Adam and Rachel were living what many people might consider the American dream. They had a $1,800/month mortgage and were working jobs they didn’t particularly like to service it and pay other regular everyday bills like water, electricity, car payments, and insurance.
The daily grind and the rat race aspect of their everyday life led them to question whether there was a better way of living out there, and there was. This brave couple gave up their home to live in a 240-square-foot bus that they renovated by themselves.
Rachel said they needed to make radical changes, leave their comfort zone, and create an enjoyable life. A new road adventure could provide that. Now, the pair have remote jobs and a comfortable house on wheels for them, their two bunnies, two cats, and one dog.
Adam and Rachel started their new adventure by purchasing a bus from a well-known bus dealership. They then purchased solar panels, new tires and appliances and undertook a complete transformation over 11 months, spending a total of $30,000 – including the bus.
Adam and Rachel managed the entire conversion on their own, including all the demolition work, solar, electric, plumbing, and building. However, they did receive help and guidance from a family member in the construction industry.
Nearly one year later, Adam and Rachel had moved into their new home and were ready to reap the many rewards. Their living costs have significantly decreased, especially with no more mortgage payments, electricity, water, and garbage bills. They also keep their living costs low by using boondocking and camping apps to find the best parking areas.
Reflecting on the significant changes in their lives, Adam and Rachel say that life was more stressful before living in a tiny home. Now, they get to choose how they spend each day. Although, they do say it’s not perfect, no matter how tiny home living is portrayed online. They sometimes struggle to find places to park and always have to be on the lookout for areas to dump grey water and fill up fresh water.
This lifestyle isn’t permanent for the couple, but they never intended it to be. They simply wanted to make the change to evaluate their lives and see what they really wanted.
After purchasing a bus from a local dealership, Adam and Rachel got to work, giving it a fresh new paint job in white and mint. They also added beautiful geometric shapes on the front to make it stand out.
When many people purchase old buses to turn them into homes on wheels, they remove many of the windows. Adam and Rachel wanted to retain as much natural light as possible, so they didn’t replace or remove any of them.
Instead, they cleaned and resealed them and left them all as they were. Now, anyone who enters their bus remarks on how light it is. It also remains cool during the warmer months since they can open all the windows to let a breeze in.
The front of a converted bus can often be wasted space, but Adam and Rachel used it to its full potential. They made use of the wasted space in the entrance for a shoe storage area, allowing them to enter the bus and immediately remove their footwear.
Adam and Rachel also replaced the driver’s seat, using one from Adam’s 1968 Beetle and modifying it to suit. Finally, the front of the bus was finished with a beautiful bookcase, since both Adam and Rachel are big readers, and wall speakers from their old house to ensure they have a fully setup sound system as they travel.
Adam and Rachel got creative when it came to furniture and finishes in their bus. Their workstation is a clever combination of wood and an old toolbox used as a form of desk storage. The toolbox has one convenient switch to lock everything in position, which is a desirable feature during travel.
This part of the bus also has hardwood floors. Rather than paying $80 for click-together flooring, they purchased finished plywood, cut them into plank-sized pieces, and installed them as flooring with a sealant over the top for protection.
The couch in the bus is essentially the heart of the bus since it’s where they all like to spend time – including the animals. Rachel will sit on the sofa while Adam is driving, with the cats taking pride of place on the pillow and the dog curled up behind the driver’s seat.
The couch also has built-in storage for the solar inverter, including a vent for airflow and ventilation. The wood backdrop ties in perfectly with their rustic theme and plywood flooring.
The rear of the bus is the only area with walls, which break up the open-plan living space in a strategic way. These walls also add definition and a bit of privacy since they consist of the bathroom and closets for Adam and Rachel.
Adam and Rachel split their closet design into a ‘his and hers’ setup. When you approach the closets from the front of the bus, Adam’s is the first one you’ll see. It has a hanging area, a top shelf for baskets of smaller clothes, and storage space for electric panels and other system features they need full access to.
A compositing toilet area is located adjacent to Adam’s closet. Rather than installing a door with such limited space in their 240-square-foot bus, they decided to reuse curtains they had from their old home. They love how much less space a curtain takes up.
And instead of purchasing an expensive toilet system, they made their own composting toilet, which includes a composting toilet fan that remains on nearly all the time.
Adam and Rachel got inventive when it came to the shower. They installed a full 32 x 32-inch shower pan adjacent to the closet and installed waterproof walls and a shower curtain for privacy. The opening window allows for plenty of ventilation, along with a skylight, of which there are two in the bus.
Adam and Rachel also keep their showering essentials hanging in mesh bags to save storage space, and they even have their dog’s water bowl in the shower to save mess in the rest of the bus. According to Rachel, the superior ventilation in this area ensures everything remains dry.
Adam and Rachel had to think about practicality and functionality when designing and building their kitchen, and most people think they did a great job. They installed a large kitchen sink that they got on clearance for $60, splashed out on a $20 faucet for it, and inserted it into gorgeous cabinetry paired with plywood countertops.
The kitchen also boasts a hot water heater and water filter under the sink and a Maxxair fan for ventilation while cooking.
Adam and Rachel knew that they would have to make many sacrifices when deciding to live in a bus, but their fridge was not something they would compromise on. While some tiny home dwellers buy mini-fridges and chest fridges, they wanted a full-size one like they would have in a traditional home. A standard fridge ensures plenty of space for all the fresh vegetables they and their bunnies eat.
The cabinetry is undoubtedly one of the most striking features of this house on wheels. Not only does it feature a gorgeous wood, but Adam and Rachel also used tapestry and wire mesh to create a stained glass effect on the cabinet faces.
Their kitchen countertops also have plenty of space for meal preparation and a single burner. Although, they also have an oven and stove for larger meals.
The dinette area is a work of art, and Adam and Rachel put a lot of time and effort into planning it. Adam built a beautiful show-stopping table for them to enjoy their meals on, but it also lifts off so they can use it for movies or games in bed.
The seating area is just as versatile. The dinette seats boast three storage compartments and a pop-open cabinet. These extra storage spaces are helpful for harder-to-store items like toiletries and water bottles. According to Rachel, the seats also open up on both sides, hiding an even larger compartment for storage.
They chose to place the dinette area in that particular spot because it’s by the emergency exit door. On a nice day, they can open the doors, enjoy the view, and let the fresh air flow through their house on wheels.
You might assume it’s challenging to cater to animals’ needs on a bus, but Adam and Rachel’s bunnies live their best lives. They created a bunny hutch in their bus, with the bunnies coming out multiple times daily to run around, play, and enjoy themselves. The sealed plywood floors also make cleaning a breeze.
Adam and Rachel could have a large pantry or a wood stove, but they didn’t have space for both. Initially, they had a large pantry, which they loved, but they decided to sacrifice it for an Anevay wood stove, which they installed during the summer. While they miss the extra storage space, they love being warm on a cold winter’s night. The wood stove also has storage space underneath, which is where they hide the cat’s litterbox.
Adam and Rachel’s cats well and truly live the good life on the road. They have a purpose-built catio that lets them watch the happenings of the outside world, like birds, bugs, squirrels, and even coyotes.
The catio is a safe space for the cats to relax and sleep when they park somewhere new, especially as many of their chosen locations have predators that would put their lives at risk. They still get leash walks daily, weather permitting, but nothing beats a nap on the catio.
Once Adam and Rachel get back on the road, they fold down the catio and tuck it into storage until their next stop.
The rear of the bus is entirely dedicated to Adam and Rachel’s bedroom – where their cats often like to hang out and sleep. Not wanting to give up their king-size bed from their old home, they kept it and built their bedroom haven around it. They have a bookshelf above their bed for easy book access, wooden shelves on each side of the bed for bedtime essentials, and carpet from the floor to halfway up the walls to function as a type of headboard. The skylight above the bed lets in plenty of natural light, but unfortunately, it doesn’t open.
The king-sized bed is more than just a bed. It has been strategically placed on a platform that opens up to reveal abundant storage space. Underneath is where they keep their two 46-gallon storage tanks. Access to these is easy. They simply need to lift the bed to fill their tanks and access the extra storage space for books, bedding, and other essentials.
The TV in Adam and Rachel’s old house would be too large for their bus, so they sold it and used the money to purchase this much smaller model. Since it pulls out on a bracket, they can turn it to view their favorite shows and movies from anywhere in the bus. Rachel says she loves angling it toward the kitchen to watch shows while cooking.
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