Skoolie Doors Keep or Replace?

Keeping your RV door and adding slight modifications to make it a little safer is very common, it just depends on what style your skoolie will have. Some bus conversions will look just like houses, RV’s or as they were originally used for a bus with a few windows blocked out. You can go as big or as small as you want on your bus design. But that will definitely help define the look you are going for when deciding which door you’d like to have for your skoolie. 

Skoolie Door Replacement

If you don’t like the original skoolie door or it is damaged you can use any door that you can fit in the space. Just make sure that the material will hold up and is protected against inclement weather.  The most commonly used alternatives are

• RV Door
• House Door
• Custom built door 

Keep in mind when you are replacing your door that the doorway is uneven on a bus. The top tilts in a little more than the bottom and creates an angle that is slightly difficult to work with. There will need to be a few modifications in order to make the replacement fit just right.  Standard school bus door dimensions are 32″ wide by 85“

Replace Bus Door with RV Door

All Rv doors are different so you’ll most likely have a door that you’ll need to make adjustments for one to fit properly, but if you do fall upon the one that will fit exactly, please write a blog about it. They do exist, but they are also The Unicorn. 

Dimensions for an RV Door are all sizes between 24w x 70h, 24w x 68h, 26w-68h, 32w x 72h.

Check these out:

Randersonxf  https://www.instagram.com/p/BHstkAgDvHU/

Thecrabshomestead https://www.instagram.com/p/BIU2DeCgoY3/

Beachbusbuild https://www.instagram.com/p/CByoSn2pGLI/

House Door on a Bus

A standard house door is 30”- 36” inches wide and 80” inches tall. 

Adding a house door to your bus will be like putting one in a home. There will need to be framing on the sides and above the door then fill in gaps and make sure there won’t be any spaces. The door must be snug in it’s space. 

A house door can range in prices from $500 to $2,000 + dollars. You may consider looking around at yard sales, FB marketplace, or antique stores that will have one on hand for a couple hundred. You can always refurbish a door to your liking rather than buying one new. That’s the fun in building. Just be sure you are buying an exterior door with impact resistant glass.

For ideas check these out –

Harmonyexpress.skoolie https://www.instagram.com/p/CAlhyUqBOjt/

Christopher.robyns.bus https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7jeGLhJyW/

Skoolielivin https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDwqGSJpfs/

Ferntheskoolie https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JL50xhcp0/

Modified Original Skoolie Door

One of the most common things to do for a skoolie door is using the one you already have. 

You can take the bus door off in two pieces, each side has a piece that can be disconnected and removed. There are a couple rubber slides on each door that in most cases aren’t in really good shape, you can pull or slide them out to allow for a new material to put in its place. The door can also be used in the original form if you like the way it opens up on both sides. 

What you do next with your door is up to you, there are many options at this point, so here are some ideas:

Flyingcircusbus –https://www.instagram.com/p/CHvN1ZdJk7u/

382north https://www.instagram.com/p/CHWwyRiBfDQ/

germanskoolie https://www.instagram.com/p/CFB4TnZB4Q3/

Ernest.the.skoolie https://www.instagram.com/p/CKevuZFBrOf/ 

You could add a piece horizontally or vertically to fuse together.. Most conversion doors will have a metal piece welded or screwed in the middle to complete the door however, you can use any material that will hold up.  

Sliding Glass Door on a Skoolie 

A sliding door is used on the side, generally where the emergency exit door would be. They look great but aren’t super common and that’s mostly because of functionality. If you want a sliding door you’ll want to find an RV door that can hold up to the weather. Lippert has a folding door/patio system that could be ideal. 

Not.a.regular.skoolie https://www.instagram.com/p/CP58zZvhRXX/

Lippert https://www.lci1.com/archive/2018/12/10/lippert-components-unveils-next-generation-patio-wall-armor-system/

Moving the Skoolie Door

Some Skoolie designs look more like an RV. The door is removed from the front and added a bit further back to allow for a co-pilot seat where the stairs once were.  

Materials Needed to Add a Bus Door

A door for a bus and a door installation anywhere else will need the same types of things to put one together properly. Take Measurements for a nice fit then you’ll have sealing and hardware.

Skoolie Door Lock

The best lock will be for whatever your situation is, if you don’t have a car and you’ll come and go on bicycles you may want the Keyless entry.

You could have a door knob and a Deadbolt

If you really want to get fancy you could have a wifi/ alarm system. Not recommended if your wifi isn’t reliable.

Really, anything will work as long as you can fit the hardware on your door.

Doors with possible issues:

A house door can leak if there are inadequate or non-existent guards for water protection. A normal home door has weather stripping. The majority of skoolies will not have this guard and there will be water pools at the doorway whenever there is rain or snow. Make sure you don’t forget to add that weather strip.

The Bus Door original bus doors are nice and sturdy, especially if you redesign and make it even better. But, you will need a proper lock on your bus to be sure that it is secure for your safety on the road. 

Sliding Glass Door is risky, If a pebble can cause a crack you might not want to cruise it down the road with all kinds of debris heading your way.If you intend on having glass make sure it is strong. 

Summary- 

All skoolies are unique in their own way and the door is no different. It depends on the tools you have and the skills you are working with that will create the end result. Luckily, there are so many places to find ideas, like instagram and youtube. Youtube is a wonderful tool to help you build everything on your bus, and the platform for skoolie builds is just getting larger. The amount of people creating skoolies helps you find a lot more than just one way to do things and add your own personal style into it. 

Safe Travels!