This Couple Transformed a Rusty Old School Bus Into the Perfect Home
Priscilla and Robbie do not subscribe to the belief that a home is defined by four walls and a picket fence. This couple recognized that their true home was on the open road, and they dedicated themselves to seeing the United States in a distinctive dwelling that they would refurbish to accommodate themselves and their pets. What is the major plot twist? This dwelling, instead of having four walls, was in dire need of significant tender loving care. These inexperienced do-it-yourself individuals faced a challenging struggle. Continue reading to discover their remarkable narrative!
Living a Life of Adventure
Similar to numerous individuals globally, Priscilla and Robbie possess a predilection for embarking on thrilling experiences. Residing in Florida, they yearned for an alternative existence. They desired to explore the entire country and establish enduring memories; hence, they started contemplating the notion of a nomadic lifestyle. However, there was only one issue. Priscilla and Robbie were unwilling to abandon their cherished pets.
They said, “We detested leaving our pets behind and felt their absence when we were away… we required a means to continue traveling while having them accompany us.” They collaborated and brainstormed.
Choosing Their New Home
While traveling, Priscilla and Robbie believed their dogs should accompany them. They desired to undertake a transcontinental journey spanning the United States and Canada, estimating that it would require a minimum of two years to accomplish. They began experimenting with the idea of living in a small dwelling, such as a van, camper, or vehicle. However, would they be capable of sustaining such an effort for a duration of two years?
They required a vehicle of larger proportions than a car, and before long, they fortuitously discovered an antiquated school bus in Miami that appeared to be an ideal choice. However, the couple expressed their ignorance of the challenges ahead.
Time to Rip It Apart
Priscilla and Robbie, despite their initial excitement, quickly grasped the enormity of their renovation undertaking. Indeed, the school bus was not intended for habitation, especially not for a duration as long as two years! Consequently, they opted to go gradually and initiated the process by removing the seats, thereby establishing a blank canvas onto which they could envision and renovate their new mobile residence.
Overall, the couple had 210 square feet of available space for the construction of their new home. However, the construction of the Thomas School Bus in 1998 indicated that they quickly encountered an issue.
The First Big Challenge
Robbie and Priscilla successfully removed the seats from the school bus, but encountered a problem when attempting to detach the floor rails previously connected to the seats. The pair described this task as “the most challenging aspect of the floor renovation process.” Despite having access to robust equipment, the pair encountered difficulties in achieving any advancement.
According to Priscilla, Robbie utilized an angle grinder to create incisions around every six inches, while she employed a hammer. However, due to the lengthy and physically demanding nature of this process, the couple decided to proceed to the subsequent significant undertaking.
Starting on the Walls
Robbie and Priscilla diverted their attention from the floor to the walls in order to prioritize their tasks. In order to create a livable environment for themselves and their pets, they had to remove the original metal walls of the bus by sawing them off as part of the next phase of the project. However, they found this task to be disorganized, and without a contractor’s help, they had to handle substantial quantities of waste on their own.
The couple expressed that they were unable to keep track of the multitude of trailers filled with scrap metal that they extracted from their vacant bus. If we were to estimate the number, it would likely be around 20!
An Unwelcome Surprise
Fortunately, Priscilla and Robbie completed the task of removing the wallpaper off the walls in a short amount of time. Once the task was completed, they went back to the level and proceeded to remove the rails. Next, they extracted the initial flooring and removed the insulation. However, they encountered yet another obstacle. After examining the floor, they discovered that it was completely riddled with numerous perforations.
They complained about the monotony of filling them all. We utilized construction adhesive to cover the gaps and then applied masking tape on top of it. Their vehicle’s true age became apparent at this point.
A Saving Grace
The couple had begun to severely reconsider their decision to refurbish the 1998 school bus, but there was one redeeming factor. Despite their anticipation of encountering a substantial quantity of rust, they discovered a minimal amount throughout the initial phase of the construction endeavor. This was due to the fact that the school bus had been in operation exclusively in Miami, a city with a warm climate that reduces the likelihood of vehicle rusting.
Despite applying Rust-Oleum paint to specific areas of rust, they promptly proceeded to the subsequent task of installing foam board floor insulation. However, their enthusiasm was short-lived.
Finding Some Leaky Windows
After installing the floor insulation, the couple proceeded to construct the subfloor of their new mobile home using plywood. Despite the meticulous attention to detail required, it was gratifying to witness the assembly of the school bus. However, at that moment, they came to the realization that there was a leak.
Finally, they removed all the windows, cleaned them, and reinstalled them with an extra-strong sealer. She then admitted, “After all that work, they continued to leak.” They had no idea what to do.
