Having worked at BlueBird in GA, I can tell you, they're truly built to last 50 years plus. Just make sure to get a professional diesel mechanic to go over it. Not all maintenance is done on all fleets.
This video is super helpful! I've watched all the videos and now know to look for cracked axle housings in Bluebird transit buses - if I only knew where to look! Lol! Thanks for taking the time to educate us!
Wow thank you, I’m a single mom, my budget is $50k - this was so helpful. I’ve already built a tiny home but my next project is a bus and I’m so excited because I actually knew what you meant in most of this process! I wonder how much materials have gone up in the past year or two though … :/
You sound well equipped to handle your next project! Prices on lumber went way up but have thankfully come at least partly down. Id expect to spend another 10 to 15% on building materials and if I were to do it again I think I'm going to search out a cheaper plywood, maybe go for a slightly different aesthetic.
Very helpful video breaking down all the components that people would need to build a comfortable house - equivalent build that's also "off grid" with power from solar.
is 10000 watts of battery going to be enough for the minisplit and everything else? I'm still building my bus and will be having a 23kwh system. I will be having 2 mini splits that will be alternated between them when not plugged into shore power. Even with the efficiency of a minisplit, I worry my 23kwh system will only give me a couple days if there's no sun. I hope to have somewhere between 2000 and 3000 watts of solar as well.
It depends on so many factors. Where are you living, what is your insulation and window set up like, and most importantly how hot is it outside and what temperature do you need to condition your bus to? The short answer is you will absolutely make it work with 3000 watts of solar (I'd definitely go with the high end of that range, I'd go for even more if you could) and 23kwh of batteries. Katy and Sam effortlessly cool the back half of their bus with this setup and worry little about battery consumption, but the front half inevitably will be warmer and their personal needs do not require 68 degrees for example. 75 and up is more realistic.
I’ve been dreaming of a bus conversion for years now and it’s so helpful to have a video like this to see if it’s even feasible for a particular budget/timeline. I’ve never wanted, or even really considered, propane in my conversion because I don’t trust myself to do set it up and maintain it properly, and while 100% electric is way more expensive both for the cabinet items like batteries and the inverter and also the appliances like that Furrion oven you installed, I’d rather take the time to save up for those things than do the more budget-friendly propane version that scares me and would make me feel uneasy while in my vehicle/home. If I’m gonna be spending thousands upon thousands of dollars anyway, I’d rather be comfortable and feel safe for the extra price tag.
Wow. We've got about 20,000 invested right now and the only thing that doesn't cover is my labor. LOVE the solar set-up!!!! I wanted to go full electric but ended up with a propane instant water heater. We'll be at 1600 watts when finished. Check out our build when ya get a chance and let me know what ya think.
@@thehillbillyhilton3557 if labor had been hired and the vehicle was purchased near new, from what ive been looking at renovating a van/bus can range anywhere from 20k-80k on the low end.
So basically it cost about the same as a nice pre owned class A motorcoach. Im interested to know what are the advantages/disadvantages of each one vs the other.
We are about to paint our bus, demo has been done since January 1st. I'm struggling to decide HOW I want to repair the floor. material needs welded in, but it's not in the best of shape. I have a welder, and I'm torn between the cost/time to put in new steel where necessary and just sinking the cost and replacing the entire floor.
We call them sticks and staples or S&S for short, motorhomes leak, the skins delaminate, and a bus is a 100 times safer than an RV, you don't have to build your own bus, as there are many conversions out there for sale, anything from school buses, to charter buses like Greyhound, MCI, and Prevost, with thier huge storage bays underneath, some are professional conversion done by name brand builders, you can pick one up for 25 to 50K for the older greyhounds and MCIs, but an older Prevost can cost quite a bit, unless it is a home built conversion. I skipped right by motorhomes after we sold our last camper that we will ever own, I am actively looking right now, just haven't found the right one yet. And an older conversion will have everything in place, just needs updating or remodeling.
@@bill8582 good points. However, I need slide-outs. Plus gasoline vs diesel. Renting is the way for me currently also. If I went with a bus, it would be a double-decker articulated. How cool would that be!
@@DouglasLippi the fuel prices is all political theater, and will come back down eventually. Renting is a good way to find out what you like. And you mentioned slide outs, those things are nice for more room, but unless you have a place to store it inside, it doesn't take long for weather to take a toll on the seals, as well as the rubber roof that a lot of motorhomes have, causing interior leakage, floor rot and buckeling, and as I mentioned before delamination of the side walls, which is very expensive to repair, sometimes exceeding the value of the unit itself. Manufacturers like Monaco, Country coach, and Holiday Rambler have either solid fiberglass roofs, or aluminum, but the slide outs can still leak, which once you have had any of those issue, you will shy away from them real quick. If you are just using it to camp in, you really don't spend that much time inside anyway. I want something I can travel across country in, and a gas unit is not what you want, diesel is the only way to go for that, much more reliable and dependable, with plenty of power for getting up hills. Good luck to you in your quest, these are all just my opinions, but several will agree.
I do not think spray foam is an good option on something that vibrates none stop. I saw old spray foam and it is settling and creates more headaches (condensation water where is is not full touching everything or holes) than it solves, Also, if water gets in, it traps it there...
Sweet Bluebird conversion! We have about $32k in our motorhome build (including the initial $15k purchase of our 1999 35ft National Tropical Class A MH) doing all the work ourselves - but a lot less labor than you guys put in for sure. We spent about $9,200 on our 5,000-watt Solar / 23.5Kwh battery system. We spent another $2,500 in a 14,500 Btu Furrion rooftop AC and a 12,000 Btu EG-4 28.5 SEER2 mini-split heat pump. The rest is in repairs and upgrades over the last 5 years, like initially defogging our dual pane windows and adding a new electric awning. I'm not counting maintenance and wear related repairs (such as oil changes and tires or an engine replacement in our toad) as this is just part of life on the road over the last 5 years. Kudos to you for keeping such accurate financial records.
I'm considering doing a short bus conversion for someone else. Would have to happen at my place in South Carolina. Send me an email at gilliganphantom@gmail.com if maybe that's you.
Wonderful you use your platform to help others ..one day will call you to come to Cyprus to do.one for me ..that would be wonderful one day thanku so much love and God bless always x
From the title I thought you put an EV power train into the Vehicle.. the ol bus tesla swap!!! Plenty of HP in those motors and more room for batteries!!!
Winters won't produce as much but it will definitely still be worth maxing out the solar on your roof as you'll likely need no additional fuel to create electricity for most of the year.
Thank you for all your videos and the great info you are putting out. I am in the middle of a conversion and have benefited greatly from these videos. You do an amazing job and your family is so very cute! Thanks again.
@@MobileDwellings I wonder if I could get a bank loan to cover most of the expenses? Like bus purchase then use the rest of the loan to build. Can I email you to tell you my situation?
Yeah send me an email at gilliganphantom@gmail.com. you can get a loan to purchase a finished bus like the one we have for sale. I don't think you can get a loan however to build your own and use the bus as collateral.
Having worked at BlueBird in GA, I can tell you, they're truly built to last 50 years plus. Just make sure to get a professional diesel mechanic to go over it. Not all maintenance is done on all fleets.
It's nice to hear from a Bluebird employee that ya'll really take pride in your work. This bus was top notch, very well built.
This video is super helpful! I've watched all the videos and now know to look for cracked axle housings in Bluebird transit buses - if I only knew where to look! Lol! Thanks for taking the time to educate us!
One of the best skoolie info vids yet. This is what I was looking for. Thanks.
Thank You, thank you THANK YOU! Awesome that you included the spreadsheet, I'll be sure to do that on my build next year as well!
I think if I was to go all in on a bus conversion I would contact you
Wow thank you, I’m a single mom, my budget is $50k - this was so helpful. I’ve already built a tiny home but my next project is a bus and I’m so excited because I actually knew what you meant in most of this process! I wonder how much materials have gone up in the past year or two though … :/
You sound well equipped to handle your next project! Prices on lumber went way up but have thankfully come at least partly down. Id expect to spend another 10 to 15% on building materials and if I were to do it again I think I'm going to search out a cheaper plywood, maybe go for a slightly different aesthetic.
Cheaper buying a house 300k or more 🤦🏿♂️🙏🏿
@@MrBoss561 Can you buy a house for 300k?
thank you for sharing the spreadsheet !!
Its my dream to travel on a bus.love your channel.
Thank you! I hope you do it someday!
One of the best skoolie info vids yet. This is what I was looking for. Thanks.
Very helpful video breaking down all the components that people would need to build a comfortable house - equivalent build that's also "off grid" with power from solar.
is 10000 watts of battery going to be enough for the minisplit and everything else? I'm still building my bus and will be having a 23kwh system. I will be having 2 mini splits that will be alternated between them when not plugged into shore power. Even with the efficiency of a minisplit, I worry my 23kwh system will only give me a couple days if there's no sun. I hope to have somewhere between 2000 and 3000 watts of solar as well.
It depends on so many factors. Where are you living, what is your insulation and window set up like, and most importantly how hot is it outside and what temperature do you need to condition your bus to? The short answer is you will absolutely make it work with 3000 watts of solar (I'd definitely go with the high end of that range, I'd go for even more if you could) and 23kwh of batteries. Katy and Sam effortlessly cool the back half of their bus with this setup and worry little about battery consumption, but the front half inevitably will be warmer and their personal needs do not require 68 degrees for example. 75 and up is more realistic.
I’ve been dreaming of a bus conversion for years now and it’s so helpful to have a video like this to see if it’s even feasible for a particular budget/timeline. I’ve never wanted, or even really considered, propane in my conversion because I don’t trust myself to do set it up and maintain it properly, and while 100% electric is way more expensive both for the cabinet items like batteries and the inverter and also the appliances like that Furrion oven you installed, I’d rather take the time to save up for those things than do the more budget-friendly propane version that scares me and would make me feel uneasy while in my vehicle/home. If I’m gonna be spending thousands upon thousands of dollars anyway, I’d rather be comfortable and feel safe for the extra price tag.
Awesome video. I'm looking for bused for sale because of you 😂
haha its kind of addicting!
Wow. We've got about 20,000 invested right now and the only thing that doesn't cover is my labor. LOVE the solar set-up!!!! I wanted to go full electric but ended up with a propane instant water heater. We'll be at 1600 watts when finished. Check out our build when ya get a chance and let me know what ya think.
80k?
@@Diogenesoruise right!? I'm not goin to be anywhere near that much when it's all dead and done.
@@thehillbillyhilton3557 if labor had been hired and the vehicle was purchased near new, from what ive been looking at renovating a van/bus can range anywhere from 20k-80k on the low end.
@@Diogenesoruise yea labor is the killer. Our counter top alone is an easy 2 to 3 grand if we had done it for someone else.
Love the video, all I ask is don't say "All Electric" that makes people like myself think electric propulsion, which I have a feeling isn't the case.
So basically it cost about the same as a nice pre owned class A motorcoach. Im interested to know what are the advantages/disadvantages of each one vs the other.
Your spread sheet was so helpful thank you for taking the time to do that!!
Yayy. Thanks for letting me know!
When you asked us to guess the total cost...I had $60k all-in, and, well, I was a lot closer than I expected!
I thought you meant labour and all. Ok so it's about right. The supplies usually equal the labor.
We are about to paint our bus, demo has been done since January 1st. I'm struggling to decide HOW I want to repair the floor. material needs welded in, but it's not in the best of shape. I have a welder, and I'm torn between the cost/time to put in new steel where necessary and just sinking the cost and replacing the entire floor.
Great video.
What brackets did you use to attach the solar racks to the roof, esp on the outer edges?
Hmmm...that's in the used RV price range. I think I'd more likely go that route. Cool video though and amazing you got all that done!
We call them sticks and staples or S&S for short, motorhomes leak, the skins delaminate, and a bus is a 100 times safer than an RV, you don't have to build your own bus, as there are many conversions out there for sale, anything from school buses, to charter buses like Greyhound, MCI, and Prevost, with thier huge storage bays underneath, some are professional conversion done by name brand builders, you can pick one up for 25 to 50K for the older greyhounds and MCIs, but an older Prevost can cost quite a bit, unless it is a home built conversion. I skipped right by motorhomes after we sold our last camper that we will ever own, I am actively looking right now, just haven't found the right one yet. And an older conversion will have everything in place, just needs updating or remodeling.
@@bill8582 good points. However, I need slide-outs. Plus gasoline vs diesel. Renting is the way for me currently also. If I went with a bus, it would be a double-decker articulated. How cool would that be!
@@DouglasLippi the fuel prices is all political theater, and will come back down eventually. Renting is a good way to find out what you like. And you mentioned slide outs, those things are nice for more room, but unless you have a place to store it inside, it doesn't take long for weather to take a toll on the seals, as well as the rubber roof that a lot of motorhomes have, causing interior leakage, floor rot and buckeling, and as I mentioned before delamination of the side walls, which is very expensive to repair, sometimes exceeding the value of the unit itself. Manufacturers like Monaco, Country coach, and Holiday Rambler have either solid fiberglass roofs, or aluminum, but the slide outs can still leak, which once you have had any of those issue, you will shy away from them real quick. If you are just using it to camp in, you really don't spend that much time inside anyway. I want something I can travel across country in, and a gas unit is not what you want, diesel is the only way to go for that, much more reliable and dependable, with plenty of power for getting up hills. Good luck to you in your quest, these are all just my opinions, but several will agree.
I'm freaking out 10,000 KWh+ backup ? somebody make it make sense
FYI....Your spreadsheet was flagged by my device when I opened it using Google sheets! Suspicious links¿
I do not think spray foam is an good option on something that vibrates none stop. I saw old spray foam and it is settling and creates more headaches (condensation water where is is not full touching everything or holes) than it solves, Also, if water gets in, it traps it there...
20k for reno, 10k for bus. Locking in my guess.
$55,000 wild guess. For my own sake I hope 20k minus the bus
Don’t use your kids for RUclips, you will 100% regret it.
Thanks for all you do . God bless you
Sweet Bluebird conversion! We have about $32k in our motorhome build (including the initial $15k purchase of our 1999 35ft National Tropical Class A MH) doing all the work ourselves - but a lot less labor than you guys put in for sure. We spent about $9,200 on our 5,000-watt Solar / 23.5Kwh battery system. We spent another $2,500 in a 14,500 Btu Furrion rooftop AC and a 12,000 Btu EG-4 28.5 SEER2 mini-split heat pump. The rest is in repairs and upgrades over the last 5 years, like initially defogging our dual pane windows and adding a new electric awning. I'm not counting maintenance and wear related repairs (such as oil changes and tires or an engine replacement in our toad) as this is just part of life on the road over the last 5 years. Kudos to you for keeping such accurate financial records.
Nice! How does someone hire you to help in person like you did in this build?
I'm considering doing a short bus conversion for someone else. Would have to happen at my place in South Carolina. Send me an email at gilliganphantom@gmail.com if maybe that's you.
0:24 for 500km max
Wonderful you use your platform to help others ..one day will call you to come to Cyprus to do.one for me ..that would be wonderful one day thanku so much love and God bless always x
We can ship you a bus in Cyprus. Might cost more than the whole bus though!!!
@@MobileDwellings one day one day ...would love that x
Just a heads up we welded our rear axle several times. Just watch the levels
73k
14 000$ ?
45k~60k
Are you swedish?
thanks for the detailed explanation of costs section by section. Very helpful!
From the title I thought you put an EV power train into the Vehicle.. the ol bus tesla swap!!! Plenty of HP in those motors and more room for batteries!!!
Wish it could be done!
$600 for shark bite fittings... Just buy the crimper...
Lol so true
Outstanding video - thank you for sharing 👍
85k
Cutie pie I subscribed
So its not a electric bus.
0:08 290k my gess
EDIT:
End I was very wrong.
Condenser aircon outdoor unit needs to breathe. I believe you short circuited the hot air rejection part
Can that cement you used in the shower be painted with a water proof paint like used in pools?
Yes you could do that. I considered it!
I guessed $30. That solar/power system is awesome!
Nice clickbait title. Keep up the jam yo. Good luck.
40,000 to 60,0000
Your a legend 😎
Thank you for taking the time to document
Not a bad budget at all. Very nice. ✌️
Hey. This was very interesting. Thanks 👍
0:14 $50k
10k
40k
Thank You, For sharing. Peace.
Great video 👍🏽👍🏽 to the point n so detailed 😊
I remember when u did ur last bus , experience is THE best knowledge 😉 thanks so much for sharing .
I learned so much on my first bus it made the second build go much more smoothly.
Thanks so much this amazing information
20K
4500
27k
$75000 Plus your time…Which is a lot
140,000
34k
That’s awesome! thank you!
24074
80,000
Wow. Love your build and this video is impressive! I’m so curious what your thoughts are for a solar build for a bus only used in Michigan?
Winters won't produce as much but it will definitely still be worth maxing out the solar on your roof as you'll likely need no additional fuel to create electricity for most of the year.
200
I have this same bus, Is it ok to lose the cooling capacity (coolant) by deleting the inside heater array? Just close the valves and remove?
Woah sweet! Yes absolutely.
WOW! I WAS RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!! 🤔🤯
150 k
80,000 l would think would be close. My little bus is going to be about 45 to 50 thousand.
Yeah you nailed that for sure. 80K all in, no tools. Good call.
38k
Basically you got it!
Thank you for all your videos and the great info you are putting out. I am in the middle of a conversion and have benefited greatly from these videos. You do an amazing job and your family is so very cute! Thanks again.
Thank you very much. I appreciate you letting me know!!
That's an amazing price! 😀
Guessed price 100 000
32000 oh professional 69000
Nice! I guessed very close.
not cheap at all
40,000
Dang I was close … it’s a beautiful bus
You nailed it!!! Well the material cost that is.
Wow I was way off
27 k ??????
$50k?
Thank you
Brilliant
I think over 60K.
you kind of nailed it!
@@MobileDwellings I wonder if I could get a bank loan to cover most of the expenses? Like bus purchase then use the rest of the loan to build. Can I email you to tell you my situation?
Yeah send me an email at gilliganphantom@gmail.com. you can get a loan to purchase a finished bus like the one we have for sale. I don't think you can get a loan however to build your own and use the bus as collateral.
50000
120,000
$60,000 for supplies.
$39k
I swear I didn’t cheat!!!
Wow. You absolutely nailed it!!!!
$10000.00
22000
I once worked with a guy named Bruce Cooper
If he was old and tired that was me lol
In Canada though 😅
@@brucecooper8559 haha he sure wasn't
@@MobileDwellings 😂😂
Have you ever done one with black tank and a real toilet I was just wondering want to build one for my full time forever home
7k for a bus??? Holy crap that's cheap!!! I bought a quad for 8 grand!
I know right! These things cost like $150K used and 20 years later they sell them for a tiny fraction of that!
@@MobileDwellings been watching a few of your videos and this is so impressive!!! wishing you good luck in all your future projects man!
Where are you getting busses like these for 7,000$ !?!?
This one sold on publicsurplus.org for even less than we paid for it! That and govdeals.com are probably the best sources. Be patient.
$70,000