We also know a family of eight who lives in a full-size bus, as well as single people who enjoy a full-size bus to themselves.Ĭhoosing your ideal bus length is an important first step in finding the best bus for you to convert. Generally, short or mini school buses are about 20-25 feet in total length, mid-size buses are roughly 25-35 feet, and anything over 35 feet is considered a full-size bus.Īaron and I live comfortably in our 22-foot bus and we have friends that have multiple pets in similarly sized buses, although we haven’t met anyone who lives in a short bus full-time with more than two people. Let’s look at some common options and differences. Unlike with vans (Transits, Sprinters, ProMasters, etc.) which offer a finite amount of years, makes, and models, buses come in nearly infinite configurations involving different chassis, bus bodies, engines, and so forth. The bus you ultimately choose depends on how many people will be living and traveling in the bus, where you plan to drive it, what amenities are important to you, and whether comfort or maneuverability is of greater importance. If you do require more space, there are plenty of larger options that will be able to accomodate your needs with more room for amenities, storage space, and enough sleeping capacity for large families. The best school bus for conversion is a short bus like our Thomas MinoTour Ford E-450 which offers more maneuverability, easier driving and parking, and better gas mileage than it’s larger counterparts. In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned about bus shopping in general, potential pitfalls to look out for, and some other recommendations about choosing a bus to convert. However, since there are so many different makes and models of school buses as well as buses from 20+ years ago that can still run and function normally and you are unlikely to be able to or want to purchase a brand new school bus, the better question to ask is “What should I look for in a school bus?” Since then, one of the most common questions we get from people who are interested in skoolie life is “What kind of bus should I buy?” My boyfriend Aaron and I converted a 22-foot 2005 Ford E-450 van front bus and hit the road full-time in April of 2018. Converting school buses into tiny homes on wheels (commonly called ‘skoolies’) has become an incredibly popular trend in recent years.

E450 bus conversion