as a motorhome may have some different requirements.
This can often stop people before they even get started shooting towards their dream of doing a school bus conversion.
Thanks to gals like Lacey who go after a huge undertaking like turning a school bus into an RV for leading the way, JUST to see if it’s possible.
In this article, we’re featuring Lacey Carpenter, from Monroe, Louisiana who got her bus titled as an RV in Vermont. Here is her Skoolie Title Story, and her bus Bruiser.
“Don’t expect too much… I’m no Carpenter!”
– Lacey Carpenter
DISCLAIMER: Everyone's situation is different. Laws for titling and registering a school bus as a motorhome vary from country to country, state to state, province to province and even city to city. Also, laws, rules and regulations can change without notice. What works for someone in one place, may not be the same for someone else. Use this Skoolie Title Story as a guide to give you the language you need and to get you going. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to verify what's current in your area. This article is for entertainment purposes only and should not be substituted for legal advice. Please consult your local title and registration governmental agency for current processes & procedures.
How To Title & Register A Converted School Bus To A Motor Home In Vermont
Figuring out how to title & register a school bus as an RV motorhome is one of the biggest obstacles people face when considering an adventure like a skoolie conversion.
This is why Brian + I are seeking out people who have jumped through the hoops and figured it out.
It takes a lot of guts and effort to take on a project like a bus conversion. That’s why we were super excited to meet Lacey. This gal has totally thought outside of the box when it came to getting her old school bus registered as a motorhome. She even went out of her home state Louisianna to find a state that was a bit more lenient on requirements to get an RV Title.
This is what she has to say about getting titled and registered as a motorhome in Vermont.
What first intrigued you about building a Skoolie?
I thought to myself “How cool would that be to accomplish?!” I literally thought of it on a Friday and purchased a bus on Monday! It was crazy! I still don’t believe it!
When did you acquire your Skoolie?
September 2020
Where did you buy your school bus?
I purchased it through the Facebook Marketplace. It was from a small town dealer, of many, many things, about 5 1/2 hours from where I live.
When you bought your school bus, how did you get it from the seller’s lot to your conversion location?
I paid a guy with a CDL to drive it home for me. It took us about 16 hrs in total. Making me arrive at 3 am after leaving at 11 am that day before!
However, I lost my bus about halfway home. It was dark. His phone died. It started leaking oil and he finally got it to me that night at 7 pm.
I’ve only driven it once since I’ve had it… for a mile and back!
Still waiting on the leak to be fixed! I tell you, I didn’t check enough stuff on this one, but now I’ve learned a whole lot and I will be much more selective with my next bus!
What components did you need to install to meet the Vermont mobile home title requirements to go from school bus to RV?
None. I simply had to tell them the color I intended to paint it.
What were the steps required to register & title your school bus as a motorhome / RV in Vermont?
All I had to do was follow this link to download the application for registration in Vermont.
This can be done for anyone in any state for registration or lost titles. Continue reading to see the form I filled out to obtain my RV Title & Registration in Vermont, along with instructions on how I filled it out.
The process to register & title a school bus in Vermont is simple:
- Print and mail-in form, with payment. (Instructions and address below)
- Wait 3 weeks
- Receive 2 plates and 5 days later a transferrable registration or title stating motor home for your bus in the mail.
NOTE : You will either receive a “Title Registration” or a “Transferable Registration”. It does not matter which you receive back. A “Transferable Registration” is just as good as a title in every way. As they both have the transfer to seller on the backside. So you will be able to now use it as a title in your local state showing it as a MOTOR HOME. Now you may go to your local DMV for your home state license plates and registration.
What you’ll need to include with your Vermont Registration Tax & Title Application
For “Transferable Registrations”
Buses 15 years or older include COPY of:
- Title
- Bill of Sale
- Completed Application
- Registration Fee
- $76/1yr
- $140/2yrs
- 6% VT Tax (or proof that tax has already been paid)
- Handwritten note itemizing your costs
For “Title Registrations”
Buses newer than 15 years old include:
- ORIGINAL title
- Bill of Sale
- Completed Application
- Registration Fee
- $76/1yr
- $140/2yrs
- Title Fee $35
- 6% VT Tax (or proof it’s paid)
- Handwritten note itemizing your costs
Requirements: The only requirement they have is that the bus is not yellow BUT all you have to do is write in the color you intend to paint it on the application. They require no further proof! You can do this at any point in the conversion process.
See how I filled out my application below…
The colored in spots are what you need to fill in. The red markings are what the DMV marked so you can go ahead and fill them in as well.
MAKE SURE TO MARK 19 “MOTORHOME” to the right side middle area.
Send your Vermont Registration Tax & Title Application to:
Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
120 State StreetMontpelier, VT 05603-0001
If there are no problems, turnaround is generally 2-3 weeks.
Click HERE to go to the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles page to download form VD119
What was your Vermont skoolie insurance process AND what kind of RV policy did you need?
I still have no policy on my bus. When I left the lot I was not required to have it by the dealer.
I waited 5 months from purchase to register in Vermont and had no extra fees. I don’t drive it.
However, in my home state of Louisianna, to register it I must provide proof of insurance. To do so I will call my insurance company and say I have a commercial vehicle I intend to use on my land for storage purposes. They will give me insurance on the belongings inside.
Once insured I’ll register my skoolie here in LA before the required 30 days in which I have to do so, by LA law.
After that, when I finish the conversion, I’ll get RV insurance. Each carrier will be different. I know Geico requires photos and may not give more than Liability Insurance on a school bus conversion.
Do you live in your Skoolie full-time?
I’m building it and planning for it to be my weekender or part-time home.
What’s one piece of wisdom you’d like to give people who are considering converting a school bus into a Skoolie that you wish you knew before you got started?
What I wish I knew was to check the bus for:
- damage-causing holes
- thoroughly check the rust levels underneath
- make sure it hasn’t been sitting for a while
- use OSPHO on the rust you do have
- it pays off to fully remove all walls and ceiling panels
- check window seals and replace the ones needed
Everything else is customization!
What do you think your superpower has been throughout your Skoolie build?
Hmmm, I’m great at taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back! Does that count!? I look forward to decorating it!
Here’s how to follow Lacey & her Skoolie Bruiser:
Love within, love around... Adventure On!
- Erin Nicole Bick
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post Getting Titled & Registered As An RV Motorhome In Vermont Without Living There appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>How Planning School Bus Conversion Ideas Helps Save Money
Before beginning our build, we found that planning school bus conversion ideas before buying any materials could save time and money while reducing waste. Unlike being chained to a home mortgage for the next 20-30 years, our vision was that we could reduce our debt by living in a tiny home on wheels. I think we’re on to something!
Today’s article is about how we took our school bus conversion ideas and planned them out to save money.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Note that we are affiliated with products and services we use and trust. If you click a link and make a purchase, we’ll earn a small commission at not extra cost to you. This helps us to continue producing content and we hope that you use our links if our blog posts or videos have helped you in any way!
School Bus Conversion Idea Considerations
After we bought our school bus to convert into a motorhome, we needed to consider all of our bus conversion ideas. Every idea lead down a rabbit hole of questions on feasibility & implementation.
One of the big questions we had before starting our bus conversion project was, “How do we plan our bus conversion ideas?”
While researching, we noticed that instead of looking at the big picture of the bus conversion as a whole, we had to break down all of our ideas into smaller projects. It was that defining moment that provided clarity to us being able to create an organized plan.
To eliminate confusion and become purposeful with all our school bus conversion ideas, we started to map out all of our ideas to take into consideration.
Erin could not wait to get on the bus and start doing her interior design. So she grabbed her Moleskin Journal and started to sketch out potential floor plans. While she did that, I would take her inspiration and look for ways to reduce the build’s weight while persevering the esthetic of her skoolie interior designs.
I was more interested in creating a systematic plan to save time, eliminate wasted material cost, and create a beautiful tiny home on wheels that would take us down the road safely, in comfort.
Planning school bus conversion ideas boil down to what needs to be done in what order so that we don’t have to back-peddle and can continue to make forward progress.
Roughing Out A Skoolie Floor Plan
In our School Bus Conversion Guide article, we talk about the different areas that we’re building on our school bus. Part of the bus conversion ideas that have popped up revolves around the floor plan.
What’s drawn on paper doesn’t always work out in real life. Before buying our bus, we had drawn out a half dozen skoolie floor plan ideas, and most of them didn’t work in real life.
We didn’t know the exact dimensions of the interior, the location of wheel wells, the height of the ceiling, or even the curve from the walls to the roof. Although sketching out ideas is helpful, we didn’t finalize our skoolie floor plan until we bought our bus in Phoenix, Arizona.
Once we bought our bus, we could take the conversion ideas from our preliminary sketches and see which parts would work and which ideas we needed to ditch.
Little did we know that as we were building, the floor plan would continue to evolve into something that would indeed be unique.
If we were to do this all over again, we would start with deciding where the drains would be in the floor because that alone will change where things like the sinks, composting toilet, and shower would end up. Regardless, everything is figure-out-able!
Climate Considerations
There are two main climates to consider when bringing any school bus conversion idea to reality. Those climates are hot and cold (all the in-between environments don’t affect livability as much.)
In hot climates, ventilation is critical, while in cold temperatures, keeping the cold out and the hot in is essential to a comfortable tiny home on wheels.
Questions we asked ourselves around skoolie build climate considerations:
- What climate region do we plan on boondocking our skoolie primarily?
- Are we going to have air conditioning or stick with natural ventilation?
- What will be our heat source (and will there be a backup)?
- How many skylights are we going to need?
- Will the outdoor shower need hot water or just cold?
- What kind of insulation is best for a school bus conversion?
There are many more considerations for climate-based decisions for converting a school bus into a motorhome. However, the questions that were most pressing for us are the ones that mean the difference between being comfortable or miserable (we like the idea of being comfortable).
Making a list of our questions helped to decide on building materials and components for installation.
Skoolie Plumbing – Water flows downhill
Now that we have come up with a particular floor plan that seems to check all the boxes on ergonomics, utility, and comfort, now we start looking at other systems such as plumbing.
Considering we were not going to have a bucket under the sink for the gray water catchment as we did in our pre-conversion for our title loophole, all the drains needed to find their way under the bus and into the gray water tanks, somehow.
We are not planning on having a black water tank, eliminating the need for a big diameter pipe required for moving turds & TP through plumbing systems.
Gray water tanks only need 1 ½” ABS drain pipes. What’s cool is that the space we allotted in the walls is more than enough to run lines behind. We chose to use ABS drain pipes because ABS can handle more shock without cracking than PVC.
In residential plumbing, the standard for drainage in most places worldwide is ¼” drop for every 12” run, which equates to 1” every 4’.
Now that we have the drains sorted out, water lines are a consideration too! There are many sizes of water pumps. First, we figured out the maximum amount of gallons per minute (GPM) we would be running if someone was in the shower and someone else was washing dishes. Most faucets have those specifications available. All we did was add up the total GPM to determine the water pump size we would need at a minimum to prevent low pressure while two faucets were running at once.
The next consideration for plumbing was what type and size of water lines would be best. There are numerous sizes of waterlines, and the bigger the line, the more water it can carry. Waterline size is important because we have a limited amount of freshwater to use.
When calculating water line size, consider the total volume of water that can be carried by the waterline’s different diameters along with your maximum GPM the water pump can produce. After running some calculations, we figured out that using ½” water lines for both cold and hot water would be best as it was a nice size for our total flow and the pump we went with.
Skoolie Off-Grid Energy Considerations (for when SHTF)
Once our bus conversion is complete, we plan on taking to the roads, exploring remote areas, and filming documentaries on self-reliance. With our travels, there are several energy sources that we could use. However, we plan on limiting the number of energy sources we use because when SHTF (Shit Hits The Fan), the more energy sources that are built into a school bus conversion, the more difficult it will be to hunt each one of them down.
- Electricity is one of the most widely used energy sources as it can be used for cooking, heating, cooling, and charging devices. To harness electricity off-grid, it can be produced by capturing solar energy, running a generator, harvesting wind power, or even putting a Pelton wheel into the water and generating electricity that way.
- Propane can be used for cooking, heating and producing electricity via a generator.
- Gasoline is popular for electricity generators and some short school buses use it to power their engines.
- Last is diesel, which is used in our school bus engine and can be used in a diesel generator to produce electricity.
As you can see, there are several school bus conversion ideas to choose from in regards to energy.
We decided to limit our energy to two sources:
- Electric
- Diesel
Using solar panels, we will capture the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity. The problem with solar energy is that if it’s cloudy out, or we’re parked in the shade, the panels won’t be able to capture as much sunlight, which decreases solar energy production.
In the future, we also look forward to experimenting with hydroelectricity using a Pelton waterwheel generator. This could be a little device that we set in a flowing stream. When the water runs through it, a waterwheel spins creating an electric current that we could have hooked up to our bus charge controller.
Our skoolie is powered by diesel, so when we add a generator to our systems, it will most likely be diesel-powered so that we can limit the number of different fuels we need to operate. What’s cool about diesel is that it is widely used in the transportation industry so if SHTF, it might still be available so the supply chain is not disrupted too much.
We’re also going to be using diesel-powered cab heaters. With these, we’ll be able to heat our skoolie with diesel, and it happens to be a very efficient fuel when it comes to heating compared to other sources of energy.
There is no perfect situation for energy sources, especially in a SHTF scenario. So choosing fuel types, or better yet, limiting the number of fuel types needed to live comfortably is important!
Cell Signal & Internet Connectivity In A Skoolie
Part of the planning process that can be easily missed is cell signal and internet connectivity in a skoolie. We take for granted that we always can pick up our phone to make a call or Google a question to get an answer.
However, while we were traveling, before we started our skoolie project, often, we were left with a brick of a smartphone in our hands as there was not a cell phone or internet connection available. If you’re anything like us, we still have to work to earn an income. Our work is usually done online producing films or building websites, which requires an internet connection.
Times we’re creating art pieces for sale don’t require an internet connection, but might once we need to publish pictures or put up a product listing of the piece.
There are ways to combat this lack of cell signal and internet connectivity in a skoolie.
The most obvious way is to drive to a location where a signal can be picked up.
Another way is to install signal boosters on your rig. Cell phone signal boosters like this one, use a directional antenna to capture a faint signal in the distance and boost it so that it’s useable. However, with all signal boosters, if there is no signal present, then there will be nothing to boost.
School Bus Conversion Bare Necessities
When it comes to school bus conversion ideas, sometimes getting back to the bare necessities can bring focus to a build. What is absolutely needed in a build varies from person to person. Consequently, the bare necessities for one person may be different than another.
For our school bus conversion, the bare necessities are:
- No leaks in the roof
- Freshwater
- Electricity
- Kitchen equipped for cooking meals
- Bathroom with a composting toilet & a shower
- A comfy bed & livingroom
Everything past those things is over and beyond. Also, things added above and beyond to the bus conversion can be considered a want versus a need. An example of this would be building our own composting toilet versus buying a manufactured composting toilet. The difference between the two is about $800. Regardless, a $5 bucket and a $1,000 bucket will both catch a turd.
Dreamy Dreams (Needs vs. Wants)
While planning our school bus conversion ideas, we went a step further by labeling if an idea is a need or a want. By putting every idea on a big whiteboard, both Erin and I went on a jam session with organizing all the components that would make our lives easier in one way or another.
Some of the items on our whiteboard we would label a need, like a kitchen countertop, for instance. However, a want would be for us to build it out of live edge wood. We could probably go out and find a really inexpensive countertop that would work fine in the kitchen, but if the opportunity arose to find some live edge wood, we would prefer taking the extra time to build the countertop to our exact specifications.
It’s good to dream of the best-case scenario when toying with bus conversion ideas because that lends to increasing creativity to build the space exactly how we want it. Even though we wanted to finish our skoolie build super-fast, we wanted to make sure that it was built sturdy so that it would last.
Upcycling Materials To Save Money
Being that the idea of building a skoolie is to save money, although, at times it’s unavoidable to buy new components, we work our best to upcycle what’s old and make new. Using materials that have been either tossed out on the side of the road or re-using materials that we found in online classifieds, we’re doing our part to breathe new life into old stuff.
An example of upcycling materials is our reclaimed barn wood floor. When we were researching wood floors, all we found was manufactured or engineered wood floor material. That wasn’t going to cut it for us. So we found some available century-old barn wood that was going to be torn down and carefully procured it to turn into what is now our floor.
Other materials we’ve upcycled are the majority of the 2x4s that we used for our furring strips and framing walls. We were able to take apart some old barn platforms, remove the old nails and screws, followed by re-using the boards for part of our construction.
To upcycle materials, we frequently search on the various online marketplaces or head out to a Goodwill ReStore to see what is available. Often, we find the stuff we didn’t know we needed or get ideas about what we could use for various projects.
Realistic Bus Conversion Timeline
We bought our school bus in September of 2019. Right out of the gate I had this grandiose idea that we’d be done in about three months. As of this writing in January 2021, we are now almost a year and a half into our build with no end in sight.
That begs for the question, “What is a realistic bus conversion timeline?”
The answer is different for everyone because it goes back to needs vs. wants as well as bare necessities. Even though whipping out our bus conversion sounded like a great idea, once we started doing demolition and changing plans for what we wanted to do, the timeline began changing.
Inevitably, projects will take longer to do because they might be more challenging to complete or they take longer because we had to learn new skills. Another reason our build is taking as long as it has is that we are filming and editing the videos as we go for our YouTube channel. That alone is a full-time job and we’re packing the time it takes to complete a bus conversion on top of it!
So, could we have finished in three month? Yeah, probably.
But would we have built the bus exactly how we wanted it? No, probably not.
It’s a give and take.
Learning New Skills To Reduce Costs
Building skills and building knowledge is probably the biggest barrier to completing a bus conversion project the way we are doing it. One thing we’re happy about is that both Erin and I are more than eager to learn a new skill, like welding and metalwork.
Just knowing how to work with metal has made projects that were previously unattainable a reality.
Various skills we’ve had to use to build our skoolie include:
- Carpentry
- Metalwork
- Electrical work
- Plumbing
- Diesel engine work
- Drafting plans
The big takeaway for us is that if there is something that we need to be done, we’re not shy to figure out what we need to do to bring it to fruition.
In Conclusion
Planning school bus conversion ideas can save a lot of time, money, and headache. Instead of viewing our entire conversion as one big project, mentally it helps to break the entire project up into smaller projects. Doing this produces a definite starting and stopping point for each project, which gives us benchmarks to view along the way.
What things do you think would help to make planning a school bus conversion more efficient? We’d love to know in the comments below.
Until Next Time… Adventure On!
– Brian Garcia
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post How Planning School Bus Conversion Ideas Helps Save Money appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>Top 24 Essential School Bus Conversion Tools
In this article, we’re going to give you a list of Skoolie tools we’re using to do a school bus conversion. Many of these tools are small enough to carry with us as we travel after our build. While other tools we’re borrowing because they are just too big to store in our Skoolie.
So if you’re wanting to see what tools we’re using to convert our school bus, wrapped up in a convenient list, then this is for you. We’ve also included links to them so that if you need one, you can find them easily.
Check out the skoolie tools we have in our toolbox as we convert our school bus into our tiny home on wheels.
Jump To:
- Tape Measure
- Marking Instruments
- Angle Grinder
- Oscillating Tool
- Reciprocating Saw
- Circular Saw
- Compound Miter Saw
- Table Saw
- Jigsaw
- Router
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Welding Machine
- Metal Shears
- Clamps
- Impact Driver & Drill
- Shop Vacuum
- Air Compressor
- Pneumatic Rivet Gun
- Builder’s Square, Combination Square & Speed Square
- Orbital Sander
- Rivnut Tool
- Crescent Wrenches
- Socket Set
- Locking Pliers
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Note that we are affiliated with products and services we use and trust. If you click a link and make a purchase, we’ll earn a small commission at not extra cost to you. This helps us to continue producing content and we hope that you use our links if our blog posts or videos have helped you in any way!
1. Tape Measure
To get things to fit right as we were building, we found that having a tape measure helped out a ton. We tried out many different kinds of tape measures and the one that stuck out as being the most awesome are the ones that have fractions printed on the tape measure blade. Although tape measures have the lines indicating the various increments of 1/8″ and 1/4″, we found that having the fraction printed on the tape measure made seeing those measurements easier.
There are different types of tape measures for different tasks. When measuring our bus, we found that having a 40 ft. tape measure was perfect because we’d be able to measure from the front to the back in one go. While building inside the bus, usually a 25 ft. tape measure was sufficient.
One feature we enjoy on our 25 ft. tape measure is that it is self-locking. This means that when the tape is extended, it stays out until a button is pressed causing the tape measure to retract.
2. Marking Instruments
Another school bus conversion tool that is inexpensive and indispensable are marking instruments. There are a few different ones that we use depending on the material we’re working with. Not all of them work for each project, yet a few are multi-purpose.
Right out of the toolbox, a carpenter’s pencil is one of our all-around go-to marking instruments. Carpenter’s pencils are sturdy and can take a beating because of how thick they are as well as they won’t roll off our project because of the shape. They mark on various materials like paper and wood, making them easy to use for taking notes or marking a cut line.
A Sharpie would be our next favorite marking tool as it’s good for drawing quick sketches for cut lines, marking plastics, and metal. We use Sharpies for labeling tape and marking on the framing indicating various information pertinent to the area we’re building in.
An awl is the last marking tool we use frequently. Using a sharp awl, which looks like an ice pick, is great for marking sheet metal cut lines because it has a sharp point and can scribe a scratched line for making precise cuts.
3. Angle Grinder
If you’re converting a school bus into a motorhome or tiny home on wheels, there’s no question on IF you need an angle grinder, because you gotta have one. There’s no escaping it. The angle grinder is a pertinent school bus conversion tool because it is extremely versatile. We’ve used our angle grinder with wood, metal, and plastic. With the correct blade, disk, or wheel, an angle grinder can cut through metal, smooth out welds and even artfully sculpt wood.
Various projects we’ve used our angle grinder for are things like cutting the steel hat channel to make room for bigger windows. Using the angle grinder allowed us to shape the edge of our kitchen countertop. The angle grinder also makes it easy to cut the heads off stubborn, old, stripped out bolts.
4. Oscillating Tool
The oscillating tool is one of those skoolie tools that, once you have one you think, “Why have I waited this long to get this?” Quite frankly, this tool can make cuts that other cutting tools cannot because the blade doesn’t really move much. The oscillating tool works by moving a blade or attachment at extremely high speed in either a circular or back and forth motion, Doing this allows very precise cuts in confined space without needing the range of motion required by tools like a reciprocating saw or circular saw.
Depending on the blade, we’ve been able to make flush cuts in wood using the wood toothed blade, cut off bolt heads with the metal blade, scrape off and even cut through grout to easily remove one block of glass without destroying the rest around it.
In our book, an oscillating tool is a must-have in skoolie tools.
5. Reciprocating Saw
A school bus conversion tool that we use quite often is the reciprocating saw. This saw also goes by the name SAWZALL which is by Milwaukee. The reciprocating saw is useful when cutting metal, wood, and plastics. What’s cool about a reciprocating saw is that the blades come in varying lengths, which makes cutting through multiple layers of materials all at the same time possible.
An example of use is when we were cutting out the bus skin on the skirt area of the bus to create a space for the doors for our underbody storage, the angle grinder blade diameter was not long enough to cut through the skin, AND the vertical hat channel. However, the reciprocating saw easily cut through all of it in one go.
Because of the versatility and strength, having a reciprocating saw in your skoolie toolbox is a no-brainer when it comes to school bus conversion tools.
6. Circular Saw
There are some instances during a skoolie build when cutting a straight line may benefit you. As an example, as we were building our cabinet boxes in the kitchen, we needed straight lines for connecting the pieces together. Although this is possible with a jigsaw, a circular saw is far superior at this task.
Besides cutting wood, using different blades on a circular saw allows for cutting through metal, plastics, and tiles too!
7. Compound Miter Saw
Cutting square or angle pieces of lumber has never been easier or more precise with a compound miter saw. When framing up the walls, or needing to batch cut lumber, having a compound miter saw in our school bus conversion toolbox not only saves us time but also increases efficiency and safety.
The compound miter saw we use also has a slide on it, which makes cutting boards up to 12” thick, and leaves a nice crisp cut when using a sharp blade. With the hundreds of boards needing to be cut for our upcycled barn wood floor, the compound miter saw was excellent in making fast, accurate cuts.
8. Table Saw
Using a table saw in our skoolie build made milling reclaimed barn wood a lot easier than trying to make the same cuts with a circular saw. With longer boards needing to be a consistent width, setting the fence on the table saw allowed us to cut an entire row of boards the same width a breeze. A table saw can be used not only to cut wood but ripping panels of foam board is quick and easy as well.
9. Jigsaw
With versatility in mind, a jigsaw checks that box quite nicely. With a variety of blade types, a jigsaw can cut straight or curved designs easily through most materials including metal, wood, and plastics. Where a benchtop scroll saw or band saw won’t work, a jigsaw can be used in various applications, which is why we have it in our skoolie toolbox.
As an example, Erin was cutting some swirly designs into plywood for the end piece of our bedroom closet clothes rack. The jigsaw made cutting those curves easy peasy.
10. Router
Creativity is spawned through imagination and clever tool usage. The router is one of those tools that seems like it has a limited use to rounding edges for finished pieces until mounting the router to a table or a jig increases its functionality.
We used our router to cut tongue and groove ends in our reclaimed barn wood to mill our floor joints.
In another project, we used our router mounted to a board so as to create a 360-degree circular rotational jig to carve out our shower’s dome skylight frame.
11. Pocket Hole Jig
Joining wood at right angles to each other has never been easier since the advent of the Kreg Jig. Once upon a time, becoming a cabinet maker was one of those trades that took years to hone one’s skills to make sturdy cabinets. All this changed when the Kreg Jig hit the market. Now, making cabinets is as easy as following the guide on the Kreg Jig and screwing them together.
We use the Kreg Jig to screw together our 2×2 and 2×4 wall framing along with joining plywood as thin as 1/2″ thick. The resulting joints are strong and easy to put together. All this is why we have the Kreg Jig in our school bus conversion toolbox.
12. Welding Machine
While bolting together metal is strong and easy to visually know the pieces are joined together, using a MIG welder has changed how we fabricate steel projects. Where bolts are not possible or make building difficult, joining steel together with a weld is strong, sleek, and relatively easy to do.
We use the Lincoln Electric POWER MIG 210 MP which has multiple weld settings for various sizes of metal making welding up the hat channel for around the windows quick. In other projects, we find that welding angle iron together is quicker than using bolts, which is why this welding machine is in our skoolie toolbox.
13. Metal Shears
When cutting sheet metal, using metal shears makes quick, accurate work of the task. Although some pieces a quick snip with a hand shear works fine, for longer cuts, using metal shears is substantially easier and cuts cleaner than using tin snips.
14. Clamps
Holding pieces of material together with clamps is far superior to using our handgrip strength in most cases. There are all sorts of clamps that we use, such as quick grip clamps, c-clamps, spring clamps, and pipe clamps to name a few, there is a purpose for all the different types.
Overall, we use the Irwin Quick-Grip clamps more than any of the other ones, but there are some situations that the other types work better than the quick-grip clamps, which is why we have an assortment in our school bus conversion toolbox.
15. Impact Driver & Drill
Every day… Each project… Regardless of what we’re working on… An impact driver and drill are essential for screwing things together and drilling holes. We’ve used both Bosch and Makita drills and impact drivers. The Bosch feels lighter than the Makita, but the Makita has more torque and longer battery life than the Bosch.
For some stubborn bolts that the Bosch impact driver couldn’t loosen, the Makita broke the nut free from the bolt without a problem. However, when it comes to hours of drilling in wood screws for projects like our reclaimed barn wood floor, the Bosch impact driver is lighter, meaning we had longer endurance before our forearms were smoked from holding onto the impact driver longer.
16. Shop Vacuum
Dirt, dust, and debris gets everywhere, every day, with every project. Using a broom helps a ton, but to get all the dust and debris up without sweeping it into the air, a good shop vacuum is essential in keeping workspaces clean.
We use the shop vacuum every single day to suck up sawdust, metal shavings, and dirt that we trek into the bus from outside. When choosing a shop vac, we had to get one that really sucks! The more suction it has, the better it will remove dust and debris from wherever we point the wand hose.
17. Air Compressor
Although the air compressor is something that most don’t rant and rave about, without one, surfaces are harder to keep clean. We use a 15-gallon air compressor in the barn shop every day with a pistol-grip blowgun attachment hooked to a 25 ft. long hose. With that setup, we keep surfaces cleared. As sawdust builds up on the table saw or compound miter saw, we blow it off. As our workbench accumulates sawdust or metal shavings, we blow it off. If a piece we’re working on has debris in a drilled hole, the blower attachment comes to the rescue!
What’s cool about air compressors is that there are a TON of attachments that can be connected to them including cut-off wheels, drills, air chisels, impact drivers, and tire inflators, just to name a few.
18. Pneumatic Rivet Gun
When doing sheet metal work, fastening two sheets together at the seam sometimes requires rivets, which are a fun fastener. By drilling a quick hole and popping a rivet in, the two sheets become one quickly.
Now, there are a couple of types of rivet guns. One is manual where we would have to squeeze a handle and use our hands’ strength to pop the mandrel on the rivet. The second is our favorite, which is the pneumatic rivet gun. This style is hooked up to the air compressor and a trigger is gently pulled, which causes the rivet gun to do the work for you (which is why we have this one in our skoolie toolbox)
19. Builder’s Square, Combination Square & Speed Square
What’s funny about using a square edge of any kind in a bus build is that the bus itself is not square. The walls going up the side to the curved ceiling across the top of the ceiling and down the other side… Not square.
However, when building stuff inside a skoolie, it’s nice to have square edges for things like lining up the studs in the walls, squaring up cabinet walls, faces, backs, and bottoms, or even laying out reclaimed barn wood floor.
Regardless of what we need to be square, we always have either a builders square, combination square, or a speed square available.
20. Orbital Sander
Rough edges on the wood are tough to clean and nobody wants a splinter, which is why we love having an orbital sander. A sander, in general, is a nice accompaniment to a skoolie tool cache. However, an orbital sander is superior to most non-orbital sanders.
Why we like an orbital sander so much is because the random pattern at which the orbital sander moves seems to smooth out wood better than a sander that just vibrates. If we put on a coarse grit of sandpaper, the orbital sander takes down bulk quickly. While when we use a finer grit, the finish ends up being like butter. This is why we have an orbital sander in our school bus conversion tool arsenal!
21. Rivnut Tool
When rivets are fun fasteners, rivnuts take building to a whole other level! Rivnuts are blind fasteners which means that you can drill a hole into a metal surface, insert a rivnut hooked to a rivnut tool, pop it in place and now there’s a threaded machine screw or bolt hole ready for attaching something else too.
We used rivnuts on our roof to affix the strut channel in place for our rooftop decking and solar panel setup. The tool is simple enough to use by screwing a rivnut to the end, then squeezing the two handles together.
22. Crescent Wrenches
There are more nuts and bolts on a bus being converted into a tiny home than we can even count. Having a solid set of crescent wrenches helps hold on to the hex head bolts or nuts. We have a sturdy set of crescent wrenches because the cheaper ones tend to bend or disfigure the ends. Definitely worth having heavy-duty open-ended and box ended crescent wrenches.
23. Socket Set
Like crescent wrenches, going with a heavy-duty socket set will not disappoint. Something to consider is that there are different types of sockets. Deep sockets are longer and can fit over a rod while regular depth sockets can only take the nut so far. Another consideration is will the socket be used with either an impact drill or an impact driver? If so, then getting a set that is multipurpose and can handle the forces of an impact drill or driver will keep the sockets in working order for years to come.
24. Locking Pliers
Along with clamps, vice grips or locking pliers are essential! We’ve used locking pliers to hold onto pieces of wood and metal, clamp something in place, or even hold onto a stripped bolt or nut. We have quite a few pairs of vice grips because often we use multiple pairs at a time.
In Conclusion
This is not an all-inclusive list of tools we use for our school bus conversion. Although, this list will allow most people to get the majority of projects completed. When building a skoolie there a quite a few tools that are helpful to have in your skoolie toolbox and we hope that this list gets you going to building the tiny home on wheels of your dreams! If there are any other tools you like to use that we didn’t mention here, drop them in the comments below and let us know what you use them for. We may even add them to this list!
Happy building!
Until Next Time… Adventure On!
– Brian Garcia
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post Top 24 Essential School Bus Conversion Tools appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>How to Title & Register A School Bus As A Motorhome In Missouri
With not much information available, Angela Rose was able to title and insure her school bus as a motorhome in Missouri. Even though the process took some time, she was able to navigate around the red tape and has shared with you her story on how she was able to get her Missouri motorhome title.
If you’re looking to get a Missouri Motorhome Title for your converted school bus, then this story is for you.
Learn how to get your school bus titled and insured as a motorhome in Missouri.
Every country, city, state and province has different requirements for registering a school bus as a motorhome, which can be quite confusing and frustrating. However, being tenacious, like Angela, you’ll be able to use this article as a guide where Angela shares her experience about getting a motorhome title in Springfield, Missouri. Who knows, this process may be similar to where you’re located!
In this article, we’re featuring Angela Rose from Springfield, Missouri who is sharing her Skoolie Title Story. Her Skoolie is named Lovely Rita!
DISCLAIMER: Everyone's situation is different. Laws for titling and registering a school bus as a motorhome vary from country to country, state to state, province to province and even city to city. Also, laws, rules and regulations can change without notice. What works for someone in one place, may not be the same for someone else. Use this Skoolie Title Story as a guide to give you the language you need and to get you going. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to verify what's current in your area. This article is for entertainment purposes only and should not be substituted for legal advice. Please consult your local title and registration governmental agency for current processes & procedures.
How To Title & Register A Converted School Bus To A Motor Home In Missouri
Because title, registration, and insurance requirements seem to be all over the board, we asked Angela what she experienced. Like most Skoolie owners, Angela is free-spirited and extremely tenacious! Let’s face it… Converting a Skoolie isn’t easy, which is why we’re sharing the title & registration stories of others so that you too can get past this first MAJOR hurdle of switching your school bus title, registration, and getting your insurance. Here’s what she had to say…
What first intrigued you about building a Skoolie?
I wanted to live independently and be mobile.
When did you acquire your Skoolie?
September 2017
Where did you buy your school bus?
I found my bus on Craigslist for $5000. My brother helped me shop for one.
When you bought your school bus, how did you get it from the seller’s lot to your conversion location?
I drove it.
What components did you need to install to meet the Missouri mobile home title requirements to go from school bus to RV?
I installed the:
- Water tanks
- Plumbing
- A futon
- Compost toilet
- Had the electricity installed by Camping World
What were the steps required to register & title your school bus as a motorhome / RV in Missouri?
- I bought my bus.
- My brother and I did the floors, painting, and smaller projects.
- I had a plumber install the plumbing and water tanks.
- Camping World installed a complete electrical system and solar panels.
- I had an inspection done by Highway Patrol to make sure I met the RV requirements for Missouri.
- He (Highway Patrol Officer) mailed off my old title with the title registration form (Form 108)
- I received the new RV title and took pictures to send to my insurance provider – American National.
- They insured it as an RV.
What was your Missouri skoolie insurance process AND what kind of RV policy did you need?
I was initially insured through National General, but they have liability only on Skoolies. After getting it re-titled, I got it insured through my regular automotive insurance provider – American Family Insurance. I had to take pictures of the outside and inside and provide an estimate of its value.
Do you live in your Skoolie full-time?
No, I’m part-time.
What’s one piece of wisdom you’d like to give people who are considering converting a school bus into a Skoolie that you wish you knew before you got started?
Start off small and add as you go. I spent a lot of money upfront on items I barely use. Less is more when it comes to life on the road.
What do you think your superpower has been throughout your Skoolie build?
I am tenacious! I like to see projects through to the end.
Here’s how to follow Angela Rose & her Skoolie, Lovely Rita:
Until Next Time… Adventure On!
– Brian Garcia
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post How to Title & Register A School Bus As A Motorhome In Missouri appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>How to Title & Register A School Bus As A Motorhome In Utah
Wonderboy is not just a song by Tenacious D. The story herein is not a fable or fiction… Rather, this is a true account of how Kat & Cam Cooper successfully got their school bus named “Wonderboy” titled & registered as a motorhome in Utah.
If you’re looking to get a Utah Motorhome Title for your converted school bus, then this story is for you.
Getting a Utah mobile home title for a converted school bus can be tricky, but is worth it!
Getting a school bus titled & registered as a motorhome may vary from state to state or even from country to country. Use this as a guide to what Kat & Cam Cooper did to get their bus titled as a motorhome because the process may be similar wherever you’re at!
In this article, we’re featuring Kat & Cam Cooper from Salt Lake City, Utah who are sharing their Skoolie Title Story. Their Skoolie is named Wonderboy!
DISCLAIMER: Everyone's situation is different. Laws for titling and registering a school bus as a motorhome vary from country to country, state to state, province to province and even city to city. Also, laws, rules and regulations can change without notice. What works for someone in one place, may not be the same for someone else. Use this Skoolie Title Story as a guide to give you the language you need and to get you going. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to verify what's current in your area. This article is for entertainment purposes only and should not be substituted for legal advice. Please consult your local title and registration governmental agency for current processes & procedures.
How To Title & Register A Converted School Bus To A Motor Home In Utah
To get to the bottom of it, we asked Kat & Cam some questions to see what was the process in Utah to switch the title from an old school bus into a motor home title. Here’s what they had to say…
What first intrigued you about building a Skoolie?
We have always been big travelers, with a habit of taking last-minute road trips whenever the mood struck. We just happened upon some #Vanlife videos on youtube and pretty much fell down the rabbit hole haha. We started watching more and more Skoolie videos and just really decided that the life fit exactly what we want. We have been homeowners for 5 years, and the thought of doing the same thing over and over and being tied to one place didn’t seem particularly exciting anymore. The freedom of being able to pick up and go and living the simple life with what we truly needed seems like the way to go. So we came up with the plan to buy a school bus, convert it, sell the house and figure it out from there lol
When did you acquire your Skoolie?
June 2020
Where did y’all buy your school bus?
Private Owner/ Business. There was a local charter company who was selling their fleet. They used their busses to take kids back and forth to church camps and corporate charters to Southern Utah. Due to covid, they were forced to sell off their fleet since they could not afford to keep paying high insurance premiums, while not being able to operate. We ended up getting their last (and favorite) bus 🙂
When you bought your school bus, how did you get it from the seller’s lot to your conversion location?
The seller of the bus actually drove it back to our house for us. He even took the time to show us all the knobs, switches, tips, and tricks that may help us out down the road.
What components did you need to install to meet the Utah mobile home title requirements to go from school bus to RV?
In Utah, it is a toss-up. I called the DMV multiple times and they have no set “requirements” that need to be on the bus. Every time I called they told me something different. They said they would need to see photos to prove that it definitely wasn’t being used as a School Bus and photos at the end of the conversation. But we got incredibly lucky.
What were the steps required to register & title your school bus as a motorhome / RV in Utah?
After we purchased the bus and got the bill of sale, title, and proof of insurance, we went to the DMV. They required us to pay tax, title, and registration in order to get a 2-month temp tag. At that point, we had to register it as a school bus and pay the higher amount for registration because of the weight class. If I could do it again, I would have had it weighed before we took the paperwork in initially, to prove that the bus didn’t actually weight 38,000lbs (GVWR) They told us that we needed to get emissions done before we could get the plates. After we got the emissions done, I had to go back to the DMV. I had all of the paperwork and just decided to ask one more time about the requirements to get the title and registration changed over to Motorhome. To my complete surprise, the lady working just went ahead and changed everything over after I told her we were doing an RV conversion on it.
If you are located in the general Salt Lake City area, make a trip up to the Farmington DMV and see if they can help you out with this. My general understanding is if you can’t get super lucky with the DMV, they would require these things to convert:
- Proof of Insurance
- Photos of the completed build
- Weight certificate
- VIN inspection
- Receipts of everything done/bought for the build
- A couple forms if it wasn’t previously titled in the state of Utah.
Definitely call and chat with your local office and see what they say, maybe even drop into the office and keep bugging them, maybe they will just change it over.
What was your Utah skoolie insurance process AND what kind of RV policy did you need?
We found a great local agent/ broker that was able to set everything up without photos or anything. We were able to get a commercial policy from progressive while it was still titled as a school bus. Once we got it registered/titled as an RV, he was able to get us full coverage for $10,000 for now. We will be upping the blanket coverage amount once we finish the conversion.
Do you live in your Skoolie full-time?
I’m building it right now & planning to live in it full-time!
What’s one piece of wisdom you’d like to give people who are considering converting a school bus into a Skoolie that you wish you knew before you got started?
Be patient!!!! The perfect bus is out there for you. We looked for 9 months before we found our “Wonderboy”. Be patient with your build, it’s easy to get discouraged and feel like you aren’t making any progress. But small steps are steps no matter what. Also, if you are building with your partner/S.O….be patient with them haha, this build is testing every fiber of our marriage but making it stronger as well LOL never knew we would have arguments about drill bits and deep socket wrenches.
What do you think your superpower is (or would be) in a Skoolie build?
Kat: Surprisingly strong when it came to the demo. Problem-solving skills (was able to get the bus started after we accidentally cut the wires to the emergency door oops)
Cam: Very hands on and great knowledge of how to get things built. Knows his way around a saw 🙂
“Wonderboy” by Tenacious D!
Until Next Time… Adventure On!
– Brian Garcia
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post How to Title & Register A School Bus As A Motorhome In Utah appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>Getting A Wisconsin Mobile Home Title For A Converted School Bus
If you’re looking to get a Wisconsin Mobile Home Title for your converted school bus, then this story is for you. Meghan & David Post successfully got their Skoolie, Gus The Bus, titled, registered, and insured in Wisconsin as a motorhome / RV in 2020.
The story of Gus The Bus going from an old school bus to a tiny home on wheels will hopefully inspire you and help you get your bus titled so that you can hit the road sooner!
Getting a Wisconsin mobile home title for a converted school bus is easier than most may think…
While every school bus conversion to a motor home or a recreational vehicle may vary from state to state, and even country to country, one thing we’ve started to notice is that the process is similar.
In this article, we’re featuring Meghan & David Post from Wisconsin who are sharing their Skoolie Title Story. Their Skoolie is named Gus The Bus!
DISCLAIMER: Everyone's situation is different. Laws for titling and registering a school bus as a motorhome vary from country to country, state to state, province to province and even city to city. Also, laws, rules and regulations can change without notice. What works for someone in one place, may not be the same for someone else. Use this Skoolie Title Story as a guide to give you the language you need and to get you going. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to verify what's current in your area. This article is for entertainment purposes only and should not be substituted for legal advice. Please consult your local title and registration governmental agency for current processes & procedures.
How To Title & Register A Converted School Bus To A Motor Home In Wisconsin
To get to the bottom of it, we asked Meghan & David some questions to see what was the process in Wisconsin to switch the title from an old school bus into a motor home title. The result is their tiny home on wheels. Here’s what they had to say…
What first intrigued you about building a Skoolie?
I (Meghan) was inspired by @midwestwanderers skoolie and was lost in a rabbit hole of Pinterest and Instagram inspirations!!
When did you acquire your Skoolie?
October 2017
Where did y’all buy your school bus?
We bought our bus from Craigslist!
What components did you need to install to meet the Wisconsin mobile home title requirements to go from school bus to RV?
The only two requirements was that it was painted a different color than school bus yellow, as well as the signage and flashing lights that come on with the stop sign was removed from the outside.
Did you get your school bus titled as a motorhome/RV in Wisconsin before or after conversion?
We completed our conversion before going through the motorhome title and registration process.
What were the steps required to register & title your school bus as a motorhome / RV in Wisconsin?
- After researching our state’s requirements, we printed out the MV1-2 form, as well as the MV2103 School Bus Conversion Record sheet.
- A sheriff inspected our conversion and signed off on the MV2103 form.
- Sent in paperwork to WI DMV. Due to COVID, things are taking much longer, and we are still waiting on our plates.
Wisconsin DMV Mobile Home & RV Title School Bus Conversion Requirements »
So let us get this straight, you got your temporary license plate BEFORE registering as a motorhome while waiting for the metal plates to arrive?
This question has a fully loaded answer. We left Wisconsin to drive our converted bus to Illinois to further wait out COVID-19. We attempted to JUST get temporary plates in Wisconsin and register the bus in Arkansas, but the Wisconsin DMV told us we needed to pay the troll tolls 🙂
We ended up registering the bus AFTER receiving our temp plate (we drove to IL road legal with the temp). Once the WI DMV caught on to our plan, they ensured us that we were not doing things legally, and needed to fully register the bus as an RV in WI (even though we were in IL at this point).
When you bought your school bus, how did you get it from the seller’s lot to your conversion location?
Great question!! We bought insurance from Progressive to get our school bus from KY to IL. Kentucky seemed waaaayyy more lenient than IL for this request for a temporary plate. Since the previous owner blacked out the school district name on the side of the bus, we then successfully passed a DMV inspection to take our bus up north. Our Progressive insurance policy was the cheapest policy and more so gave us peace of mind while traveling up north.
What was your Wisconsin skoolie insurance process AND what kind of RV policy did you need?
To drive our bus, the previous owner did some legal work including blacking out the name of the school district on the side. We took advice from the Skoolie Nation Facebook group and went with Progressive.
Skoolie Nation has helped us so much and we are so grateful! Once our bus was converted, we went with All-State, after much research and many let downs (including failing at getting back our previous policy with Progressive). We pay ~$1,200/ year for full coverage!
Do you live in your Skoolie full-time?
Yes, I’m full-time Skoolie Life!
What’s one piece of wisdom you’d like to give people who are considering converting a school bus into a Skoolie that you wish you knew before you got started?
There are so many things to say, but fellow skoolie friends told us this and it stuck-KEEP GOING! You’re might get burnt out, let down, and frustrated, but take a breath and keep going!
What do you think your superpower is (or would be) in a Skoolie build?
I love using my creativity with design! Perhaps my superpower is reclaiming old things and turning them into useful things! 🙂
Watch Gus The Bus’s First Interview!
Until Next Time… Adventure On!
– Brian Garcia
Hey, we're Brian + Erin. Currently, we're workin' on our bug out bus. Lucky the proverbial $hit hadn't hit the fan yet when we picked up this 40-foot beauty in Phoenix AZ and drove it up to Canada to convert it. Hopefully, we all still have time...
Honestly, this bus conversion has been the only sane thing in this insane world lately. We can't tell you how good it feels to BE working on something that lights our souls up and has such potential for a life that is entwined with nature, love, and happiness.
Our main goal is to inspire people to get off-grid and become self-reliant. We are well on our way and are super excited to talk about solutions with others who are shooting for a similar way of living.
Did This Blog Post Help You? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you comment below and share it with a friend.
Check out our must-read articles about Skoolie Conversion
Texas Couple Accidentally Won School Bus Auction | Registering & Building A Skoolie In DFW
Joeseph & Jennifer Davis from DFW, Texas accidentally won an online auction to buy a school...
DIY Skoolie Solar System To BE Off-Grid Longer
When designing & building a DIY skoolie solar system, there are quite a few considerations....
Steps To Import A Bus From The USA To Canada (Or Vice Versa)
Yvan & Sylvie from Québec have successfully imported not just one, but TWO buses from the USA...
Copyright © 2016-2022 BE Adventure Partners
The post Getting A Wisconsin Mobile Home Title For A Converted School Bus appeared first on BE Adventure Partners.
]]>