Amy, Mike, and their rescue canine Gibson have turned a 25-foot shuttle bus right into a full-time dwelling, creating a novel and reasonably priced various to conventional residing.
Their shuttle bus tiny dwelling, lovingly named Rhonda, stands out for its sensible design, artistic options, and budget-friendly construct.
As a substitute of spending $80,000 on a van conversion, they selected to take a special route, investing in a former shuttle bus and remodeling it into a comfy, useful area with a rooftop deck, massive rest room, full kitchen, and intelligent storage options.
A wise and reasonably priced life-style shift
For Amy and Mike, the shuttle bus tiny dwelling wasn’t only a undertaking—it was a life-style selection.
Alongside their canine Gibson, they embraced the concept of cellular residing after being shocked by the excessive value of a van conversion.
“First, we went for a van, they usually wished $80,000 to get one, and that’s simply method overpriced,” Mike recalled.
That price ticket led them to a used 25-foot shuttle bus, which they reworked and named Rhonda.
Their shuttle bus tiny dwelling has now been their major residence for over a yr.
They spend winters in Baja, absorbing the solar, and return dwelling for six months to work, nonetheless residing in Rhonda throughout that point.
“Nicely, it allowed us to do that ahead of I feel if we had simply uh gone with a automotive cost and the insurance coverage and the entire different issues that come together with that. Now we personal our dwelling outright,” Amy stated.
Their story reveals that proudly owning a house doesn’t need to imply a mortgage—or perhaps a basis.
What powers and protects this distinctive shuttle bus tiny dwelling
Initially a 2002 E450, the shuttle bus tiny dwelling runs on a trusted 7.3-liter engine often known as the “million-mile motor.” This reliability was key to their choice.
Outdoors, Amy and Mike changed the rusty bus doorways with a {custom} home-style door that includes a big glass panel for higher views and a extra welcoming really feel.
A fold-down desk mounted to the bus aspect is an outside bar, and shore energy hookups present dependable vitality when wanted.
They added foam boards and sealed aluminum panels to the body for insulation, conserving the bus heat and energy-efficient.
The unique again doorways have been stored intact, giving a scenic view from their mattress.
These doorways additionally open to a big storage space that serves as their out of doors gear “storage,” housing a 65-gallon freshwater tank and a devoted blackwater system.
On high of the shuttle bus tiny dwelling, a custom-built rooftop deck gives area to loosen up and take within the surroundings.
Floodlights and a rear digicam enhance visibility and safety, whereas an outside bathe and on-demand water heater make life off-grid really feel simply as handy as any conventional setup.
Contained in the shuttle bus tiny dwelling: Consolation, storage, and elegance
As quickly as you enter Rhonda, the tiny shuttle bus dwelling greets you with private touches.
Mexican tiles on the entrance, a stay edge cedar shelf, and a soundbox with hoodie storage give it a heat and lived-in really feel.
The principle residing space incorporates a handmade sofa that converts right into a visitor mattress.
Behind and beneath the sofa, there’s sensible storage and the core of their off-grid energy system: a Victron setup with 1,200 watts of photo voltaic, 560 amp-hours of battery storage, a 3,000W inverter, and DC charging capabilities.
A swiveling desk mount gives flexibility for eating or work.
The cedar-lined ceiling provides pure heat, and puck lights with dimmers allow them to set the temper.
Within the sleeping space, a trimmed-down queen mattress gives consolation, and small particulars like rechargeable lights, a {custom} shelf, and a curler blind for his or her canine Gibson make the area really feel homey.
They even put in magnets within the ceiling to hold a projector display for film nights.
A full-function kitchen inside a shuttle bus
Amy’s favourite a part of their shuttle bus tiny house is the kitchen—and it’s simple to see why.
Designed round her must-have espresso machine, the area is surprisingly spacious and environment friendly.
There’s a big drawer for ceramic dishes, a regular-sized fridge that shops weeks’ value of groceries, and a pantry that doubles as coat storage throughout colder months.
The sink has a built-in slicing board, whereas the oven and three-burner propane range allow them to cook dinner all the pieces from pizza to cookies.
There’s a small drawer for valuables like their drone for hidden storage, and even the pet food has its personal area.
The water heater and pump switches are neatly tucked away, making the world tidy but totally outfitted.
Intelligent rest room design in a tiny area
Even the toilet on this shuttle bus tiny dwelling doesn’t reduce corners. A full-size 36×36-inch bathe, cedar ceilings, and a small window make the area vivid and useful.
Amy and Mike sourced handmade Italian tiles on Fb Market so as to add a contact of favor. A Nebia by Moen bathe head conserves water, which is essential when residing off-grid.
Amy additionally crafted a DIY composting bathroom utilizing a urine diverter from Etsy.
“I actually didn’t wish to pay 1,200 Canadian for one thing that I felt like we may do ourselves, and it’s thus far it’s labored out nice,” she stated.
A rebuilt drugs cupboard and a Nautilus bathe door full the toilet’s considerate structure.
Highway life and monetary freedom in a shuttle bus tiny dwelling
Wanting again, Amy admits she was nervous about residing in a bus.
“Once I was attempting to persuade Mike to do that um I used to be a bit of bit apprehensive about how we’d truly make it work,” she shared.
Nevertheless it’s paid off. They don’t work remotely like many nomads—as an alternative, they return dwelling to work six months of the yr. Nonetheless, their shuttle bus tiny dwelling helps them save greater than ever.
“And this previous yr that we did that whereas residing within the bus, we’ve managed to avoid wasting more cash than we have been ever in a position to save whereas residing full-time in a house and dealing full-time jobs,” Amy concluded.
Their journey proves {that a} shuttle bus tiny dwelling isn’t only a artistic housing answer—it’s a path to freedom, journey, and monetary independence.
See Amy and Mike’s shuttle bus tiny dwelling by the video beneath:
Subscribe to Tiny Home Big Journey’s YouTube channel for extra superb tiny dwelling movies like this.
Observe Mike and Amy on Instagram and be taught extra about their journey!
Associated Posts:
Uncover extra from My Constructive Outlooks
Subscribe to get the most recent posts despatched to your e-mail.
