Nothing is better than jumping in your car and hitting the road in search of an adventure, but what if your home was your car, essentially making every day an adventure. From a 1966 GMC Commuter Greyhound that’s been converted into a home fit for a king, to a 90-seat double decker turned mobile chateau, bus-to-mobile-home conversions are more popular than ever. Here is just a taste of some of the coolest conversions out there, each of which will make you want to buy a bus and hit the open road.
Yetibus
This converted school bus is called the “Yetibus.” The 1986 vehicle runs purely on vegetable oil, helping to reduce greenhouse emissions and curb climate change. The interior offers approximately 200 square feet of floor space and includes a kitchen, bedroom, living room, and bathroom. The ultra-efficient wood stove is just a plus.
Expedition Happiness
A couple of years ago, a German couple decided to ditch their life in Berlin, travel to the United States, and convert this 40-foot school bus into an epic home on wheels, one that could shuttle them from Alaska to Mexico. They filmed everything they did — from installing solar panels to building furniture — to create Expedition Happiness, a documentary now viewable on Netflix.
Dan the Adventure Bus
Equipped with 320-watt solar panels and an astroturf-lined rooftop, this 30-seater school bus was converted into a home fit for a 49-state adventure. The interior features LED lighting and reclaimed wood, the latter of which adorns the floor, countertop, and various storage compartments. Even the toilet, which sits within a cargo trunk, carries a vintage aesthetic.
The Emerald Gypsy
After several years of work, this bus was renovated into a retro-styled mobile home, one that sports a rooftop deck, a double bed, and a knotty pine-lined interior that makes it feel like you’re sleeping in a log cabin instead of a school bus from the late-1940s.
1950 Bedford OB Bus
A classic motor enthusiast spent more than 3,500 hours and $250,000 to restore this 1959 Bedford OB Bus. They also added a diesel engine and rear air suspension, allowing this bus to go up to 90 miles per hour. Inside you’ll find a bedroom, full bath and shower, and seating for up to five people. The added sunroof, central heating, and a 27-inch iMac simply round out the list of modern amenities.
The Big Green Bus
This 1982 West Midlands Metro Bus once hauled students to school and had more than 689,00 miles on it. These days, it sits in the Sussex countryside, where you can rent it out for a long weekend in the woods. As far as lodging goes, the double decker features three bedrooms and sleeps six, and includes a full kitchen, a wood stove, and plenty of books to go around. Now, if only a two-night stay wasn’t around $470…
1990 Thomas School Bus
A paltry 192 square feet of floor space isn’t much to work with, but the owner of this Chevrolet-Thomas school bus transformed his vehicle into a livable home after purchasing it from the state of North Carolina in 2013. They extended the roof to add 8 feet of headroom, and outfitted the bus with a fridge, freezer, double-basin sink, and the kind of cabinetry you’d expect to find in something a bit more modern.
The Yellow School Bus
This school bus seemingly has more in common with a small apartment than your typical commuter vehicle, which is likely why it once housed a family of four, three dogs, and two cats. The interior features a sizable skylight, not to mention a fridge, a washer and dryer, a propane range, a compost toilet, a shower, and two electric heaters that flank the couch.
Israeli Long Public Bus
The designers of this renovation decided to shape the interior of the bus around its original layout, taking structural facets such as the interior wheel arches and existing windows into consideration. The before and after photos are astonishing, though, they probably should be given the conversion cost around $300,000. The salvaged bus now includes diner-styled seating, a rear bedroom, bathroom, storage throughout, a full kitchen, and air conditioning, which is crucial given some regions of Israel can top 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
1959 Chevrolet Viking Short Bus
It may look small, but this converted 1959 Chevrolet Viking Short Bus is designed to comfortably ferry 12 passengers and a driver to a destination of their own choosing. The two sofas located in the center of the bus fold down to create two twin beds, or can be pushed together to create a single queen. Other amenities — namely plumbing and power — provide passengers on this Moroccan-styled conversion everything they need to be self-sufficient while on the road.
