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Family w/ 3 Boys Hits the Road in DIY Skoolie


The Reiff Family love their life on the road in their roof-raise skoolie! Joel, Carrie, and their three preteen boys left Pennsylvania to travel west after completing their $70K conversion. They’re now enjoying extensive National Parks tours and getting used to homeschooling on the road.

They raised the roof in the middle of their skoolie to allow maximum headroom in the living room/kitchen. The home has tons of counter space and a bar area that gives the boys a spot to do bookwork or each lunch. Each boy has a private bunk space with storage, and there’s a main bedroom in the back for mom and dad. Oodles of solar power and batteries allow them to boondock for 10 days or longer at a time.

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Exploring National Parks w/ Preteen Boys

Family w: 3 Boys Hits the Road in DIY Skoolie 5

Images via Tiny Home Tours

Each boy has a private bunk space in the back of the bus.

Family w: 3 Boys Hits the Road in DIY Skoolie 2

Images via Tiny Home Tours

A large galley kitchen makes meals on the road a breeze!

Family w: 3 Boys Hits the Road in DIY Skoolie 34

Images via Tiny Home Tours

They have a long couch and a breakfast bar space.

Family w: 3 Boys Hits the Road in DIY Skoolie

Images via Tiny Home Tours

VIDEO: Family’s DIY Raised Roof Bus Home – $70k All In

Highlights:

  • Joel and Carrie loved the outdoors and photography and started to see more families on YouTube and Instagram pursuing this life and they decided to take the plunge!
  • They purchased the bus for $5,000 and put another $65,000 into the conversion. They found that a lot of the “little things” like furnishings and cushions added up quickly.
  • This is their first year homeschooling, which has come with some challenges but also affords them the freedom to take time “off” of bookwork to really explore national parks.
  • The boys each have a private bunk space with super cool storage beneath the mattresses!
  • Since they eat most meals in the bus, they prioritized a large kitchen with full-sized appliances. They can fit about 10 days of food in the refrigerator.
  • The plumbing was the most difficult portion of the bus build for them, but they successfully installed a shower stall and Nature’s Head composting toilet in their little bathroom.
  • Mom and Dad have a back bedroom with a custom headboard that includes space for books, chargers for phones and various knickknacks.

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Natalie C. McKee

Natalie C. McKee is a contributor for Tiny House Talk and the Tiny House Newsletter. She's a wife, and mama of three little kids. She and her family are homesteaders with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and quail on their happy little acre.
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