Maybe you should look into transporting something heavy for someone that will help pay for the fuel? For example, I had a big heavy electric motor hauled to LA by someone, who was moving a few things down on the trip in a van.
Can check craigslist, but there is also some specific hauling website.
I have done this quite a bit. Need to be careful though because then you are a commercial vehicle in the eyes of the law. Doing a friend a favor for some gas money is one thing. I would also say as a first trip I would not want to be responsible for timely delivery of someone else's goods.
To echo what Cheese Wagon said on bus maintenance costs. No such thing as cheap on one of these things. Don’t believe me, price a simple fuel filter, and you probably have at least 2, maybe 3.