1997 Blue Bird TC2000

This school bus has been our family’s home for the last two years. My husband (a general contractor) and I designed and built it out to live in full time with our two kids. We drove the bus across country and back with no mechanical issues. It has been the perfect home for us and allowed us many opportunities to save money and travel freely. It would be great for a single person, a couple or another small family. It could be used to travel in, or to live in while building your dream home or as a guest house or as an income rental.

Inside, we used waterproof cork floors and maple plywood walls and cabinets and shelves. There are two couches both with storage underneath. The walls are insulated with wool batting and rigid foam insulation in the floor. The kitchen features eucalyptus countertops and shelves with under counter lights, a full sized 24″ Beko fridge and freezer, 24″ Empava gas cooktop and 24″ Empava gas oven, deep stainless steel sink, and plenty of kitchen storage. Across the kitchen is a dwarf wood stove on a slate hearth for heating and a 12V Velit AC system and fan. We kept the original bus windows and tinted them for extra privacy. The bathroom has modern fixtures, a Natures Head composting toilet, a 46″x27″x15″ enamel coated bathtub, a rain shower, wand and swiveling tub faucet to maximize tub space. We added a marine skylight hatch with yellow cedar trim and a yellow cedar cabinet next to the tub for towels and/or other storage. In the back, you will find two dressers for plenty of storage. Above the largest dresser is a kids bed, enclosed in a cozy nook with shelves. One clothing closet and an adjacent utility closet with all the electrical components including a Rinnai on demand propane water heater and water filters. The electrical set up includes –
Victron 3000 inverter charger
Outback charge controller
four 200W solar panels
four 100 amp hour LIFEPO batteries
two Victron DC to DC chargers to charge house batteries while driving
(From equinox to equinox the batteries have stayed charged fully. In the winter season we would charge our batteries once a week with a generator)
There is a king bed in the very back with a deep linen drawer below it and an extra side storage and shelf. We also mounted a small Roku tv back there as well. There are two 100 gal water tanks (one for grey water and one fresh water with pump) RV water hook-up and an outdoor shower. Two GFCI protected outlets in the storage area beneath the bus to use for outdoor lights. We built it out to be used on or off the grid.

The bus itself is a ’97 bluebird we bought in southern Oregon. It has a 12V Cummins engine and an Allison transmission. We added new front tires when we purchased it in July of ’22. though it has been sitting parked for the last two years.

This bus has been a very special home to us for the last two years and we are sad to see it go. But also excited for the opportunities the new owners can have with this small but functional home. The photos I included are from the build, and some right when we moved in.   I can send updated photos to those who are interested. Price is negotiable for the right buyer.

(I will adjust mileage and include updated photos when we return a family vacation in August)