This Shuttle Bus Is an Affordable Off-Grid Home on Wheels With a Hidden Bathtub

Even though it might sound a bit counterintuitive, bus camper conversions can be cheaper than a camper van. That's because used buses are widely available, and you can find units in good condition for as low as $3,000 (€2,758), whereas used vans typically start at around $15,000 to $20,000 (€13,790 to €18,386).

What we have here is a 2007 Ford F-450 shuttle bus turned into a mobile home owned and converted by Loren. Since I just mentioned costs, I'm going to start with that. Loren purchased this bus for $6,200 (€5,693) and invested an additional $16,000 (€14,692) into its conversion, bringing its total price to a mere $22,000 (€20,202).

That may not be very budget-friendly for everybody, but it's an excellent deal considering all the creature comforts Loren has inside. However, if it's still too much for you, don't worry; I've seen rigs that were even cheaper to make, like this one.

Loren kept costs to a minimum by using various recycled materials, such as reclaimed wood for the countertops, tables, and handles, as well as reclaimed hardware. Loren shared that his budget was "designed around getting quality appliances and inexpensive wood."

As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. On the outside, this bus is finished in white and yellow paint. On top of the vehicle, Loren installed two solar panels with a total capacity of 275 W. Moreover, at the rear, you'll find a custom deck where Loren holds his motorcycle and a propane canister connected to an 8-liter (2-gallon) tankless water heater above.

Enter the bus and you'll be surrounded by a simple and open living space – what helps give the feeling of more room is the many windows on both sides of the vehicle. Loren didn't make any major modifications to the driver's cabin – he added a sizeable shelf above and a climbing headboard above the entrance.

The following part of the interior is a large hanging closet behind the driver's seat. Moreover, if you pull the clothes to the side, you'll discover the bus's electrical system.

Its highlights are two 200 Ah batteries, an inverter, a solar charge controller connected to the 275 W solar panels on the roof, and a DC-DC charger allowing the system to charge while driving via the vehicle's alternator. Of course, like in most campers, you can use a shore power connection to juice up the batteries.

There's also one thing I've seen on just one of the hundreds of campers I've written about: a fireball extinguisher. Long story short, when it comes in contact with a flame, the fireball bursts and spreads out a powder that instantly extinguishes fires.

The bus's main heating source is a Cubic Mini wood stove by the entrance, with a fan above that blows hot air into the rest of the living space. Furthermore, Loren used old roofing steel to create a heat barrier. I love these small, clever, and inexpensive solutions Loren added throughout the bus, cutting costs and using most of the money for the most important amenities.

Next, we have the kitchen, located on the passenger side of the interior. It features a massive slide-out Iceco fridge/freezer, a dual-burner induction stove, a water boiler, a spacious countertop, an enormous stainless steel sink, and a magnetic rack.

Opposite the kitchen, you'll discover the most distinctive feature of this rig: a hidden bathtub. At first glance, you might think you're looking at a standard bench you can find on most buses. However, if you lift the top panel, you'll reveal a small bathtub with a hot and cold water tap connected to a showerhead.

By the way, this rig is equipped with a 45-gallon (170-liter) freshwater tank and a greywater tank with the same capacity. Loren says they're enough to last him for three showers, in addition to the water used for drinking and cooking.

Right next to the tub, you'll discover another dual-purpose bench with a swivel table, perfect for working or enjoying a meal. The bench houses a slide-out Nature's Head composting toilet. This thing took up 6% of Loren's conversion budget, as it costs $995 (€914) - however, most people feel it's a worthy investment.

Like in most other rigs, the bedroom occupies the rear of this bus's interior. In this case, the bed spans the entire width of the bus. Furthermore, Loren can open a skylight, the bus's emergency door, or any of the surrounding windows to let some fresh air inside.

Loren positioned the bed higher up to leave room underneath for a huge garage. It's accessible from outside the bus by opening the emergency door and holds his tools, gear, and a lot more.

This bus has quite a wild story – just two weeks after Loren bought it, someone broke into it and drove off with it. Two weeks later, the police found it, but unfortunately, the rig's catalytic converter and Loren's tools were missing.

Loren shared that it's important to buy RV insurance for your rig as soon as you purchase it. Luckily, he had already insured it, so the insurance company paid him back the worth of all the stolen items.

To prevent this from happening again, Loren also added some security measures, such as glass-breaking sensors and motion sensors. I often remind people how important it is to consider safety and security when camping. In fact, I dedicated an article about 15 camper van tips and tools for safer adventures, most of which can be applied to other types of vehicles and rigs.

For just $22K, Loren managed to create a well-equipped mobile home suitable for full-time traveling. It's cozy, very functional, and looks very good despite the many reclaimed materials used inside.