My Uncle has this bus sitting on his property in Florida... According to him "it isn't licensed but it runs like a top."

I've got a few questions that yall might be able to help with...

a) Can you have something like this for tailgating without paying for one of those spots in front of the Murphy Center?

b) What would it take to license/insure something like this in NC?

c) Would I need a CDL to operate it?

d) Obviously, we would want to paint it red, so would that require stripping the yellow or is there something we can use over it (doesn't have to look professional or anything)?

3/23/2008 12:59:45 PM

3/23/2008 1:00:21 PM

dude, just buy my bus. much better. it's already titled as an rv, perfect tailgating setup inside, has one of the best drivetrains you can get in a bus, very manageable in parking lots, etc. i'm sure a few people here can confirm that it's been driven just like a car and crammed into single parking spaces before. i'm willing to make someone a good deal on it (or take partial/full trades). you'll spend that much getting this one right and in gas to get it to nc.
http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=497143

yes, you will need a passenger endorsement as well as an air brake endorsement at the least. depending on the gvwr, you might also need to step up to a class B license. you also can't have any open containers or anything in the bus.

however, if you have the title converted to an rv all of that goes away. no special license/endorsement, open containers allowed behind the driver area, etc. insurance is also much cheaper. it's not as simple as going to the dmv though. you have to install certain systems like electrical, a water tank, etc. for it to qualify. it has to be inspected. mine had already been converted in sc when i bought it, so i'm not totally sure how strict they are. i know minion has done it.

as for paint, a lot of people use the roll on stuff. farm equipment type paint is also popular as is regular old rattle can spray paint. i highly reccomend browsing around on http://www.skoolie.net , tons of good info there.



[Edited on March 23, 2008 at 3:15 PM. Reason : .]

3/23/2008 3:11:53 PM

thanks for the info... and yours is very intriguing, but I can't imagine we would end up putting $5k into a free bus... Of course, I don't know what it will take.

3/23/2008 6:34:42 PM

ivan's bus is the shit. get it. you wouldn't have to do a thing to it and it's good to go.

3/23/2008 7:34:28 PM

ivan will make you a good deal, im sure

3/23/2008 7:42:47 PM

yea shoulda bought my bus about a month ago.. it'd be alot cheaper than ivan's but for good reason--his already has the title stuff done which is a royal PITA in NC

3/23/2008 7:44:22 PM

yeah, i bet it is, but no windows are kinda brutal...

3/23/2008 8:58:10 PM

fwiw, my price is obo and i'll make someone a good deal. i'm not in any huge bind to sell it, but it is just taking up space since i bought something else to replace it.

as for what you'd spend making that one suitable, you could probably do it for less if you got deals on stuff and did everything yourself. however, you've also got to consider what your time is worth. what's it going to take to make it streetable too? if it's been sitting how are the tires, brakes, etc.? even after you do that, you're still left with a pretty old bus and a weak gas v8. not much of an issue for cruising around town, but if you ever plan to travel anywhere that thing is going to suck ass in top speed, power, and fuel mileage.

why do you think no windows is a big problem? if you're talking about from heat, it's not any worse than the greenhouse effect of that many windows. it's also already got a roof mounted a/c unit and there's an almost new generator to run it (needs the fuel lines cleaned out from lack of use though) or it will run off any standard 120v outlet. it is a little annoying if you're a passenger and want to look out, but there's still a huge winshield and the side/rear doors. if it was that big of a deal, it's easy/cheap enough to cut in rv style windows on the sides.

anyway, i guess it sounds like i'm trying to talk you into mine, but i'm really not. just some things to think about, free isn't always as nice as it sounds. i think you'd get the same opinion from anyone that knows anything about buses or medium duty trucks in general.

3/23/2008 9:35:59 PM

believe me, i know free isn't always good, especially with my uncle's toys

i'm gonna get some more detail from him tomorrow

3/23/2008 10:44:30 PM