Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-16-2014, 04:06 AM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: Cummins Turbodiesel
Rated Cap: 40
Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

Fellow schemers and scoundrels:

Over the summer I will be interning on a minimum-wage stipend at a startup in San Rafael, Marin County, California. Marin is known for its absurdly high housing prices (even for the SF Bay Area). I'm facing options like paying $850/month for a room, and that doesn't include kitchen rights. I'm facing the same price for a small spot at the only trailer park that does long stays.

I am wondering if anyone has suggestions about finding places to park my Skoolie, a converted 28-foot bluebird, in a community that is otherwise out of my price range.

How do you keep out of trouble with the police and locals? How do I find that secluded spot where I can sleep at night and store my bus during the day? Let me know if you have any ideas!

Thanks,
Roger L
Engineer looking for a spot

swingbean is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2014, 10:35 AM   #2
Moderator
 
crazycal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

Good luck trying to stay/sleep in a schoolbus in Marin. That's like trying to hide a purple elephant in a 7/11. Once you are on the radar of the popo, you're not getting off. The area is too small. You might come home and find out your bus was towed. Have you tried to find a room on Airbnb?
__________________
I'm hungry!

You Gotta Let Me Fly
crazycal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2014, 05:59 PM   #3
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

You could also put out an ad on Craigslist asking to "rent" a driveway. My brother has done this in the past with success.
__________________
My build page: Armageddon - The Smell of Airborne Rust
jazty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2014, 12:15 AM   #4
Moderator
 
crazycal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

I've lived in Marin County. I'm just telling it like it is. If you find something in the less populated outskirts, you might find something but still unlikely. It sucks but I know from first hand experience that the beauty of schoolbuses is not appreciated.
__________________
I'm hungry!

You Gotta Let Me Fly
crazycal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2014, 10:31 PM   #5
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Gainesville. Georgia
Posts: 544
Year: 1992
Coachwork: bluebird
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

While we're on the subject of the Bay Area...one of my first stops when we get on the road will be to go visit my daughter and her family (whom I haven't seen for over 7 years or so). Anyone got any input on finding a place to hang for a few days in ALAMEDA? I would imagine, it'll probably be worse than a place in Marin County.
The-Breeze is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2014, 01:08 PM   #6
Moderator
 
crazycal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

Quote:
it'll probably be worse than a place in Marin County.
Not likely.
__________________
I'm hungry!

You Gotta Let Me Fly
crazycal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2014, 01:17 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
Stu & Filo. T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vacaville, Ca
Posts: 1,634
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Crown / Pusher
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

I think the secret is to keep moving every couple days then you don't draw attention, setup in one spot then you get noticed
Stu & Filo. T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2014, 06:02 PM   #8
Bus Geek
 
lornaschinske's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Roswell, NM
Posts: 3,588
Year: 1986
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: 40 ft All American FE
Engine: 8.2LTA Fuel Pincher DD V8
Rated Cap: 89
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

Contact the marinas. Some marinas have RV spots but they don't advertise them. You learn things like this when you grow up living less than 5 miles from the ocean and less than 2.4 miles from an Intracoastal Waterway.
__________________
This post is my opinion. It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Fulltime since 2006
The goal of life is living in agreement with nature. Zeno (335BC-264BC)
https://lorndavi.wordpress.com/blog/
https://i570.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps0340a6ff.jpg
lornaschinske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2014, 11:00 PM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 546
Re: Tips for parking and living in your Skoolie

Fairgrounds often have spaces.
__________________
Don and Mary
dond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2014, 09:05 PM   #10
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 170
Try going north. Marin is a very high priced area and along with it come high priced egos. In a world of nothing but high-end foreign cars, your bus will definitely stand out. However, if you go a little north, say santa rosa, cotati, sebastapol, etc, you will find a lot more understanding people. Its a short and easy bus ride from anywhere near 101 to work.
__________________
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9883 - 7.3L 4x4 Shuttle Bus Toyhauler conversion
headinthetrees is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2015, 03:08 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Orleans/On The Road
Posts: 14
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Mini Bird
Engine: 6.2L Chevrolet Diesel V8
Rated Cap: Lucky 13
tickets!

I travel with various circuses and carnivals and inevitably always end up in the bay area. With a clean driving record and no issues, even in NYC, I was surprised that within a weeks time I had accumulated almost ten parking tickets. All of which have been thrown out (by the court and myself). Skoolies (RVs) are supposed to be parked on private property or a designated place.Many neighborhoods have covenances regulating the storage of RVs. Expect a ticket in the mail from the golden gate bridge as well. And yes Marin is a rather horrible place for anyone not fitting their mold.
__________________
"HONK HONK squeak"
quivahs is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newly Purchased Skoolie - Tips for removing rivets and floor Alexlorraine01 Conversion General Discussions 7 07-01-2016 09:25 PM
Living in a skoolie GoneCamping Conversion General Discussions 3 09-20-2008 09:34 PM
Skoolie Parking near Nashville, TN??? Taillights FaDe Classifieds | Buy, Sell, Swap 6 12-03-2007 10:26 PM
Skoolie Parking near Nashville, TN??? Taillights FaDe On the Road | Travel, Trips, Camp Sites, Tailgates 0 11-28-2007 09:42 PM
Searching for skoolie parking in and around Missouri TXbearX2 Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions 0 01-03-2006 09:45 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.