Da Fanbulance! Chicago Bears Done Right

Take a look at Da Fanbulance.  This is a nice ambulance owned by Chris Brynolf, Dan Brynolf, Zack Brynolf and the late Bob Brynolf.

This crew picked up Da Fanbulance in the fall of 2008 on Ebay from a small fire department / EMS team in Covington, Ohio.  It is a 1989 Ford E350 with about 44,000 original miles on the clock.

 

How long did the restoration take?

We were fortunate that this ambulance had blue interior and blue striping on the outside.   We took the ambulance to one of the last games in 2008 to make sure we could get into our tailgate lot with it.   The following summer we added the decals, grill and other bears décor.   The following year we added the TV and generator.  The grill is from partykinggrills.com.   The decals were purchased custom made on Ebay.

  

How many people do you have tailgate with you?

There is always four of us who go but legally we can take 7 (seatbelts for 7).   2 up front and 5 in the back.   However we always have friends and friends of friends stop by to tailgate.

  

What are the features of the rig?

The best part about the ambulance other than being a fun conversational piece, is all the storage room and room inside to sit.  Obviously the TV comes in handy for the afternoon and evening games so we can watch the other games while tailgating.   Always the center of attention then.   All the sirens and lights work. 

  

What is your favorite feature?

The trailer hitch grill.

  

What kind of plans do you have for the future?

Would like to put in a good sound system for external music.

How long have you been tailgating?

We have had season tickets for the Chicago Bears since 2004.

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FanMug! A Helmet In Your Hand

The FanMug is a replica helmet that is also a coozie or mug for your drink.  It will comfortably hold bottles and cans, as well as poured liquids. It keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot.

The FanMug was created by long-time sportscaster Doug Lessells in Columbus, Ohio.  He did a great job of nailing the look of a helmet, down to the facemask clips and screws.  It also separates into two pieces, so that the inner cup can be cleaned in the dishwasher (top rack safe).  No worries, as this is a BPA Free product.  The inner cup is also microwave safe.

As mentioned above, the FanMug is pretty versatile. When not in season, you can use it as a mug or desk caddy / pen holder at work!

Currently, you can find the FanMug in 15 NFL teams, 19 NCAA teams, and will set you back $11.99 apiece, or you can buy a 4-pack for $39.99.

  

  

  

Getting the FanMug in hand, it is very comfortable to hold.  I've tried many different grips on it; all being very comfortable.  The big thing is, though, it keeps your hand away from any hot or cold beverage that it is holding.

The FanMug will definately get you some looks at the game or in the office.  

Check out more about the FanMug at their website: http://www.fanmug.com/
Like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fanmug

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TUNZ Rocks the Lot. Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

TUNZ is a new rechargable bluetooth speaker system from TYLT.  Coming in black, you can modify it with the included bands (see more below).

Input Voltage: 5V 0.5 Amp (Micro USB)
Output Charging Current: 4.75V - 5.25V - 1 Amp
Lithium Ion Battery: 2,800 mAh
Battery Charge Time: 6-7 Hours
Bluetooth: Version 3.0 
Output:80dB Max Output
Connectivity: 3.5mm Input and output jack / Bluetooth
Touch Controls: Volume, Play, Pause, Answer & End Calls
Weight: 12.9 oz.

The Tunz comes with a small carrying bag, 3 different color accent bands (red, blue and black) that help with vibration, a USB cable for charging, and a 3.5mm cord for non-bluetooth devices.

 

One of the great features is a built in NFC chip.  This allows you (if your device is NFC enabled) to touch your phone to the speaker, and have a pre-defined set of actions happen.  For instance, I configured it to turn on bluetooth, pair with the speaker, disable my ringer, and start Pandora.  Pretty slick!

Another nice feature about the TUNZ is that you can actually plug your phone in to it to charge it.  Granted, this isn't going to be the same as plugging into the wall, but when you need some extra juice to keep the party rockin', it comes in very handy.

Having the bluetooth worked well at the tailgates.  You can turn the speaker to full blast, then control the volume with your phone.  You can interact with your phone as you would normally do.  If you get worried about the battery in the unit dying, you can press the bluetooth button and the phone button at the same time, and a nice voice comes on and tells you how much battery you have left.

The size of this speaker is also remarkable.  As you can see from the picture, the speaker itself is the size of a standard smart phone (Motorola Moto X).  Big sound from such a compact unit!  Coming in at 12.9 ounces, the weight isn't too terrible.  The unit feels very well constructed in hand.

After using the TUNZ speaker for a while, I'm very pleased with it.  In our tailgating, the person working the grill can be away from the action, but having a speaker next to it makes the job a bit more enjoyable.  And knowing that you can just take the speaker wherever you need to go is a bonus.  This is certainly a great addition to any tailgate!  It gets plenty loud to keep the mood up, and offers so much more over a standard speaker.

For more information about the TUNZ rechargable bluetooth speaker, they can be found at:
Web: www.tylt.com
Twitter: twitter.com/tyltproducts
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tyltproducts

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Kirk Cousins in a Meijer's Tailgating Commercial

Kirk Cousins, quarterback at Michigan State and then Washington Redskins, has a cameo in the latest Meijer tailgating commercial, featuring the Chicago Bears vs the Detroit Lions.  Check it out:

SmackHat: A Helmet For Your Ride

When heading to the tailgating lot, the SmackHat is one of the greatest ways to show your team pride on your ride.  We've seen flags and magnets, which are a good entry level.  We've seen the newer products like WindowFanz that are getting to the next level.

But the SmackHat is a HELMET that attaches to your car with rubberized magnets to stay in place while going down the road.

The SmackHat is a youth sized helmet with real team colors and authentic logos on it.  It also comes with a youth size football jersey that makes a great storage bag.

The magnets do a great job of holding the SmackHat in place while going down the road.  Our test vehicle is about as un-aerodynamic as they come, which would put a bit more strain on the magnets than normal, yet we topped out at 76 MPH at one point, and upon arrival, the SmackHat had not moved an inch!

 

We tend to get a lot of traffic past our tailgate, and almost everyone made comment about how cool it was to see a helmet mounted on a car.  It is simply not something you see every day!  Many wanted to see that it was really just magnets holding it on.  Although it requires a stiff yank, you can get the SmackHat off and back on with ease.

There was no noticable road noise from the SmackHat, which was nice.  Some times flags can get a bit loud when you get to higher speeds.

When sitting out in the open like it does, you are bound to smash some bugs.  Cleaning the SmackHat is as simple as mild soap and a microfiber cloth. 

We are very pleased with the SmackHat.  This is something that is certainly raising your tailgating to the next level.  Right now the SmackHat sells for $110. Check them out at http://www.smackhat.com now!
You can also follow them on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/smackhat
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SmackHat

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JamCooler Keeps The Party Rockin'

Check out the JamCooler.  This is a perfect party on the go.  Holding up to 100 cans of beverage, this bad boy will crank out tunes with 600 watts of power to the JBL speakers.  Everything in it is marine grade, so no worries of shorting anything out.

The JamCooler has a battery life of 10 hours, provided by two deep cycle batteries.  You can charge the batteries with any standard car battery charger, which, with 10 hours of life, isn't a big deal.

To get the tunes, you can use any Bluetooth audio device (iPhone, iPod, Android phone, etc), or plug into the standard 3.5mm jack.

This cooler is Made in the USA via Orlando, FL and Chicago, IL.  Custom designs are also available.

Here's how to contact JamCooler for more information:
Web: http://jamcooler.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejamcooler
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamCooler

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Rutgers Jitney Fleet

Here are two great vehicles that hit it hard at Rutgers.   These sweet rigs are owned by Ken Forberger, Mike Green, Graig Fergusson, Justin Tellone, and Andre Tanskey.  Here's what they had to say:

  

Ken says: We have a Jitney Fleet of 2 tailgate vehicles.  The bus handles all of the people, and the support truck handles all of our equipment.  My family basically started tailgating at Rutgers more than 40 years ago before I was born.  I grew up attending all of the Rutgers Football, Men's & Women's Basketball games with my family.  

  

While attending Rutgers, I met Mike Green.  He was the Drum Captain of the Marching Band, and I was the Drum Major of the Marching Scarlet Knights: The Pride of New Jersey.  I had known Justin Tellone from HS, and when he started at Rutgers, we got back together.  I met Graig through Mike, and they were both engineering students at RU, and ended up working together for the same company.  At that company, Andrew Tanskey, was a member of the staff, and Graig and Mike brought him to our tailgate crew.  Andrew's father-in-law has a long history supporting Rutgers, and he was no stranger to Rutgers, but we were excited Andrew decided to officially join the Jitney Crew.  

  

 

You can find at at every Rutgers Football game this fall in the Scarlet Lot, which is directly attached to the west side of High Point Solutions Stadium.  The Jitney also makes its way to all Men's and Women's Basketball games.

Jitney Fleet Owners Group: (We refer to ourselves as the "Rutgers Jitney Motorcoach Builders of America")

   

   

Rutgers Jitney - Vehicle 1

Purchased: 02/26/2011 for $3400

Work Began: 06/01/2011

Work Complete: 08/31/2012 for $10,000

Vehicle Information: 1997 Champion CM2 - Coach Built on a GM P-30 Rolling Chassis with the 5.7L V8.

Atlantic City Jitney Association:  AC has had the same Jitney body design going back to the 50s, and this was the last of that kind when they switched over to natural gas.  No more of these exist, and it is a uniquely NJ item, so we had to use it as the base for our truck.  It's instantly recognized everywhere it goes.

Work Completed: (All work completed by us.  100%)

-Interior completely gutted and painted red, black, and white (Handi-Cap Lift removed)

-Custom built benches with full storage underneath were added

-Kegorator was installed with tap

-Cell phone charging station with caddy added to the shevling around kegorator

-Vehicle sound system was upgraded to ipod/iphone, and bluetooth capabiilty with navigation

-Entire front dash, floor, and steps were completely modified and painted black

-Invertor installed allowing us to use alternator, generator, or even house power.

-New brakes, rotors, ball joints

-Exterior was completely taken down as well.  We removed the windows in order to paint the vehicle.  We used a friend's shop in the area in order to paint the vehicle making a paint booth out of plastic sheets.  Windows and trim were painted black.  Bus was changed from sky blue to red and black,

-Custom block R out of aircraft grade aluminum was added to the front grille.

-Replaced all wheel well trim, body trim, and custom battery door.

-Finishing touches were added in the form of decals

2012 Recognition

-2012 Bold Tailgate Award Winner for Best Vehicle by the Roosevelts

-2012 Miller Lite Tailgater of the Game - Homecoming Game

-2012 Miller Lite Tailgater of the Year Participant

   

   

   

Rutgers Jitney: Special Operations - Tailgate Division Truck - Vehicle 2

Purchased: 03/15/2013 - $3400

Work Began: 03/16/2013

Work Complete: 04/26/2013 - $1500

Vehicle Information:  2003 Chevy Express 3500 - Utility Body - 6.0L Chevy V8

George Young & Co:  We were lucky enough to find this vehicle's utility body was already the right shade of red, and the cab just a black.  So, we decided to purchase it and go with a SWAT theme.  We debuted this on 04/27/2013 at the Rutgers Spring Football Game.

Work Completed:

-Sand and use bed-liner on all of the cabinet interiors, main body interior diamond plate, and various shelving. 

-2 new front tires, brakes, rotors, ball joints, all fluids changed

-Decal the exterior of the truck

Read more about the Rutgers Jitney Fleet on social media and articles:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rutgers.jitney

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Rutgers_Jitney

Rutgers University Article:  A Jitney Re-Done Rutgers Style

Roosevelts Bold Tailgate Award:  http://www.rsvlts.com/2012/12/09/2012-bold-tailgate-award-winners/

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The ATM: Ames Tailgate Machine

Check out the The ATM: Ames Tailgate Machine owned by Aaron Nelson. Here's his story:

I started to attend Iowa State Cyclones games in Ames, Iowa starting in 2007.  The first year was just going up with some buddies just to sit in the parking lot and tailgate.  In 2008, I attended my first ISU game and I was hooked after that.  In 2009, I became a season ticket holder and went to every game.  Everything was great until one game day, after an ISU win against Baylor, someone borrowed with the intent of not returning our cooler that was in the back of my buddy’s truck.  On the way home, I decided that I would look to find vehicle that would stop this from happening.  I looked at buses, RV’s, and box trucks that would be able to be locked with all of our gear inside.  Then I saw someone driving around with a used ambulance and that is when I knew I found what I was looking for.  After a few years of saving (and a lot of jokes from my buddies saying that I was never going to pull the trigger on buying an ambulance), I finally had enough to pursue my idea. 

After doing some searching over 9 Mid-West states, I was able to find this gem sitting in Tripp, SD.   On February 29th, 2013, the Ames Tailgate Machine (or ATM for short) was purchased and it has been fun ever since.  The ATM is a 1992 E350 Ambulance that was still in service the day that I purchased it. Once purchased, there were a few mechanical updates that had to be made. For the 2012 season, I added ISU stickers from Skin-It to get me through the year as I also had a purchase the necessary equipment to make any tailgate fun.  It is now equipped with a 32” LED TV, mobile satellite, four 7” marine speakers mounted to the back doors (thanks to Ford and Garland in Des Moines), stereo receiver, two 25 ft tall flag poles, portable grill, 10x10 ft tent, Coors Light LED sign, and the best part, a stretcher with an IV pole to hang the Cy-V from (this is a bad full of adult beverage goodness that I call Cy-Juice).  I also have a rotating food menu so that we are not eating the same thing twice in a given football year.  The favorite food day so far is when we make the ATM sandwich.  The ATM sandwich is a fried tenderloin, topped with smoked pork, topped with smoked ham, queso cheese, and BBQ sauce with a side of bacon wrapped tator-tots. 

2012 was a great first season for the ATM but the 2013 with be even better.  Over the summer, I had purchased an ISU designed wrap to cover up the old blue and gray stripes from its past with cardinal and gold colors.  I have replaced the cheaper Skin-It stickers with the new vinyl wrap. I have installed astro-turf carpet in the back of the ambulance.  I have a few other ideas in mind (new interior, bigger tv, etcc.) but those will have to be looked at next off season.  On any given game day, there will be anywhere from 3 to 30 people attending a tailgate so if you are in Ames on game day, stop by and visit us in the Vet Med parking lot and you might just get a custom ATM koozie.  You can also like the Ames Tailgate Machine on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AmesTailgateMachine) to view past tailgating photos and know more about future events. 

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Real Steel Tailgaters

Real Steel Tailgaters was officially born on January 3, 2012 to a spirited group of dedicated football fans! We had tailgated together for years at different spots and finally decided to start our own, showing off our true Texans’ spirit. Combining our love of a good time with a wide range of individual strengths provided us with a strong, united group. We all have the same vision in mind: keep it ‘REAL’ by providing a fun, exciting atmosphere that supports our Texans.

We all pulled our money together and bought "The Beast" as we lovingly call her off ebay, and then she was on her way to Texas. She was originally a police SWAT truck from Lancaster County, PA, which tied in perfectly to our slogan; "Stop Working And Tailgate".  We decided on the name ‘Real Steel Tailgaters’ as it represented the vehicle, the strength behind our tailgate and our team heritage of Deep Steel Blue.

Complete restoration took about five months start to finish.  Everyone on the team pitched in somehow whether it was building the keg boxes or giving her a good bath. We had no "off season" that year as each day brought about a new idea or plan.  We all had small heart attacks the night before her "debut" when she wouldn't start, but being the "beast" that she is, she pulled through!

  

 

We made sure all her "bells and whistles" still worked, maintaining the integrity of her roots and are activated after each Texans score. 

 

Each week our core group of ten members prepares appetizers, sides, sweets and a main meal that goes along with the visiting team theme for over 100 guests. We serve up all the deliciousness in the Yellow Lot of Reliant Stadium. Our themes have included Shrimp Boils for Dolphins, Brats for Packers and Buffalo Wings for well, Buffalo! We would write Barbecue for Kansas City, but this is Texas and we believe OURS is the best.  One of our favorite meal to prepare is clearly Thanksgiving.  We fry up and bake about ten turkeys and serve them with all the traditional Thanksgiving trimmings, it is delicious!

   

 Our favorite features involve beer, of course!  We have two taps that are plumbed into The Beast herself, you can walk right up and tap yourself a cold one.  The taps are sustained in a keg box that doesn’t require direct ice but pours a perfectly cold brew.  We also have a "Quad Bong"; a four spout beer bong that brings a lot of attention whenever a race begins. Real Steel also sports a specially made beer bong/flip cup table and custom washer set.

  

  

Along with beer, Real Steel also provides a "Battle Red Bloody Mary" bar served with the world famous Benny's Bloody Mary Beef Straw in the mornings, over 500 "Jell-O Swat Shots" and delicious sangria for the afternoons.

  

A built in Generator powers two 55" TV's, one that pulls out of a side compartment and another that free stands for folks who'd rather tailgate outside and still see the game and they can under tents with shade, plenty of shade and general party atmosphere.

 

Our first season was a huge success and Real Steel immediately became one of the premier places to come hang out, meet new people and enjoy the game day experience. The crowds that come are also extremely generous helping us to give back to the community.  Last year during our rookie season, we held a food drive for the Houston Food Bank  during Thanksgiving and then a Toy Drive  during Christmas for Toys for Tots.  Our Season of Giving carried over to begin  the 2013 year with a "Pencils and Play-Books" Back to School Supply Drive. We will also be hosting a benefit this year during the NFL's "Salute to Service" dedicated to the four Houston Firefighters that were tragically killed in the line of duty and the thirteen others that were injured.

Our ultimate future goal would be to tailgate at a Superbowl that the Texans are WINNING! Hey, you gotta believe in your team, right?  

Core Members: left to right Kimmy & Larry Uren, Mike & Sheri Maston, Anthony Alexander, Brandon Vorse, Jana & Wade Richards, Ashley & Denise Ashna

Everyone is welcome to stop by Real Steel and support our Houston Texans, we hope to see you soon!

You can see more at: www.realsteeltailgaters.com
They also have a facebook page: www.facebook.com/realsteeltailgaters

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37 Strange College Mascots

Here's a video showing strange college mascots