The Theory of Bus Conversions

Bus Conversions

So, bus conversions are exactly what they sound like. Buy a bus (of some type) and `convert` it to a motorhome with living space.

There are many types of buses out there to buy and convert. First, a school bus-- or second a tour bus (aka Greyhound, city bus, etc). It really depends on what you are looking for. School buses can be bought for very cheap (like $1000), however tour buses are more expensive (for various reasons) and some of the new ones are close to $200,000!

My husband is handy, but not that handy. Remember the fridge in my dining room for over a year... I knew he would be able to convert it- but honestly, that is not what we were looking for.

Traditional school bus

So much cooler!

As mentioned before, we wanted a motorhome that was in good shape, ready to drive without any issues. So buying a bus and doing the work was not an option, or something we were prepared to take on at this point.

My research on bus conversions was very interesting, and definitely opened my eyes. A lot of the issues with motorhomes are avoided with bus conversions. Plus you have so much space!

First- with a bus conversion, you (or someone else) is starting from scratch. You can put whatever you want, wherever you want! Second, buses are SAFE. They are made to carry 40+ passengers safely. A bonus is that they are made with stainless steel (don`t rust) and don`t have the same exterior issues as motorhomes (delamination).

My husband was happy that most buses are DIESEL pushers. Basically there is a diesel engine in the back. These engines are made to last for a long, long time. Tour buses are made to withstand many, many miles and lots of wear and tear. They are built to last- quality constructions (unlike many issues we had read about motorhomes). Bus conversions also hold their value for many years.

I have to admit, the one thing I liked the best about bus conversions-- there are not necessarily `models`- meaning 3 or 4 choices that have all the same floorplan. Each bus conversion is unique. The trick is to find one that meets your needs. That is, find one that someone has converted-- that has the same idea of what is important about your home on wheels

I promise some photos next post, and some history of our bus!