A pair of individuals auctioned off all their possessions to purchase a $32,000 yellow American school bus via eBay, and they’re currently touring Europe with their young children.
Lotti Harrison, who is 29 years old, and Ty Burns, 37, have long cherished the concept of living in a van. However, following the birth of their two daughters, currently one and two years old, this aspiration appeared nearly unattainable.
That was when Ty came across an 11-meter-long school bus advertised for sale on eBay in August 2024. Realizing this could be their chance, the pair decided they needed to seize the opportunity quickly before it vanished.
Over the following half-year period, they revamped the bus by adding features such as underfloor heating, air conditioning, and a wood-burning stove. Afterward, they sold 90 percent of their furnishings and abandoned their restaurant venture to embrace an adventurous lifestyle on wheels.
Lotti, Ty, along with their daughters, embarked on their journey in April 2025 and have so far visited Belgium, France, and Italy. Coming destinations include Slovenia and Croatia.
The family plans to embark on a year-long journey, utilizing their savings as funding for this expedition, with the intention of returning to the UK afterward to determine if they should continue onward.
We’ve always steered clear of the typical 9-to-5 routine,” explained Lotti, who hails from Newcastle, Tyne and Wear. “However, after our daughters came along, we noticed just how fast time passes us by. We decided we wanted to maximize the moments spent with our family and witness their growth firsthand. Putting them in daycare wasn’t something either one of us felt comfortable doing. So, if not now, we figured this opportunity might slip away forever.
The pair have frequently discussed going on trips and had even purchased an old, dilapidated bus they discovered beside the highway for $640 around six years back. However, once it became apparent that the vehicle was irreparable, they shelved their wanderlust plans and began raising a family instead.
“Having the girls made things turn out to be more complex than I thought,” Lotti stated.
When Ty saw the school bus listed on eBay, they decided to go for it.
Ty devoted half a year to transforming it personally, equipping it with bunk beds, a full-size refrigerator, a washer, and a king-sized bed. He also added acoustic soundproofing panels to reduce noise levels.
It’s quite luxurious,” Lotti remarked. “We didn’t hold back on it whatsoever. Our aim was to make sure it would be as cozy as possible for both us and the little ones.
They concluded their rental agreement for their four-bedroom, three-story townhouse and put nearly all of their possessions up for sale, holding onto just a handful of necessities and emotionally significant objects in storage.
We recognized the amount of items we had gathered through the years – and how many were unnecessary,” Lotti stated. “It was incredibly satisfying to dispose of everything.
In April, the family embarked on their journey beginning in Belgium before moving on to Luxembourg, France, and Italy. Later, they plan to visit Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia. Following this leg of their trip, they will return to the UK via Greece, Italy, and France.
The girls have adjusted remarkably,” Lotti commented. “It’s quite thrilling for them to wake up in new places.
They also appreciate the flexibility of their lifestyle—they can extend their stay in a location if they enjoy it, or leave early if the weather turns sour.
“It has truly been liberating,” Lotti stated.
Although it has not been without difficulties, some of Lotti’s most cherished moments involve taking the girls to Disneyland Paris and biking around Lake Annecy in France.
“So far, everyone has adored the bus,” she remarked. “Drivers beep their horns at us, and we constantly get halted for inquiries. We can never go out without somebody snapping photos!”
Lotti aims to motivate others to summon up courage and step beyond their usual limits.
“There’s an entire universe beyond us,” she remarked.
Track the family’s escapades on Instagram and TikTok:
@bigyellowskoolie
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