Tiny Home Watch: Goodbye Rent, Hello School Bus
Image: Courtesy Isaac Turner
Occasionally, we like to venture out of the Portland market to points beyond, which is how we stumbled on this listing for a custom skoolie from a maker in Eugene. Isaac Turner took up van life in 2017 when he moved into his remodeled Chevy G20. He later discovered the magic of converting retired school buses into mobile tiny homes—called “skoolies” for the uninitiated—via his shop, Dream Reality Studios, which produces 2-3 skoolies per year. His latest project is the “Minion,” a former high school activities bus that’s been outfitted with a suite of modern maple cabinetry, a kitchenette, and a bed and couch to sleep three.
Apparently, this particular bus, a Ford 7.3 Powerstroke, is a rare size: since it was for high school students, there’s more head clearance, but it is only seven feet wide. That makes it slimmer than average, and ideal for navigating narrow Portland streets. Turner notes that this particular model drives and handles more like a minivan than a hulking school bus.
Image: Courtesy Isaac Turner
For the remodel, he gutted the bus, sealed up its shell against leaks, and insulated, including for sound dampening. Instead of the traditional yellow on the exterior, Turner opted for off-white with an understated decal of three trees in black on both sides, which really leans into summer camp vibes.
The 126-square-foot interior now has vinyl floors for easy cleaning, and white-painted shiplap covering the ceiling. There’s a three-quarter-size bed at the back, propped up on a storage compartment that can be accessed from the main aisle or from the back door. On one side of the aisle, the kitchenette has a mini-fridge, two-burner stove, and stainless-steel sink, with quite a few soft-close drawers for utensil storage. An open shelf with a lip to keep things in place lines the top of the windows.
Image: Courtesy Isaac Turner
The opposite wall has a built-in couch with more interior storage, the electrical system display, and an upholstered surface wide enough to sleep a third person. A floating side table at the end, to set plate or prop a laptop, is a convenient touch, as are the USB ports and three 110-volt outlets. As for necessities, the listing includes a camp toilet that can slide out from the under-the-bed storage hatch, and blackout curtains for privacy. So, who’s ready to hit the road?
Image: Courtesy Isaac Turner
Listing Fast Facts
- Address: Wherever you park it
- Size: 126 square feet/180,000 miles/sleeps 3/1 camp toilet
- List Date: 7/17/2023
- List Price: $45,000
- Listing Agent: Isaac Turner, Dream Reality Studios
Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. She is based in Portland, Oregon. Contact Dalton here.
Editor’s Note: Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].
