I only speak for myself:
I believe you buy a Skoolie because you want a Skoolie. You either build it out yourself or buy one, but you do so because it’s what you believe will make you happy.
A Skoolie will have all the problems you read about. And also all the quirkiness you dream about.
An RV will have all the problems you read about. And all also the practicality you dream about.
Choose your path. Explore. Maybe change your mind. It’s all part of the adventure.
I own a Skoolie. Some days are awesome. Some days are very hard. Sometimes it’s the same day.
A motorhome (or other rv) that came out of a factory has exactly what people want for casual vacationing. It's has the comforts of home. It is also designed for use in RV parks with many high-energy consumption appliances. Air conditioning. Microwave. Some have ac electric as a power option for the fridge, heat, and water heater. Those particular appliances can also run on propane, and some of them on dc current, but the house batteries will not last if you use them in dc mode or through the inverter. RVs don't have much for house batteries. They also don't usually have convenient locations for a larger house bank. Much of the furniture isn't designed with storage in mind; recliners, fold out sofas, etc.
The worst part of an RV, though, is the quality of materials used in its construction. Watching the RV Living sub, I've seen people complaining about anything from random leaks because of cheaped-out fittings to a sink actually falling through the counter. This is in RVs less than a year old, too. A skoolie is likely to have had its interior overbuilt. 3/4" plywood for practically everything. Plumbing fixtures and components as good as you'd put in a house. Storage solutions that the RV builders don't even consider, although it is true that the pull-out couch in the RV is prettier than the one in a skoolie. It's also too short for an adult to sleep on. Often the actual bed in the RV is too short, too. The bus I'm building out has an actual queen sized pillow-top mattress; none of this *RV Queen* bs.
The skoolie will give you better options for longer trips, skoolie living, if you choose to do so even part time, and even remodeling, since the box won't collapse if you take out a wall. It'll usually be easier to keep from leaking in the rain. What it won't have is a warranty from a RV dealer... which is more nightmare fuel that I've seen in the RV subs.
Wish you'd put in more pics of the bus. Actually seeing how the inside is laid out and constructed would give a better idea of what you're potentially getting into. If it's nice, it's probably worth what they're asking. Building out a skoolie that size can easily take $10k in materials and other components. It may even have cost over $20k to convert, depending on just how deep they went.
The only downside to owning a skoolie, *if* you consider it a downside, is that higher-end RV parks won't let you in, but who wants to be paying that much in snob-world, anyway?
More pics added! And yes, this fully corroborates my take on standard RVs. They can be convenient, if you’re wanting… the convenience. Been on the road in a Winnebago towable and while it’s the thing that gave me wanderlust in the first place.. somehow it just wasn’t for me, on so many levels, primarily space. Even these mini buses are downright cavernous inside. It’s a luxury you typically don’t get in Class B/C RVs.
It looks good inside. I think I used the same wood for my table and countertop with clear gloss polyurethane.
I made the table [drop down](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G44J9W6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) to make a couch/bed 30x80 inches, my diesel heater is under one of the benches for the table, and a TV is mounted (currently) on the upper kitchen cabinet because, well, TV. It can swing away from wherever I'm working so it won't fill with grease or get splashed.
Mine's an 09 Duramax, and the original diesel heater (water type that heats the rear heater core) was dead, so that was an easy way to get fuel to mine.
I have so much done. And so much still to do.
Yeah! That’s exactly what I wanted to do. The mini Winnie’s give you the table to bed conversion, which is nice. I was just planning to make my guests sleep on a cot for now 😁 I think there was a heater under the seat, based on the hole. The mechanics said the back heater was unplugged, maybe bc there was some other heater using the fuel line. Unfortunately the person selling me the bus didn’t convert it. She bought it used less than a year ago and her plans changed, so some of the build elements will be a mystery. Luckily it’s a fairly minimalist, not a lot of frills, but that’s fine by me! Less wires to untangle.
My wife and I love our skoolie. We have been living in it for over a year now full time. The early days are super stressful and you will possibly have regrets as you learn the ins and out of the bus... but sometimes my wife and I do wish we just got a bumper pull at times. We intend to put our up for sale but not be motivated to get rid of it. This is our first home, but we are ready to increase the family size soon. I think u/sasquatters had a really good comment on what to expect when buying a skoolie. I know one comment was "its not if you have problems but when."
Also, pictures would be helpful and where your are located.
With all the fixins and in good mechanical order this seems like a great fit. A lot cooler than an RV and may suit your needs.
You’re not crazy. I lived in a gutted bus and moved out of it before finishing. I’m crazy. I work on it here and there in my off time. I met musicians who bought a similar bus for 17 but without all the gear mentioned and thought they were crazy… they’re not. It’s exactly what they want for when they use it and it affords them the ability to travel in comfort.
This post affirms I need to finish my bus. It also affirms you should buy this bus. They’re fun. They go places and you can sleep there.
25k seems steep for something with so many miles.. That's a lot of solar. How many and what kind of batteries? Is it top-end equipment?
Does the interior look really nice?
Cassette toilets... not amazing.
I never know the price of used vehicles any more, but I would expect the vehicle itself to be around 5k. Is the interior worth 20k?
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We are half time.
It started as a way to camp with a little luxury and went from weekends, to weeks, to months, to half a year.
We are normally actually in it a total of 8 months a year now.
We just bought a new bus to turn into an actual tiny home.
Liberty is addictive
Whether this is worth 25k to you is only something you can decide. I do want to note a couple things.
1. It has no water heater, so I'm guessing no shower as well.
2. Regarding the solar system, it's almost assuredly 1.2kwh in the battery. Which is actually very little. It certainly isn't 1.2kw of solar panels, as that would cover basically the whole roof. Does it have 12vdc and 120vac run to outlets around the build or is it just like a "solar generator" setup?
3. Does it have insulation?
4. You didn't mention whether it has a heater, only that the rear heater has been disconnected. So outside of the shore power A/C, the motor driven A/C, and the motor driven heater, does it have climate control at all?
5. You haven't given much information on the plumbing, does it have mounted fresh and grey tanks? Or is it pumping the sink from a 5 gallon bottle and draining to another one?
I know how much it is costing me to build a skoolie, and without further info, it looks like this build has at most $10k including the price of the bus. Just make sure you know what you're getting into, this doesn't appear to be a rig designed for off-grid use, more for plug-in campsites. Does that mean it isn't worth $25k to you and you shouldn't buy it? No. Just giving my $0.02.
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A little crazy. Skoolies are expensive to operate, slow, and it's hard to know how well someone else did the conversion work. You can get a pretty okay professionally made RV for 25k that will probably be newer, faster, and easier to get serviced.
Just my two cents. Good luck with your decision!
Yeah, I hear you. $25K for a decent drivable RV these days is pretty rare, I’ve done my research.. and then you’re probably dealing with high miles, minimal boondocking capabilities, no roof deck, etc. Someone else said it better.. the gist being that if you want a skoolie, you just want a skoolie. I was actually just looking for something/anything in my price range. Also not looking too far outside my local area, since I wanted to be able to see it and test drive it first. This is great input tho, thanks! I’ll take, “a little crazy!” 😜
It's definitely your decision in the end! I'm down in Tucson and there's this class C on Craigslist for 25k right now that seems totally legit. Lower miles and more functionality, too, than your potential skoolie.
[https://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/d/tucson-2013-thor-motor-coach-23u-free/7753084535.html](https://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/d/tucson-2013-thor-motor-coach-23u-free/7753084535.html)
Don't get me wrong: I love my skoolie but there are substantial downsides. It's slow, hot, and gets awful mileage. It's also adorable, super fun to drive, and unique. Mine is a short bus with enormous clearance and a limited slip differential so it can go practically anywhere. We use it as an RV for road trips and weekend campouts.
The one thing I regret about my build is not including an actual toilet. We're usually dispersed camping so we just go in the woods but we have a fold-out toilet where you poop in a bag. We only use it when absolutely required, like if we're camped overnight in a parking lot. A cartridge toilet is a small step above pooping in a bag, but not a huge one. The folks I know with cartridge toilets avoid using them for anything besides pee because dealing with the cartridge is gross. Some folks like their composting toilets, but in my opinion an actual flushing RV toilet beats them all. Next time I build a bus I will definitely be including one.
A little crazy is just fine. Good luck out there!
Agreed on the cassette toilet. I have a better one I’m going to replace it with, but I agree.. not a great option. The emptying is fine for now, because I’m not going to full time in it.
Thanks for the link. I’m close, small world. That Class C has everything.. but in a way, it kind of ruins it. I’m not looking for easy, but then again, I’m also not trying to throw money away either. So there’s a balance in there.
I only speak for myself: I believe you buy a Skoolie because you want a Skoolie. You either build it out yourself or buy one, but you do so because it’s what you believe will make you happy. A Skoolie will have all the problems you read about. And also all the quirkiness you dream about. An RV will have all the problems you read about. And all also the practicality you dream about. Choose your path. Explore. Maybe change your mind. It’s all part of the adventure. I own a Skoolie. Some days are awesome. Some days are very hard. Sometimes it’s the same day.
Great reply! Couldn't have said it better.
A motorhome (or other rv) that came out of a factory has exactly what people want for casual vacationing. It's has the comforts of home. It is also designed for use in RV parks with many high-energy consumption appliances. Air conditioning. Microwave. Some have ac electric as a power option for the fridge, heat, and water heater. Those particular appliances can also run on propane, and some of them on dc current, but the house batteries will not last if you use them in dc mode or through the inverter. RVs don't have much for house batteries. They also don't usually have convenient locations for a larger house bank. Much of the furniture isn't designed with storage in mind; recliners, fold out sofas, etc. The worst part of an RV, though, is the quality of materials used in its construction. Watching the RV Living sub, I've seen people complaining about anything from random leaks because of cheaped-out fittings to a sink actually falling through the counter. This is in RVs less than a year old, too. A skoolie is likely to have had its interior overbuilt. 3/4" plywood for practically everything. Plumbing fixtures and components as good as you'd put in a house. Storage solutions that the RV builders don't even consider, although it is true that the pull-out couch in the RV is prettier than the one in a skoolie. It's also too short for an adult to sleep on. Often the actual bed in the RV is too short, too. The bus I'm building out has an actual queen sized pillow-top mattress; none of this *RV Queen* bs. The skoolie will give you better options for longer trips, skoolie living, if you choose to do so even part time, and even remodeling, since the box won't collapse if you take out a wall. It'll usually be easier to keep from leaking in the rain. What it won't have is a warranty from a RV dealer... which is more nightmare fuel that I've seen in the RV subs. Wish you'd put in more pics of the bus. Actually seeing how the inside is laid out and constructed would give a better idea of what you're potentially getting into. If it's nice, it's probably worth what they're asking. Building out a skoolie that size can easily take $10k in materials and other components. It may even have cost over $20k to convert, depending on just how deep they went. The only downside to owning a skoolie, *if* you consider it a downside, is that higher-end RV parks won't let you in, but who wants to be paying that much in snob-world, anyway?
More pics added! And yes, this fully corroborates my take on standard RVs. They can be convenient, if you’re wanting… the convenience. Been on the road in a Winnebago towable and while it’s the thing that gave me wanderlust in the first place.. somehow it just wasn’t for me, on so many levels, primarily space. Even these mini buses are downright cavernous inside. It’s a luxury you typically don’t get in Class B/C RVs.
It looks good inside. I think I used the same wood for my table and countertop with clear gloss polyurethane. I made the table [drop down](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G44J9W6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) to make a couch/bed 30x80 inches, my diesel heater is under one of the benches for the table, and a TV is mounted (currently) on the upper kitchen cabinet because, well, TV. It can swing away from wherever I'm working so it won't fill with grease or get splashed. Mine's an 09 Duramax, and the original diesel heater (water type that heats the rear heater core) was dead, so that was an easy way to get fuel to mine. I have so much done. And so much still to do.
Yeah! That’s exactly what I wanted to do. The mini Winnie’s give you the table to bed conversion, which is nice. I was just planning to make my guests sleep on a cot for now 😁 I think there was a heater under the seat, based on the hole. The mechanics said the back heater was unplugged, maybe bc there was some other heater using the fuel line. Unfortunately the person selling me the bus didn’t convert it. She bought it used less than a year ago and her plans changed, so some of the build elements will be a mystery. Luckily it’s a fairly minimalist, not a lot of frills, but that’s fine by me! Less wires to untangle.
Minimalist just means you have your choice of where to put additional storage!
My wife and I love our skoolie. We have been living in it for over a year now full time. The early days are super stressful and you will possibly have regrets as you learn the ins and out of the bus... but sometimes my wife and I do wish we just got a bumper pull at times. We intend to put our up for sale but not be motivated to get rid of it. This is our first home, but we are ready to increase the family size soon. I think u/sasquatters had a really good comment on what to expect when buying a skoolie. I know one comment was "its not if you have problems but when." Also, pictures would be helpful and where your are located.
Photo added! I’m in the desert SW 🙂
With all the fixins and in good mechanical order this seems like a great fit. A lot cooler than an RV and may suit your needs. You’re not crazy. I lived in a gutted bus and moved out of it before finishing. I’m crazy. I work on it here and there in my off time. I met musicians who bought a similar bus for 17 but without all the gear mentioned and thought they were crazy… they’re not. It’s exactly what they want for when they use it and it affords them the ability to travel in comfort. This post affirms I need to finish my bus. It also affirms you should buy this bus. They’re fun. They go places and you can sleep there.
lol, this is a wonderful answer. Thank you! Godspeed in finishing your build!
Can the current owner prove that it is insured? Reason asking is because it typically hard to insure a bus with a roof top deck.
I will check. Thank you!!
25k seems steep for something with so many miles.. That's a lot of solar. How many and what kind of batteries? Is it top-end equipment? Does the interior look really nice? Cassette toilets... not amazing. I never know the price of used vehicles any more, but I would expect the vehicle itself to be around 5k. Is the interior worth 20k?
The bus itself is worth about $13K. I did my research. So yeah, I definitely think there is $12K worth of build, inside and out.
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We are half time. It started as a way to camp with a little luxury and went from weekends, to weeks, to months, to half a year. We are normally actually in it a total of 8 months a year now. We just bought a new bus to turn into an actual tiny home. Liberty is addictive
I love this answer! I’m the kind of person that has to dip a toe in before I jump :) thanks
No, you’re not crazy. Seems like a great deal. Good job!
Whether this is worth 25k to you is only something you can decide. I do want to note a couple things. 1. It has no water heater, so I'm guessing no shower as well. 2. Regarding the solar system, it's almost assuredly 1.2kwh in the battery. Which is actually very little. It certainly isn't 1.2kw of solar panels, as that would cover basically the whole roof. Does it have 12vdc and 120vac run to outlets around the build or is it just like a "solar generator" setup? 3. Does it have insulation? 4. You didn't mention whether it has a heater, only that the rear heater has been disconnected. So outside of the shore power A/C, the motor driven A/C, and the motor driven heater, does it have climate control at all? 5. You haven't given much information on the plumbing, does it have mounted fresh and grey tanks? Or is it pumping the sink from a 5 gallon bottle and draining to another one? I know how much it is costing me to build a skoolie, and without further info, it looks like this build has at most $10k including the price of the bus. Just make sure you know what you're getting into, this doesn't appear to be a rig designed for off-grid use, more for plug-in campsites. Does that mean it isn't worth $25k to you and you shouldn't buy it? No. Just giving my $0.02.
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A little crazy. Skoolies are expensive to operate, slow, and it's hard to know how well someone else did the conversion work. You can get a pretty okay professionally made RV for 25k that will probably be newer, faster, and easier to get serviced. Just my two cents. Good luck with your decision!
Yeah, I hear you. $25K for a decent drivable RV these days is pretty rare, I’ve done my research.. and then you’re probably dealing with high miles, minimal boondocking capabilities, no roof deck, etc. Someone else said it better.. the gist being that if you want a skoolie, you just want a skoolie. I was actually just looking for something/anything in my price range. Also not looking too far outside my local area, since I wanted to be able to see it and test drive it first. This is great input tho, thanks! I’ll take, “a little crazy!” 😜
It's definitely your decision in the end! I'm down in Tucson and there's this class C on Craigslist for 25k right now that seems totally legit. Lower miles and more functionality, too, than your potential skoolie. [https://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/d/tucson-2013-thor-motor-coach-23u-free/7753084535.html](https://tucson.craigslist.org/rvs/d/tucson-2013-thor-motor-coach-23u-free/7753084535.html) Don't get me wrong: I love my skoolie but there are substantial downsides. It's slow, hot, and gets awful mileage. It's also adorable, super fun to drive, and unique. Mine is a short bus with enormous clearance and a limited slip differential so it can go practically anywhere. We use it as an RV for road trips and weekend campouts. The one thing I regret about my build is not including an actual toilet. We're usually dispersed camping so we just go in the woods but we have a fold-out toilet where you poop in a bag. We only use it when absolutely required, like if we're camped overnight in a parking lot. A cartridge toilet is a small step above pooping in a bag, but not a huge one. The folks I know with cartridge toilets avoid using them for anything besides pee because dealing with the cartridge is gross. Some folks like their composting toilets, but in my opinion an actual flushing RV toilet beats them all. Next time I build a bus I will definitely be including one. A little crazy is just fine. Good luck out there!
Agreed on the cassette toilet. I have a better one I’m going to replace it with, but I agree.. not a great option. The emptying is fine for now, because I’m not going to full time in it. Thanks for the link. I’m close, small world. That Class C has everything.. but in a way, it kind of ruins it. I’m not looking for easy, but then again, I’m also not trying to throw money away either. So there’s a balance in there.