School bus conversion lingo for newbies choosing a school bus to buy

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Choosing to purchase a school bus and turn it into a tiny house on wheels is a huge decision. DON'T SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THE WRONG BUS! Use our knowledge and experience to help you choose the perfect bus.

​To help you find the perfect school bus for your needs, we wrote a book titled "So You Dream Of Owning A Skoolie." Our goals, through this book's nearly 100 beautifully illustrated pages, are to help you choose the right school bus for your needs, walk you through the steps that you will need to make in order to purchase your school bus, and resolve the legal considerations involved in owning your tiny home on wheels. Also included in this ebook are valuable checklists, pictures, resource lists, and many other useful aids such as a list of school bus terminology to assist you in selecting the school bus of your dreams.

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CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE OUR EBOOK

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Once we decided to convert a school bus into a tiny home on wheels, the next natural step was to purchase a school bus. We soon discovered that there are numerous school bus options.  It was actually daunting to figure out which school bus would best fit our needs.  Sorting through the options involved understanding many school bus terms that were unfamiliar to us.  We asked a lot of questions and did a lot of research to help us grasp the school bus terminology.  Over time we compiled terms that would be useful for anyone considering the purchase of a school bus.  Our hope is that the following list of school bus conversion lingo helps others as they start their journey towards obtaining a school bus. ​

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Skoolie- school bus converted into a recreational vehicle

FE-  front engine
-the engine is in the front of the bus

RE- rear engine
-the engine is in the back of the bus

Dog-Nose- conventional school bus
-has a traditional long nose in the front of the school bus
-also called a cone nose

Flat-Nose- transit school bus
-no hood at all
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​Pusher- a rear engine bus
-the engine pushes the bus forward

Puller- a front engine bus
-the engine pulls the bus

Bus Length- often referred to by the number of passengers the bus can carry
Example:  an 84 passenger bus is a full 40 foot bus

Coachbuilder- the manufacturer of a school bus 
Examples are the Blue Bird Corporation, the AmTran or American Transport Corporation, and Thomas Built Buses, Inc.

Glowplug- the mechanism on diesel engines that warms the fuel before it starts the engine
-you need to turn the key a quarter turn to the right and wait till the beeping stops or the light goes out before starting the engine

GVW- gross vehicle weight
-the actual weight of the vehicle which includes the base curb weight of the vehicle plus the weight of optional accessories, cargo, and passengers
-this weight constantly changes

GVWR- gross vehicle weight rating 
-the maximum weight tolerance of the vehicle
-this weight should never be exceeded
-the difference between the GVW and the GVWR is the amount of weight that can be added to the bus

PAX- refers to storage bins under the bus

​Cutaway- this type of vehicle has a front-section that comes from a Ford or GM van and a back-section comprised from a steel or fiberglass bus

Shorty- a shorter bus usually under 5 rows of seats

Type A- a commercial van conversion or cutaway
-Type A-1 has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 pounds 
-Type A-2 has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds 

Type B- a short bus that usually looks like a full-sized dog-nose bus, but not as long
-has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds

Type C- full-size school bus with the traditional dog nose front
-the hood is in front of the driver
-the door is behind the front wheels
-has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds, typically between 23,500 pounds to 29,500 pounds

Type D- full-size school bus with a flat nose
-there is no hood
-the door is in front of the front wheels
-engine can be in the front, rear, or middle of the school bus
-maximum length of 45 feet 
-has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds, typically between 25,000 pounds and 36,000 pounds
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​Conventional Doors- opens like a car door
-also known as a regular door or vehicle door

Folding Doors- can fold in two leaves or four leaves
-can be manually operated or have an electric mechanism

Coach Doors- single or double paneled
-opens like a house door 

Inward Opening Glider Doors- door wings slide to the side as they open

​Sliding Plug Doors- doors split in the middle and slide in opposite directions
-subway trains use this type of door

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As we come across other useful "Skoolie" terms, we will add to this list.  We continue to learn every day as we progress along our own journey towards converting our school bus into a tiny house on wheels.  If you have any suggestions for terms that should be added to this list, please comment below.  We are always open to new ideas as we expand our school bus conversion knowledge.

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When you go to purchase and pick up your school bus, you may want to bring some tools with you.  The tools that we have suggested below will do two things for you.  First, they will help you decide if you want to purchase the school bus you have selected.  Not all used school buses are in the best condition.  It is important that you check the school bus out before you buy it.  Second, these tools will help you get your school bus home safely after you have purchased it.  We are suggesting tools that are highly recommended on Amazon.  Click on the links below for more information on each tool.*

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​ Thank you so much!

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Resources

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle%20/gvwr.htm

http://www.americanbussales.net/seven-different-school-bus-types/

http://www.stnonline.com/school-bus-type-faqs

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