DIY SCHOOL BUS TINY HOUSE CONVERSION EP. 1 | MODERN BUILDS

How to Renovate a School Bus into a Tiny House / RV. Today on Modern Builds I'm starting my biggest DIY project to date. I'm turning a vintage SCHOOL BUS into a mobile TINY HOUSE on wheels!! This bus build will be a six part series, with each episode focusing on the buildout of an individual room (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, & exterior). I'm calling this first episode the "clean slate" episode to get the bus ready for the episodes to come; I tackle the demo, design, interior paint, framing, basic electrical, and plumbing rough ins. It's a lot, but I've done my best to keep all the information as clear as possible. Thanks for watching and subscribe for more bus conversion goodness. (materials and supplies linked below)

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES:

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Thanks for watching! -Mike Montgomery
MODERN BUILDS

[SirGabealot]

After watching, I was forced to contact the authorities. After very little debate, they concluded this series to already be a Certified Banger. Congratulations!

[obviousgamer]

This guys taking stay at home to a whole new level

[bmankelly]

I've been a Contractor for 33 year's and I like the way your skills are going with this bus, hope to see you finish this project, like a jack of all trades around this part the woods brother!!!!

[Arpit]

THE OLD OWNER WATCHING HIS HOURS OF WORK GETTING TRASHED BE LIKE : 👁️👄👁️

[ModernBuilds]

This bus buildout has been a long time coming.. couldn't be more excited to share this journey with you all!! Thanks for all the support :)

[brad]

Before you get too deep into this project, I humbly suggest using Dow Corning Foamular (or similar) insulation board inside the gaps in the wall. It's easy to cut with hand tools and easy to apply with liquid nails adhesive. If you care about the gaps, you can fill them in with a few cans of Great Stuff spray foam insulation.

Besides making the interior more comfortable, it will pay for itself by reducing the need to burn diesel to run the air conditioner.

[Iadorebonkerhonkers]

I love how he was telling us how to do this like it was normal to buy a 10, 000 bus and turn it into a tiny home XD

[isabelkelly]

A very nice clean simple start.
A friend gifted me a school bus.
I've been intending one into my life expecting that I would find one at a good price.
I guess you could say I'm flowing.
Now I need to develop some skills like you.
After reading the comments now I need to learn some mechanic skills.
Nevermind, "UNIVERSE, SEND ME THE RIGHT HELP FOR THIS PROJECT"!

[sergiogsr]

Suggestion for the guys trying it:
Rust is the worst enemy of this type of vehicles. Always check the floor, walls and roof. Look for leaks or damage. Check the structure that holds the metal sheets and try to fix your interior structure to the steel structure (instead of the metal sheets).

Unfortunately this may mean removing the floor and part of the walls. I recommend it and also look for mold. The old insulation might have some of that also.

I'm not totally sold on screwing the wood beams to the metal sheet. I would prefer to create brackets and weld those to the structure, paint everything and the bolt the wood beams to the bracket.

Always put a circuit/fuse box if you are mixing big metal boxes, water and electricity. You will be driving and things might break or get loose damaging the installation. You might suffer a traffic accident and a bus fire is no joke.

Finally, consider that a big metal box will change dimensions with the temperature (interior and exterior). You might need to consider this in order to avoid warping or breaking wood. That also plays an important factor on reducing the noise while driving.

On the mechanical side, check suspension, axel, brakes condition and lubrication on all those points. Consult a diesel mechanic and hear their ideas about the project. You even might take advantage on the original electric installation, or neumatic lines included on the truck.

[vinniehandymanllc]

Suggestions: insulate the floor walls and ceiling . Trust me when it’s hot it’s hot and in the winter it’s cold. But everything is nice good job sir

[kcawareness]

That bus came from a town close to where we live. Small world moment.

[Jucybiscuit]

It’s so cool to go back and watch this again, this was the first video I ever watched on your channel and I have watched almost every one since. You are truly one of the best YouTubers out there

[DatBoiOrly]

Theres so many different things that were done wrongly or poorly I'll list them off for you;
1.Painting over the stickers when they start to sweat they'll peel off under the paint either taking the paint around it best to remove them
2.the coolant spillage when removing it you should of once turned off undid the clamp above it and let it drain that way.
3.screwing into the roof without any sealant best to use a metal washer with a nylon washer on the self tapers it'll stop any future problems of the wood rotting and such.
4.using those angles its completely pointless using those only causes more play in the walls which is typically bad in something that gets a lot of vibrations from road use to fix this stagger your spars out and drill and screw them every bit as strong and you don't have to waste your money on 100s of angles.
5. Painting the floors vinyl typically doesn't stick well to anything so spraying that primer on will cause peeling using the resin based paint was a great idea but not so much the primer and the same goes for the lack of cleaning stains and such vinyl is extremely funny whether it'll stick or not.
I ain't doing this out of hate or anything like that I just want you learn and improve :p wish you all the best in the build.

[GaingsterKid]

First I was worried about the fact that he didn't change any window. I thought of all the nergy loss when heating or cooling the bus. But then I discovered that he didn't even insolate the floor or walls. This bus is gonna be a pain in the arse to cool or heat.

[rhondastarr]

I'm from el reno, I've literally been on that bus!

[MrBraden]

Suggestion: Air Pods do not provide any hearing protection whatsoever. Use ear muffs.

Grinding metal can put out over 100db which will damage your hearing permanently. But, wear whatever you want.

[Jerickson]

Can't help but get the feeling that some of these "design choices" were made to save work, not because of the aesthetics..

[troubleontrac]

quick tip for making templates is taking a 4x8 sheet of cardboard and cutting it into 2" strips and making your border as well adding supports so it doesn't fall apart when you pull it down. hot glue is used to attach the pieces together and small dabs can be used to keep the template up while it's being made. I did granite/marble work for several years and its the fastest way I've found aside from a laser system and a heck of alot cheaper.

[PatrickBaptist]

I like how you made the templates of the curves and all so you could make the real wall coverings, that was smart, I'm gonna have to do that this time around... Building in a bus is hard and easy depending how you look at it.

[AJBK]

You may want to consider adding a fuse board because if something goes wrong it will take out all the electrics and risk damaging the power supply.