Beach-Themed Skoolie Features a Home-Like Living Space, It Can Go Off-Grid for Days on End

Funnily enough, I'm writing this paragraph as lounging on a sun chair at the beach with my feet in the warm sand. The beauty of remote working, am I right? But enough about me; let me continue with the article.

If you have no relevant building experience, converting a vehicle into a tiny home on wheels might sound daunting. And don't get me wrong, it actually is. But if fear of failure is the only thing keeping you from starting a camper project, I'd say you should still do it.

Nowadays, there's more information online than ever before about how to convert pretty much any type of vehicle, from in-depth guides to YouTube videos designed to help you along each little part of the conversion process.

Most first-time builders I've seen and written about decide to convert camper vans. I believe that skoolies are also worthy alternatives, but since they provide a lot more real estate, you'll certainly spend more time designing and building all the features you desire.

Meet Brendon and Sophia, the owners and converters of this 2007 International CE3000 school bus. They've been living in it for the past three years, adventuring across Canada and the United States. With no relevant prior experience, the couple completed the project in five months.

The vehicle sports a reliable International DT366 engine paired with an Allison automatic transmission. What's more, it measures 40 feet (12.2 meters) in length.

As usual, I'll start the tour with the rig's exterior. The vehicle is finished in two different shades of blue and white, reminiscent of water. On the passenger side, you'll notice a massive 21-foot (6.4-meter) electric awning and an outdoor plug for cooking outside or movie nights.

Like on most buses, you'll notice exterior storage compartments on both sides of the rig. They hold hoses, tools, electrical components, two propane canisters, a backup generator, and more.

At the rear, the bus's emergency door leads to a spacious garage that houses a 75-gallon (284-liter) water tank, which the duo shared lasts them for about two weeks. What's more, the couple uses a hitch to tow their 2004 Jeep Wrangler, which is finished in the same color scheme as the bus.

Besides being a faster way to travel in the surroundings, especially off the beaten path, the Wrangler also serves as a guest bedroom, as it has a rooftop tent with a queen-size mattress. It also holds an additional water reserve with a capacity of 60 gallons (227 liters), allowing the couple to extend their off-grid travels.

Enter the bus, and you'll discover that the exterior theme continues on the inside. Moreover, the interior is beautifully designed, and you can't really tell newbie builders made it.

On your right, as you step inside, you'll see that the couple renovated the driver's cabin by adding a long counter decorated with blue mosaic pieces that form waves. I'm also fond of the new natural stone flooring.

The many storage spaces start from the front part of the interior, with a long overhead shelf and shoe storage spot integrated into the counter I mentioned above. Other notable details include two cupholders for the driver, a swiveling driver's seat that came with the bus, a redesigned dashboard, and an A/C right above the entrance.

Walk deeper inside the bus and you'll be in the living room. It consists of a huge, 9-feet-long (2.7-meter-long) L-shaped bench on one side and a long desk with a wall-mounted 32-inch monitor on the other, which serves as an office for Brendon, who's a software engineer.

The sofa can be transformed into a bed - so if the guests prefer sleeping inside rather than in the Jeep's rooftop tent, they have plenty of space here. Moreover, the sofa houses two drawers and what the couple calls "the mitochondria of the bus:" the electrical system.

Power isn't a problem in this rig since the duo invested heavily into the system to make it very capable. It has four EG4-LL batteries from Signature Solar totaling a whopping 21 kWh of battery storage at 24 V – that's equivalent to 1,600 Ah at 12 V. It's an insane setup.

Other notable components of the power system are a 3,000 W inverter/charger and two charge controllers connected to 3,200 W solar panels that cover most of the roof. Yes, you read that right - this is undoubtedly one of the most powerful systems I've seen on a skoolie, making this bus a truly off-grid home on wheels.

Next, we have a sizeable L-shaped kitchen that comes with all of the appliances you'd find in a conventional home. It features a gigantic sink, an oven/three-burner stove combo, an air fryer, and even a small but capable dishwasher.

Numerous storage spots are in this area, including overhead cabinets with rattan inserts, drawers, and two garbage cans hidden under a flip-up part of the countertop.

Even though there's enough counter space in the kitchen for most people, you can also use a long desk opposite the kitchen, which doubles as Sophia's workplace. When it's not in use, it can be folded down to create more walking room - that's a simple yet very effective solution.

The last feature in this area of the bus is a mini wood stove with a blue tiled backsplash. Brendon and Sophia added it not only for some extra heat but also for aesthetic purposes. The main heating system in this rig is a diesel heater housed in the counter underneath the stove. For those really cold days, the duo can also use two heat pumps.

Past the kitchen, you'll discover an area of the bus dedicated to storage. It comprises huge pantries, cabinets, and more. Across from it, there's a large blue fridge/freezer and a janitorial cubby with cleaning products.

Dead ahead as you continue inside the bus, there's a wall separating the next two parts of the bus. Take a right turn, and you'll be in the rig's bathroom. It boasts a composting toilet, a water heater, a sink with a mirror above, a towel rack, and a spacious shower with beautiful green tiles, which doubles as a sleeping spot for the couple's dog.

Finally, we have the bedroom at the very rear of the interior, separated from the rest of the living space. It features a humongous closet, an A/C, a laundry basket, and a retractable projector screen with a projector mount on the opposite side. Furthermore, the bed spans across the entire width of the bedroom.

It's incredible what Brendon and Sophia managed to build, considering they had no experience. It proves that even newbies can do it, provided they have the funds and the determination. Their tiny home on wheels is very well-equipped, cozy, and suitable for long-term, off-grid adventures.

The beach theme was beautifully integrated inside and out, and I can't honestly think of something missing inside their rig. Let me know in the comments if anything comes to mind.