Neighbor Spotlight: Hampton residents convert school bus into tiny home on wheels
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like to nominate someone as a Neighbor Spotlight, see thehamptonjournal.com, select the “Post Story” button in the upper right corner, click the “New Article” button and complete the form to publish your nomination. Questions? Email Neighborhood News Network editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.
Too cool for skool?
Not Mike and Allison Hengelsberg, the Hampton couple who renovated a 38-foot school bus into a tiny home/RV.
A year ago, neither of them had driven anything larger than a U-Haul.
Fast-forward to 2021 and the Rosanna Drive residents hit the road for a 900-mile drive to Florida in their 25,000-pound home on wheels.
A bright yellow traditional Thomas school bus is now the blue-hued Harmony Express Skoolie, named with a nod to the pair’s penchant for Barbershop Quartet singing.
“I saw something on TV and thought, ‘We should do that and travel around in it,” Allison Hengelsberg said.
“I know people might think it’s crazy, but when you look at the prices of RVs that run $200,000, it’s not a bad move.”
Skoolies, which put upcycling and sweat equity on full display, have gained popularity in recent years with the tiny house trend. Most of the traveling homes are about 250 to 300 square feet.
The Hengelsberg’s mobile home has basically everything a road warrior might want: a couch, stove, sink with counter top, bunk beds, bathroom and a queen-size master bedroom.
Their bus originally transported students in Maryland before the Hengelsberg’s purchased it online from 422 Auction in Grove City.
It cost them $6,500.
Then the real work began. They dedicated an entire year to renovations, working 50 weekends to often-intensive labor.
A salesman by trade, Mike Hengelsberg crammed YouTube construction videos for each step of the project.
“We gutted it,” he said. “And we learned as we went.”
The pair plucked each of the 28 seats from the inside and customized the interior into a luxury living area.
“Even if you know construction, nothing is level or square,” Mike Hengelsberg said. “The roof is curved. There’s a handicapped lift in the middle.”
The pair chipped out the rubber floor and insulated the walls and ceiling. They re-caulked the windows and replaced the emergency panels with solar lights.
“Everything is slanted or curved in a bus,” Mike said. “You can’t build a straight wall.”
Online tips and instructional videos provided most of the know-how, along with creativity on the owner’s part.
An IKEA couch in the “living room” lifts to provide storage. Bungee cords hold drawers in place throughout.
“We built everything, painted everything,” Allison said.
Recycled parts and in-house labor saved the couple a bundle during the project. They estimate that total upgrades cost about $22,000.
The couple hoped to take a short “test” trip last fall but that didn’t pan out.
“It was baptism by fire this winter when we went to Florida,” Allison said. “We were happy to find that everything worked the way it was supposed to.”
They said it’s not beyond consideration that they might chuck it all and retire to a life of wander.
“It’s about the experiences, not the stuff,” Allison said. “Just think of the freedom. We love it, and want to be out in it all the time.”
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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