What started off as a group of six tailgaters has ballooned into weekly crowds of 40 to 60 loyal Raven fans. Bill Crochunis (Founding Father) and his sons Nate and Mike, were among the core group that started this whole thing back when the NFL finally returned to Baltimore. Many in the group attribute the success of their tailgate swarm to a bus they purchased way back in October of 2001.
For over fifteen years, The Muni Lot Browns Backers have been celebrating their great American Tailgate before every Cleveland Browns’ home game. Boasting over 700 members, the organization was the first sanctioned Browns backers organization based on the Cleveland tailgate experience. At the hub of this giant party is the iconic leader of the pack, known as “DUMDOG,” which is an old converted yellow school bus from Connecticut turned into an oversized Dumb & Dumber tailgating machine.
DUMDOG, which is actually the second bus turned out by the group, was originally created between April and October of 2006. It took nearly 6 months of sacrifice to get this beast into tailgating shape. When the idea of adding the helmet on the dog was invented, only one question came to mind: “Can we really do this?” But after several beers, a plan was concocted, and work began on its unique element.
Random, Tailgate Rigs by Charley | Tagged AFC North Bus Cleveland Browns NFL Tailgate Rigs The next time you hear someone complain during a flip cup game about a breezy 5 MPH wind, remind them it could be worse. Here is Exhibit A. By the way, the girl in the orange is our pick for MVP, in a losing effort. Not only was she the only one-flipper, she was trying to block the blizzard winds as well! Kudos to you, girl in orange jacket.
As a general contractor, Tony Schaefer, has built many structures, but yet there is one that stands above them all..."The Mobile Dawg Pound!" That's right, an old yellow school bus he purchased when the Browns were reborn. It replaced a smaller bus used during the Browns' years playing their games on the hallowed grounds of Municipal Stadium.
"I figured a new team, a new bus," Tony said, "Plus the season ticket holders in the Sandusky area grew from around sixteen to more than thirty-four."
The bus is painted brown and orange from top to bottom. Its name, "Mobile Dawg Pound" is scripted over the front windshield, and gracing the hood is a Mack dog wearing a Browns' helmet which squirts water approximately 12 feet!
The Cleveland Browns Bus was an idea concocted back in 2006 by Tim, "The Tech Guru," and Jay, "The Old Man." After a visit to an Ohio State Buckeye's game back in 2006, they knew they had a mission to fulfill which was to design and develop their ultimate tailgating machine!
Two weeks later Jay surprised Tim with the purchase of an old yellow short bus. Without wasting a day they stripped the seats from the bus, added cabinets, installed a stereo, and hooked up a TV. No more having to scoot 6 vehicles down the highway to the stadium every Sunday.
The Bengal Bus, which is owned by Buck, Nick, and Bill, began its service in 1984 as an oridanry 44 passenger yellow school bus in a local service.
The entire inside and outside of the bus was converted to a tasteful orange and black Bengal's decor. The inside dons picnic tables and other seating areas all accessorized to the max. The Bengal Bus even carries autographs inside the bus of current and former Bengal's players. The outside paint job was professionally completed using a masking process at a local body shop. However, finding help to complete this tailgate machine was not a tough task, as it turned into a neighborhood project with cookout and all.