Colorado Musings

[rv_safetyman]

I have lived in Colorado all of my almost 65 years.  It is a good state.  We are fortunate to live in the foothills at 7500 feet with lots elk wandering through the yard. 

But not all is great.  First of all, we have flown home twice in the last 6 months, only to be inundated by a ton of snow.  In December we flew home from Arcadia to have Christmas with the family before returning to Busin' 2007.  That time we got 40 inches of snow and almost didn't get back, because they closed the airport for a few days.  This week, we flew home from Ft. Lauderdale (went on a cruise to Panama Canal that Pat earned) and got hit by 25 inches of snow. 

This last snow really messed us up.  It delayed our departure for Memphis for the FMCA event.  We are currently in OK and will be able to make up the lost time.

Now for my next bitch.  The front-range counties around Denver require an emission test for all vehicles.  That includes the bus.   It is a 20% opacity test that must be performed on a dyno.  That means I had wait out the snow,  make an 80 mile round trip and had to pay $112 for the test.  What a pain!!  The Series 60 passed with flying colors.

Because of the emission test requirement, I have thought about changing the location of registration of the bus.  We could license the bus in Florida since we have a title to a timeshare or we could license it in Montana like a lot of folks do (via a simple LLC).

Well, our local TV station just did a big two part story on licensing RVs in Montana.  It is interesting reading.  I was amazed at the cost of licensing RVs in Colorado.  That is one good thing with bus conversions, since they only tax you, and charge you license fees, based on the generally low purchase price of the shell.  My cost was $120 for the year.   More than fair.

If you read closely, they are asking folk to rat-out their neighbors.  Here are the links to the two stories:

http://www.9news.com/news/investigative/article.aspx?storyid=68847

http://www.9news.com/news/investigative/article.aspx?storyid=68912

Well, with these bitches out of the way, I would not change where I live, but everyplace you live has some negatives

Jim

[DebDav]

I am very envious.  Born in Denver, lived in Littleton until 1977 then Breckenridge until 1982 - then SE Texas.  What I wouldn't give for some snow!  We have pictures of our house south of Houston with a sloppy wet dusting of "snow" on Christmas day 2005.

on edit:  Yes, I earned my Eagle Scout badge in the front range, often in the snow.  I was on the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol searching the mountains year around.

I have lived it.  I think that I will live with the memories and follow eternal springtime as we begin our fulltime travelling.

As others have so simply stated -  GO BUSSING!

[skihor]

I read somewhere that Two- Stroke motors were exempt from the emissions test in Co.
Does anyone know if this appies to DD motors??

Don & Sheila

[rv_safetyman]

Don, two strokes are not exempt.  When my bus had the 6V92, I had to have it tested. They will pass the test if they are in good condition.  Since yours seems to be over-fueled, it might not pass.

Recall, that the requirement is only for the front range counties.  If your bus is licensed outside that area (Park county for example) you will not need to have the test.  When your license renewal shows up, it will tell you if you need to have the d%^$ test.

Colorado has "classic" plates for cars that exempts your vehicle if it is 25 years old.  There are no restrictions on driving like some states.  I did a quick check and it does not appear to apply to bus/motorhomes.  It has been a while since I checked, but I think they had a classic semi-truck license, but nothing for bus/motorhome.  I have a few years to go, but I will check into an exemption license.

Now for the soap box:  The Denver area has done studies that suggest the emission testing is no longer improving the air.  They have a proposal to go from the dyno test (gas and diesel) to spot check stations.  However, the company that has contracts for the gas (car) testing seems to have a strong lobby with the legislatures.  Maybe in a few years the whole program will go away.  The huge balance of newer vehicles with better emission systems has made the testing ineffective.  End of soap box



Jim

[Len Silva]

Outside of the 6% sales tax on the original purchase, (not sure what you status would for importing your bus into Florida) and a $100.00 "new wheels" fee, my tags are about $40.00 per year.

Len

[edvanland]

I live in Arizona and my bus is a 1973 MCI 7.  My licenses plates are $18.50 per year plus the $25.00 personalised plate for a total of $43.50.  My licenses plate is AT HOME.
ED
MCI 7

[Ncbob]

Hi Jim,  FWIW....why do all the newer Prevost owners register their buses in Montana?  There must be a reason!

I made it a particular point this winter to watch all the Prevost's which passed through the RV Park where we dropped anchor and not one...not one was registered other than Montana. Hmmmmm.  food for thought?

NCbob

[edvanland]

Because if you have a LLC there then the LLC owns the vehicle and they give you permission to use it.  The licensing fees are a lot cheaper.
ED
MCI 7

[Dallas]

If your bus is over a certain age in North Dakota, (26, I think), you can get "Pioneer" plates for it.

The cost is $57 for the plate,
Sales tax on the purchase, or the value they look up in a book,
Title and registration fee (about $30).

The nice thing about the pioneer plate is that it NEVER expires. They just send you a new registration each year.
No limits on mileage or use, and it doesn't even have to be converted at the time.

Dallas

[belfert]

Minnesota bases motorhome registration fees on weight no matter how old.  I pay $277 a year right now.  There is a collector plate for vehicles 20 or 25 years old or older that costs a small fee for lifetime registration.  The State DMV website says they are not for RVs, but the actual law doesn't read that way and Craig Shepard eventually got one for his bus.

Some states are less than Minnesota and some are more.  We are sorta in the middle for RV registration fees it seems.  At least we don't pay personal property taxes on RVs like some states.   

[skipn]

I think it is a hoot When Grandpa was into RV Summers here in Montana and winters in Hemit Ca.
he used to get his rig license out of Oregon because it was cheaper. All he had to do is rent a PO box
and he could lic. Oregon.


My how things change. You know I feel kind of loney on the Frapper as only one of two showing up.
It would be nice if some more Montana people would show their faces I'm shure Prevost owner are welcome


Skip

[Hartley]

Florida is about $48 a year.

But I am moving to Tennessee soon and gues they may be about the same?

I am not BI-Lingual and can't unnerstand what the "locals" are saying anymore...

[Sam 4106]

Hi NCbob,
The big advantage of registering a Prevost in Montana or Oregon is that there isn't a sales tax in either state. As an examle, in Minnesota with sales tax rate of 6.5%, thats $65,000 savings on a million dollar new Prevost by registering in Montana. I doubt you can buy a new Prevost for a million, but you get the idea.
Thanks, Sam 4106

[buswarrior]

Ontario

$74 a year, same as the automobiles.

personal vehicle under 19 years needs emissions test.

2 stroke 6V71's at big transit pass the commercial opacity test for their year of manufacture by a country mile.

As long as it isn't blowing smoke, it'll pass.

happy coaching!
buswarrior