by Gabrielle DeSantis

RV mania is a real thing, and it’s growing fast. From DIY camper models to luxury motorhomes, RVs of all kinds are hitting the road this year. Most are standard, factory-built RVs. However, some are a bit less common. Vans, box trucks, horse trailers, retired ambulances, and other vehicles have become homes for the adventurous. The most popular of these uncommon homes on wheels are probably the school buses, also known as skoolies.

Skoolies are spacious and homey

A skoolie made from a full-size bus offers more space than some apartments. You can even separate the bedrooms and bathroom from the open-plan kitchen and living areas for more privacy. This makes them a great choice for families traveling with kids in tow.

These converted school buses feature many of the same amenities as a motorhome but often feel homier than a standard RV. Instead of the ugly interiors of many RVs, skoolies often look like small homes that reflect the unique design aesthetics of their owners. Think of a skoolie as a hybrid between an RV and a tiny house. It offers many of the best features of both.

Turning a school bus into your dream home

Since most skoolies are designed by the people living in them, they’re always a perfect fit. You can have many of the perks of a custom home without the enormous price tag when you choose a skoolie as your new home. 

You can even indulge in high-end finishes without breaking the bank. Cork flooring that might be cost-prohibitive in a 2,000 square foot house is suddenly affordable in a 200 square foot skoolie. In-floor heating, quartz countertops, and LED lighting throughout become reasonably-priced options. Instead of price, the main considerations will be weight and power needs.

The downside of living in a skoolie

Van Clan offers these warnings to those thinking of joining them in the camper lifestyle. After all, it’s better to be forewarned than shocked after the fact!

Although a skoolie may seem like an ideal choice for your traveling lifestyle, there are a few disadvantages. Not every road can handle a vehicle of this size. Narrow, winding roads can be downright impossible to navigate. Additionally, finding a suitable parking spot can become a nightmare! Just like oversized RVs, many buses are too big to fit available campground spaces.

You probably won’t need a CDL (commercial driver’s license) to drive your stoolie once you’ve re-registered it as an RV. However, as the skoolie owners from the Trail and Summit blog explain, you may need a special certification if your bus is equipped with air brakes. You may also need a special license or endorsement depending on just how much your finished conversion weighs. The rules vary by state, so do your homework before you choose a bus.

Driving something as big as a skoolie made from a full-size bus can also be intimidating. After all, it could easily weigh 10 tons or more! Driving something that massive takes some serious getting used to, so allow yourself plenty of practice time. If you doubt your ability to control such a monster, you may want to start with a smaller school bus until you’ve gained more confidence.

Living in a skoolie can be expensive

Your school bus could be an older vehicle, retired from service, and it may need major repairs. Not every mechanic is willing or able to tackle bus repairs. You may have to pay extra for bus parts and specialized mechanical services. Look for hidden damage in the bus interior before you buy, too, or you could be looking at more expensive fixes.

Additionally, school buses aren’t exactly fuel-efficient, to begin with, and their fuel economy doesn’t improve once you add the equivalent of a house to the inside. So, expect to shell out big bucks every time you fill the tank! 

However, despite these drawbacks, a skoolie is still worth considering if you want to travel the country surrounded by all the familiar comforts of home.

RELATED: Bus Conversions vs. RVs: Which One Is Better?

The post Skoolie Life Problems: 5 Things You Should Know Before Making a School Bus Your Home appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s a lot to worry about these days with our vehicles, from tire thefts to damage from poor road conditions to dents and dings from other cars. One of the most frequently asked questions nowadays, though, deals with slamming car doors. Some people want to know whether it’s possible to damage your car by doing it and if it will cost them a lot of money for maintenance because of it. According to Car Roar, the answer to both of those is a resounding yes. It’s more than possible to damage the door if you slam it often. So, why do people slam doors, and what can you do about it?

Why do people slam the car door?

There are a handful of reasons people might slam the car door when getting in or out of the vehicle. While modern cars and trucks don’t typically need that much force to close the door, the passenger may be used to an older one that takes a bit more forcefulness to get it to latch. 

The more a person does it, the more it becomes a habit, which will be trouble when they get in and out of a vehicle. This habit can lead people to no longer think about it. Drivers and passengers can close the door very forcefully without considering how hard they may be closing it. 

Additionally, it’s possible that some people may not actually be slamming the door. According to a Reddit post, it could also be a matter of interpretation. The person might have shut the door with a little firmness, but the driver might perceive it as a ‘slam.’ No matter what the reason might be for the passenger to close it with too much force, it will harm the car door to the extent that you could end up paying hundreds of dollars to get it fixed. 

How does car door slamming damage your vehicle?

If it happens once in a while, there probably won’t be that much damage. The more people slam the car doors, though, the more likely you’re headed for broken and worn-out parts that you have to replace. 

One area that’s affected is the car’s paint. The more the door is forced into the closed position, the more the paint starts rubbing off the edges of the door. If metal is exposed, rust will form, making it even more difficult to do a touch-up.

Elsewhere, the rubber gasket around the inside of the door wears out much quicker than normal. If it tears or thins out, air can seep into the vehicle’s interior, causing more road noise when you drive. It could also potentially make the door harder and louder to close in the future, leading to further damages. 

The most expensive damage you could face is the latching mechanisms and the internal door parts. The door latch is what keeps it closed and prevents it from opening while you drive down the road. According to Driver Moola, the damaged latch might cause the door to open, and a passenger leaning against the door could fall out onto the road if they aren’t buckled. 

Other internal parts also have a chance to break from the force of wear and tear over time. The hinges, door handle mechanisms, and power window parts are all susceptible to breaking and will need replacing, but the costs won’t be cheap. 

How to prevent damage from vehicle door slamming

The easiest and most inexpensive way is to remind the person not to slam the door when they get in or out of the vehicle. If it’s you, be sure to make a conscious effort to avoid slamming so that it won’t become a habit in the future. For yourself and passengers, put up signs as reminders if you see fit. 

One other way you can prevent damage from the car door slamming is to install a rubber butyl-type gasket around the edges of the door. This will keep the paint intact and soften the blow when passengers get overzealous with closing the car door.  If your car already has one, you might need to replace it as they typically wear out over time. 

One last way to prevent costly repairs to your door is to install a smooth door closer. This will make it virtually impossible to slam the door. If someone tries to close it too hard, the mechanism will stop it before it latches and will automatically close it (gently) for you. This is a little more difficult to install but could be worth it in the long run. 

With the cost of repairs going up for both new and used cars, the last thing you want to do is cause damage to your vehicle that could’ve been prevented in the first place. Slamming car doors can be controlled once you make an effort to be more gentle with your vehicle. 

RELATED: 5 Things Car Enthusiasts Hate That You Do In Our Cars

The post Can Slamming Your Car Door Damage Your Vehicle? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.