Tiny home living is more than just a fad: It’s a way for people to live simply, yet comfortably in a home of their own. However, while many tiny homes are mounted onto mobile platforms, they just don’t provide the amount of mobility that many of us desire as we travel the country in search of the next great adventure.
At the same time, however, van life just isn’t for everyone. While living out of a custom van allows many people to travel and explore the great outdoors on the cheap, the cramped living spaces of a van just aren’t the right choice for everyone. The answer? A converted school bus, or skoolie, for short. These renovated old school buses provide ample space and comfort, while allowing people to hit the road in style.
However, many people just don’t have the ability to put in hundreds of work hours to turn an old school bus into a beautiful home. Thankfully, there are plenty of companies out there that are dedicated to doing just that.
Important note: Before engaging any of these companies, make sure to do your due diligence on them first! We have an 8 point checklist you can go through here. To be added or removed from the list, send us a message.
Directory of school bus conversion companies:
Phoenix Skool Buses

via – Phoenix Skool Buses
Established in 2019, Phoenix Skool Buses is a veteran owned skoolie building company located in Mount Pleasant, Texas. As of June 2022, the company expanded to accommodate even larger vehicles and multiple projects. While skoolies are the main focus for this company, they also build businesses-on-wheels, food trucks, van conversions, and now coach conversions.
This company sets themselves apart with NOAH RDI certification and BBB accreditation, and each build is completely custom. If you’re looking to complete a portion of the build yourself or have a smaller budget, the company also offers partial builds and a la carte services which include but are not limited to electrical, plumbing, and solar installs.
Phoenix Skool Buses takes pride in using high quality materials and innovative designs to bring your dream to fruition. Their team focuses on maximizing your space to fit your needs and match your vision. Let them build your tiny house on wheels to get you to your next adventure in comfort and style.
More info: phoenixskoolbuses.com
Chrome Yellow Corporation

via – Chrome Yellow Corp
Located in Denver, Colorado, Chrome Yellow Corporation is a custom fabrication shop with a specialization in skoolie conversions. Chrome Yellow Corp is dedicated to creating comfortable and sustainable skoolie conversions with a range of renewable energy systems built-in.
If you’re looking for a full conversion, Chrome Yellow Corp is ready to make your dream a reality. However, if you just need a bit of help getting the ball rolling on your skoolie project, Chrome Yellow Corp can also offer some assistance with gutting, painting, wiring, plumbing, and roof raising on your bus.
Or, if you just need a professional’s advice, Chrome Yellow Corp also offers consultation appointments and classes, where you can get all the know-how you need to answer your questions about plumbing, solar panels, and driving a school bus. What else you could ask for?
More info: chromeyellowcorp.com
Paved to Pines

via – Paved to Pines
Paved to Pines is a Canadian custom van and bus conversion company that started out when two college friends decided to renovate a school bus into a home on wheels. After a lot of trial and error, the duo finally completed their first skoolie conversion (lovingly called Judy), but it didn’t take long before others started asking for their own converted skoolies.
These days, Paved to Pines is an uber-popular skoolie conversion company with the ability to convert any vehicle into a full-time, four-season home that meets your needs. Since all of Paved to Pines’ builds are fully custom, the average conversion takes 2-4 months.
Not sure if skoolie living is right for you? Paved to Pines also offers nightly campervan rentals in their converted mini school bus, so you can test skoolie life out, before you buy.
More info: pavedtopines.com
Davey Coach

via – Davey Coach
Unlike most of the companies on this list, Davey Coach is best known as a bus and van retailer in the Denver metro area. However, they are also accomplished school and van converters and are happy to take on any vehicle conversion project.
With a wide range of different conversion projects under their belts, Davey Coach can create any custom build to meet your requirements. Since Davey Coach’s conversions are wholly custom, they don’t offer pre-set layouts and blueprints. But, if you can dream it, they can build it, so get in touch if you’ve got an idea you want to bring to life.
More info: daveycoach.com
Skoolie.com Conversions

via – Skoolie.com Conversions
Skoolie.com Conversions offers a whole assortment of different services for people looking to live their best skoolie life. If you’re keen for a bit of DIY fun, Skoolie.com can help you get started with professional consultations, advice, and help with the trickier aspects of conversion, like a roof rase.
Alternatively, if you’d rather not get your hands dirty, Skoolie.com is happy to complete a full custom build so you can enjoy your turn-key skoolie and leave the conversion process to a professional. What’s not to love?
More info: skoolie.com
Creative Mobile Interiors

via – Creative Mobile Interiors
With over two decades of experience in the conversion industry, Creative Mobile Interiors is ready to help any skoolie find the home of their dreams. Creative Mobile Interiors is willing to help any client turn a bus, motor home, sprinter, or other vehicle into a fully customized space with their retrofitting, remodeling, and renovating services.
Depending on your needs, Creative Mobile Interiors can refresh or rebuild a school bus to match your design ideas. Since Creative Mobile Interiors’ work is all custom, they can work with you to meet your budgeting needs for your next skoolie.
More info: creativemobileinteriors.com
YETIBUS

via – YETIBUS
Are you looking for a way to make the most of every inch of space while minimizing your carbon footprint? It can be frustrating to feel limited by standard vehicles and homes, and finding a way to live efficiently and sustainably can be overwhelming.
Yetibus is the solution you’ve been searching for. As a school bus conversion company, they create custom adventuring vehicles that double as cozy homes away from home.
But that’s not all – Yetibus is also deeply committed to protecting the environment and making the world a better place. With a balanced carbon footprint via carbon sequestration through Terrapass, you can feel good about choosing a company that walks the talk.
Located in Sandpoint, ID, Yetibus has a variety of pick up/delivery options, whether you prefer in-person or delivery to the other side of the country, they have you covered.
More info: yetibusbuilds.com
Colorado Custom Coachworks

via – Colorado Custom Coachworks
A fully custom autoshop, Colorado Custom Coachworks is ready to turn any vehicle into a home. Thanks to their wide range of skills and expertise, Colorado Custom Coachworks is happy to offer pretty much any service you can think of, from roof raises and interior buildouts to retrofitting your skoolie with renewable energy sources.
Since Colorado Custom Coachworks does only custom projects, you’ll need to request a quote to get started on your skoolie. But, if it has wheels, Colorado Custom Coachworks can handle the challenge.
More info: coloradocustomcoachworks.com
Rolling Living
Rolling Living is a school bus conversion company run by Ross Taylor. They specialize in designing and building solar energy systems, electrical and plumbing systems, custom metal fabrication, and mini-split installation for a variety of vehicles including buses, trailers, and campers. The company also offers roof raises to increase living space.
Rolling Living prides itself on attention to detail and doing things right. They encourage potential customers to reach out with inquiries and promise a surprisingly quick response. Ross has a YouTube channel and an email newsletter you can subscribe to as well.
Contact them here: rollingliving.com
Online Marketplaces
Okay, okay, we get it – this isn’t actually a school bus conversion company. However, with the increasing popularity of the skoolie life in recent years, we can expect to see more and more converted school buses entering the used market. This means there will be plenty of opportunities to buy a used skoolie without having to go through the conversion process yourself.
Of course, a used skoolie won’t be perfectly customized to meet your needs, but it will be turn-key ready, which means you won’t have to wait three, four, or five months to get your new home. Plus, since skoolies are homes on wheels, you can buy a skoolie online via a number of nearly anywhere in North America and drive it to your current home base, saving you time and money on a fully custom build.
These sites are a good place to start:
- Bus Life Adventure Classifieds Page
- Skoolie.net Classifieds Page
- Conversiontrader.com
- Also check your local Craigslist, large skoolie groups on Facebook, and even Instagram can be good sources.
So, if you don’t have the funds or the patience to customize your own school bus conversion, a used skoolie just might be for you. Alternatively, you can always buy a skoolie shell and do the interior build out yourself. When it comes to school bus conversions, the options really are limitless!
Up Next In Skoolie Life:
Are Skoolies Allowed in RV Parks? (4 Owners Share Their Experience)
How To Get Insurance On a Skoolie | 3 Owners’ Stories
Buying Our School Bus For Skoolie Conversion ($5K Budget Enough?)
How Much Does a Bus Conversion Cost?

David is an accomplished mountain endurance athlete who has completed over 25 ultra marathon races (follow on Strava). He is most proud of his finish at The Drift 100 – a high elevation, 100 mile winter foot race that zigzags along the Continental Divide in Wyoming. In the future he hopes to compete in the ITI 350 and ultimately the full 1,000 mile Iditarod Trail Invitational that follows the same path as the historic dog sled race.
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