Skoolie!: How to Convert a School Bus or Van Into a Tiny Home or Recreational Vehicle

by Will Sutherland

Skoolies — school buses that have been converted into living spaces — are a natural extension of the tiny house craze. School buses are an ideal choice for tiny homes because they’re essentially ready for interior design and construction from the get-go: you’ve got a frame, a roof, and a floor, right from the start. Skoolie! offers an inspiring inside look at the appeal of the on-the-road lifestyle, with profiles of skoolie fans and dozens of stunning photos of interiors designed for simple living. In addition, this is the first book on the topic to include a complete conversion guide, along with step-by-step photos showing the process, from taking out the seats to choosing the best layout of the living space to accommodate the needs of the residents.

• ISBN13: 9781635860726
• Publish Date: 15 October 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Storey Publishing LLC
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 200
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Skoolie! is part gallery and tutorial guide and part philosophy/encouragement for how to turn a de-commissioned schoolbus into a tiny-home or RV.

Released 15th Oct 2019 by Storey, it's 208 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a really comprehensive book. The author covers the entire process in a logical/chronological manner from sourcing a bus, potentially expensive/difficult problems to avoid, demolition, planning, rebuilding and more. This would be a super resource for anyone interested in a more nomadic/pared down lifestyle and the RV life, not just school bus folks. Quite a lot of the info on wiring, refinishing, rebuilding and planning is also pertinent for camper/RV folks.

The photography is superlative. The author acquired a schoolbus to document the process for this book and the refinishing chapters show the process very clearly. Additionally the book is full of beautiful photographs of skoolies in natural surroundings photographed all over the US and Canada. There are numerous links provided as well as an index and a full itemized budget for the school-bus conversion detailed in the book.

In addition to the 'book bus' conversion, there are profiles for several other buses and their owners, showing some of their interior and exterior designs and modifications.

All in all this is a resource-rich practical and useful book for anyone considering a bus conversion now or in future. I don't even have a bus (or RV) yet and I really enjoyed reading and looking (and dreaming).

Five stars!

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes