Converting vans into RVs and campers has been a trend for a good decade now. But while van conversions are cool, what’s even cooler is when someone coverts something novelty, like a library van or prison van, into their own traveling home.
One family was fed up with living in a conventional house, but, with there being nine of them, they knew they needed a road vehicle that was a little bigger than a van. So they bought an old school bus and converted it… and the rest is history.
Jeff and Missy Miller had first considered a van conversion when they were trying to book a vacation. Frustrated that not a single hotel could cater to a nine-person family, they decided to purchase a Blue Bird International school bus.
The first thing to decide on was the name, and Jeff and Missy decided on the quirky “Discovering US Bus”, using “US” to refer to their family and the United States.
The ambitious parents kept the outside of their vehicle simple, with a white body and red accents, and red curtains in the windows.
Once climbing up the stairs and heading through the “front door”, you first find the family’s living room. There’s not a lot of room in here, but there are plenty of space-saving features to make the most out of what there is.
The two sofas on either side of the living area double as Jeff and Missy’s beds at night. Jeff’s bed lies directly beneath the family’s pantry shelf.
There is hidden storage space everywhere on the bus, with a closet for linen, homeschooling books, and food beneath the couples’ beds.
The kitchen, cramped as it may appear, features everything you’d hope to see: a microwave, a sink, a trash can, and shelving for foods, cooking utensils and cookbooks. There’s even a holder for kitchen towel.
There’s a window in front of the kitchen, so whoever’s washing the dishes can look out at the view while they’re at it.
Above the refrigerator is even more storage space, which Missy and Jeff use to keep medicine, batteries and sewing tools.
The back of the bus is where things really get interesting. Just beyond the kitchen is a tiny bathroom – but nobody’s spending much time in there anyway.
Beyond that is the kids’ bedrooms, with enough bunk beds for them to all sleep comfortably.
To give them a bit of privacy, there’s a curtain that separates the boys’ area from the girls’ area. In each area, two kids sleep on the left, and two on the right.
In the very back of the bus is a space for storage, which Missy says is essential, as she has a teenager on board. There’s also a white chest for three of the other girls’ belongings.
It’s clear that Jeff and Missy have created something seriously impressive out of their novelty school bus conversion, but we’re not sure every family would be cut out to live in such close quarters! There’s certainly room for everyone – but is there enough room? We’re not so sure.
There’s plenty more information about this rolling home on Jeff and Missy’s website, Skoolie Homes, where they now have a business in converting school buses. More photos of their virtual bus tour can be found here.
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