Our 2010 Bluebird Vision Skoolie Tour (4 Years Full-Time Bus Life)

Four years ago, we sold everything, bought a 2010 Bluebird Vision school bus, and started converting it into our full-time home.

Today, we’re giving you a full mid-build tour of our skoolie — what’s finished, what’s still evolving, and why we chose bus life in the first place.

👇 Watch the full tour here:

Meet Biggie: Our 2010 Bluebird Vision Bus Conversion

Biggie started out as a 2010 Bluebird Vision with a 6.7L Cummins diesel engine paired with an Allison 2500 transmission.

We found the bus on Facebook Marketplace while we were living in Morocco, bought it, moved back to the U.S., and began converting it into our dream tiny home on wheels.

Since then, we’ve lived in this bus full-time for just over four years — traveling across the country, working remotely, and constantly refining the space.

This isn’t a “perfectly finished” build.

It’s a lived-in, evolving home.

Why This Is a Mid-Build Skoolie Tour

In 2023, life interrupted our build in the best way possible.

We had a sudden opportunity to head west for business, right when we were mid-plumbing install and about to tackle the ceiling.

Instead of finishing the “nice-to-haves,” we chose to hit the road.

We had:

  • A functional kitchen

  • Heat

  • Power

  • A bathroom

  • Solar

  • Water (later added)

We didn’t have:

  • A finished ceiling

  • An indoor shower

  • Some aesthetic upgrades

But we had what we needed.

And we chose experience over perfection.

Now we’re back in a place where we can build again — and finally finish the projects that have quietly weighed on us.

Exterior Features of Our Skoolie Conversion

Our bus exterior includes:

  • Hand-rolled Sherwin Williams direct-to-metal paint

  • Custom metal decorative panels

  • Multiple Blink security cameras

  • Dual exterior storage boxes (thrifted + custom welded)

  • 25-gallon gray water tank with heating pad

  • 75-gallon freshwater tank

  • Six 250-watt secondhand solar panels (Santan Solar)

  • Mini split air conditioner (third one — long story)

  • Roof deck with Starlink

  • Predator 5500 dual-fuel generator

  • Composting toilet with proper venting (yes, vent it)

Everything has been upgraded intentionally for full-time, off-grid living.

Interior Skoolie Layout & Functionality

Inside the bus, every space serves multiple purposes.

Living Area

  • Downsized couch with hidden storage

  • Custom dinette (currently under reconsideration)

  • Plant wall (because life matters)

  • Thick insulated curtains (absolute game changer)

Kitchen

  • Camp Chef oven (4 years strong)

  • Apartment-sized fridge

  • Massive thrifted sink

  • Pantry instead of dishwasher

  • Custom cabinetry sourced affordably

  • Dual water filtration system

We cook 85–90% of our meals at home, and a functional kitchen was non-negotiable.

Office + Electrical System

We both work remotely.

Our electrical system includes:

  • 24V battery bank (expanding soon)

  • 120V and 12V systems

  • DC-to-DC charger from an alternator

  • Shore power inlet

  • Generator backup

  • Starlink internet mounted on the roof

Ben built this entire system himself after years of research — and that knowledge has been invaluable while living off-grid.

Why We Chose a School Bus Over a Van or RV

The biggest reason?

Cost.

All in, our bus build cost, including the projects still yet to be finished are between $35,000–$40,000 total.

That includes:

  • The bus

  • Solar

  • Renovation

  • Systems

  • Everything

A new van alone would have cost that much before building it out.

And RVs?
Expensive and often poorly constructed.

For us, the bus made financial sense — especially after four years of no rent or mortgage.

Why Bus Life Works for Us

Yes, maintaining a bus is work.

Yes, off-grid living adds chores.

Yes, things break.

But living nomadically means we choose where we work, where we wake up, and what our “normal” looks like.

Mountains.
Deserts.
Beaches.
Family land.

The work is the input cost.
The freedom is the return.

What’s Next for Biggie?

We’re entering a new phase:

  • Finishing the ceiling

  • Updating paint and cabinets

  • Rethinking storage areas

  • Refining spaces based on 4 years of real-life experience

This bus is evolving with us.

And we’re finally ready to finish what we started.

Watch the Full Mid-Build Skoolie Tour

If you're:

  • Considering a school bus conversion

  • Curious about full-time bus life

  • Wondering what it really costs

  • Or trying to decide between a van, RV, or skoolie

We walk through every part of our build — mechanical upgrades, solar, plumbing, layout decisions, and philosophy — in the full video.

👉 Watch the complete tour here:

Thinking About Building a Skoolie?

If you’re in the research phase, we’d love to help.

The bus life community is incredibly supportive, and we’re happy to connect you to resources, courses, or just answer questions.

Drop us a comment on YouTube or send us a message.

Bus BuildBrandi JordanComment