When Ginnie and Austin met during Army basic training in 2017, neither of them imagined they’d end up living full-time in a pink school bus. But after both were stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and serving four and a half years, the couple left the military with a clear plan: build a home on wheels, use the GI Bill to chart a new course, and see the country they’d served — with their two pets by their side.
Their creation — a 32-foot 2001 Freightliner FS-65 they named “The Bumpin Bus” — is one of the most thoughtfully designed boho skoolies we’ve featured. Built over 14 months for a total of $32,000 (including the $4,000 bus purchase), it packs a spacious eight-foot-counter kitchen, a cozy bedroom with a ceiling-mounted projector, a two-section bathroom with tiled shower and composting toilet, and dedicated spaces for their dog Lucy and cat Waffles. The “pink” color was actually an accident — they wanted light orange on top and bright orange on the bottom, but the Sherwin-Williams tractor paint had other plans.
What sets this build apart isn’t just its cheerful exterior. It’s the attention to full-time livability — from the Havelock Wool insulation in the walls to the Starlink dish on the roof, every decision was made by two people who knew they’d be calling this bus home every single day.
From Army Service to Full-Time Life on the Road
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Ginnie and Austin found their future home — a 2001 Freightliner FS-65 with a 5.9-liter Cummins diesel engine and Allison transmission — on Facebook Marketplace for $4,000. It was still in service condition, which meant a reliable drivetrain was already in place. The 32-foot length hits a sweet spot for skoolie living: long enough to fit real rooms with distinct zones, but short enough to park and maneuver without a CDL.
The conversion took 14 months of full-time work, with the couple doing virtually everything themselves. They chose to keep the bus’s original metal ceiling, which was already factory-insulated and in great condition. That turned out to be a clever decision — the metal surface lets them attach magnetic hooks for hanging plants and gear, and it doubles as a projection surface for their bedroom setup. For the walls, they went with Havelock Wool insulation, a natural sheep’s wool product that regulates moisture and temperature without the off-gassing concerns of foam alternatives.
An Eight-Foot Kitchen That Rivals a Stationary Home
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
The kitchen was Ginnie and Austin’s top priority from day one — and it shows. An eight-foot polyurethane-sealed butcher block countertop runs along the driver’s side, giving them more prep space than most apartment kitchens. Below it, IKEA cabinets reinforced with RV latches keep everything in place during travel, while a pull-out spice rack and deep pantry mean they can stock up for long stretches between towns.
The cooking setup includes a gas oven — a genuine luxury in skoolie builds, where most people settle for a cooktop or portable induction burner — plus a microwave and mini fridge. A deep single-basin sink handles dishes and doubles as a wash station when they’re cleaning produce from roadside farm stands. Above the counters, hanging plants cascade from the metal ceiling, reinforcing the bohemian aesthetic that runs through the entire build.
A Boho Living Room That Converts for Guests
The heart of the bus is a custom-built extra-large sofa positioned in the center of the living area. During the day, it’s a comfortable couch facing a TV mounted above the dashboard (alongside a security camera feed and speakers). At night, it pulls out into a full-size guest bed — a feature that makes hosting friends on the road genuinely possible rather than a logistical nightmare.
The couch is more than seating, though. Underneath it, Ginnie and Austin tucked their battery bank (400 amp-hours), their diesel heater, and shoe storage. The armrests open to reveal wire management compartments. Across from the kitchen, a bohemian-themed dinette serves as their daily workspace — with antennas and routers for their Starlink internet connection stored neatly nearby. It’s the kind of multi-use design thinking that separates skoolies built for weekend trips from those built for permanent living.
Pet-Friendly Design Built into Every Corner
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Traveling full-time with a dog and a cat requires more than just bringing them along — it requires designing the space around their needs. Ginnie and Austin thought about Lucy and Waffles at every stage of the build. In the entryway, a cleverly integrated cat litter box is hidden in the shoe rack with cane webbing panels, keeping it accessible for Waffles while keeping the mess contained and out of sight.
Lucy has a dedicated dog bed in the dinette area with storage ottomans nearby for her supplies, while Waffles claimed a cat bed by one of the bus windows — a prime perch for watching the world go by at each new campsite. The co-pilot seat doubles as a pet travel spot with storage underneath. It’s the kind of thoughtful integration that makes this skoolie feel like it was built for a family of four, because it was.
A Two-Section Bathroom with Room to Breathe
The bathroom is divided into two distinct zones separated by a sliding door — a wet section and a dry section — which is a smart approach that many skoolie builders overlook. The shower measures 24 by 32 inches with green tile walls and a skylight overhead, making it feel far less claustrophobic than most bus bathrooms. Natural light pouring in through the skylight transforms what could feel like a closet into something approaching a spa experience.
The dry side features a composting toilet, a vanity sink with a full-size mirror, and closet space for clothing. The composting toilet eliminates the need for a black water tank — one less system to maintain and one less reason to hunt for dump stations. There’s also an outdoor shower connected to the instant hot water system, perfect for rinsing off after beach days or muddy hikes with Lucy.
A Bedroom with a Built-In Movie Theater
The rear bedroom fits a queen-size bed and features what might be the Bumpin Bus’s most fun detail: a ceiling-mounted projector that turns the wall into a movie screen. After a day of driving or exploring a new town, Ginnie and Austin can watch films from the comfort of their bed — a luxury that costs almost nothing compared to a large TV but delivers a far more immersive experience.
Underneath the bed is what they call “the garage” — a cavernous storage space that houses their fresh water tanks, plumbing connections, and additional gear. This under-bed approach is one of the most efficient uses of space in any skoolie, keeping heavy systems low in the vehicle (improving stability) while keeping the bedroom itself clean and uncluttered.
Design Details
- Bus: 2001 Freightliner FS-65, 32 feet long
- Engine: 5.9L Cummins diesel with Allison transmission
- Living Space: Approximately 220 square feet
- Layout: Entryway, living room, kitchen, dinette, bathroom (two-section), bedroom
- Kitchen: 8-ft butcher block counter, IKEA cabinets with RV latches, gas oven, microwave, mini fridge, deep sink, pull-out spice rack, pantry
- Bathroom: 24″ x 32″ tiled shower with skylight, composting toilet, vanity sink, closet, plus outdoor shower
- Bedroom: Queen-size bed with ceiling-mounted projector, under-bed storage for water tanks and plumbing
- Living Room: Extra-large pull-out sofa (converts to full-size guest bed), TV above dashboard
- Insulation: Havelock Wool (walls), factory-insulated metal ceiling retained
- Heating: Diesel heater (stored under couch)
- Solar: 800 watts of solar panels, 400 amp-hours battery bank
- Internet: Starlink satellite internet with dedicated antennas and routers
- Water: Instant hot water system, fresh water tanks under bed
- Exterior Paint: Sherwin-Williams tractor paint (pink/orange two-tone)
- Exterior Features: Outdoor shower, outdoor prep table, front bike rack, rear hitch rack for generator
- Pets: Lucy (dog) and Waffles (cat) — integrated litter box, dedicated beds, pet-friendly design throughout
- Build Time: 14 months
- Total Cost: $32,000 ($4,000 bus + $28,000 conversion)
- Builders: Ginnie and Austin (DIY)
What Makes This Skoolie Build Special
- The accidental pink: What started as a paint color mix-up became the bus’s most recognizable feature — proof that not every great design decision is intentional
- Keeping the factory ceiling: Rather than covering the metal ceiling with wood paneling like most builders, they left it exposed — gaining magnetic hanging points, a projector surface, and preserved factory insulation in one decision
- True pet integration: Hidden litter box, dedicated beds, window perches, and pet-safe materials show what it looks like when animals aren’t an afterthought but a design priority
- Two-zone bathroom: Separating wet and dry areas with a sliding door is a small decision that dramatically improves daily life — the toilet area stays dry, clothing storage stays protected, and the shower can air out independently
- Havelock Wool insulation: A natural, breathable insulation choice that manages moisture without off-gassing — important when you’re living in a sealed metal box in varying climates
- Budget discipline: $32,000 total (bus included) is remarkably affordable for a conversion this complete, proving that smart sourcing (IKEA cabinets, DIY labor, Facebook Marketplace finds) can produce professional-looking results
- Full connectivity: Starlink internet with dedicated router infrastructure means they can work remotely from anywhere — essential for sustaining full-time travel financially
Learn More
- Follow Ginnie and Austin on Instagram (@bumpinbus)
- Watch the full tour on Tiny House Giant Journey (YouTube)
Video Tour
Highlights
- Retired Army couple built a 32-ft Freightliner skoolie for $32K total over 14 months
- Eight-foot butcher block kitchen with gas oven, IKEA cabinets, and deep pantry
- Two-section bathroom with tiled shower, skylight, composting toilet, and outdoor shower
- Queen bedroom with ceiling-mounted projector for movie nights
- 800W solar system with 400Ah battery bank and Starlink internet for full-time remote living
- Thoughtfully designed for two pets: integrated cat litter box, dedicated dog bed, window perches
- Havelock Wool wall insulation with original factory-insulated metal ceiling preserved
- Extra-large pull-out sofa converts to guest bed with battery and heater storage underneath
- The “pink” exterior was a happy accident — originally intended as orange two-tone
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Natalie C. McKee
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Very, very nice skoolie — would have liked to see more of the kitchen — and the accommodations for the Feline and Canine. The real tile in the shower I love. All in all — such a nice fit for this couple!!