Discover the RV Conversion Lifestyle
Explore expert guides, inspiring build stories, real-world road experiences, and practical DIY knowledge from people living the RV conversion lifestyle every day. From bus, truck, and van builds to travel tips, maintenance, off-grid systems, and full-time road living, our articles are designed to help you build smarter, travel farther, and enjoy the freedom of life on the road.
How to Sell Your Bus Fast Using BCM Classifieds
It is a common mistake among sellers to list their bus on general marketplaces and hope to be discovered, mixed…
Tow Bars Do Wear Out
This might sound like quite an odd title coming from a manufacturer of tow bars and towing equipment in general,…
Buying Vehicle Conversion Insurance
The world of insurance can sometimes be challenging to navigate, especially when the investment you wish to insure is something…
Ready to Build a Home/Office on Wheels? Here’s Why BCM
Many people aim for a simpler life, which is more abundant in meaningful experiences. The concept of a home that…
When your RV is in Storage – Minimizing Potential Damage
Virtually 95% of the nation’s Motorcoach fleet was sitting idle during the COVID pandemic, with no certainty as to when…
How to Drive an RV in the Mountains
Having lived in Colorado for decades, my vintage motorhome and I have made numerous treks over the Continental Divide and…
Goodbye Dina, Goodbye My Dreams
Over the years I built four buses, actually it may have been five total, if I include the 35’ BLITZ…
Battery Boot Camp
A watt is the unit of measure of how much work electricity can do for you. A Watt is generally…
How to get by on 30-Amps or Less
Active Start simply plugs in place of your 30-to-50-amp adapter to provide a soft start for all your induction loads.…
Living Well with Off-Grid Systems – Water
Two of the most time-limiting systems in any conversion are the water supply and the wastewater holding capacity. Many people…
Unusual Odors and Sounds
Using your sense of smell when driving or walking around your bus is very important, right up there with using…
Converting a School Bus vs. an Over-the-Road Coach
I have a lot of crazy dreams. They used to include dreams about converting buses. That was a long time ago,…
Fire and Heat Protection in my Eagle Engine Compartment
In my previous article, "Keeping the Bus Bedroom Cool—Using EHP Rollboard Insulation," you read that using EHP (Engine Heat Protection)…
Sizing and Installing Solar on an RV Conversion
Your dream is to run on solar energy, but where do you start? Do you cram as many solar panels…
Maximizing your Fuel Mileage
Fuel economy is a significant concern when diesel is over $3.50 per gallon, and it is even more so in…
Solar. Is it really worth it?
I have been traveling and living in RVs and buses for 40 years now. All of my buses have had…
How to Find Free (or Cheap) Accommodation as a Nomad
So, you’ve built (or are building) your dream home on wheels, whether it is a vintage bus conversion with reclaimed…
The Perfect Plug and Play Electric Power System for RVs
For nearly ten years, I have been giving talks and writing articles about the safe and proper way to replace…
The Importance of Preventive Maintenance on Buses and RVs
Part of owning any RV is to perform the obvious maintenance tasks, such as changing the oil and filters, replacing…
Solar Generators – Can they power a whole RV?
For nearly ten years, I have been giving talks and writing articles about the safe and proper way to replace…
The 2025 Americas Transportation Experience Spring Fling
After a week of foreboding weather forecasts (that proved to be pretty accurate), more than 325 intrepid bus enthusiasts registered…
Essential Tips for Digital Nomads
In an age where flexibility is prized and technology allows us to remain connected from nearly anywhere, the allure of…
Are my Windshield Wipers Possessed?
My bus air wipers work pretty well, but they are exhibiting a strange behavior, and I'm wondering if it is…
Bringing Eagle Back into Production
We’re bringing Eagle back into production. I have heard it said more than once. I often read comments like, "I…
Top 10 Most Popular Toads
Here is a list of the ten most popular Toads on the road for the 12-month term, according to Roadmaster,…
The Sugar Beet Harvest – An Opportunity for Nomads to
Are you interested in earning good money in a short period of time and then moving on to the next…
Weight and Balance Concerns of a Converted Vehicle
It seemed a strange way to get from Kansas to Buena Vista, Colorado: dropping down off the highway to Kit…
Buying and Converting a School Bus by a Coach Converter
I have converted many over-the-road coaches over the years and a couple of school buses, as you can read about…
Custom Window Shades for a Bus Conversion
We’re looking for a window shade supplier(s) for our bus conversion. I have MCD shades now, but I'm wondering if…
Tires and Bus Weight – Why your GVWR is Important
In my previous article, “Tires and Bus Weight – Why Properly Rated Tires are Important”, we discussed the importance of…
Shore Power Hookups for RVs: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding your electrical hookups is not just important; it's crucial for a comfortable, hassle-free, and safe experience when you’re hitting…
Navigating the Conversion Revolution: Your Path to Digital Nomadism
In the quest for a life unbound by traditional workspaces and living quarters, the Conversion lifestyle emerges as a beacon…
Music Made by Trees
Roger Lehet watched helplessly as his previously successful 25-year-old wood stove business crumbled at his feet in a perfect storm…
Tires and Bus Weight – Why Properly Rated Tires are
It seemed like the bargain of the (LAST) century. Money was tight, and we'd found a “deal” on some slightly…
Who Designed the Scenicruiser? It wasn’t who you think.
For more than 70 years, reviewers have had little doubt about this. In 1949 Time magazine wrote, “Their [Raymond Loewy…
New Hampshire to Alaska in my 40’ 1990 Marathon Prevost
I was informed by my college roommate that his father, who was more of a father to me than my…
Living Well with Off-Grid Systems – Electrical
When living off-grid in a bus, truck, van, RV, or any converted vehicle, the electrical system is one of the…
Exploding Bus Tire Totaled my Car
By David Anderson. I was preparing to leave Fun Valley RV Resort in Colorado on Sept 5th, on a Sunday,…
The Rescue of Buses after 9/11
September 11, 2001, was my 55th birthday. I was in Blackwood, NJ, at the MCI sales/service facility when it all…
Woodburning stoves for RV Conversions
As the manufacturer of a new breed of wood stoves I often am asked to share information about what folks…
The Great Escape: Techniques for Planning a Seamless Nature Getaway
Embarking on an outdoor getaway can rejuvenate your spirit, especially when you blend the freedom of the open road with…
Preventing Corroded Connections in an RV Electrical System
Melted RV shore-power plugs happen far more often than you would imagine. The sight of a melted plug is, at…
Owning a Piece of Bus History
The AACA Museum’s https://www.aacamuseum.org/mobt/ Bus Collection Committee was faced with a difficult situation. The museum's historic fleet reached 60 buses…
I Bought a Used Bus. Now What?
I have owned my 1982 MCI MC-9 Custom Coach Corporation (CCC) bus for a year and a half now. When…
Shades in an RV or Converted Vehicle
One important key feature in any RV is the windows. Windows are the gateway to the outside world around us.…
The Danger of Chimney Fires in Movable Vehicles
Wood provides cozy, warm heat and can be easily obtained free in many parts of the United States with a…
Revolve Fire Pits for Your Nomadic Life
Few things are as captivating and cozy as gathering around a crackling fire, especially if you are on a bus…
Getting Mail While on the Road
When people start to think about road life or being a nomad, a few questions always arise. One of those…
The Dangers of Poor Vision for Van and Bus Life
Many people are converting vehicles into homes for various reasons. Living life in a van or bus is not uncommon…
The Transit Museum Society – A Mobile Bus Museum
I’ve been a bus nut since I was a kid. Our family never once owned a car, in fact, neither…
Windows in a Bus Conversion and/or Air Conditioning?
Even before motorized transportation, when people traveled from town to town in stagecoaches in the early 1800s, passengers had windows…
Finding Happiness by Doing What You Love – a Family
In 2016, driven by a father's love for his daughter, a Toyota Hiace van underwent a transformation that would forever…
Unforgettable Fire Stoves for Your Bus Conversion
In today's world of uncertainty and downsizing of domiciles while preparing for difficult times, one industry has seen huge changes…
Growing Up #BusLife – Would I Change Anything About Living
I've uttered the sentence "My family and I reside in a converted school bus" numerous times in the past six…
Two Kinds of Coaches (Pushers and Pullers)
It was pitch black as the empty Scenicruiser climbed an icy Colorado slope. Wheels spinning, it fought the grade, and…
Pest Control in Bus Conversions, RVs, and Other Vehicles
Vehicles are not just a means of transportation; they are an integral part of our daily lives. However, they can…
The Restoration of Prescott School Bus #4 – a 1947
Prescott, Arizona was a small community in the first half of the twentieth century. Founded in 1864, it became the…
What We Have Learned Living on the Road Full-Time
Are you planning to live full-time in a bus conversion? If so, there are some important things you should know…
Installing Air Fittings for Airing up Tires etc.
Post by: Glennman I’m planning on installing quick-disconnect connections for airing up tires. At the rear of the bus, there…
My Experience Converting Buses
The LTD Back in about 1990, I still had my Fleetwood LDT motorhome. I damaged the side door at a…
Lane Changes in a Bus
“The new driver is weaving” the passenger whispered in my pal’s ear. Walter had just finished a 24-hour shift and…
Doomsday Prepping in a Bus
Owning a bus conversion may be one of the best ways to live in today’s world for many reasons as…
A Cool Idea for Your Bedroom
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the March 2001 issue of BCM but is worthy of reprinting as…
Greyhound’s Historical Fleet for Sale
Editor’s Note: This article was originally printed in the January 2023 Issue of National Bus Trader Magazine. It has been…
A Common-Sense Bus Conversion
Hardly a day goes by without seeing somebody’s dangerous bus conversion proudly demonstrated online. Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and Instagram are…
Modernizing Your Bus Conversion’s Water System
Whether we have a bus conversion, factory motorhome, class C, class B, van conversion, 5th wheel, travel trailer, or Skoolie,…
Pouring Rent into the Tank of Our Bus Conversion
It seems like most of us bus folks keep a constant eye on the ever-fluctuating price at the diesel pump.…
How To Convert a Bus in One Day
Two hours after I bought my bus, I arrived in Canoga Park, CA, and pressure-washed it inside and out. Within…
Cooling Options for a Bus Conversion
This month I am in the Midland, Texas area. The daytime temperatures get up to as much as 111° F…
Making Money as a Gate Guard. The Ideal Job for
Are you interested in making some decent money for very little work, while living in your bus conversion for a…
Why Convert a Dina?
My First Bus was a 1982 Model 10 Eagle. Twenty years ago, the Eagle was the number one bus that…
Sanitizing the Fresh Water System in Your Bus Conversion
You never know what the visitors that stayed at the campsite you are staying in did before you arrived. Therefore,…
Repeated and Extraordinary Mechanical Failures (Senicruisers)
Editor’s Note: This article was extracted from Paul von Fange’s book, Scenicruising: The Greyhound Scenicruiser Story, and was reprinted with…
Five Tips to Keep Your Bus Conversion (Skoolie) on the
With bus conversions and Skoolies growing in popularity, particularly so among the DIY community, there is no shortage of interesting…
Lawn Art Gets a New Engine
Thursday, October 29, 2020, was an exciting day. My wife and I had just picked up Lawn Art, our PD-4104…
The Original Two-Engine Scenicruiser
Editor’s Note: This article was extracted from Paul von Fange’s book, Scenicruising: The Greyhound Scenicruiser Story, and was reprinted with…
Over The Hill. Not So Fast.
This article is a synopsis covering the driving techniques that are necessary to prevent engine and transmission overheating going up…
Why You Need To Take a Self-Care Trip To Recharge Your
The frantic pace of modern life can make us feel a bit worse for the wear sometimes. And while taking…
Cybernate
Darn… I was hoping to accomplish every writer’s dream and invent a word. Sadly… someone beat me to it… and…
Memories of a Bus Nut
It will be anti-climactic for some bus converters; it was for me. I spent over half a million dollars and…
Finding the Bus of My Dreams and Touring America
I was born with wanderlust. When I was sixteen, I hitchhiked all over the country. It was certainly an adventure,…
Interesting Entertainer Buses
This last summer while enjoying Westcliffe Colorado’s High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival, I met Kenny Pabst. He was the…
EHP Ceramic Insulation
"Engine Heat Protection" is a spin-off from a long-time manufacturer and advertiser in BCM, formerly known as "Concours…
On The Road In A Converted Swiss Army Truck
Originally, the roof hatch was above the passenger seat, which was for observation. We were using it to get fresh…
Average Miles Per Gallon of Our Beloved Bus Conversions – How
Is it even financially manageable anymore to travel in a bus conversion? The price of fuel has been climbing year…
Lithium Battery Fluctuation We Didn’t See That Coming
In December 2020, when I wrote the first article in this series on The Advantages of Lithium Batteries for Bus…
Live Safe in Your Tiny Home With NOAH Certified Remote Digitized
If you’re reading this article, you’re more than likely considering a bus conversion or tiny home project and considering NOAH…
The Origin Of Eagle Coaches
This article was originally run in the April 2021 issue of National Bus Trader Magazine.
Do’s and Don’ts of a Vehicle Conversion Design
Many people have ideas on what they would do differently the next time they do a conversion. Here is a…
Four Skills Nomads Need to Help Remote Businesses Grow
Copywriting is the writing of text for advertising or other forms of marketing. The product, called copy or sales copy,…
Tools for Cutting and Crimping Ends on Large Electrical Cable
One of the most important things you need to do well when working on your bus electrical systems is to…
Sizing up the Six MCI’s First Wide-Body Bus
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the May 1979 issue of Bus World magazine. It is reprinted and updated here…
Electrifying the Elephant – Solar Power Build
This is to chronicle the solar power build with The Electrodacus SBMS0 and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Batteries for our…
Bus Maintenance Musts
Unfortunately, many bus conversion owners do not maintain their bus as they should, having been erroneously led astray by mechanics,…
The Bus Community Gains New Friends with Harvest Hosts and
Technically, Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome have always been fans and champions of any self-contained Recreational Vehicle. But they are…
My Batteries Were Dead But This Time Knew
I was out to lunch when my email pinged me, and I also received this text message on my phone.…
What is it Like to Live Nomadically?
A nomad is an individual that moves around from place to place with no real “stationary home”.
Want To Be Famous? Get Your Bus Conversion Recognized!
Just imagine this. You and your bus conversion are on the cover of BCM for everyone to see.…
Building A One-Piece Door For My Eagle Bus Conversion
The way I see it, you have two choices for your bus conversion door. 1. Use the 2-piece door and…
12V, 24V, or 48V Solar Power System: Which Voltage Is
Solar consumers are no longer asking if it is possible to power their lives with the sun, they are testing…
Don’t Drag Your Toad
For anyone pulling a Toad (vehicle in tow) behind your bus, or any type of RV, you should always use…
Lithium Batteries – 101
Here are nine things you need to keep in mind as you think about upgrading your RV/bus electrical system to…
I Didn’t Know My Batteries Were Dead
The FMCA 104th International Convention & RV Expo was over on Sunday, March 27th, 2022, and hundreds of RVers were…
An Underbay Sleeping Compartment in a Bus Conversion
For years, my wife and I and our kids have been talking about creating an underbay sleeping compartment in our…
Clear Water for your RV
Several years ago, my wife and I bought a travel trailer. I went shopping for the necessities. That proved to…
How I Became a Bus Nut
Looking back through my collection of BCM magazines I found the term “Bus Nut” used quite literally. Thanks to Gary,…
It is Now a Near No-Brainer to Add Lithium Batteries
In just the last year or so prices of quality LiFePO4 batteries have dropped precipitously. At the same time, the…
A Book About Bus Life (An Excerpt from “Since We
Editor’s Note: This is a short excerpt from Tawny McVay’s new book “Since We Woke Up: Lessons from Two Years…
Air Suspension (Buses)
Storrow Drive eats buses. Right off Boston’s expressway, it looks SO tempting to coach drivers goofy enough to believe in…
The Evolution of Converting a Horse Trailer into a Tiny
Editor’s Note: This month, we introduce you to a different type of conversion. It’s an interesting concept and shows how…
Altitude – Knowing Your Clearance
My new boss Jim and I were on a sales trip in Western Pennsylvania. Jim only lasted a few months,…
Those Were the Days (Greyhound and Trailways)
My story begins in 1978 before the deregulation of the industry and the decline of the regular route bus service…
Six Simple Strategies for Maximizing Solar on a Small Budget
Do you want to go solar, but are worried about the price? You don’t have to be! We’ve been living,…
I Can See Clearly Now – With My 360 OmniVue
I travel alone on my bus most of the time and it has its advantages. I can drive listening to…
Highway Bus Laws
Gary Hatt sent me an interesting article on the size limits of RV motorhomes. This piqued my interest, so I…
Driving a Bus
Right Turns I’ve always been cheap, and the opportunity to visit two European cities for $500 was hard to resist.…
Getting Our Buses Back After the COVID-19 Shutdown
Editor’s Note: Because of the Coronavirus last year, many tour bus companies were shut down. Buses were parked, insurance was…
The Gospel of Gauges – According to Galey
Basically, all you really need for your bus is a speedometer, an oil pressure gauge and a water temperature gauge.…
Older Bus vs. Newer Bus – Which Costs Less?
I have converted and owned several buses in my lifetime. Here is a story about my findings of whether to…
My Experience with Highway Post Office Buses
In May of 1971, while working for International Displays out of Culver City, California, I drove one of their five…
Fire Extinguishers 101
In the June 2015 issue of BCM, I wrote an article for BCM called “The Talk”. In it, we covered…
Keeping the Bus Bedroom Cool – Using EHP Rollboard Insulation
Driving a bus with an engine in the rear, called a “Pusher” or more specifically a “Diesel Pusher” if you…
Five Reasons to Retire in a Bus Conversion (Skoolie)
Now that you have finally reached your golden years, you no longer have to postpone all those fantastic things you…
Shore Power Cords
If you are old enough, you will remember the time when a Shore Power Cord was just an extension cord.…
The School Bus Drought of 2020
Those of you already living bus life are all too familiar with the challenges Covid-19 has presented to nomadic life.…
Five Important Things to Remember Before Buying a School Bus
We finally found our bus! It only took 19 days and 1,600 miles of driving. Well, that’s not entirely true.…
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Run My
Installing Solar Panels on Your Bus: The Basics One of the most common projects for
You Just Bought A Yellow School Bus, Now What?
Do you remember what sparked the crazy idea to convert a bus into a camper or a tiny home? A…
Raising the Roof of My Eagle . . . Alone
After acquiring my 1968 model 05 Eagle and starting the serious process of deciding to what degree I wanted to…
How Nomads Make Money on the Road
I am a nomad; living, working, and traveling around this great country and loving the nomad lifestyle. I belong to…
Cozy Wood Heat For a Bus Conversion
Today’s world is full of wonder as well as uncertainty. One day, life seems simple and carefree, the next day…
Best of Both Worlds – Combining Lead-acid and Lithium Batteries
The RV world is abuzz with articles and presentations, including a number I have done in the past, about the…
The Critical Factor – How To Handle a Tire Blowout
This YouTube video will help you understand what you should do in the case of a bus tire blowout. https://youtube.com/watch?v=CseABfJL1FM%3Ffeature%3Doembed
The RV Industry’s Dirty Little Secret: Quality
Greg became disillusioned after he actually bought an RV and realized how poorly they are put together and how the financing can…
Five Questions To Ask Yourself Before Converting a Bus Into
When you live in a regular house or apartment, you don’t have to think about things like where your water…
RV Camping Checklist
The first time that our family went on an adventure, we weren’t fully prepared. Oh, we were ready to see…
Bus Bit – The Clever Wire Chase
In some newer buses coming off the line now several miles of wire run through high-end conversions such as a…
MCI’s New F-Series Concept Shell
Motor Coach Industries, Jnc.'s new conversion-ready F-Series concept shell was introduced to the public during the Family Motor Coach Association…
Where To Park Your Bus Conversion
This past summer we were parked at Distant Drums RV Resort in Camp Verde, Arizona. They have Full Hookups and…
Buses Really Burn “The Talk”
I am sorry to lay this on you folks, but it is time to have “The Talk.” Oh, I know…
The Advantages of Lithium Batteries for RVs
Whether you have a factory bus conversion as we do, or a bus you or someone else converted, you no…
Keeping your Generator Cool
When I had my MC-9, I was having a problem with my generator overheating. It would get so hot that…
Electric Shades for Your Bus Conversion
When I was in high school, many moons ago, I helped my dad, an electrician, wire a house with all…
Laundry in a Bus
Do you have laundry machines in your bus? Some people love them and some people hate them. Some people would…
EHP’s Answer to Eliminating Engine Heat
Ace Industrial Manufacturing is a long-time manufacturer of commercial furnaces, kilns, heat treating, and annealing ovens. Ace is the parent…
Building Your Own Custom Holding Tanks
First, determine the size and shape of the tank that meets your needs. Make your box to fit the size…
Using a Roadmaster Tow Defender on Your Bus Conversion or
I was tired of having to wash my toad every time I arrived at my destination while on a trip.…
Should You Use a Toad, Trailer, or Tow Dolly for Your Bus Conversion?
I have traveled quite a bit on my bus conversion and prior to that, in a motorhome over the past…
Comfort Year-Round With EHP (Insulating Your Bus Conversion)
When we first purchased Opti-Force 1 (our bus conversion), we were very happy to see that it had blown in…
Battery Maintenance
Wet cell batteries require maintenance. I have replaced all the batteries in all of my buses at least once and…
Converted Buses and Skoolies Not Welcome
We had just pulled into the KOA RV Park at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas. As we were hooking up the…
How To Push Start a Bus
Several years ago we were in a caravan traveling north to an FMCA summer convention in Pullyalup, Washington. Naturally, we…