I’m a tiny home expert – my top 5 tips if you want to travel the country on wheels including a must-buy purchase
THERE are a multitude of decisions to make when taking the tiny plunge.
Location, type of tiny home, how to downsize, and what to do with all your belongings all come into the equation.
As does whether to buy a home on wheels or not.
There’s no wrong or right answer. It’s very much a personal choice.
A house of foundations appreciates in value but can’t go anywhere, whereas one on wheels may not be classified as a permanent dwelling yet can at least be moved to another location.
It’s all about preference but for the thrill-seekers who want to enjoy a varied, fun-filled life, buying a newly renovated school bus could well be the answer.
The so-called skoolie movement is growing at a rapid rate with an increasing number of people shelling out upwards of $30,000 for, what is effectively, a tiny home on wheels.
The U.S Sun spoke to decluttering expert Brenda Mason Parmelee at the Great American Tiny Homes show in Virginia last month who detailed her move from a 3,000 sq. ft. house into a tricked-out Greyhound bus.
Brenda loved the transition, but her bus was pretty old and wasn’t fit for the road.
Newer skoolies, however, are built to drive around the country while providing a home away from home.
Expert Robin Butler, who has played a prominent role in establishing the NOAH certification for tiny homes which is now the industry standard nationwide, explained to The U.S. Sun how to live a life less ordinary on the open road.
Robin makes the point that, if you are planning to move once or twice a year, obviously a home on wheels is the way to go. You’ll have to shell out to a trucking company to haul your home to a new location.
Trucks capable of doing the job themselves would cost upwards of $60,000 – so using a specialist moving company would be the more prudent option.
Yet if you want to be mobile, and save some cash in the process, skoolies are the way to go.
Before you hand over your money, though, have a long, hard think about where you plan to travel.
Solar panels can be installed on the roof of the bus, helping reduce the costs of installing generators. Solar systems can cost around $5,000 yet the long-term saving opportunities are worth it.
The correct choices, however, when it comes to the actual bus.
If you buy them in Florida, for example, because it’s flat there with no hills, they don’t have to have big engines and transmissions.
If you plan to drive up and down mountains, you’ll need a bus which can do that.
“You have to be careful, ” said Robin.
Some operate on regular gas, others take diesel while school buses also have a lot of single-pane glass which means they aren’t well insulated against cold weather.
If you’re a sun-seeker, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Once your wheels are in motion, there’s another burning issue: where to park?
Checking out the website www.boondocking.org is a decent start, they provide a list of free campsites where you can park your bus for the night. Some vineyards even offer places to stay, providing you treat yourself with a glass or two of something refreshing.
Mooch docking is another option – basically mooching off friends or family and using a spot to rest for the evening. That’s not sustainable for a long trip, however.
One thing to be fully aware of, however, is the cost of school bus tires.
One of Robin’s friends needed to change them up yet received a shock when they were quoted a whopping $3,500
The crisis was averted thanks to an impromptu concert – but knowing how much such an integral part of the vehicle will cost is very important.
“It all depends on what experience you are after,” said Robin about whether or not to take the plunge and go all out for a skoolie.
“If you find a home base somewhere where you park your skoolie, then you can still travel if you want to. It’s a fun way to live.”
