Ever since Weston can remember, he has been fascinated by the tiny home and vanlife movements. As a carpenter, he stumbled upon a short school bus for sale on Craigslist five years ago and instantly fell in love with the idea. For Weston, the skoolie became a personal space where he could work, travel, and visit friends.
The kitchen in his camper includes a sink, a two-burner propane stove, and a vintage Frigidaire refrigerator with a classic look. To create a unique countertop and cabinets, Weston used African mahogany and Brazilian cherry wood, adding pullouts for extra storage. While the refrigerator runs on 120-volt power, Weston ensures a steady energy supply with solar panels and batteries.
When it comes to renovating the skoolie, Weston takes advantage of repurposed items and materials. He covers the ceiling and most of the trim with wood veneer and uses canvas curtains and packing blankets for insulation purposes. To maximize space and flexibility, he installed driver and passenger seats from an old Chevrolet Astro Van that can swivel to face the back of the bus.
One of the remarkable features of Weston’s camper is the large couch and the massive dining room table that resemble a sectional sofa surrounding a conference table. Hidden within the couch is additional storage space, along with room for batteries and a 50-gallon water tank. The table can easily be converted into a sleeping area, allowing for comfortable accommodation for three people when combined with the sofa.
Aside from his camper life, Weston’s journey aligns with many others who seek the freedom of the road. After completing college, he worked as a data analyst but quickly grew tired of the nine-to-five grind. Taking a leap of faith, he purchased the school bus and left his job to venture into landscaping. Along the way, he worked as a counselor for troubled youth before transitioning to full-time carpentry. Today, Weston freelances, taking on various projects such as custom motorhomes, restaurants, and even a music studio in Mexico City.
Even as Weston plans to buy land in the future, he intends to continue using his skoolie. His ultimate goal is to establish a workshop where he can pursue carpentry work and personalize other campers on a full-time basis.