OT - Bus Advice

**CYdTracked** · 07-16-2007, 12:03 PM

I think you have to prove it seats 15 or less in order to register it as an RV. Also it can't have airbrakes else you'll have to get a special endorsement for that. I know when we were looking for an RV someone told me if we went the bus route you'd have to tear out the permanent seating so you didn't have to get a special liscense to drive it. We wound up buying a Class C motorhome so our drivers liscense covers that.

**clones_jer** · 07-16-2007, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by travman23

I think you have to prove it seats 15 or less in order to register it as an RV. Also it can't have airbrakes else you'll have to get a special endorsement for that. I know when we were looking for an RV someone told me if we went the bus route you'd have to tear out the permanent seating so you didn't have to get a special liscense to drive it. We wound up buying a Class C motorhome so our drivers liscense covers that.

There is a set number of occupants for any RV - 23??? I'm not sure exactly but that sounds right.

The DOT will claim an inspection will take place - but I have yet to hear of that actually happening on ours or the two others I know of. Ours was registered as an RV first ... then we actually made the improvements to get it there.

**isufbcurt** · 07-16-2007, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by ornryactor

Pics or it doesn't exist!

But seriously, I am interested in what that thing looks like. I can't really imagine it.

go here New Page 1 go down a little bit and u will see a pic.

Also Travman23 mine has air brakes and is still a registered RV.

**justincl** · 07-16-2007, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by travman23

I think you have to prove it seats 15 or less in order to register it as an RV. Also it can't have airbrakes else you'll have to get a special endorsement for that. I know when we were looking for an RV someone told me if we went the bus route you'd have to tear out the permanent seating so you didn't have to get a special liscense to drive it. We wound up buying a Class C motorhome so our drivers liscense covers that.

We were planning on tearing out the seats so we should be OK. I just spoke to someone else who had their bus registered as an RV and said the process was not too bad.

I think the DOT reserves the right to inspect any straight truck, which would probably for the bus frame, annually.

**CYdTracked** · 07-16-2007, 01:23 PM

I don't claim to be an expert on this but I have talked with people that bought busses for tailgating and that's basically what they did to get it to classify as an RV is to tear out the seats. You can put couches and stuff in there and that is not considered permanent seating. Apparently as long as you take out enough of the bench seats so that the permanent seating is no more than 15 you are fine.

And Curt, are you sure you are driving that legally with the air brakes? You just driving it with a regular driver's liscense or CDL or some other kind of endorsement? I'm pretty sure you have to have some form of license to drive a vehicle with air brakes. The Iowa DMV site sucks so I couldn't find anything other than this: Applying for a New Iowa Commercial Drivers License - DMV.ORG which mentions something about air brakes under the CDL page.

**isufbcurt** · 07-16-2007, 01:29 PM

Nope I am good Travis. Before I bought it I talked to others (about 30 racers) i race against who have even bigger outfits than i do (38' truck and 40' trailer both with air brakes) and they were all registered as RV's and needed no endorsements. As long as they had a restroom and we didn't comercialize (put sponsor names) on the outside it would remain an RV.