Couple spent 800 hours and £35,000 converting a yellow American school bus into a luxury home
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A couple spent more than 800 hours and £35,000 converting a yellow American school bus into a luxury home, just before giving birth to their baby on board.
Sam and Rachel Dix, from Bristol, shipped the 37-by-8-foot vehicle from New York to Southampton and then to a farm in Somerset.
The Hyde Park Central School bus, built in 2005, previously held 72 children and is now the birthplace of the couple’s son, Bodhi, with his birth certificate citing ‘American School Bus’ as the place of arrival .
Ms Dix, 32, designed the layout of the bus while self-employed carpenter Mr Dix, 33, built it.
Sam Dix, pictured, and Rachel Dix, from Bristol, shipped the 37-by-8-foot vehicle from New York to Southampton and on to a farm in Somerset.
Ms Dix, 32, designed the layout of the sleek bus while self-employed carpenter Mr Dix, 33, built it.
The couple was inspired to hit the road after listening to a podcast called the Motorhome Matt podcast.
“It may seem a bit crazy to buy an American bus, but we knew it had the potential to be an amazing home on wheels for our expanding family,” he said.
The couple was inspired to hit the road after tuning into a podcast called the Motorhome Matt podcast, which provides information on buying your first RV and making money from it.
The bus was transformed in a period of six months, with the seats removed and the wooden floor, a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom installed inside.
Mr Dix, who became friends with Matt Sims, head of the podcast and CEO of rental business The Motorhome Holiday Company in Hewish, Somerset, said: ‘Matt has great ideas for earning a passive income from your vehicle and guiding first time buyers to the right vehicle for their needs.’
The bus, large enough to accommodate 72 children, was transformed over a period of six months.
Ms Dix gave birth to her son Bodhi on the refurbished bus, with her birth certificate citing ‘American School Bus’ as the place of her arrival.
The ‘expanding’ family now plans to renew a third vehicle to go on a trip and has put the bus up for sale
Mr. Dix carried out most of the work himself, but a professional installed the electricity and his parents helped paint the interior.
The exterior of the bus remains the iconic yellow, with solar panels on top which helped reduce the electricity bill to just £20 over six months.
Mr Dix said: “It looks like an ordinary bus from the outside, but inside it’s a fully functional, comfortable living space.”
“We’ve gotten attention when we’ve driven it and people have been surprised when they’ve gotten in.”
The interior of the bus features wooden floors and a stylish design with lots of natural materials and plants.
Mr. Dix did most of the work himself, but a professional installed the electricity and his parents helped paint the interior.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dix also put a light on top of the bus so the midwives could find them in the dark when Ms. Dix went into labor at the organic farm they were parked on.
The midwives arrived at the bus at around 8:00 pm and Ms. Dix gave birth in the lounge of the bus three hours later.
The name is a tribute to Sam and Rachel’s quest to live life to the fullest after losing Rachel’s father to cancer when she was 52 years old.
Sam said: ‘The midwives visited us on board the bus in advance. They said they had been to a variety of home births, including on a barge, but this was the first time for them.
The bus looks cute and cozy with fairy lights during an evening garden party outside the house.
Ms Dix said: “Giving birth to Bodhi in the home that we poured our hearts and souls into was amazing.”
The father added: “After working so hard to create a beautiful and loving home, welcoming our son into our arms on the floor of the bus was a moment forever etched in my soul.”
“They were impressed by how comfortable and spacious it is inside. It had been crazy to get the bus ready and be at the farm in time for the baby to arrive, but it worked out and brought us so much happiness.’
Ms Dix added: ‘Giving birth to Bodhi in the home we poured our hearts and souls into was amazing.
“After working so hard to create a beautiful and loving home, welcoming our son into our arms on the bus deck was a moment forever etched in my soul. It was magical and I hope it inspires other women to explore home birth.”
Mr Dix kept the vehicle at MHC storage in Congresbury, Somerset while he made preparations.
Now, the family plans to renew a third vehicle to go on a trip and they have put the bus up for sale. Mr. Dix has changed the design and renovated the interior of the bus.
He said: ‘This has been a love project and we have enjoyed our time on the bus. I think it would suit one person or a couple, possibly with young children, looking to go on an adventure.
Mr Dix kept the vehicle at MHC storage in Congresbury, Somerset while he made preparations.
“It may seem a bit crazy to buy an American bus, but we knew it had the potential to be an amazing home,” said Mr. Dix.
‘Or it could function as a trading company, if they have land, to rent it out. It’s an interesting and comfortable space for anyone who wants to experience a luxurious and skoolie stay.’
Mr Sims, who has 30 years of business experience, said: “There are many ways to make money with a motorhome, from an impressive renovation job like the one Sam and Rachel carried out, to hiring a third party to do it for you. do the hard work for you.”
“It depends on your skill set, timing, and inclination, but an RV can be a good investment for almost anyone if you do your research.”
Mr. Sims bought and sold 13 businesses and runs one of the UK’s largest campervan hire companies, also looking at off-grid and green options such as installing solar panels.
“We can all take small steps to reduce our emissions and save money, which is good for our planet and good for our wallet,” he said.
He has interviewed a variety of guests on his show, including writer, presenter and environmentalist Martin Dorey, who promotes sustainable habits, and AA President Edmund King.
Recent topics range from the future of electric motorhomes to cooking a Michelin-starred meal in a motorhome.
For more information visit thedixiebus.co.uk or his Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/thedixietribe/?hl=en.
For more information on Motorhome Matt’s podcast, visit https://www.motorhomematt.co.uk/ or The Motorhome Holiday Company in https://www.motorhomeholidaycompany.com/.