This Skoolie Will Awe You With Its Classy yet Cozy Design, It's a One-of-a-Kind Creation

If you're used to living in a conventional home, family life on the road might sound like too much of a hassle. I admit, I also thought that at first – however, after writing about numerous families that chose to shift to a mobile lifestyle, I'm now convinced that it can be done.

Although I've seen families stay in camper vans, I feel like skoolies are a better choice since they offer a lot more real estate. Besides that, skoolies are cheaper to buy and safer in case of an accident. On the other hand, more work is involved when converting a skoolie into a home, and maintenance costs are typically higher compared to camper vans.

Meet Dalton, Dakota, and Stella, their baby. They live and travel in a self-converted 2008 Freightliner Saf-T-Liner C2 bus.

For this couple, it all started during their honeymoon, when they rented a van and traveled for about 2,000 miles (3,219 km). So, one year later, they bought this bus, not even knowing that they would have a baby at some point.

The duo spent around 7 months converting the school bus, and that's with Dalton already having some relevant experience with building stuff. Luckily, if you're a newbie, you can find countless YouTube videos you can follow to build pretty much anything skoolie-related, but it'll take a lot more time to complete the project.

As usual, I'll start the rig's tour with the exterior. First, Dalton and Dakota repainted it in red and white. They also removed the standard bus door and added a wooden house door complete with a digital padlock.

One challenging process the couple did was replacing the many windows on the sides with RV windows, with some removed altogether and replaced with metal panels. This is one major regret the couple has - it was an added cost and a grueling process that didn't help with the insulation either. The only benefit was improved aesthetics - I can't deny it, it looks pretty good.

Like most other buses, this vehicle has various exterior storage compartments. These hold an 8,000-BTU mini-split, a generator, a 100-gallon (378-liter) diesel tank, tools, and other stuff. By the way, according to Dalton, this bus has a fuel efficiency of about 8 MPG (29 L/100km).

At the rear, you'll notice a top-mounted mini-split outdoor unit, the vehicle's emergency exit, and a backup camera. Moving on to the roof, you'll discover a wooden deck and 1,200 W solar panels.

Step inside, and you'll be greeted by probably one of the cleanest, classiest designs you've seen in a skoolie. Many colors come together beautifully, paired with a slatted ceiling with eye-catching recessed LED strip lights.

Dalton and Dakota also opted for quite an uncommon layout for a rig this large. I'm not referring to the way the parts of the bus are arranged, but rather to the fact that it's all open – you can see the rear of the bus from the driver's cabin.

Typically, bus dwellers choose to separate the rooms inside their buses. Some create a corridor that runs through one of the sides of the interior to make room for larger rooms in the middle.

Starting with the driver's cabin, you'll see it was completely redesigned. The entire area under the windshield was finished in a way I've never seen before - the couple opted for a slatted wood design with a countertop above. To make it look even classier, they added a vinyl record player. Above, you'll notice a sizeable closet with a rattan insert, as well as an A/C above the driver's seat.

Walk deeper into the interior, and you'll be in the living room. On the passenger side, you'll discover a long couch that can be transformed into a twin-size bed by extending a wooden frame and rearranging the cushions. What's more, underneath it, the duo fitted the rig's electrical system.

Its highlights are a 3,000 W inverter, six 12 V, 100 Ah Dakota Lithium batteries, and solar charge controllers connected to the 1,200 W solar panels on the roof. This robust setup allows the family to enjoy worry-free, off-grid travels.

On the opposite side, you'll find the perfect spot for eating or working on your laptop. It consists of two benches with a fold-up table in between. However, Dalton and Dakota plan on transforming this area by adding a crib for their newborn.

Next, we have the kitchen, which is split into two parts. Regarding aesthetics, I love the tiled walls imitating white marble, complemented by black cabinetry and gold accents.

The kitchen features an oven/three-burner stove combo, a large 120 V fridge/freezer, a microwave, a washer/dryer, a coffeemaker, and a gigantic sink. The latter can not only fit a lot of dishes but can also serve as a storage spot and a bathing spot for Stella.

While there are some spots near the features I just mentioned, you'll find the largest storage spaces past the kitchen. Specifically, two huge closets face each other, one for Dalton and one for Dakota.

The problem with the open layout I explained earlier is you don't have privacy when you invite guests onboard. This couple's solution is to use the closet doors to separate the kitchen and living room from the bedroom.

I'm fond of the fact that Dalton and Dakota made the bedroom spacious. It boasts a bed with storage underneath, a mini-split integrated into the top part of the headboard, full-length mirrors, and a propane heater. Furthermore, this room is very well-lit, with three windows on each side and a skylight above. By the way, to get to the roof, the duo can use a telescoping ladder to either climb through the skylight or lean it on the side of the vehicle on the outside.

The entire interior is tastefully finished. But perhaps the best part (or, at least, my favorite part) is the bathroom, which is located right past the bedroom and separated from it via a wooden folding door.

The bathroom looks straight out of a design magazine. You'll notice a tiny sink with a gold faucet that's designed to look like a swan, stunning blue tiles on the walls, a superb tiled floor with a vintage pattern, and an arched mirror.

It's not just the aesthetics that are on point here; Dalton and Dakota also nailed the practical side of the bathroom. It features a shower with a gold faucet, a toilet, a towel rack, and an overhead cabinet for additional storage. What makes the bathroom even cooler is that you can open the rear door to enjoy the surrounding views while on the toilet or to take a shower outside. What more could you want?

Regarding plumbing, this rig is equipped with a 100-gallon (378-liter) freshwater tank, a 50-gallon (189-liter) greywater tank, and a 50-gallon blackwater tank, with the last two installed underneath the rig.

This setup for the water tanks leaves more room for other stuff inside the rig, but it also means the family can't drive in very cold environments, as the tanks can freeze. However, you can mitigate this problem by using heated tanks.

All in all, Dalton and Dakota built a fantastic tiny home on wheels. It's very practical and cozy and boasts a one-of-a-kind interior design, perhaps one of the best I've ever seen in skoolies.

The couple shared that their mobile home isn't 100% prepared to accommodate their daughter Stella, but they will be making some changes soon, such as adding a crib, to make sure she will be comfortable and safe on their adventures.