Roadshow stops in Thermopolis

It's hard to miss Prepsteader Bob and Mrs. B's home as the bus converted into a recreational vehicle makes it's way down the highway. But more than just a tenement on wheels, the remodeled bus gets the couple from one point to the next as they film The Self Reliant Roadshow, a YouTube channel featuring adventures in homesteading, prepping and do-it-yourself.

The idea for the roadshow came last October, Bob said, and it was for them to travel across the United States and Canada to help homesteaders, as the largest population segment in this country is 18-34 year olds that are moving out into the country.

They started putting content up in February, and hit the road wit their first visit on April 1. Though currently in their pilot season, Bob noted they are already booked into the third season. Season 2 will feature stops along the east coast, and in Season 3 they plan to cut across Canada and go down the west coast.

The idea for the roadshow came from Bob's background. "I've spent the last 40-plus years in construction and crisis management, and we've been homesteading full-time since 2003. What happened is a large YouTube channel moved into our area and were doing a lot of things that would get them hurt." The couple began helping them and it was suggested they go on the road and help others.

They first needed to find out if there was nationwide interest, the availability of transportation and how to get, financially, from one point to the next. There was obviously enough interest, and the bus came from a company in Minnesota – also the first of five sponsors for the show – that gave them the vehicle at the cost of salvage, so they got a $10,000 bus for $2,000. Renovation of the bus cost another $2,000.

The bus-turned-RV includes a full kitchen, desktop computer, couch, bathroom and bed.

The Self Reliant Roadshow, Bob explained, is more the entertainment side including interviews, showing what they're doing at the homesteads and giving ideas to families about how they can make money on their homestead. He does a site assessment initially, "and then we just jump in. I give them one to five days and we have a trailer full of tools." Then it's on to the next stop, with donations for fuel to get from one point to the next.

Bob also has his own personal channel, which is more instructional for projects on a budget, such as shearing tables, bramble trellis, even converting a bus into a living space.

As for the stop in Thermopolis last week, Bob noted they are actually here visiting Ron and Kit Fanning, whom they've known for the last 20 years. "Ron is one of those that started homesteading back in the 70s so what I'm doing is interviewing him for posterity." The couple has been on the road non-stop for a bit over two months, working every day so they could have a few days to stop and visit their friends. They planned to take in as much as they could in Thermopolis and the surrounding area of Wyoming before hitting the road again.