BUYING, IMPORTING, CONVERTING AND REGISTERING AN AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS AS A UK MOTORHOME

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Contents
  • Introduction
  • Why choose an American Bus
  • Buying and Importing a US School Bus
  • Amazing Spaces
  • Blog
  • Stripping out
  • Interior
  • Construction
  • Planning
  • Electrical
  • Utilities
  • Seats
  • Floor
  • Engine
  • Exterior
  • Underside
  • Headlamp
  • IVA Test
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Original Photos
  • Artwork
  • Links
  • Misc Stuff
  • Update November 2021
I have tried to write this as a series of sections covering the major topics.  I took lots of pictures as I went along and most of the sections are photo galleries with comments as captions.  Hopefully they make sense.  Don't assume they are in chronological order!
If you are planning your own conversion, I doubt you will want to follow mine step by step, but hopefully my conversion will give you some ideas.  You can contact me on the form here (scroll to bottom of page)

I would give the overall advice
  • You don't need any great technical expertise to do the conversion (assuming you are a reasonable DIYer and can think through how to solve problems!)
  • Use Sketchup to plan out everything (where holes need to be cut, will seats fit etc) but don't follow the plan slavishly
  • You might need some specialist help (you can't legally install the engine immobilizer - you need to be MESF approved and get a Certificate).  I didn't trust my welding on the seatbelt mounting for example!
  • Read up on the IVA scheme https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277534/guide-to-the-iva-scheme.pdf
  • Think through what you actually need - for me an external shower is fine
  • Lay excess 12v wiring and label it and put in things like video cable to reversing camera just in case
  • eBay is your friend!
  • Allow several attempts at passing the IVA
  • Use Skoolie.net and SBMCC as resources
  • It helps if you know someone in the USA.  Get parts shipped to them and they can forward to you
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  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Contents
  • Introduction
  • Why choose an American Bus
  • Buying and Importing a US School Bus
  • Amazing Spaces
  • Blog
  • Stripping out
  • Interior
  • Construction
  • Planning
  • Electrical
  • Utilities
  • Seats
  • Floor
  • Engine
  • Exterior
  • Underside
  • Headlamp
  • IVA Test
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Original Photos
  • Artwork
  • Links
  • Misc Stuff
  • Update November 2021