This Batterton Family Built the Viral ‘Nomad Bus’ for $50 k (From 4,100 sq ft to 270 sq ft:) – Inspiring Stories of Self-Built Tiny Home
From a family of seven in a 270-sq-ft school bus to a harpist’s TikTok-famous van, these self-built homes on wheels prove that creativity beats square footage every time.
Dive into five jaw-dropping before-and-after projects, their exact budgets, and the lifestyle shifts that made them go viral.
This article details a collection of inspiring and viral stories centered around individuals and families who have undertaken the ambitious project of converting vehicles into unique, functional, and often beautiful homes on wheels.
These narratives provide a deep dive into the motivations, building processes, lifestyles, and financial aspects of these DIY conversions.
1. The Batterton Family: A Family of Seven’s Skoolie Adventure
Jeff & Anna Batterton were living the Texas-suburb dream: a 4,100-square-foot house, five kids, two dogs and a cat—plus a mortgage that felt like another child. In 2018 they listed the house, bought a $4 k retired school bus on Craigslist and, with nothing more than evenings, weekends and a shared Google SketchUp file, spent two years creating “The Nomad Bus.”
Today the 270-square-foot skoolie is home base for seven humans and three pets, has been featured in Business Insider and The Sun, and has racked up 112 M views on TikTok. This is the full story—budget blow-by-blow, design dead-ends, roof-raise calculations and the emotional math of downsizing.
Their journey, which has been widely featured in media outlets such as Business Insider and The Sun, showcases the challenges and rewards of converting a school bus into a fully functional home.
1.1 The Decision to Downsize and Travel
What They Let Go Of
- 🏠 House: 4,100 sq ft ➜ 270 sq ft
- 🛋️ Furniture pieces: 127 ➜ 9
- 📚 Books: 2,300 ➜ 45 Kindle + 1 shelf
- 💰 Mortgage: $2,900/mo ➜ $0
The Batterton family’s journey began with a desire for a more adventurous and connected lifestyle. Jeff and Anna Batterton, along with their five children, made the life-altering decision to sell their spacious 4,100-square-foot home in Fort Worth, Texas, and embark on a new chapter of their lives on the road.
“We wanted more family time and the opportunity to explore the world together. Living in a smaller space wasn’t just about downsizing our possessions but upsizing our experiences.”
The family had to downsize their possessions significantly, getting rid of the majority of their belongings to fit into their new 270-square-foot home on wheels [Business Insider]. They document their journey on Instagram @regainingadventure, sharing both the challenges and joys of their nomadic lifestyle.
The Building Process of “The Nomad Bus”
The Nomad Bus – Cost Breakdown
| Used 2004 International bus | $4,000 |
| DIY renovation (materials, solar, tanks, etc.) | $46,000 |
| Total | $50,000 |
The conversion of “The Nomad Bus” was a labor of love that took two years to complete. The family worked on the renovation in their spare time, dedicating their evenings and weekends to the project.
Jeff Batterton, a software designer, used 3D modeling software to create a detailed layout, while the children helped with painting and sanding. One creative solution was modifying the shower for Jeff’s height by removing part of the roof and adding a chimney-like extension with a skylight.
Jeff modeled every inch in SketchUp, then taped the full-scale layout on their living-room carpet so the kids could “walk” the hallway. Key constraints:
- Ceiling height 6’2″ (Jeff is 6’3″)
- 3-burner stove, apartment-size fridge
- Two separate bedrooms + flex homeschool space
- 130 gal fresh-water tank under the bed
THE TWO-YEAR BUILD LOG
Nights, Weekends & 14,000 Screws
- Month 1-2: Demo seats, grind floor rust, POR-15 coating.
- Month 3-4: Frame 2×4 walls, install Rockwool insulation.
- Month 5: Roof raise – 14″ lift with 2×3 steel tubing.
- Month 6: Solar arch – 1,620 W panels + 600 Ah LiFePO4.
- Month 7-9: Plumbing & PEX manifold (130 gal fresh / 40 gal gray).
- Month 10-12: Cedar ceiling, vinyl plank flooring.
- Month 13-15: Kids’ bunks, murphy desk, hidden pantry.
- Month 16-18: Exterior paint, roof deck, final inspection.
“We only paid labor for one thing: $800 to weld the roof raise. Everything else was YouTube University.” —Jeff Batterton
Life in a 270-Square-Foot Home
Managing daily life with five children, two dogs, and a cat in a 270-square-foot home requires incredible organization. The family follows a vegan lifestyle and goes grocery shopping every two weeks, with plenty of storage space for their staples.
Daily rhythm:
- 6:30 AM – Jeff & Anna coffee + quiet hour
- 8:00 AM – Homeschool around the dinette (3 laptops + 1 printer drawer)
- 1:00 PM – Outdoor “recess” wherever they parked
- 5:00 PM – Kid-cook dinner rotation (vegan burrito bowls are a staple
“We call it ‘roommates training on steroids.’ If you can share 40 sq ft of bathroom, college dorms feel like mansions.” —Jeff
VEGAN MEAL HACKS ON THE ROAD
Feeding Seven Vegans in the Middle of Nowhere
- Costco runs every 14 days (two full Instacart carts)
- 9 cu ft chest freezer under couch
- Instant Pot + induction single-burner = one-pot meals
- Top three go-to recipes: red-lentil curry, jackfruit tacos, cashew-mac
ADDING A ROOFTOP TINY HOME
When the Kids Hit Growth Spurts—Build Up
After year two, the three oldest kids (then 12, 14, 15) needed headspace. Solution: a 60-sq-ft “penthouse” framed with lightweight aluminum studs, sheathed in cedar, accessed via a ship-ladder.
Added two twin XL bunks, skylight and a mini-split A/C feed. Weight impact: 1,100 lb fully loaded—still within axle rating.
REAL COSTS & ROI
The $50 k Question
| Category | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Used 2004 International bus | $4,000 | Craigslist, 140 k miles |
| Roof raise & welding | $800 | Local fab shop |
| Solar system (1,620 W + 600 Ah LiFePO4) | $7,400 | Incl. inverter/charger |
| Plumbing & tanks | $3,100 | 130 gal fresh, 40 gal gray, on-demand heater |
| Appliances | $4,900 | Fridge, stove, Nature’s Head, mini-split |
| Lumber, insulation, finishes | $11,200 | Cedar ceiling, vinyl plank, birch ply cabinets |
| Rooftop tiny home add-on | $8,400 | Steel frame, cedar siding, mini-split tap |
| Misc. hardware, paint, tools | $12,200 | Screws, wiring, caulk, etc. |
| TOTAL | $50,000 | DIY labor valued at $0 |
“Compare that to the $2,900 mortgage we eliminated—bus paid for itself in 17 months.” —Jeff Batterton
MAINTENANCE & LESSONS LEARNED
What Broke First & What They’d Do Differently
- Tire blowouts: upgraded to 16-ply commercial rubber
- Black-water-free: Nature’s Head composting toilet never smells—empty every 3 weeks
- Skylight leaks: added butyl tape + Eternabond on year-3 reseal
- Roof deck railing: 1″ EMT conduit painted with marine enamel—zero rust so far
- Biggest regret: not insulating the wheel wells better—road noise in rain
NEXT ARTICLES (More Coming Soon)
• Arrow Anglers’ “Butter Bus” – sunset doors & $42 k budget
• Tyler & Lexi’s “One Wild Ride” – from bartenders to campground hosts
