Toyman01 said:
In reply to Kreb :
I'd like to do Burning Man one year. I'm reasonably sure it's not my "thing" but it would be a great place to people watch and hang out. I have another bus that's probably more suited for that.
Sweet bus! I haven't been to Burning Man since it was held on a San Francisco Beach, but of the many burners whom I know, the one I relate to the most ran a first-aid/repair shop on the playa. On one side, he and his pals would be treating stoners who'd walk around on tha Alkali barefoot until their feet looked like a mummies, and on the other side they'd be welding up people's art projects that had fallen apart. Seemed like a good way to go for a non-drug-using adult who only wanted to party three or four hours a day.
When I was doing Formula Hybrud in college, we would rent a 26' Penske box truck every year to haul our junk to NHMS for the competition. Worked great, hauled the car, a small shop's worth of tools, myriad parts that still needed to be assembled onto the car, and even served as the team hotel ('The Hotel Penske.') We cut 2x4s and plywood to run between the tie down rails to use as a sleeping platform. Loading our short and light car, which weighed something like 600 lbs, was super easy with the lift gate. Back wheels on the gate and two guys lifting the front.
Alternatively, my friend's band has had pretty good luck using a series of cheap busses for touring, first a short bus, now an almost full sized one. Not sure what the insurance and registration costs are like on something like that, but its been pretty trouble free and cheap to run over a few cross country trips. Id love to build a skoolie soke day, but SWMBO would probably make me sleep in it.
Toyman01 said:
These work very well. Easy access, tows well, seats the entire team, and with the HC lift, loading the spare engine/lift/pit bike is a breeze. They can be had cheap on Govdeals or similar. This one set me back about $1500.
what do you think of that style short bus? I have seen a couple on gov deals that looked promising
In reply to mad_machine :
The only reason I haven't ripped its heart out for Sanford is it's extremely useful. We've hauled the kids and grandkids all over the state. Hauled the race cars all over a couple of states. It's a great place to take a air conditioned breather at autocrosses and the track. It's become the go to tow beast for just about everything. Want to go to dinner with a group of friends, take the bus. Take a group of people out to the beach, take the bus. Haul a pile of supplies and tables to throw a BBQ or oyster roast, take the bus. It's just so damn useful.
I just ordered a A/C crimp tool so I can fix the air conditioning for this summer, so SanFord is probably going to stay gas powered for at least another year.
Edit: The gas versions around here sell for well under $2K most of the time. I've seen a couple go for under a grand.
Toyman01 said:
In reply to mad_machine :
The only reason I haven't ripped its heart out for Sanford is it's extremely useful. We've hauled the kids and grandkids all over the state. Hauled the race cars all over a couple of states. It's a great place to take a air conditioned breather at autocrosses and the track. It's become the go to tow beast for just about everything. Want to go to dinner with a group of friends, take the bus. Take a group of people out to the beach, take the bus. Haul a pile of supplies and tables to throw a BBQ or oyster roast, take the bus. It's just so damn useful.
I just ordered a A/C crimp tool so I can fix the air conditioning for this summer, so SanFord is probably going to stay gas powered for at least another year.
Edit: The gas versions around here sell for well under $2K most of the time. I've seen a couple go for under a grand.
I've read your build threads on both this bus and SanFord - both have been super fun to follow. Hearing how cheap these are is a bad thing... I've had thoughts for a few years now of how fun it'd be to own an old "party bus" of sorts and use it for random crap with friends. Being able to grab one for $2k or so makes the entire idea more realistic.
How well would it tow a small enclosed (20') trailer? I sold my open for an aluminum enclosed v-nose and carry an E36 in it, doesn't weigh more than what, 6500 lbs.
In reply to Brake_L8 :
It would probably tow fine. I used to pull my 20' enclosed with a E150. The short bus has the advantage of blocking the wind.
Toyman01 said:
In reply to Brake_L8 :
It would probably tow fine. I used to pull my 20' enclosed with a E150. The short bus has the advantage of blocking the wind.
If I buy a short bus, I'm blaming you. But thanks, that's good to know!
