Building a spacious Skoolie for their family of seven was a challenge, but Jeff and Ann managed to pull it off.
In 2017, after having their fourth child, they purchased the school bus, and six years later, they could enjoy a comfortable and functional mobile home.
The family’s Skoolie is more than it seems at first glance.
Externally it may appear small, but the interior space is incredibly perfect for their large family.
It is equipped with everything a traditional house can offer.
For example, they have a washer, dryer, and a 120-volt refrigerator, all fully functional.
Additionally, they have a large sink, a wooden block countertop, storage space for pots and pans, and a 24-inch gas stove.
Initially, they built the main level, and after three years, they traveled and moved on to the next phase of their project.
After reflecting on what they would have done differently, they efficiently planned and implemented the second phase.
One of the things they had to work on during the second phase was relocating items like the front door, countertop, and washer.
They also had to build new cabinets and storage spaces.
On the other hand, they were happy to adapt Jeff’s workspace, where he works as a remote software designer without distractions.
They also equipped their mobile home with safety features such as fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide, and smoke detectors.
The couple made sure there was plenty of hidden storage space throughout the mobile home.
They have a sofa with removable cushions and storage space on the sides.
It also transforms into a table where they can eat or do crafts.
Above the sofa is a bookshelf and mini-split air conditioners for heating and cooling powered by solar energy.
In their main bedroom, there is a king-size bed with storage space underneath.
The Skoolie’s bathroom features a composting toilet, sink, Ikea cabinet, and a fully tiled shower with a nine-foot high ceiling.
They kept the original bus mirror as a fun touch, but eventually admired it when they noticed it added a nice touch to the overall look of the bathroom.
Another amazing aspect of this Skoolie conversion is the dedicated space for the children.
Their room has three bunk beds, so each child can have their own space.
Both Jeff and Ann loved traveling as children, and since Ann grew up in Bakersfield, California, they used to escape to the seaside to avoid the desert climate.
„It was a wonderful memory. It was something I really cherished, and I knew we wanted to do something similar with our children,“ Ann said.
Another important part of the family’s adventure is the Jeep they tow behind their bus.
They have to take it everywhere because the size of their Skoolie can be cumbersome when moving from one place to another.
This became one of their biggest challenges when they started their adventure.
„Driving a large vehicle can be a challenge, especially when you increase the size of your large vehicle,“ Jeff said.
„From the beginning, we were trained to pay attention to road signs for height and weight limits, but we use a specific camper GPS app that takes into account all our weight, height, and length and plans our routes accordingly, and so far, it has never caused us any problems.“
The total cost of their Skoolie conversion was $50,000.
They bought the bus for $4,000 and spent $35,000 in the first phase, while they invested $15,000 in the second construction phase.
Although building a mobile home can be expensive and challenging, Jeff’s advice is simple: do it.
„Don’t let anything stop you.
It will be extremely hard, but pursuing your dream will be so worth it.“
Watch the family’s amazing Skoolie conversion in this video.