In this video, I’m laying it all out—the real, raw truth about how much it cost us to turn our 2003 Ford E450 (7.3L Turbo Diesel, Collins 6-window) into a tiny home on wheels. I walk through the big-ticket categories that actually move the needle in a bus build budget: buying the rig, materials, tools we didn’t know we’d need, and the systems that make it feel like a legit home instead of a plywood box. It’s not a “perfect build” highlight reel either—I’m sharing the numbers with the same energy we build with: lots of DIY wins, a few fails, and plenty of learning as we go. If you’re planning your own vanlife or skoolie-style conversion, my biggest takeaway is this: costs add up in the little places just as fast as the big ones. Power, water, and bathroom choices can swing your budget wildly depending on how off-grid you want to be, and whether you’re willing to DIY or outsource. I also share the exact brands we’re using (like Battle Born batteries, BougeRV solar, and a composting toilet) so you can price out a realistic setup and decide what’s worth it for your own roadtrip life.