This Skoolie Is a Fully-Equipped Apartment on Wheels With a Modern, Home-Like Design

If I were to live in the United States, I'd definitely consider a school bus conversion. Driving such a rig where I'm from, in Europe, isn't convenient and is not even legal in some parts. Anyway, skoolies have a lot of benefits. I won't go into detail right now, but you can check out my article that covers this topic.

Meet Joel and Rachel Binks, the owners and converters of this tiny home on wheels based on a 1998 International school bus. The couple had no building experience, so they decided to get a bus already converted as part of an HGTV show.

That was a mistake, at least in certain aspects. The exterior restoration was done well and included a 25-inch (63.5-centimeter) roof raise upgrade. However, the living space was done on a budget, and things started falling apart as they traveled. So, the couple realized they had to change it out.

They removed most of what was inside, watched numerous YouTube videos to learn how to do everything, and got to work. The conversion is close to complete; there are just some minor improvements and additions Joel and Rachel want to make.

There's no way you'll miss this bus on the road, mainly because of its 38-foot (11.6-meter) length and its very bright white paint. At the front, Joel bolted a hitch to the bumper, which holds a frame to which the couple hangs two hammocks. It's a lovely setup. As you'll soon see, these two love hammocks.

If you climb on the roof, you'll discover yet another hammock setup: two poles holding a hammock. Four 390 W solar panels, for a total capacity of 1,560 W, are also on the roof.

Like most buses, this rig has multiple exterior compartments. These hold a grill, a generator, a propane canister, fluids, and more.

The water tanks of this rig are mounted on the outside, underneath the vehicle. The bus is equipped with a 100-gallon (378-liter) greywater tank and a freshwater tank with the same capacity.

Joel installed a Blue Ox tow bar at the rear, which they use to tow their Kia Soul. The emergency door above leads into the garage, where you can find tools and more.

The garage is separated from the living space, so this door is the only way to access it. Finally, also at the rear, you'll discover a mini-split unit with a StarLink mounted on top.

That's it for the exterior, so let's step inside. The bright theme of the bus continues inside, as the couple opted for a bright design with a black-and-white (mainly white) aesthetic. It consists of white shiplap and tiled walls, a white ceiling,

The driver's cabin underwent some minor changes. For instance, as you enter, you'll find a show storage cubby on the right. Moreover, the duo fitted two fans and a curtain for more privacy.

Next, we have the lounge area comprising a large L-shaped couch. It faces a 4K TV monitor attached to a swivel. Joel and Rachel are gamers, so they added a PS5 behind the TV to play video games. They even have an additional PS5 at the rear, in the bedroom, for when they want to play online multiplayer.

Heating and cooling is covered in this area of the bus. Above, there's a mini-split unit with a cabinet on each side. The couple uses a pellet stove underneath the TV for heating.

I like that there's a lot of natural light shining inside this part of the bus through the windshield and two large windows on the sides. Another notable element here is a sizeable fold-up desk, which you can use by sitting in a hammock you can attach to the ceiling.

Walk deeper inside the bus, and you'll be in the kitchen. It's quite spacious and features plenty of counter space, an oven/four-burner stove combo, a residential-size fridge/freezer, a deep sink, an iced coffee station with an ice maker, and an overhead microwave. Storage isn't an issue in this kitchen, as you can use multiple upper and lower cabinets, drawers, and a spice rack.

Right beside the fridge, you'll notice a floor-to-ceiling storage unit. It's split into two closets: one for Joel and the other for Rachel.

On the opposite side, behind a sliding barn door, the duo devised the bathroom, one of this project's most distinctive parts. It has the amenities you expect to find in a skoolie bathroom: a sink with a cabinet below, a mirror, some shelves, and a toilet.

What sets the bathroom apart is a sizeable free-standing bathtub with a filler and a window beside it. You can use a rain head and a standard handheld head for washing.

Finally, like in most skoolies, the rear part of the interior is occupied by a bedroom. This bus's bedroom boasts a mini-split, two drawers, and another wall-mounted TV connected to a PS5. A ladder on the wall lets you climb through a skylight above to get on the roof.

One advantage of skoolies is how much it costs to build them: usually, less than what you'd pay for a camper van conversion. Joel and Rachel shared that they bought the bus for $29,000 (€26,813) already converted, while the renovations set them back about $36,000 (€33,285), bringing the total price of the rig to $65,000 (€60,100).

That's quite a lot for a skoolie – most of the units I've written about were in the range of $30,000 to $40,000 (€27,738 to €36,984), including the price of the base vehicle. This project was more expensive because the couple paid for the converted living space, which they had to remove due to its poor quality.

All in all, Joel and Rachel did a fantastic job with this conversion, especially considering they had no relevant experience. This tiny home on wheels is packed with creature comforts that make it easy for them to live in it full-time.