Day 0 The Purchase

Author: Justin Dunn

The Decision to Invest in a School Bus Conversion

It’s been a few weeks since I first shared my plan to create a mobile studio, and I’m happy to say I’ve found the vehicle for this project—a 2007 Freightliner Thomas school bus. But the journey to this decision wasn’t as straightforward as I expected.

Back in February 2020, I started my search by looking for step vans. Craigslist was my go-to, and I eventually stumbled upon an ad for one at BGA Bus Sales in Hudson, FL. The next day, I drove out to check it out.

The Unexpected Pivot

When I arrived, I met Greg, the owner, who informed me the step van had already sold. Disappointed, I was about to leave when he offered to show me around. Honestly, I wasn’t sold on the idea of buying a school bus. The thought of dealing with short ceilings and bright yellow paint didn’t appeal to me.

But as we walked through the lot, I started to see the challenges with step vans and short-er buses. Most were built on medium-duty chassis, which wouldn’t work for towing a car trailer or hauling the heavy equipment I planned to carry.

The Sales Pitch That Worked

Greg was a natural salesman—he didn’t just pitch; he asked. He wanted to understand exactly what I needed and tailored his advice accordingly. We talked engines, transmis-sions, reliability, and maintenance. He even explained engine hour ratings, which estimate when an engine might need replacement.

After going through the available options, Greg told me he had just received a bus that he thought would be perfect.

Love at First Sight

The moment I saw it, I knew he was right. It was a 2007 Freightliner Thomas with six windows and seven rows. It had a Mercedes-Benz MBE 924 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine paired with an Allison 2000 transmission. The highlight? A factory ceiling height of 6’3” that felt spacious and comfortable—no ducking required.

The bus had just arrived from a school district and hadn’t been cleaned yet, but I could already see the potential. I knew I wanted it.

Making It Happen

The problem? All my money was tied up in stock investments, and I didn’t have the cash on hand. Thankfully, Greg mentioned they offered a layaway option where I could make payments until the bus was fully paid off. It was the perfect solution.

I negotiated a small discount from the $9,500 asking price, signed the layaway agreement, and left knowing this was the start of something big.

In the meantime, they’ve been working on the bus—cleaning it up, painting the bumpers and wheels, and preparing it for its new life. My next step is cashing out enough stock to cover the bus, title, registration, insurance, and a fresh white paint job to replace the yellow.

What’s Next?

I can’t wait to bring the bus home and begin the conversion process. I’ll share more up-dates soon as this project starts to take shape. Stay tuned—this is where the real work begins!