Good point there. I’m also on the fence. I’ve got a bus, and I’ve got a truck that can pull. I travel a lot for work. The only thing keeping me from getting a camper trailer is that everyone I know that owns one has had problems such as broken slides, ceiling cave-ins, underbelly sagging due to trapped water, floor cave ins, etc. not minor problems at all. The value of a camper goes down 50% after just a couple years. It just seems like a terribly bad investment. A properly converted skoolie (roof raise, tv windows, plumbing and electric) can sell anywhere from 40-100k depending on the type of bus. Just seems like a better investment to me.
I am interested in a more nomadic lifestyle. I am also a virtual reality enthusiast. I have heard one thing people say a lot about with a nomadic lifestyle is the loneliness. I often like being alone, but because I have friends worldwide, thanks to the internet, and now VR, if i have a space to use my VR headset any time i want, i think it will work for me. I understand the pros and cons about the different options. I was just leaning more towards a bus because there arent many layouts that dont have slideouts that could work for my lifestyle and my projected lifestyle. I want to do more conventions, and be able to have friends with me. this is why i was leaning more towards a school bus, but i was also thinking about getting a wanderlodge and modifying that, as its already registered as an RV, even though its built on a school bus chassis. ive also thought about RVs and camper trailers, but i do have a classic 80s 1/2 ton pickup truck that i really want to bring with me. ive also considered a motor coach bus as those are a lot more comfortable to be in and drive in, but have a lower ground clearance than the school bus i would want to get, but I would really prefer something under 35 feet long.
So on some of your points I have to disagree. I have a skoolie with regular windows and do not have the moisture issues you claim, but I also went to the nth degree on my build to seal up every crack, rib, bolt hole in the floor, and have proper ceiling fannage. for in and out flow. You can't really skip on this and if you do at all, you will have the moisture issues you describe. And from my observation, most do skip out on some of the techniques required. I do agree with you on points 8, 5, 4, and 3. If you have maintenance issue that you cannot do yourself. Most of them you can, but if not it does cost far more. On point 5. Insurance Companies do hate you and will not give you insurance however we resolved this relatively easily by going to a insurance broker. We originally applied to State Farm whom I've been a customer with over 2 decades with a perfect driving record, they wouldn't insure me. I went to progressive who states on the site they do not insure converted school buses and was out right denied when calling in. Interesting thing is I went to a broker who got me none other than "Progressive" to ensure my bus. It was binding immediately, and they cannot cancel me until at least 1 year. They may cancel me in another year, but I'll just use a broker again. Brokers can always find you the insurance you need and quickly and it doesn't cost you anything to use them. They take a commission off of the insurer. Use a broker. I had insurance same day, and no questions about modifications mattered or were asked. It was actually easy once I went the broker route. Point 4, You can run your bus on bio-diesel. If you have access to free bio diesel this is a win win. In a SHTF Situation i'll still be growing my own diesel and driving my bus. In an every day situation you are correct, it does cost a little more to run, but no more than a traditional RV would either, they use the same engines and the same diesel in many cases, but in a modern RV you have to also buy DEF and upkeep your DPF filters etc. which can cost $1000's You can still buy skoolies with plenty of miles left that have no emissions maintenance's. So the offset cost of more expensive maintenance balances out with not having to spend on emissions. This fact will change in 5-10 years when all of those emission free buses are no longer available. I also live in a state where diesel is only $3.20 a gallon, so traveling around here isn't bad, but it will be more expensive if I travel far anywhere. Point 3 isn't a deal breaker for many. Design considerations of items in the bus can make all the difference in the world. You should upgrade your shocks. Even standard type shocks can do well under load with a higher quality shock. The $50 shocks that you can buy for a bus aren't going to cut it, but you can get upgraded shocks and they do make a difference. Most skoolie drivers will replace them anyway as the existing ones are shot by the time they own it. If you didn't replace your shocks during your build that's on you. It's another $2k on average to upgrade to air ride, and yes more if going liquid, so you are correct there. Doing the shocks yourself is not hard if you have the proper jacking. On Point 2, I'm one of those Skoolie.net fans who contributes and have built buses. You do have a point in the fact that building a bus is a rose color glass situation, however we often tell people the accurate amount of money it will cost to build up a skoolie, we make no bones about potentially having to do high maintenance costs, we don't hide any of these facts, and we truly do love the form factor of a bus! It's no different than someone wanting an impractical Camaro vs a practical Toyota Corolla. The corolla is far more economical and practical and easier to maintenance, but it's a corolla, you are not going to turn any heads with that car. So a skoolie is absolutely the same thing. People see it and are wow'd by it. Their imaginations go wild with questions. Buses bring the wow factor the same way a souped up Camaro does. I'm going to look far cooler in my skoolie than you would in an RV. So you are right in the fact that skoolies aren't practical always. They can be though, there are different ways to build, and also different shortcuts you can take to make them more practical, and it is a cheap way to entry for many with some downsides for sure. They will at least have a place to lay their head for those who increasingly cannot afford a home and yes they will have to put up with some of these issues, but they can sleep. We often tell people that building a bus is not for you. We daily get people asking what is required and what are the downsides, and there are plenty of posts that go into the downsides. And we usually conclude that if you do not want to accept these downsides then building a bus isn't for you. I remain blameless as a major contributor in that respect. On Point 1, We agree. I've had more luck just showing up to campgrounds, and they are more willing to take your money. Calling ahead they will almost always tell you no for the same imagination reasons you described. This is also slowly getting better as there are more and more skoolies on the road daily and it is a market they are losing out on, but yes, this is currently in a bad state. I do know some skoolie owners who are starting their own camp grounds all over the country as well specifically for skoolies. There are apps being written currently which will lead people to these campgrounds. I know the authors of the apps. So this may be changing over the next 5-10 years to some degree, but yes currently it's not where one would like. I also agree with all of your final points. Thanks for your time in reading my wall of text.
Wow! Thank you for taking the time to give us that well reasoned response. You pointed out that we do disagree on some points but also recognized that different experiences form different opinions. At this point our family has just decided a bus is not for us but we've also agreed that had we the time and money to have done it better our opinions might be different. On the insurance issue for skoolies, we have a separate video coming out after the July 4th holiday where I go into more detail about our personal experience. Hope you check it out.
yep, you are correct and couldn't have said it better. there nothing worse than listening to these younger people buy then build then break down and not be able to fix it themselves or worse the bus burns to the ground because they didn't know what they were doing.
I'll give you one reason why I would never own a factory RV instead of my Custom hand built Skoolie. I sold All kinds of RV's pull behinds to 42' luxury motor coaches for years. All RVs are unsafe at any speed, they disintegrate in accidents if they roll over there is nothing left but the wiped clean frame, the construction is crap built by Goobers. (Except Bluebirds) Skoolies were designed to carry children they will and do survive crashes and even rollovers. I'd rather be alive than scaped off the road with a shovel. Don't believe me search RV crashes and accident on You Tube see for yourself.
You don't have anyone riding in a trailer while you are on the road... so not sure why it would matter how intact it is after you rolled it.... And an accident in a modern pickup is going to be much safer than an accident in any kind of bus.
You sure seem to be taking my opinions of skoolie life personally. I mean after all they are merely my opinions unless otherwise proven. Nothing more. I do not dispute the clear lack of safety of a more traditional RV vs a skoolie. As you know, most skoolies are around 90% 16 gauge steel. But with that fact, it is important to keep in mind that because of the rigidity of the structure most of the energy from a collision will be transferred to the occupants. Despite the fact that the survival rate is much higher. Yes I do have unflattering opinions of online skoolie people. But again, they are merely my opinions.
@@CheapNomads how exactly did they take your opinion personally. They simplily stated facts of RV's. Your the only one taking this shit personally here. Which is stupid because I personally agreed with everything you said. and was also fully away RV's are POS empty tin cans on wheels which get destroy if they hit a bee while being towed.
@@CheapNomads De que se tranferira la energia a sus ocupante en una colision es mentira! cuanto mas peso menos daño tendeas al chocar contra otro vehiculo!!...ademas con 50 grandes haces tremeda casa en un colectivo escolar que ninguno de remolque hecho en fabrica se le acerca ni por un poco!!...estas mintiendo....yo si sede lo que hablo, es probable que te esten pagando o tienes acciones en una fabrica de esas lata de plastico!!y en cuanto a la temperatura interior va de a cuerdo al aislamiento que la hagas, lo del A/A estas mal de la cabeza, volvemos a lo mismo depende del aislamiento que hagas...siempre sera mejor un bus que un tupper con ruedas, lo del seguro depende de que tan bien este hecho, con un seguro de responsabilidad civil el reglamentario basico es suficiente si hiciste un buen trabajo en la construccion... jamas se va a incendiar si hiciste las cosas bien...Veo que ahi en yanquilandia las instalaciones electricas ponen los cables por cualquier lado sin tuberias...eso a la larga se prendera fuego!!, te repito si siguen las normas legales para la construccion nunca tendras un problema... Lo del consumo estas mintiendo nuevamente...una dodge RAM tiene el mismo motor que un escolar es muchisimo mas el consumo de combustible es esa camioneta y si te toca viento de costado ni hablar!! no siperas los 4 kmx litro de diesel...un escolar estaria en 6 o 7 km x litro...deja de mentir, ademas con lo que vale una ram comtras y armas cuatro escolares...ademas tendras que pagar dos seguros el de la ram que no es nada barato y el del remolque, cuando paras en un lugar pago tambien es doble...nunca es mejor el remolque...no hay un solo viajero que haya recorrido el mundo con un remolque...
School buses are much safer in a roll-over or any crash. Personally, I own a 1994 Holday Rambler 36 foot class A. We just use it for the lake and going to a friend's ranch a lot. A school bus is better for remote roads as the tail end is much higher off the ground. But the Class A has such good insulation that AC is barely needed. We use a window mounted evaporative (swamp) cooler. It works in the hot dry climate of New Mexico. Even runs off battery for now and could easily run off solar as it's just a fan and a tiny water pump to keep water dripping over the wet pad.
Oh my how right ✅ you are! Some years ago my husband wanted to buy a School bus and convert it. We had an Airstream (Bumper Pull) at the time. Well, my childhood friend's father drove for Greyhound so we rode several places over the years. I knew a School Bus simply was not our calling. We bought a full-on Newmar Dutch Star Class A Motorcoach and NEVER LOOKED BACK. ZERO REGRETS and WE LOVE ❤IT.
On the plus side a School Bus is an actual vehicle. An RV is plywood and glue on wheels. Have you ever seen an RV accident? It looks like an explosion. As far as slides they're great until they stop working and start leaking. I'd never buy anything with a slide. I don't mind that trade off. Personally I think you get more bang for your buck with a schooler or van DYI conversion. You can do it little by little as your budget permits. It's all a matter of perspective. IMHO I think some people get hung up on appearance rather than factuality.
All very good points. The one time when a skoolie would not be a good choice is, like in our case, you have a situation where you're suddenly losing your home and you have to literally throw your rig together. A ready made rig, however flimsy, would be much better in that case. Being able to take the time to build a skoolie properly would make it more ideal in many ways. Thanks for watching!
I am binge watching. LOL...I agree with you in that school buses ride like crap! Oh by the way, my bus came with air ride and it still rides like crap! Even with the negative realities of it all, I still want to give it a try. I have done a ton of research and even with that, I know it will still be difficult for me which is why I want to try it, for the challenge. I would fall in the digital nomad category. I am okay with that. Will catch you in another video.
Interesting, but to be fair the engine in our bus is the VT365 International. Not the worst in the world but not well known for its mileage. It’s also half the weight of the Kenworth T680.
@@CheapNomads In my industry, we have worked on trailer aero. I would recommend looking into air flow chevrons for the back, we use them on some trailers to create a bit of turbulence behind it to smooth out the air flow because it prevents the air from getting sucked down directly and it moves the turbulence further behind it making it go down the road smoother. Another thing you could look into is reducing anyplace air can make a 90° turn into, that's why trailers have skirts on them now and why you see trucks with wheel covers on the drive tires.
I'm subscribing to see what your future home will be. Thanks for the pro tips on skoolies. Hopefully being in the mild climates of california will relieve the hot/freezing temps in the skoolie .
I have not driven an air braked school bus since my my army time. Now I drive a school bus without an air system and it is not known for being a luxury ride. It uses a lot of fuel. These vehicles are solid. That is their advantage.
This is true. Also, if you're building one and you have 20-30k extra to blow on the suspension alone, you could get a liquid spring suspension. As I understand it the ride is better than the typical air suspension. Who knows?
It depends what your options are. I mean if you're comparing a skoolie to an RV that tells me the goal is travel and fun. A lot of Skoolie people aren't comparing a skoolie to an RV. They're comparing a skoolie vs homelessness. The rattling and the downsides vs sleeping on cement or in a tunnel are well worth it. People online yell "omg! The kids have no privacy with just a bunk!" but they don't realize you'll give up some privacy to sleep in a real bed. So if you're thinking a Skoolie would be better or cheaper for your travel dreams--noooo sir. If you're looking for home ownership, yes.
Ya know...this is one of the best comparisons I've seen so far. You hit the nail right on the head. Some of the "skoolie people" have gotten more than a little "offended" at my critique of the lifestyle. If they only understood. Thank You!
And far less durable probably (the RV). But a used RV with those same amenities would likely be half of what the cost of a good skoolie build would be. I tell people if comfort is what you're after then go with a run of the mill RV. If you would rather sacrifice some comfort and convenience for durability then a skoolie is the only way to go. I agree that RV costs are getting a bit ridiculous.
Para hacerlo bien, el costo de construcción comienza en alrededor de $30 000. Una construcción profesional puede costar $100 000 o más. Lo que los hace tan populares no se basa necesariamente en el costo, sino más bien en lo personalizable que es un skoolie.
I debated building a Skoolie at one time. Then I quickly realized that the costs were prohibitedly expensive. Maybe one day I'll build my own toy hauler camper
I figured this out after looking at many channels who did a conversation. Their is a few ways around the dyi building that insurance hates. Their are a few places that can give you the sticker and the placard on the unit. The mian thing is for the electrical system to be up to par. That's where the placard comes in. But no i would not go with a schooly.
Every place we have spoken to has literally said they wouldn't care if it was professionally built or certified (had the placard). Some said it wouldn't even matter to their insurance company. ALL of them simply said they don't like skoolies. When I asked one place why that was the guy I was talking to (and honestly he wasn't all that nasty about it) said it just reminded him of the whole hippie movement plus he thought the idea was kinda tacky. Sounds silly but he did tell me years ago when they first opened the place (they had owned it since the 1960's) that he let a bunch of those "damn hippies" (his words) in and they trashed the place. Seems to me to be just another case of one bad apple ruining the whole bunch.
Fortunately for me i am 100 perhr mechanic i didn't get a regular schooly i have what would classed like a grey puppy it is air ride4 bags for each axle no springs at all as long as i keep my foot and don't run more 65 i will 10 t0 11 miles per gallon if put automatic in it that gpes down to 6 per gallon for me it is easy to drive my bus at 35 feet is 5 foot shorter than my truck the thing that i know is that bus of mine will survive accident better than an rv and i have about 300 cubic feet of storagenot counting the space up top inside
Counter point 10 Build over time and comfort will come 09 Space is plentiful for one person 08 do your own service, this is NOT a Class A RV 07 Moister sucks wood or steel, get a wood burning stove 06 Not much hotter or colder than my Class C in bare sun (you will need TWO ac's) two 12v mini splits works well. 05 Easy insurance is a lie. 04 NEVER daily drive a 10 tons of 8mpg, it gets Class a milage. 03 keep shopping UNTIL you find one with rear airbags (activities bus) 02 Skoolies are durable, but there are serious comprimises 01 buy land and make friends with people with land, there are not many bus friendly campsites compared to Rv life
If I had the money I would like to buy one of those C buses then bring it to Colorado Custom Coachworks. Now they could turn it into luxury Skoolie you'd love to own.
If you're going to do a skoolie that would be the way to go, and while it would likely be cheaper to get a used camper there is something to be said about the uniqueness of a skoolie.
I guess a lot depends on the bus. Ours rides good but is an RE on rear air ride. And mpg varies I've seen from 10 to 12mpg then down to 3 or 4. Crazy thing is usually higher hp motors do better. They all have trade offs but owning 2 new and one used camper i will never buy another.
This is basically the idea I was trying to convey. To start I wanted to let people know that bus life is highly fantasized and exaggerated. But, IF you can see past that, and IF you can come to grips with the fact that there is more to it than what you typically see online, then you while have a recreational ride that no pre-manufactured unit can match. That would be my final point..that there is no such thing as a "budget" skoolie build. GOOD bus builds that go through everything from suspension to drivetrain to interior and exterior will start at a minimum of 50k. But, it will be far better than any typical RV you'll get for the same price.
Sounds like the skoolie was a beginning to saving for a more efficient RV. People put too much money into their tiny homes, vans, and skools that an RV can provide. Go simple to save and then invest in something more excellent. The goal is to save money while enjoying the adventure while becoming mortgage free.
Had them all A C 5th wheel never a skoolie but don’t want one last set up I had was by far my favorite and will be back in America soon to do it again I had a 1997 Chevy 2500 4x4 suburban 3 inch lift 454 rear diff locker had the seats out the back it was set up for sleeping when traveling and a 30ft 1993 built like a tank Holiday Rambler travel trailer I flipped the springs on it and had off road heavy load tires on it and trust me I drug that thing through hell and back never did a spec of damage to it I had overlanders pull up on my camp and want to know how the hell I got it there lol
Stealing, for example, a pack of gum, might get you trespassed from a gas station. Robbing a bank is a felony. Fraud, however, is always a felony. Sure, in some small cases, the law may not waste its time coming after you. Committing insurance fraud, however, is a really bad idea. When purchasing insurance, talk to a broker. A good broker knows every companies strengths and weaknesses.
Ive had a truck and truck capmper lance without airbags truck was scary. Have a 34ft holiday rambler the thing breaks hates hills it also is a white knuckle driving wind blows in other lanes. But i believe big vehicles suck to heavy and cant park them anywere. Why i have a 6 window bus with a gmc chassis very comfortable highway driver and have all the bells and whistles house appliances that last longer. Also solar im not gonna say was cheap but deal shopping and working to pay for it all so its 100% owned no debt. So schoolie in genral dont suck rv and bus size of a semi do. Fitfth wheel are a way to go but need airbags and a good truck otherwise the strain on a truck towing all the time will cost transmissions.
Thanks for all the truth. The facts are put forward for analysis. NOW! I know of a job for four years that includes a large white painted house. The job starts at the end of 2024. We're all looking for a good, honest Commander in Chief.
If you are smart , and take your time, you can find a older rv that was built well. My 2018 Tiffin allegro gas has been a joy to drive ,and live in in Florida in the winter. By used , do not by any 2021 to 2024 they are covid rvs.
I call bs on 4mpg with a toad, also most skoolies get better than 7mpg, my full 40' got 8.5mpg through mountains pushing my governed top speed. Unless you're driving 75mph you'll get better mpg than what you posted, of course that's the other problem with skoolies, most buses can't push 75mph let alone 65mph. A 4 hour drive turns into 5 hours etc.
Call BS all you want but I measured it. In mountainous areas with fairly steep inclines the bus got just a hair over 4mpg. Like in the Smokey Mountains. In areas with more rolling hills it was closer to 7 or 8, and on flatter straighter terrain it was pushing as high as 10. Not every bus, even if similar in weight and length, is going to get the same results mileage wise. Some engine/transmission combos are more efficient than others. Either way, the point is still undeniable that a bus will get far less fuel efficiency than a truck/trailer combo.
I don’t know this video comes off as (I messed up my project now let me tell everybody they shouldn’t do it either) lol just change the title to “it didn’t work for us”
So you sucked at building your Skoolie, got it. I guess you’ve never owned an RV/TT either. Everything you said about the bus is the same on a comparable cost RV/TT.
So much of what this Goober says is nonsense One of the highest end safest factory-built Motor coach is Bluebird. Skoolies are registered and insured as a "CAMPER". If they are turned away it's because the goober that built it knew nothing about plumbing and safe electrical wiring and could possibly short out the entire campground. My Skoolie can be worked on at any truck shop Unlike the patched together factory units my RV systems don't fall part or prematurely fail. Being a certified RV tech is not a big deal it is not the same as being an actual mechanic. RV techs know how to do things like change your fantastic fan, caulk your brand-new leaking roof, or put in a new switch cause your slide out stopped working. If he's a master tech he can maybe change the motor on your slide.
I disagree with your assertion that campgrounds only turn away skoolies that are built wrong. Campgrounds across the board turn skoolies away routinely without even looking at them. Much less actually inspecting them or even asking for an inspection report. Most campgrounds simply don’t like them. They universally see them as “DIY vehicles” regardless of who built them and that comes from the myriad of facilities I spoke to personally.
@@CheapNomadsI would have to disagree with your assertion. I have a skoolie and have had no problems with finding a place to camp at an established campground. I have also been hired as a camp host with my skoolie. If you know what you are doing, understand the lifestyle, and want something completely customized, you should not have to worry about all of these “reasons” not to convert one. They are just excuses to me..
Tienes toda la RAZÓN es un mentiroso o ignorante que le calce lo que mas le guste...ademas repuestos de skoolie encuentras en cualqiuer pueblo, lo otro lo tienes que pedir a fabrica y tienes que dejar un riñon en parte de pago...ademas la mecanica es simple y cualquier mecanico lo puede reparar, vaya a reparar una comioneta 2.020, se queda sin riñones!! jajaja
Bro it's almost like you didn't do any research before this video at all. No one is using a bus as a daily driver, everyone is insulating it better than you, no one would argue that $12k is enough to build a bus for the purposes that you're asking for, and your fuel consumption is at the lowest range of the spectrum. Mine gets 12mpg compared to your 6pmg. Also who is going to private camp grounds in a bus? People who build busses are not built the same as people who go to campgrounds. Private camp grounds are a last resort for bus life. Publishing this video seems only to be intended to dissuade people from bus life and... what's the purpose in all that? You've taken no actions towards resolving the very solvable issues you face and this video is not an unfiltered look at the reality - it's just whining.
Wow…just wow. Well, Bro, it appears you may have selectively honed in only on certain aspects of my list to the exclusion of others. Normally, Bro, I don’t respond to comments after about 2 or 3 weeks of a video being published, due to a lack of time, so I want you to know that you’re getting a special treat here. Let’s look at your comment a little at a time: 1)”Bro it's almost like you didn't do any research before this video at all.” - Well, Bro, first things first thank you for the view and the watch time. We really appreciate it! Second…Uh, no offense but, I ain’t your Bro. Next, this is what makes me think you selectively listened to what I was saying. We did research every day for just over a year before we pulled the trigger. As I mentioned in the video, the impression of bus life that RUclips and other social media give is a falsely sunny one. Had Bus Life RUclipsrs and insta influencers, etc. been more honest and forthcoming while we ourselves were in the research phase, we would never have chosen this. Just because you have had a more positive experience, bro, doesn’t invalidate our negative experience. Nor does it indicate a lack of preparedness on our part. There is no way possible to be totally prepared for an entirely new experience. You have to depend on the experiences of others and sadly, this didn’t work out for us. 2)”No one is using a bus as a daily driver...” - Well, bro, unless they’re towing another vehicle with them, then yeah they kinda are. I was surprised at how many people I chatted with online that WEREN’T towing a second vehicle with their skoolie. That literally went everywhere in their bus. After having it done it ourselves I have to say it definitely takes a different kind of person to enjoy that. 3)”…everyone is insulating it better than you…” - And how would you know this bro? I don’t believe I mentioned how the bus was insulated in this video. But feel free to watch my other videos to see if I mentioned it elsewhere. If not I’ll tell you that the way we insulated it was chosen as a result of what other bus lifers were doing with budgets similar to ours. Saying this also implies a lack of understanding, or lack or acknowledgement, of the principles of thermal conductivity which I did very briefly address. 4)”..no one would argue that $12k is enough to build a bus for the purposes that you're asking for…” - Never said they would, bro. I only mentioned it in the interest of transparency. I chatted with some folks online that had done it for less, but all in all the average amount spent, based on my research, was between 20k and 50k. Circumstances were the reason for our low budget. We had initially estimated 20k-25k. 5)”…your fuel consumption is at the lowest range of the spectrum. Mine gets 12mpg compared to your 6pmg.” - This one right here, bro, is what makes me think you weren’t paying attention when you watched the video. Or perhaps something I said or did triggered you and you just turned off your brain. I said, the AVERAGE mileage was 7mpg (not 6). AVERAGE…meaning combined between city and highway. On the highway, with the exception of mountainous areas, I’ve actually gotten as high as 14mpg but my average on the highway is between 10 & 12mpg. City driving we get between 4 & 6mpg depending on the terrain. Which is normal for most busses this size. At least according to the mechanic that inspected it. 6)”Also who is going to private camp grounds in a bus?” - We are, bro. We don’t necessarily mind boondocking, but through our experience we’ve found that campgrounds are far better for us as a family. The challenge, of course, is finding campgrounds who will accept us in a bus. There are many others who feel the same. To question this choice is to imply that people who would choose to go to a campground are making a bad choice. It’s a matter of preference, nothing more. On that note, people who choose bus life need to come to terms with the fact that certain stereotypes exist and why. No matter how highly over-exaggerated those stereotypes are. 7)“People who build busses are not built the same as people who go to campgrounds.” - Bro what does that even mean? Are you implying that bus lifers are somehow better? That’s what it sounds like. Either way I think you need to get over yourself. Or perhaps it’s just that bus life hasn’t yet humbled you. Or maybe that you’re just in denial. 8)”Private campgrounds are a last resort for bus life.” - Bro, why? There is absolutely nothing wrong with campgrounds in and of themselves. The only problem would be campgrounds that discriminate. Again, it all comes down to a matter of preference. “To each his own” as my hippie brothers and sisters would say. I thought the beautiful side of bus life was supposed to be the immense freedom of choice involved. Are you now trying to say that all bus lifers must boondock or stay on BLM land? So is Quartzite, AZ the be all end all of travel destinations for skoolie people? 9)”Publishing this video seems only to be intended to dissuade people from bus life and... what's the purpose in all that?” - You are absolutely right, bro. This video was somewhat intended to dissuade people from bus life. The purpose? It should be obvious. But since it’s apparently lost on you bro, I’ll explain. As I stated in the video, skoolie people online tend to view the life through rose colored glasses (btw, I notice that you didn’t dispute this) and as such don’t give a realistic picture of the entire spectrum of bus life. They tend to overemphasize the freedom aspect of it and underemphasize the not so fun parts of it. My guess is they do it because if the content they are producing doesn’t get likes or views then they can’t monetize it very easily. Thus, their presentation gets “adjusted” to the point where it can. This is standard practice in entertainment. Which is what RUclips is. An entertainment platform. A fact that they not only don’t deny but embrace fully. So our purpose was to show people the other side of the life that typically is brushed over or ignored in most of the other content in this niche. That is our opinion, and as such that is our approach. You don’t have to like it. No one does. 10)”You've taken no actions towards resolving the very solvable issues you face and this video is not an unfiltered look at the reality - it's just whining.” - Bro, how do you know what actions we’ve taken or not taken? You sure are making an awful lot of assumptions about us. If this weren’t an unfiltered look at the reality then it wouldn’t have been family friendly. This video wasn’t meant for bus lifers it was meant for those considering bus life. Exactly how does all of that appear as “whining”? We’ve “taken no action” (as you put it) because we are trying to get out of it. Something that should have been apparent. We fault no one who has chosen the life as, again, it is all down to a matter of preference. Our experience, OURS…not yours or anyone else’s, has shown us that we would PREFER to do differently. If it has worked out for you then that’s great. We’re glad that you are happy with your choice. If you’re going to criticize you should first learn to pay attention better, second…try to have a bit thicker skin when people give a different, perhaps more negative, perspective on a life you yourself have embraced, and lastly, most importantly, get over yourself…bro. Peace!
Good point there. I’m also on the fence. I’ve got a bus, and I’ve got a truck that can pull. I travel a lot for work. The only thing keeping me from getting a camper trailer is that everyone I know that owns one has had problems such as broken slides, ceiling cave-ins, underbelly sagging due to trapped water, floor cave ins, etc. not minor problems at all. The value of a camper goes down 50% after just a couple years. It just seems like a terribly bad investment. A properly converted skoolie (roof raise, tv windows, plumbing and electric) can sell anywhere from 40-100k depending on the type of bus. Just seems like a better investment to me.
People complain about RV’s & travel trailers too! We used to have a travel trailer & they have their own issues.
Thanks for the honest review. It’s important to separate the skoolie life from reality.
It's not all bad all the time. Do we regret it? Not entirely. It's been a learning experience, but I don't know if we'd do it again after this.
I am interested in a more nomadic lifestyle. I am also a virtual reality enthusiast. I have heard one thing people say a lot about with a nomadic lifestyle is the loneliness. I often like being alone, but because I have friends worldwide, thanks to the internet, and now VR, if i have a space to use my VR headset any time i want, i think it will work for me. I understand the pros and cons about the different options. I was just leaning more towards a bus because there arent many layouts that dont have slideouts that could work for my lifestyle and my projected lifestyle. I want to do more conventions, and be able to have friends with me. this is why i was leaning more towards a school bus, but i was also thinking about getting a wanderlodge and modifying that, as its already registered as an RV, even though its built on a school bus chassis. ive also thought about RVs and camper trailers, but i do have a classic 80s 1/2 ton pickup truck that i really want to bring with me. ive also considered a motor coach bus as those are a lot more comfortable to be in and drive in, but have a lower ground clearance than the school bus i would want to get, but I would really prefer something under 35 feet long.
So on some of your points I have to disagree. I have a skoolie with regular windows and do not have the moisture issues you claim, but I also went to the nth degree on my build to seal up every crack, rib, bolt hole in the floor, and have proper ceiling fannage. for in and out flow. You can't really skip on this and if you do at all, you will have the moisture issues you describe. And from my observation, most do skip out on some of the techniques required. I do agree with you on points 8, 5, 4, and 3. If you have maintenance issue that you cannot do yourself. Most of them you can, but if not it does cost far more. On point 5. Insurance Companies do hate you and will not give you insurance however we resolved this relatively easily by going to a insurance broker.
We originally applied to State Farm whom I've been a customer with over 2 decades with a perfect driving record, they wouldn't insure me. I went to progressive who states on the site they do not insure converted school buses and was out right denied when calling in. Interesting thing is I went to a broker who got me none other than "Progressive" to ensure my bus. It was binding immediately, and they cannot cancel me until at least 1 year. They may cancel me in another year, but I'll just use a broker again. Brokers can always find you the insurance you need and quickly and it doesn't cost you anything to use them. They take a commission off of the insurer. Use a broker. I had insurance same day, and no questions about modifications mattered or were asked. It was actually easy once I went the broker route.
Point 4, You can run your bus on bio-diesel. If you have access to free bio diesel this is a win win. In a SHTF Situation i'll still be growing my own diesel and driving my bus. In an every day situation you are correct, it does cost a little more to run, but no more than a traditional RV would either, they use the same engines and the same diesel in many cases, but in a modern RV you have to also buy DEF and upkeep your DPF filters etc. which can cost $1000's You can still buy skoolies with plenty of miles left that have no emissions maintenance's. So the offset cost of more expensive maintenance balances out with not having to spend on emissions. This fact will change in 5-10 years when all of those emission free buses are no longer available. I also live in a state where diesel is only $3.20 a gallon, so traveling around here isn't bad, but it will be more expensive if I travel far anywhere.
Point 3 isn't a deal breaker for many. Design considerations of items in the bus can make all the difference in the world. You should upgrade your shocks. Even standard type shocks can do well under load with a higher quality shock. The $50 shocks that you can buy for a bus aren't going to cut it, but you can get upgraded shocks and they do make a difference. Most skoolie drivers will replace them anyway as the existing ones are shot by the time they own it. If you didn't replace your shocks during your build that's on you. It's another $2k on average to upgrade to air ride, and yes more if going liquid, so you are correct there. Doing the shocks yourself is not hard if you have the proper jacking.
On Point 2, I'm one of those Skoolie.net fans who contributes and have built buses. You do have a point in the fact that building a bus is a rose color glass situation, however we often tell people the accurate amount of money it will cost to build up a skoolie, we make no bones about potentially having to do high maintenance costs, we don't hide any of these facts, and we truly do love the form factor of a bus! It's no different than someone wanting an impractical Camaro vs a practical Toyota Corolla. The corolla is far more economical and practical and easier to maintenance, but it's a corolla, you are not going to turn any heads with that car. So a skoolie is absolutely the same thing. People see it and are wow'd by it. Their imaginations go wild with questions. Buses bring the wow factor the same way a souped up Camaro does. I'm going to look far cooler in my skoolie than you would in an RV. So you are right in the fact that skoolies aren't practical always. They can be though, there are different ways to build, and also different shortcuts you can take to make them more practical, and it is a cheap way to entry for many with some downsides for sure. They will at least have a place to lay their head for those who increasingly cannot afford a home and yes they will have to put up with some of these issues, but they can sleep. We often tell people that building a bus is not for you. We daily get people asking what is required and what are the downsides, and there are plenty of posts that go into the downsides. And we usually conclude that if you do not want to accept these downsides then building a bus isn't for you. I remain blameless as a major contributor in that respect.
On Point 1, We agree. I've had more luck just showing up to campgrounds, and they are more willing to take your money. Calling ahead they will almost always tell you no for the same imagination reasons you described. This is also slowly getting better as there are more and more skoolies on the road daily and it is a market they are losing out on, but yes, this is currently in a bad state. I do know some skoolie owners who are starting their own camp grounds all over the country as well specifically for skoolies. There are apps being written currently which will lead people to these campgrounds. I know the authors of the apps. So this may be changing over the next 5-10 years to some degree, but yes currently it's not where one would like.
I also agree with all of your final points. Thanks for your time in reading my wall of text.
Wow! Thank you for taking the time to give us that well reasoned response.
You pointed out that we do disagree on some points but also recognized that different experiences form different opinions. At this point our family has just decided a bus is not for us but we've also agreed that had we the time and money to have done it better our opinions might be different.
On the insurance issue for skoolies, we have a separate video coming out after the July 4th holiday where I go into more detail about our personal experience. Hope you check it out.
yep, you are correct and couldn't have said it better. there nothing worse than listening to these younger people buy then build then break down and not be able to fix it themselves or worse the bus burns to the ground because they didn't know what they were doing.
I'll give you one reason why I would never own a factory RV instead of my Custom hand built Skoolie. I sold All kinds of RV's pull behinds to 42' luxury motor coaches for years. All RVs are unsafe at any speed, they disintegrate in accidents if they roll over there is nothing left but the wiped clean frame, the construction is crap built by Goobers. (Except Bluebirds) Skoolies were designed to carry children they will and do survive crashes and even rollovers. I'd rather be alive than scaped off the road with a shovel. Don't believe me search RV crashes and accident on You Tube see for yourself.
You don't have anyone riding in a trailer while you are on the road... so not sure why it would matter how intact it is after you rolled it.... And an accident in a modern pickup is going to be much safer than an accident in any kind of bus.
You sure seem to be taking my opinions of skoolie life personally. I mean after all they are merely my opinions unless otherwise proven. Nothing more. I do not dispute the clear lack of safety of a more traditional RV vs a skoolie. As you know, most skoolies are around 90% 16 gauge steel. But with that fact, it is important to keep in mind that because of the rigidity of the structure most of the energy from a collision will be transferred to the occupants. Despite the fact that the survival rate is much higher. Yes I do have unflattering opinions of online skoolie people. But again, they are merely my opinions.
@@CheapNomads how exactly did they take your opinion personally. They simplily stated facts of RV's. Your the only one taking this shit personally here. Which is stupid because I personally agreed with everything you said. and was also fully away RV's are POS empty tin cans on wheels which get destroy if they hit a bee while being towed.
@@CheapNomads De que se tranferira la energia a sus ocupante en una colision es mentira! cuanto mas peso menos daño tendeas al chocar contra otro vehiculo!!...ademas con 50 grandes haces tremeda casa en un colectivo escolar que ninguno de remolque hecho en fabrica se le acerca ni por un poco!!...estas mintiendo....yo si sede lo que hablo, es probable que te esten pagando o tienes acciones en una fabrica de esas lata de plastico!!y en cuanto a la temperatura interior va de a cuerdo al aislamiento que la hagas, lo del A/A estas mal de la cabeza, volvemos a lo mismo depende del aislamiento que hagas...siempre sera mejor un bus que un tupper con ruedas, lo del seguro depende de que tan bien este hecho, con un seguro de responsabilidad civil el reglamentario basico es suficiente si hiciste un buen trabajo en la construccion... jamas se va a incendiar si hiciste las cosas bien...Veo que ahi en yanquilandia las instalaciones electricas ponen los cables por cualquier lado sin tuberias...eso a la larga se prendera fuego!!, te repito si siguen las normas legales para la construccion nunca tendras un problema...
Lo del consumo estas mintiendo nuevamente...una dodge RAM tiene el mismo motor que un escolar es muchisimo mas el consumo de combustible es esa camioneta y si te toca viento de costado ni hablar!! no siperas los 4 kmx litro de diesel...un escolar estaria en 6 o 7 km x litro...deja de mentir, ademas con lo que vale una ram comtras y armas cuatro escolares...ademas tendras que pagar dos seguros el de la ram que no es nada barato y el del remolque, cuando paras en un lugar pago tambien es doble...nunca es mejor el remolque...no hay un solo viajero que haya recorrido el mundo con un remolque...
School buses are much safer in a roll-over or any crash. Personally, I own a 1994 Holday Rambler 36 foot class A. We just use it for the lake and going to a friend's ranch a lot. A school bus is better for remote roads as the tail end is much higher off the ground. But the Class A has such good insulation that AC is barely needed. We use a window mounted evaporative (swamp) cooler. It works in the hot dry climate of New Mexico. Even runs off battery for now and could easily run off solar as it's just a fan and a tiny water pump to keep water dripping over the wet pad.
Oh my how right ✅ you are! Some years ago my husband wanted to buy a School bus and convert it. We had an Airstream (Bumper Pull) at the time. Well, my childhood friend's father drove for Greyhound so we rode several places over the years. I knew a School Bus simply was not our calling. We bought a full-on Newmar Dutch Star Class A Motorcoach and NEVER LOOKED BACK. ZERO REGRETS and WE LOVE ❤IT.
On the plus side a School Bus is an actual vehicle. An RV is plywood and glue on wheels. Have you ever seen an RV accident? It looks like an explosion. As far as slides they're great until they stop working and start leaking. I'd never buy anything with a slide. I don't mind that trade off. Personally I think you get more bang for your buck with a schooler or van DYI conversion. You can do it little by little as your budget permits. It's all a matter of perspective. IMHO I think some people get hung up on appearance rather than factuality.
All very good points. The one time when a skoolie would not be a good choice is, like in our case, you have a situation where you're suddenly losing your home and you have to literally throw your rig together. A ready made rig, however flimsy, would be much better in that case. Being able to take the time to build a skoolie properly would make it more ideal in many ways. Thanks for watching!
I’ve never wanted a Skokie and this video reinforces my desire for a class C RV.
I am binge watching. LOL...I agree with you in that school buses ride like crap! Oh by the way, my bus came with air ride and it still rides like crap! Even with the negative realities of it all, I still want to give it a try. I have done a ton of research and even with that, I know it will still be difficult for me which is why I want to try it, for the challenge. I would fall in the digital nomad category. I am okay with that. Will catch you in another video.
That thing sounds like a shopping cart in the parking lot bouncing around like that 😂😂😂😂😂
And feels only a slight bit softer than that. But...on GOOD roads it's ok.
For a mpg scale, a Kenworth t680 (2020 model) with a 400hp x15 cummins and a 60,000 lb total weight can get 8-9 mpg
Interesting, but to be fair the engine in our bus is the VT365 International. Not the worst in the world but not well known for its mileage. It’s also half the weight of the Kenworth T680.
@@CheapNomads oh I meant you get about the same mpg with less weight
Yeah. Kind of a shame. But I think the mileage in our bus could improve with a rear gear swap. Plus it’s governed
@@CheapNomads In my industry, we have worked on trailer aero. I would recommend looking into air flow chevrons for the back, we use them on some trailers to create a bit of turbulence behind it to smooth out the air flow because it prevents the air from getting sucked down directly and it moves the turbulence further behind it making it go down the road smoother. Another thing you could look into is reducing anyplace air can make a 90° turn into, that's why trailers have skirts on them now and why you see trucks with wheel covers on the drive tires.
I'm subscribing to see what your future home will be. Thanks for the pro tips on skoolies. Hopefully being in the mild climates of california will relieve the hot/freezing temps in the skoolie .
We're not in Cali at the moment, but hope to be there ASAP!
I have not driven an air braked school bus since my my army time. Now I drive a school bus without an air system and it is not known for being a luxury ride. It uses a lot of fuel.
These vehicles are solid. That is their advantage.
This is true. Also, if you're building one and you have 20-30k extra to blow on the suspension alone, you could get a liquid spring suspension. As I understand it the ride is better than the typical air suspension. Who knows?
It depends what your options are. I mean if you're comparing a skoolie to an RV that tells me the goal is travel and fun. A lot of Skoolie people aren't comparing a skoolie to an RV. They're comparing a skoolie vs homelessness. The rattling and the downsides vs sleeping on cement or in a tunnel are well worth it. People online yell "omg! The kids have no privacy with just a bunk!" but they don't realize you'll give up some privacy to sleep in a real bed. So if you're thinking a Skoolie would be better or cheaper for your travel dreams--noooo sir. If you're looking for home ownership, yes.
Ya know...this is one of the best comparisons I've seen so far. You hit the nail right on the head. Some of the "skoolie people" have gotten more than a little "offended" at my critique of the lifestyle. If they only understood. Thank You!
Well to be fair to build out a skoolie like i would like is 30k at the high end and a rv with the same amenities seems to be closer to 100k
And far less durable probably (the RV). But a used RV with those same amenities would likely be half of what the cost of a good skoolie build would be. I tell people if comfort is what you're after then go with a run of the mill RV. If you would rather sacrifice some comfort and convenience for durability then a skoolie is the only way to go. I agree that RV costs are getting a bit ridiculous.
Asi es, siempe sera mas economico un skoolie...
Para hacerlo bien, el costo de construcción comienza en alrededor de $30 000. Una construcción profesional puede costar $100 000 o más. Lo que los hace tan populares no se basa necesariamente en el costo, sino más bien en lo personalizable que es un skoolie.
I debated building a Skoolie at one time. Then I quickly realized that the costs were prohibitedly expensive. Maybe one day I'll build my own toy hauler camper
I figured this out after looking at many channels who did a conversation. Their is a few ways around the dyi building that insurance hates. Their are a few places that can give you the sticker and the placard on the unit. The mian thing is for the electrical system to be up to par. That's where the placard comes in. But no i would not go with a schooly.
Every place we have spoken to has literally said they wouldn't care if it was professionally built or certified (had the placard). Some said it wouldn't even matter to their insurance company. ALL of them simply said they don't like skoolies. When I asked one place why that was the guy I was talking to (and honestly he wasn't all that nasty about it) said it just reminded him of the whole hippie movement plus he thought the idea was kinda tacky. Sounds silly but he did tell me years ago when they first opened the place (they had owned it since the 1960's) that he let a bunch of those "damn hippies" (his words) in and they trashed the place. Seems to me to be just another case of one bad apple ruining the whole bunch.
Very honest and helpful. thanks
You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful!
Fortunately for me i am 100 perhr mechanic i didn't get a regular schooly i have what would classed like a grey puppy it is air ride4 bags for each axle no springs at all as long as i keep my foot and don't run more 65 i will 10 t0 11 miles per gallon if put automatic in it that gpes down to 6 per gallon for me it is easy to drive my bus at 35 feet is 5 foot shorter than my truck the thing that i know is that bus of mine will survive accident better than an rv and i have about 300 cubic feet of storagenot counting the space up top inside
I see in your videos you’re in my old stomping grounds I was born and raised in Slidell Louisiana you drove right through it 👍
We did indeed. Took a quick trip to NOLA which, by the way, will be in a future video! Thanks for watching
Counter point
10 Build over time and comfort will come
09 Space is plentiful for one person
08 do your own service, this is NOT a Class A RV
07 Moister sucks wood or steel, get a wood burning stove
06 Not much hotter or colder than my Class C in bare sun (you will need TWO ac's) two 12v mini splits works well.
05 Easy insurance is a lie.
04 NEVER daily drive a 10 tons of 8mpg, it gets Class a milage.
03 keep shopping UNTIL you find one with rear airbags (activities bus)
02 Skoolies are durable, but there are serious comprimises
01 buy land and make friends with people with land, there are not many bus friendly campsites compared to Rv life
Exactly!
If I had the money I would like to buy one of those C buses then bring it to Colorado Custom Coachworks. Now they could turn it into luxury Skoolie you'd love to own.
If you're going to do a skoolie that would be the way to go, and while it would likely be cheaper to get a used camper there is something to be said about the uniqueness of a skoolie.
I guess a lot depends on the bus. Ours rides good but is an RE on rear air ride. And mpg varies I've seen from 10 to 12mpg then down to 3 or 4. Crazy thing is usually higher hp motors do better. They all have trade offs but owning 2 new and one used camper i will never buy another.
This is basically the idea I was trying to convey. To start I wanted to let people know that bus life is highly fantasized and exaggerated. But, IF you can see past that, and IF you can come to grips with the fact that there is more to it than what you typically see online, then you while have a recreational ride that no pre-manufactured unit can match. That would be my final point..that there is no such thing as a "budget" skoolie build. GOOD bus builds that go through everything from suspension to drivetrain to interior and exterior will start at a minimum of 50k. But, it will be far better than any typical RV you'll get for the same price.
Great vids, keep it up 👍
Thank you very much,
enjoying your videos 😁
Sounds like the skoolie was a beginning to saving for a more efficient RV. People put too much money into their tiny homes, vans, and skools that an RV can provide. Go simple to save and then invest in something more excellent. The goal is to save money while enjoying the adventure while becoming mortgage free.
Liked, shared ,subscribed
Had them all A C 5th wheel never a skoolie but don’t want one last set up I had was by far my favorite and will be back in America soon to do it again I had a 1997 Chevy 2500 4x4 suburban 3 inch lift 454 rear diff locker had the seats out the back it was set up for sleeping when traveling and a 30ft 1993 built like a tank Holiday Rambler travel trailer I flipped the springs on it and had off road heavy load tires on it and trust me I drug that thing through hell and back never did a spec of damage to it I had overlanders pull up on my camp and want to know how the hell I got it there lol
Stealing, for example, a pack of gum, might get you trespassed from a gas station. Robbing a bank is a felony. Fraud, however, is always a felony. Sure, in some small cases, the law may not waste its time coming after you. Committing insurance fraud, however, is a really bad idea. When purchasing insurance, talk to a broker. A good broker knows every companies strengths and weaknesses.
Ive had a truck and truck capmper lance without airbags truck was scary. Have a 34ft holiday rambler the thing breaks hates hills it also is a white knuckle driving wind blows in other lanes. But i believe big vehicles suck to heavy and cant park them anywere. Why i have a 6 window bus with a gmc chassis very comfortable highway driver and have all the bells and whistles house appliances that last longer. Also solar im not gonna say was cheap but deal shopping and working to pay for it all so its 100% owned no debt. So schoolie in genral dont suck rv and bus size of a semi do. Fitfth wheel are a way to go but need airbags and a good truck otherwise the strain on a truck towing all the time will cost transmissions.
more trouble then it is worth......give me a half worn out pickup truck with a camper shell and I'm set and money ahead
I hear ya
School bus are special construction, as he stated in the vid
Thanks for all the truth. The facts are put forward for analysis. NOW! I know of a job for four years that includes a large white painted house. The job starts at the end of 2024. We're all looking for a good, honest Commander in Chief.
If you are smart , and take your time, you can find a older rv that was built well. My 2018 Tiffin allegro gas has been a joy to drive ,and live in in Florida in the winter. By used , do not by any 2021 to 2024 they are covid rvs.
That's good advice
I call bs on 4mpg with a toad, also most skoolies get better than 7mpg, my full 40' got 8.5mpg through mountains pushing my governed top speed.
Unless you're driving 75mph you'll get better mpg than what you posted, of course that's the other problem with skoolies, most buses can't push 75mph let alone 65mph. A 4 hour drive turns into 5 hours etc.
Call BS all you want but I measured it. In mountainous areas with fairly steep inclines the bus got just a hair over 4mpg. Like in the Smokey Mountains. In areas with more rolling hills it was closer to 7 or 8, and on flatter straighter terrain it was pushing as high as 10. Not every bus, even if similar in weight and length, is going to get the same results mileage wise. Some engine/transmission combos are more efficient than others. Either way, the point is still undeniable that a bus will get far less fuel efficiency than a truck/trailer combo.
Truck and trailer is always cheaper ….
Buy a converted greyhound
I don’t know this video comes off as (I messed up my project now let me tell everybody they shouldn’t do it either) lol just change the title to “it didn’t work for us”
Wouldn't want one. Unless it was parked permanently.
Gee buy a trailer and build your camper… and if you want insulation… use KAO WOOL…. Heat and cold doesn’t pass through it …
least you dont have 8 kids like family pushing put babies every year because god told them to.
So you sucked at building your Skoolie, got it. I guess you’ve never owned an RV/TT either. Everything you said about the bus is the same on a comparable cost RV/TT.
No such thing as a good RV
So much of what this Goober says is nonsense One of the highest end safest factory-built Motor coach is Bluebird. Skoolies are registered and insured as a "CAMPER". If they are turned away it's because the goober that built it knew nothing about plumbing and safe electrical wiring and could possibly short out the entire campground. My Skoolie can be worked on at any truck shop Unlike the patched together factory units my RV systems don't fall part or prematurely fail. Being a certified RV tech is not a big deal it is not the same as being an actual mechanic. RV techs know how to do things like change your fantastic fan, caulk your brand-new leaking roof, or put in a new switch cause your slide out stopped working. If he's a master tech he can maybe change the motor on your slide.
I disagree with your assertion that campgrounds only turn away skoolies that are built wrong. Campgrounds across the board turn skoolies away routinely without even looking at them. Much less actually inspecting them or even asking for an inspection report. Most campgrounds simply don’t like them. They universally see them as “DIY vehicles” regardless of who built them and that comes from the myriad of facilities I spoke to personally.
@@CheapNomadsI would have to disagree with your assertion. I have a skoolie and have had no problems with finding a place to camp at an established campground. I have also been hired as a camp host with my skoolie. If you know what you are doing, understand the lifestyle, and want something completely customized, you should not have to worry about all of these “reasons” not to convert one. They are just excuses to me..
Tienes toda la RAZÓN es un mentiroso o ignorante que le calce lo que mas le guste...ademas repuestos de skoolie encuentras en cualqiuer pueblo, lo otro lo tienes que pedir a fabrica y tienes que dejar un riñon en parte de pago...ademas la mecanica es simple y cualquier mecanico lo puede reparar, vaya a reparar una comioneta 2.020, se queda sin riñones!! jajaja
Bro it's almost like you didn't do any research before this video at all. No one is using a bus as a daily driver, everyone is insulating it better than you, no one would argue that $12k is enough to build a bus for the purposes that you're asking for, and your fuel consumption is at the lowest range of the spectrum. Mine gets 12mpg compared to your 6pmg. Also who is going to private camp grounds in a bus? People who build busses are not built the same as people who go to campgrounds. Private camp grounds are a last resort for bus life. Publishing this video seems only to be intended to dissuade people from bus life and... what's the purpose in all that? You've taken no actions towards resolving the very solvable issues you face and this video is not an unfiltered look at the reality - it's just whining.
Wow…just wow. Well, Bro, it appears you may have selectively honed in only on certain aspects of my list to the exclusion of others. Normally, Bro, I don’t respond to comments after about 2 or 3 weeks of a video being published, due to a lack of time, so I want you to know that you’re getting a special treat here.
Let’s look at your comment a little at a time:
1)”Bro it's almost like you didn't do any research before this video at all.”
- Well, Bro, first things first thank you for the view and the watch time. We really appreciate it! Second…Uh, no offense but, I ain’t your Bro. Next, this is what makes me think you selectively listened to what I was saying. We did research every day for just over a year before we pulled the trigger. As I mentioned in the video, the impression of bus life that RUclips and other social media give is a falsely sunny one. Had Bus Life RUclipsrs and insta influencers, etc. been more honest and forthcoming while we ourselves were in the research phase, we would never have chosen this. Just because you have had a more positive experience, bro, doesn’t invalidate our negative experience. Nor does it indicate a lack of preparedness on our part. There is no way possible to be totally prepared for an entirely new experience. You have to depend on the experiences of others and sadly, this didn’t work out for us.
2)”No one is using a bus as a daily driver...”
- Well, bro, unless they’re towing another vehicle with them, then yeah they kinda are. I was surprised at how many people I chatted with online that WEREN’T towing a second vehicle with their skoolie. That literally went everywhere in their bus. After having it done it ourselves I have to say it definitely takes a different kind of person to enjoy that.
3)”…everyone is insulating it better than you…”
- And how would you know this bro? I don’t believe I mentioned how the bus was insulated in this video. But feel free to watch my other videos to see if I mentioned it elsewhere. If not I’ll tell you that the way we insulated it was chosen as a result of what other bus lifers were doing with budgets similar to ours. Saying this also implies a lack of understanding, or lack or acknowledgement, of the principles of thermal conductivity which I did very briefly address.
4)”..no one would argue that $12k is enough to build a bus for the purposes that you're asking for…”
- Never said they would, bro. I only mentioned it in the interest of transparency. I chatted with some folks online that had done it for less, but all in all the average amount spent, based on my research, was between 20k and 50k. Circumstances were the reason for our low budget. We had initially estimated 20k-25k.
5)”…your fuel consumption is at the lowest range of the spectrum. Mine gets 12mpg compared to your 6pmg.”
- This one right here, bro, is what makes me think you weren’t paying attention when you watched the video. Or perhaps something I said or did triggered you and you just turned off your brain. I said, the AVERAGE mileage was 7mpg (not 6). AVERAGE…meaning combined between city and highway. On the highway, with the exception of mountainous areas, I’ve actually gotten as high as 14mpg but my average on the highway is between 10 & 12mpg. City driving we get between 4 & 6mpg depending on the terrain. Which is normal for most busses this size. At least according to the mechanic that inspected it.
6)”Also who is going to private camp grounds in a bus?”
- We are, bro. We don’t necessarily mind boondocking, but through our experience we’ve found that campgrounds are far better for us as a family. The challenge, of course, is finding campgrounds who will accept us in a bus. There are many others who feel the same. To question this choice is to imply that people who would choose to go to a campground are making a bad choice. It’s a matter of preference, nothing more. On that note, people who choose bus life need to come to terms with the fact that certain stereotypes exist and why. No matter how highly over-exaggerated those stereotypes are.
7)“People who build busses are not built the same as people who go to campgrounds.”
- Bro what does that even mean? Are you implying that bus lifers are somehow better? That’s what it sounds like. Either way I think you need to get over yourself. Or perhaps it’s just that bus life hasn’t yet humbled you. Or maybe that you’re just in denial.
8)”Private campgrounds are a last resort for bus life.”
- Bro, why? There is absolutely nothing wrong with campgrounds in and of themselves. The only problem would be campgrounds that discriminate. Again, it all comes down to a matter of preference. “To each his own” as my hippie brothers and sisters would say. I thought the beautiful side of bus life was supposed to be the immense freedom of choice involved. Are you now trying to say that all bus lifers must boondock or stay on BLM land? So is Quartzite, AZ the be all end all of travel destinations for skoolie people?
9)”Publishing this video seems only to be intended to dissuade people from bus life and... what's the purpose in all that?”
- You are absolutely right, bro. This video was somewhat intended to dissuade people from bus life. The purpose? It should be obvious. But since it’s apparently lost on you bro, I’ll explain. As I stated in the video, skoolie people online tend to view the life through rose colored glasses (btw, I notice that you didn’t dispute this) and as such don’t give a realistic picture of the entire spectrum of bus life. They tend to overemphasize the freedom aspect of it and underemphasize the not so fun parts of it. My guess is they do it because if the content they are producing doesn’t get likes or views then they can’t monetize it very easily. Thus, their presentation gets “adjusted” to the point where it can. This is standard practice in entertainment. Which is what RUclips is. An entertainment platform. A fact that they not only don’t deny but embrace fully. So our purpose was to show people the other side of the life that typically is brushed over or ignored in most of the other content in this niche. That is our opinion, and as such that is our approach. You don’t have to like it. No one does.
10)”You've taken no actions towards resolving the very solvable issues you face and this video is not an unfiltered look at the reality - it's just whining.”
- Bro, how do you know what actions we’ve taken or not taken? You sure are making an awful lot of assumptions about us. If this weren’t an unfiltered look at the reality then it wouldn’t have been family friendly. This video wasn’t meant for bus lifers it was meant for those considering bus life. Exactly how does all of that appear as “whining”? We’ve “taken no action” (as you put it) because we are trying to get out of it. Something that should have been apparent. We fault no one who has chosen the life as, again, it is all down to a matter of preference. Our experience, OURS…not yours or anyone else’s, has shown us that we would PREFER to do differently. If it has worked out for you then that’s great. We’re glad that you are happy with your choice. If you’re going to criticize you should first learn to pay attention better, second…try to have a bit thicker skin when people give a different, perhaps more negative, perspective on a life you yourself have embraced, and lastly, most importantly, get over yourself…bro. Peace!