They'd been stopping at various locations to sign copies of their new book, Skoolie!: How to Convert a School Bus or Van into a Tiny Home or Recreational Vehicle, and meet with locals interested in learning more about skoolies and how to make one. One of Willbillys' last stops was in a high-desert tourist town, where Sutherland and Hartley pulled up next to the public library and a curious crowd. 

The couple immediately hopped out and began regaling listeners with stories. Not only did they talk about their current skoolie, but also the three other skoolies Will had converted from school buses to accommodations through the years. A self-taught school bus converter, Sutherland documents his adventures on his Willbillys Instagram account. Magazines, including Road and Track and Popular Mechanics, have featured his conversions. Willbillys, which Hartley helped with from the get-go, is the latest project. 

Get Schooled in Skoolies 

What is a skoolie? A school bus that's been renovated and reconditioned to serve as a home (whether stationary or on wheels). In some ways, the original tiny home, skoolies are a perfect example of upcycling, living small and light on the land, and living large in a sustainable and affordable home. In fact, Sutherland says, "School bus conversions to mobile living spaces are a natural extension of the tiny house craze." 

Because a school bus already has a basic house-like structure—walls, floor, and a roof—the vehicles are a natural fit for converting into a moveable home; don't forget, they already have wheels. A school bus also has an engine and several operable windows. In other words, they provide an excellent opportunity for do-it-yourselfers, families, young or older couples, and adventurers of all ages to take to the road in a tiny home inexpensively customized to their needs.

At Home in the Willbilly 

Sutherland and Hartley were enjoying their inaugural journey in Willbillys when they arrived at the public library in that high-desert town. The eight-window bus had 177,000 miles on it when Sutherland purchased it. 

The couple removed the seats, rubber floor, and rotted wood subfloor before adding half-inch foam board insulation—as well as a vapor barrier. "We didn't need the vapor barrier, but I wanted to be extra cautious," Sutherland says. They also replaced old insulation in the bus's walls with foam board insulation and added insulation in the wheel wells to reduce road noise. 

Willbillys has a 400-watt system of four solar panels on the roof, which powers the stove, hairdryer, television, lights, and roof fan. The system also includes a 200-amp battery. An MPPT charge controller connects the solar panels and battery. A wood panel at the foot of the bed, on which they mounted the tv, opens to reveal the guts (wires, boxes, cables, levers) of the solar-powered system. 

A propane tank heats hot water for the shower, which is simply a shower hose and shower head connected to the water tank at the back of the bus. Needless to say, the couple takes most of their showers in bathing suits. Also on top of the bus, reached via a metal ladder saved from outdoor playset Sutherland's mother bought him as a child, is a wood-platform roof deck, held firmly in place at the sides of the bus with metal supports. On the lower portion of the bus, on one side, are metal doors that open to reveal under-bus storage.  

Inside, Sutherland worked his magic as a woodworker. He used reclaimed ash for the millwork, black walnut from downed trees as countertops, and local hickory for the shelving. He built the wood platform bed to include drawers for storage. The skoolie abounds with wood nooks, boxes, and shelves for additional storage, including a wardrobe that Hartley requested.