Our Guide to Bus Length | Choosing a School Bus Size for Your Conversion | Skoolie Square Footage

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We have done a ton of research on bus sizes, square footage, and pros and cons of different lengths and tried to put it all together in one convenient video for those of you who are in the very exciting bus shopping phase! There are lots of opinions and methods out there for determining length, and for what the optimal skoolie size is. This is simply our attempt to share what we've found. I hope it helps! :) Please comment below with your own experiences, tips and tricks!
The skoolies who were so kind to answer my questions for this video also have RU-vid channels! Go subscribe, and watch their bus tours to get ideas for layouts for each bus length!
•The Skoolie:
/ @uncooldean
•Vicaribus:
/ @vicaribus
•Transcend Existence:
/ @transcendexistence1111
• Bendy Bus
• Bendy Bus Conversion
Other skoolies specs and video tours:
•Love Always Adventure Often: 38 ft bumper to bumper bus
They have a GREAT video about why a full size bus didn't work for their needs here:
• Why We Are Selling Our...
•The Summah Bus: 35 ft bumper to bumper skoolie
• Tiny House School Bus ...
•Navigation Nowhere: 35 foot bus
/ @navigationnowhere
•Living Zeal: 23 ft long school bus
• SHORT BUS CONVERSION T...
SEE THE DETAILED INFOGRAPHIC HERE:
www.rollingvistas.com/blog-3/b...
Custom RV, Tiny House, Skoolie, and Van illustrations:
www.rollingvistas.com/our-serv...
Want to Support Rolling Vistas on Patreon?
/ rollingvistas
More about us:
Tiff is a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, pet portrait artist, and etsy entrepreneur. Zac is a photographer, tech support specialist for medium format digital cameras, a huge Auburn football fan, and a science/astronomy enthusiast (nerd). We have 2 dogs, Tuco and Frankie. We all love to travel, hike, and explore and have spent the last 2 years converting a retired school bus into our mobile tiny bus house so we can travel across the U.S. and Canada with everything we need to work and be comfortable. We have a blog where you can find lots of photos of our bus build, www.RollingVistas.com and you can also follow us on Instagram @Rolling_Vistas to see more!
We hope to see you out there! Thanks for watching!
Amazon links to products and gear we love:
Bus life Gear:
www.rollingvistas.com/bus-life...
Tools for the build:
www.rollingvistas.com/tools/
Adventure gear:
www.rollingvistas.com/adventur...
Photo/Video Equipment:
www.rollingvistas.com/photovid...

Опубликовано:

7 сен 2018

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Комментарии : 392

@rondyechannel1399 5 лет назад

Alright, good information. Something not covered in this size comparison is the power train options that usually come with varying size busses. Most of the short busses are configured for stop and go urban pick up and drop off, hence they come with power plants and transmissions that are not set up for highway travel. They usually have a lower top speed less power, and most importantly a transmission that will not like continuous high speed travel. It will get hot because there is a lot of slippage in the torque converter. Highway school busses usually have a 'lock up' style torque converter that does not slip and build heat. They will also get better mileage because of this, and usually geared higher. Think of hauling the football team to another city. An Allison AT545 4 speed is a non lock up found in many short busses and is not ideal for highway travel. An Mt643 is more appropriate and has 5 or 6 gears than can handle more power. Transmissions are very important and costly to repair so don't do a buildout and find out you need a transmission conversion. This is also very, very costly. Cheers! Happy travels.

@brianwilliams8540 5 лет назад

Thanks for writing this out. Good for folks like me who are still looking!!

@KenSellers 5 лет назад

One of the best tips I have seen. Thanks!

@kiefferkeepinon828 5 лет назад

Thank you for this information! I've often wondered about the long distance driving capabilities of the transmissions of the smaller skoolies. I noticed from three RU-vid channels I've been following (The Off Grid Skoolie, Transcend Existence and Life is a Joy), they all mention looking for "activity" buses. These buses typically have more highway miles, are built for driving long distances (cruise control in some :-) ) and have better built-in storage (usually undercarriage). I'm definitely doing my research. The big thing for me will be learning how to do general maintenance on one--I definitely don't want the expense of going to the garage for every little thing--but I'm up for it! :-)

@BrianMartin2007 5 лет назад

You gotta get the 6th gear unlocked if you have an Allison transmission from what I’ve read.. and properly rated tires for Allison to unlock it for you

@mozartbradway1501 5 лет назад

Thank you! Good info!

@brianwilliams8540 5 лет назад

As someone who is now looking for a bus...l found your video very very helpful!

@firebreathingmoonbeam3961 3 года назад

Same

@laurab3876 3 года назад

Same

@l.acemorris3505 2 года назад

Same man

@chadbrooks9763 2 года назад

Did you end up finding your bus?

@ExposingBethel 5 лет назад

Someone offered me a 30ft city bus (no axels or motor) for $250 (price of scrap) yesterday... Im joining the bus crowd...kinda...lol... (Im glad ive been collecting the parts for A build) Ive got 40% of the materials in hand. Ill probably START on things next week...GEEK'n!!!)

@exotiicwii 4 года назад

they offer you again please message me lol!

@MrDulfin 4 года назад

@jessicalaunder4679 3 года назад

Did you ever finish?!

@ExposingBethel 3 года назад

@@jessicalaunder4679 not all the way done. I just started working on it again a few weeks ago and its to hot and dry to work with the grider already this year without starting a fire. I do have 90% of the parts now and still under $2000

@carpo719 4 года назад

I have a 21.5 footer. Frickin love it. We can take the most brutal roads and turn on a dime

@BohemianBusOdyssey 5 лет назад

Finding the right size bus for ones needs is very important. Great vid for someone researching the size they want. We did a lot of research, at 1st thinking we wanted the biggest bus we could find. Then we started looking into staying at State and National parks and found that at 35 ft you can stay in 76% (figured at time of research 2 years ago, some could have changed making it less or more) of the parks and going longer makes that number drop drastically on parks we could fit in. We went with a 12 window flatnose Thomas, that is 34 1/2 ft long. Basically same size Wes's bus before the rear deck, which is going to be perfect for us. We have been talking about doing a video on this topic and you hit every point we had thought of.

@jonathancorcoran9427 5 лет назад

How do you find living in the bus now, months later? I don't feel comfortable driving a really long bus in congested areas but at the same time, I don't want to feel claustrophobic. Do you find 35ft a realistic size for travel and comfort?

@sirdevinthedeepsmotoventure 2 года назад

Sorry 3 years late, but welcome to Colorado, I see you have experienced our weather, it can be interesting sometimes. My bus is 37 feet, but I drove 18 wheelers for the past 8 years, so a bus is basically a large suv for me.

@ISCOOLBUS 5 лет назад

My school bus conversion length is exactly 30 feet bumper to bumper and I can’t be happier about it 😁😃👍, I did own a smaller and a full size b4 but sold them back after a few trips, now with my 30 feet long I have the perfect bus I can get to more parks, gas station, restaurants, tie roads etc, and I have everything I need like bedroom, shower, toilet, kitchen, dining area and plenty of extra space and best of all I’m able to park it on my drive way 😃😁👍 saving myself 100 dollars a month just for parking in a private space

@michaelpeel9347 5 лет назад

So size does matter, I been lied to ;) Seriously though, great video with very helpful information. Mine is '99 bluebird handy bus 28' exterior 19.5' x 7.5' usable interior 146.25 square feet. The video on interior ceiling height is also a good video to watch. It was something I did not consider when I bought my bus. It is a good thing I am only 5'-8" as the center line measurement is 6'-1" after I get the floor built. Nice ending lol

@KingTesticus 5 лет назад

I just purchased a 37.5 foot International DT466E school bus that was originally bought new by a private school in 2006. They used it to haul their football team, so fast forward to today, over those 12 years all they accumulated was 86,000 miles. No rust. Well, that isn't entirely true, there was a tiny bit on the first step when you enter the bus, but the seller sand blasted it out, sealed the metal and repainted. I am seriously considering making a bunch of videos myself when it comes to this process and all the (cough) bullshit (cough) I have met with thus far. Bureaucracy and municipality graft is the Number One issue when it comes to these things. My advice: Do Not Reveal Any More Of The Truth Than Absolutely Necessary. Know how to keep your mouth shut!!! You are not lying by withholding information that a bureaucrat doesn't need to know anyway. Does it have a cooking facility with a separate fuel source? Your answer should be YES, and nothing more, even if that cooking facility is your MSR ultralight dual-fuel camping stove!!! Does it have an electrical system, 120 volts AC? Your answer should be YES, because you're going to use one of those hokey 300 watt jobbies you plug into the cigarette lighter. Does it have a toilet? The answer is YES. Does wonder-bureaucrat "need" to know that toilet is a home dumper 5-gallon bucket with some kitty litter in it? No. So shut your mouth. Does it have a toilet? Yes. You see where I'm going with this line of thinking, right? Share the least amount of information that "truthfully" answers the question when it comes to insurance and municipality craziness. Just to GET my bus, the process was started TWO weeks ago (it's 17SEP18 as of now). I will pick it up at the end of this week. But to get to this point, wow, what a hassle! Anyway, it's insured as an RV because, although it may not be "completed" that isn't the question, so don't volunteer that information. It's an RV because it satisfies the 6 criteria of a motorhome: cooking, refrigerator, toilet, heating or air conditioner that's separate from the vehicle, potable water supply with a sink and faucet, and a 120 volt alternating current electrical supply. The bureaucracy doesn't need to know you intend to improve all that initial (temporary) stuff. Keep your mouth shut! Thumbs up, I love you guys' videos :-)

@willalexander9171 5 лет назад

KingTesticus please express your thoughts in smaller paragraphs. Less words speak big pictures

@ErikStenbakken 5 лет назад

Good tips! Lots of words = lots of good info.

@Junkinsally 5 лет назад

will alexander-Learn to read asshole....

@jasonwessel2346 5 лет назад

KingTesticus king testi..... Freaking awesome

@TheDawnofVanlife 5 лет назад

I think it was awesome info. Most people learn this lesson hard.

@ronblack9615 5 лет назад

As a bus mechanic never thought of living in one

@nomadbound9610 5 лет назад

windows are my favorite !! Transcendence is Insane. i watched one video from the build to learn something and next thing i knom i just watched the whole build. This dude is really knowledgeable in fabrication work.

@JohnnyMullet 5 лет назад

I love my 28' dog nose bus. Easy to work on, easy to maneuver, and just right for us! Great video!

@cyndifoore7743 5 лет назад

Johnny Mullet do you have videos on your bus?

@twizteddreamz4095 4 года назад

Do you have to have CDL

@gormauslander 2 года назад

@@twizteddreamz4095 this depends on state

@bjwieland-doucet5917 2 года назад

EXTREMELY HELPFUL! I'm looking for a home i can move IF needed. Constant travel is not my basic plan. This give me so much more info. Thank you!

@cynthiamartin7608 5 лет назад

Thank you SO MUCH! After I reviewed your video, I knew what me and my monsters needed (pets) and I recently found one I'm bidding on :) An 8 window schoolie with HC Ramp 2008 in case I want to buy a motorcycle...Thomas Freightliner with 60,000 miles, L6, 6.7L (411 CID) Cummins ISB Diesel and 200 HP :) Wish me luck if I'm meant to purchase it :)

@Amy-nz3th 4 года назад

Beginning my skoolie journey. So grateful for your videos!

@ejsvoyage6941 5 лет назад

Absolutely awesome graphics!!!!! Thanks so much for the time you spent creating them.

@patrikusmaximus 5 лет назад

Thanks for the excellent video! This really clears up a few "blind spots" when planning for a Skoolie!

@kateabug1 4 года назад

Your voice is AMAZING!! 😛

@jessj.jesusistheonlyway391 3 года назад

Lol

@paprincess297 5 лет назад

Great content! .....AS ALWAYS! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience, knowledge and insight :)

@TranscendExistence1111 5 лет назад

Great video...you guys are so awesome! I'm honored you asked me to be a part of this! Take care and I hope the road brings us together someday in the near future!!

@Wayoutthere 5 лет назад

Just wanted to say I enjoy your building vids a lot!

@dykeleen 5 лет назад

Wow this was a great video. My wife and I were looking at the 40ft bus and now we are really starting to reconsider. Thank you for all the little details. We are a big fan of your vlog and look forward to the day we have saved up enough to start our fitout. We can’t wait to hear about your travels once your out full time and hearing the pros and cons. Keep doing what your doing and safe travels.

@lovealwaysadventureoften172 5 лет назад

This is so good and thorough! I hope everyone considering a skoolie watches this video. The points made are SO important to pay attention to! Great work work guys, so helpful!

@singingallalone 5 лет назад

I have been thinking about what length would be good for us. We are up in Canada and have two kids that will be pre teen by the time we start. So I was thinking they’d need their own spaces. But really. I’m back to doing a bunk bed set up for them. If our Dachshund (who’s 13 years old already) is still alive she’ll be coming with us. But she’s tiny. This video helped me realize that I will be pouty without a dishwasher. 😂 So we will for sure need that. Winters will have to be spent south of here. As I won’t want to deal with freezing water lines. I think doing the skoolie thing is almost easier for Americans. You can go as far south as you’d need to stay warm in the winter. So we might decided to come south of the boarders for winter. Which I wouldn’t mind at all! So much to think about. Thank you for this vid!

@studlygrish 5 лет назад

I think it would be cool to buy a school bus and take six of your closest friends on vacation for a year. Every Monday you would drive to the capital of the next state .We live in Ohio so that's where we would start . Every Monday morning at 9 we would get up fuel the bus and go to the next capital of the next state until we have seen 48 out of the 50 states . (Except Hawaii or Alaska.)Once there we would travel by small motorcycles and sight see the capital of the states and where to eat and pubs.Each person would store food,supplies ,for the trip. Each person would take a week supply of clothes only . each person would write a daily diary at the end of the year we would all put our notes together and make a book of our journey.

@dallaslaxton8271 4 года назад

I love this video!! I’m trying to talk my husband into building a bus. This is great info to have!!

@ejsvoyage6941 5 лет назад

Thank you so very much for this video. I don't have a bus yet and I have been trying to figure out the information that you have provided. I'm dreaming of the day when I can get going on one and have been drawing up interiors but guessing at the dimensions. I knew the basics but this info is invaluable to me. Can't thank you enough. And then to provide so much on your web site- you guys are great!!!!! Very much appreciated.

@rhemmie2825 5 лет назад

Great video. You both always present your info professionally and it's well researched. And then you add the comedy. ☺

@000one 3 года назад

Thank you Thank you Thank you. Finally. One of the best info for starters out there. Awesome job Tiffany, for us beginners,

@MegaStarlight24 4 года назад

This is one of the best videos I’ve seen demonstrating different sizes you’re awesome

@kymber.r Год назад

Incredibly helpful!! Thank you so much!!!

@squidtrader7973 2 года назад

Thanks and appreciate Tiff putting these graphics together, it helps deciding on the bus length for conversion.

@kylethecreator 2 года назад

This is the 3rd time I am watching this episode because I always learn something new and have different ideas of what I want. Thank you so much for the awesome visials in this because they make it so much easier to understand!

@manualgearshift4965 5 лет назад

I appreciate that you get to the point and not fill the time with a bunch of words. Your videos are awesome, I’m learning a lot! Thank you much for your efforts

@CommunityCoz 5 лет назад

I really enjoyed this one!!! Great info. Peace, Love and All That Hippie Jazz

@UncoolDean 5 лет назад

Awesome! And I really love the graphics

@cyndifoore7743 5 лет назад

The Skoolie yes, those were so helpful.

@m.sm.1159 4 года назад

This guy is so straight forward and fact based it is a definite subscribe

@tesscot 4 года назад

I have been looking for info about bus length for a long time, but not on youtube. And here you were the whole time. Can't wait to learn.

@livingwithgrace339 4 года назад

You did a great job with this video..lots of research and useful information, thank you!

@peggychapman7835 5 лет назад

Loved how you measured the sizes of conversions thank you Many blessings to you all

@MsReginaLynne 3 года назад

Extremely helpful and the info graphics were on point. I’m a visual learner so together with the spoken narrative it was so easy to understand. Thank you so much!🚌🗺🛠🚎

@LeoHernandeznyc 5 лет назад

This video is an incredible tool for trying to figure out what kind of bus I am looking from. THANK YOU

@anyssaroberts8288 3 года назад

I'm hoping to get my skoolie this fall and was having a hard time deciding what size. This was SO helpful in making my decision.

@doreendaykin6693 5 лет назад

Absolutely amazingly helpful video!! Gratitude...

@ErikStenbakken 5 лет назад

Great info. Yes. This is very useful. Thank you! As to the allergy thing, yeah. I get it. I’m just up I25 a few clicks and deal with it too. Finally found a few DIY things that made it WAY better! Best as you all finish up!

@alsharratt 4 года назад

Brilliant info guys. Love your project.....happy travels.

@AdrienneLawrence1 3 года назад

Excellent info, thanks for posting an informative piece that’s as unbiased as can be!

@jesussaves8502 4 года назад

Thanks so much for this information! Your bus home looks great!

@TheDude_Abides_ 4 года назад

Just sending a thank you from someone looking to buy a bus. These videos help!

@parrottfeatherseyes7033 5 лет назад

I like you. I like how you say everything like the cup half full. Oh man. Great job.

@j0hnwho 5 лет назад

what a very helpful video about future skooli owners!!

@dolleybrawner6294 4 года назад

Great video! Thank you so much! I've been trying to figure all of this out and this video has given me a great way to estimate while looking at photos!

@greathornedowl3644 4 года назад

Thanks for the pluses and minuses to consider when converting a skoolie.

@melvinmuddfuckle4263 4 года назад

You've done an outstanding service for people like myself looking for a bus to convert into a tiny home. Found it very helpful! Thank you so much!

@darlenefranklin5394 2 года назад

Thank you. I really needed this video!!!

@hldye7442 4 года назад

Finally somebody actually Nailed It ~ You two did a very good vid with excellent info , most vids only show the inside decorations, Thank Y'all for doing this.

@tomaustin4526 5 лет назад

Great information and cool illustrations. Thanks guys and safe travels 👍😎🚌🌲🎶☀️

@ginoferreira5193 4 года назад

Wow! GREAT INFO... Thanks a million!

@TheRealLadyAlex 4 года назад

I think I've pretty much decided on a short bus or a shuttle bus. It'll be just me most of the time, save for at least one dog and possibly two cats. I may have a companion on occasion such as a friend or a relative, etc. People keep telling me, well just get a van. Uh... No. Too small. even with the pets I thought about it at first, except that I'm disabled and I'm really hoping to find a short bus or Shuttle with the wheelchair lift, so of course I'm going to need more room to move around. I definitely don't want a full-size school bus, that much I know for sure! But from what I've seen and looked at so far, I think a short bus, likely one of the shortest school buses that's made, is going to be the way to go for me. I'm seeing more of the short buses with wheelchair lifts moreso than any other kind of vehicle, including a shuttle bus. Thank you for this video, these were some great tips and information!

@mj.carter543 4 года назад

Thanks for the information this will help me out for real. I didn't really know what size I would need for a family of four. God bless you.

@BrandyFossett 5 лет назад

Very helpful! I’m about 5 years off from doing this for a year, so I’m gathering info. I appreciate your time and efforts!!

@blackriflemensorganization6139 4 года назад

Learned more in the intro graphic than I new before. Great upload!

@emmanuellombardero3538 5 лет назад

Awesome video! You also get more cabin space when your bus is COE (cab over engine)

@rickkitchell348 5 лет назад

Awesome Video and very helpful - thanks a million for doing this.

@lewis200802 5 лет назад

Thanks for making this video! My plan is to buy a bus by the end of the year and this is so helpful. I've been trying to figure out what size works for me.

@carmenkellum4470 2 года назад

So like your video on which buss to look at. Thanks

@momvanup 2 года назад

Excellent video. Beautiful content.

@californiakat1168 5 лет назад

What an awesome informational video. So helpful and appreciated.

@bohoxplorer840 5 лет назад

WOW!!!!! great info Thank You !!! I want to order the custom vector drawing... but I have to wait for Tiffany to draw my custom mural first!!

@AndrewTailorBosher 3 года назад

Such a great service and offering you guys are producing! Big thanks from a wanna-be skoolie researching from Boulder, CO

@darlarubottom6736 5 лет назад

Very informative. Been needing this info. Thanks so much.

@dper1112 5 лет назад

This is really neat. Of course everything depends on intended use and finances, but still it's handy to look at different lengths and sizes like this. Thanks!

@christinebutler7630 2 года назад

This was tremendously helpful!

@sliimmbandiitt1612 4 года назад

Colorado seems like the perfect place to do this and the interior of your home gave me a feeling that thats where you guys are located. You go into great detail about the length excellent video!

@ISCOOLBUS 5 лет назад

Thank you for making this video it’s very informative you put the right words 👍 , I wish everybody check this video b4 they make their decision to buy a school bus, on one of my videos I tried my best to address the importance of getting the right bus length taking consideration on where they are going to park it and maneuverability on the road and also the parks restrictions on length 👍 great job brother

@sweetnsoursusan 5 лет назад

Thank you for making this video. It helped visualize the measurements.

@rebeccaeli8204 5 лет назад

Great information! Thanks for all your hard work.

@comfortablynumb9342 2 года назад

Very helpful information!

@thepennydreadfulbus8461 5 лет назад

This was a great comparison! Thanks for putting in the time to make the graphics and a thorough, well edited video!

@first782 5 лет назад

Great advice, makes me really re-think my build design

@russellsandridge2635 2 года назад

Great information. I am just now looking at what size i want and this is so helpful. Thank you

@ronque23 3 года назад

I saw a couple’s channel who did an awesome job on a double decker bus. Btw, your bus interior looks so warm and inviting like a cabin!

@evhoRoLL 3 года назад

Very informative. Thanks so much for this video!

@sheilabishop5873 2 года назад

great advice and practical...thank you!

@SkyAcre 3 года назад

Legit! Thanks for posting

@meladytwo 3 года назад

Thanks so much. Really helpful!

@insanus1981 3 года назад

Great and really helpful video! Thanks a lot, guys. :)

@astridoneil6911 2 месяца назад

Thank you so much for the help!

@marianita696 5 лет назад

Hi thanks for the information i really needed it, and greetings from Bolivia South America.

@joebuslife9275 5 лет назад

That vector image service sounds amazing! Definitely gonna have to get one when my Bus is done :)

@victoriadefreece4464 3 года назад

Exactly what I was looking for!

@232Stangpwr 4 года назад

I really appreciated all this info!

@desertlandscapecreations577 6 месяцев назад

Perfect video!!!

@terrisimmers9784 5 лет назад

Thank you so much for this info that I had been hoping some one had all ready compiled. I am so interristed in doing one of these to camp in. Love Terri Simmers.