School bus conversion – no off-the-peg mobile home

In the US, the cheapest way to build your own RV is by buying an old school bus. A group of French people in the USA are now making it possible to expand their own individual school bus – even if you are not a craftsman yourself. The work is done by the Mybushotel company. The founders put their skills to the test with their own giant bus, with which they traveled to South and North America themselves.

Cheap vehicles

Why are school buses so popular? In the USA, the construction and operation of these buses are strictly regulated, after a few years they have to be replaced. Therefore there is a constant supply of technically perfect vehicles at a reasonable price and that in all sizes. The US buses are completely different from German models. Technically, they are trucks or pick-ups that have a cabin instead of a loading area. The technology is kept simple, but practically indestructible.

Mybushotel specializes in selling the more compact models. Their “B-Hotel” buses are slightly larger than the campers in Europe, but much smaller than the XXL motorhomes that are popular in the USA. Her first child, named Natasha, was 39 feet tall, almost twelve meters. With such vehicles, Mybushotel wanted to offer adventure tours by bus. That was the plan until Corona came.

Solid extensions

With the pandemic, bus trips had to take breaks, but the demand for mobile homes increased in the USA. That was the chance for Mybushotel. Much smaller buses are offered for sale, they measure only 6.7 meters. Because of the greater width, they are more spacious inside than European campers of the same length. The basic layout provides for a double bed in the rear – with a large flat screen. Behind the driver is the kitchen with stove and freezer. There is also a bathroom with a rain shower and a composting toilet. The electricity comes from solar cells. The highlight of the motorhome is the huge wooden sundeck on the roof.

The floor plan is not a revolution, the tasteful and solid construction makes the difference. In the USA, unlike in Europe, the vehicle weight only plays a subordinate role – this also explains the wasteful use of heavy timber. The entire conversion costs $ 58,000 – including the used base vehicle. US school buses are mostly only imported to Europe as party buses or as advertising media. Taxes, necessary modifications and transport increase the price of the “skoolies” significantly.

Those: ,

Also read:

The school bus becomes a luxury motorhome with a western look

Motorhome in the school bus – Transamericana trip because the dog didn’t like the apartment