Tips for Owning A Tailgating Bus

[price26]

We are looking into getting a tailgating bus for the remainder of the season and was wondering if anyone had any tips on having one?

How much does registration/insurance usually run?
Good places to store it/keep it?
Other expected costs/items to expect getting it going?

Thanks.

 

[Frak]

For a bus, you are able to insure it as an RV if you have the right ammenitites. That will save you a ton of money. The key is wiring it for power and having things like a microwave aboard. Storing them is always an issue. Gotta have connections there. My main tip though is that you have to have some dedicated people. We always have a bunch of people who love to party at our bus, but it takes a LOT of work to get everything organized and ready. Most people that usually party at our bus have no idea the amount of work that us owners put in...cleaning after games, buying supplies, upkeep, gas and propane, eating utensils, etc. Getting the bus down to the lots early enough and having someone sober to drive it out of there is usually an issue.

 

[cutshot]

I saw something a couple of months ago about the DOT taking exception with party buses. Some of the things that they were ticketing owners for were lack of proper licensing and not having proper insurance. Also, there were some problems with having people drinking alcohol while the vehicle was being driven.

 

[Clonehomer]

I saw something a couple of months ago about the DOT taking exception with party buses. Some of the things that they were ticketing owners for were lack of proper licensing and not having proper insurance. Also, there were some problems with having people drinking alcohol while the vehicle was being driven.

Yes there are a lot of people out there that don't realize that if you rent it out it is a different deal than just owning one to drive around.

 

[Al_4_State]

For a bus, you are able to insure it as an RV if you have the right ammenitites. That will save you a ton of money. The key is wiring it for power and having things like a microwave aboard. Storing them is always an issue. Gotta have connections there. My main tip though is that you have to have some dedicated people. We always have a bunch of people who love to party at our bus, but it takes a LOT of work to get everything organized and ready. Most people that usually party at our bus have no idea the amount of work that us owners put in...cleaning after games, buying supplies, upkeep, gas and propane, eating utensils, etc. Getting the bus down to the lots early enough and having someone sober to drive it out of there is usually an issue.

I only have a tailgate van, but the same holds true. So many of the people that come by and party have absolutely no idea how much work some of us do to make that all happen.

 

[dmclone]

From the few people I've known with a tailgating bus it's been a money pit and unreliable.

 

[CycloneErik]

I'm not a tailgater by any means, but revkah and I were looking at the buses on our way to the Hilton scrimmage a couple of weeks ago, and we really wondered how the expense of those things could be worth it given their limited usage.

How much is one of these buses upfront, not to mention insurance. Someone has to pay for that parking spot. That bus has to be stored somewhere.

For us non-tailgaters, it seemed like there was an awful lot of money going out for something that you'll only use 6-7 times a year.

 

[hiltonisheaven]

I saw a cardinal and gold short bus for sale this weekend. I don't remember the asking price but it was located on the NW side of Ankeny on Irvinedale Drive.

 

[IcSyU]

I'm not a tailgater by any means, but revkah and I were looking at the buses on our way to the Hilton scrimmage a couple of weeks ago, and we really wondered how the expense of those things could be worth it given their limited usage.

How much is one of these buses upfront, not to mention insurance. Someone has to pay for that parking spot. That bus has to be stored somewhere.

For us non-tailgaters, it seemed like there was an awful lot of money going out for something that you'll only use 6-7 times a year.

If you go to a school district auction, you can pick up a bus for $300-$500. Insurance you'd only pay a couple months each year. Storage if you have a friend who has a farm wouldn't be a problem. Parking is definitely expensive.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

Don't you have to have a class A CDL with passenger endorsement in order to drive the buses as well? If you haul over "X" amount of passengers then I am sure you have to have one and pass annual DOT inspections as well. If you have air brakes, that's another CDL endorsement.

If you already have them then that shouldn't be a problem but keeping the bus up to pass annual inspections might be....?

 

[d4nim4l]

Don't let anyone go #2 in it while tailgating!

 

[clones_jer]

Don't you have to have a class A CDL with passenger endorsement in order to drive the buses as well? If you haul over "X" amount of passengers then I am sure you have to have one and pass annual DOT inspections as well. If you have air brakes, that's another CDL endorsement.

If you already have them then that shouldn't be a problem but keeping the bus up to pass annual inspections might be....?

All of those concerns are nulified if you can get it registered as an RV.

You'll need to have several items ... the ability to hook up to an outside power source, sink, portable toilet... there are like 8 different things and you have to have any 6 or 7 of them.

The insurance will probably be the bigger deal, I think we had to call multiple agents to find one willing to cover it.

Ours is an "airport shuttle" style bus - we use it for tailgating, Ragbrai and bachleor parties mostly. MPGs are a big deal unless you're splitting the cost - I think ours gets 4-8 mpg depending on which way the wind is blowing.

 

[keepngoal]

All of those concerns are nulified if you can get it registered as an RV.

You'll need to have several items ... the ability to hook up to an outside power source, sink, portable toilet... there are like 8 different things and you have to have any 6 or 7 of them.

The insurance will probably be the bigger deal, I think we had to call multiple agents to find one willing to cover it.

Ours is an "airport shuttle" style bus - we use it for tailgating, Ragbrai and bachleor parties mostly. MPGs are a big deal unless you're splitting the cost - I think ours gets 4-8 mpg depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Curiously... when installing the portable toliet.. big deal? easy? .. from the installing the 'room' and the unit?

-keep

 

[IcSyU]

Curiously... when installing the portable toliet.. big deal? easy? .. from the installing the 'room' and the unit?

-keep

A blow torch and hole in the floor should do the trick. :yes:

 

[keepngoal]

A blow torch and hole in the floor should do the trick. :yes:

True, BUT it wouldn't be wife approved. You see, for this to happen it has to be wife friendly.

-keep

 

[GeronimusClone]

I think the licensing thing differs on what kind of motor it has. If it's a straight 5 you only need a regular license in my understanding.

 

[isuno1fan]

From the few people I've known with a tailgating bus it's been a money pit and unreliable.

This...complete waste of money IMO. We considered one when I was in my late 20s and I am so friggin glad we didn't get one.

 

[veens3]

We purchased a bus this summer and decided to go with a short bus. If the vehicle is designed to carry more than 16 people, then you technically have to have a CDL with passenger endorsement. Yes, you can get around this by making it an RV, but as someone pointed out, it has to have several things(toilet, bed, sink, etc) to get it classed as an RV. If you keep it a regular bus(not an RV), the insurance will run about $100/month. If it's an RV, it will cost you around $300/year. Both of these are assuming liability only. You can definitely count on more expenses than planned. We had to buy new tires, new brakes, distributor cap, and have some other maintenance done to make it road worthy. We initially had 5 "investors", and ended up with 2...me and my brother. I would recommend getting several people. Like someone else said, make sure they are committed. Have everyone throw in $200 right away into a maintenance fun.

With all this said, our bus is a blast!!! We modified the seats for perimeter seating, installed new stereo and TV, got some actual field turf for flooring and painted a football field on it, and installed a kegerator in the back with a tapper out the side of the bus. If you want to see it, we park in lot D2. It's white with ISU decals and license plate says BUS4CY.

 

[clones_jer]

Curiously... when installing the portable toliet.. big deal? easy? .. from the installing the 'room' and the unit?

-keep

Think "camping toilet" basically an adult version of a toddler pot.

No one is allowed to use it ever - bus rules. but it is there - and we've had to show it to the cops.

 

[rdubbs]

Good stuff in here