40 FEET WORTH OF TRICKED-OUT RV
Vehicle’s developer has business plans for his really long ride
It’s truly an “advertising vehicle.” You can’t miss Star Frank’s 40foot Fleetwood Pace Arrow motor home when it’s on the road. It’s the one with the 80- and 50-inch video screens promoting various events and businesses in Southern Nevada.
Frank’s Star of Vegas mobile lounge is the first of its kind in Southern Nevada, designed as an attentiongetting mobile billboard as well as a mobile office for businesses or a party vehicle that can park for tailgating, post-prom gatherings or event afterparties.
It can hold more than 30 people at a time and is filled with plush amenities.
“Right now, we’re using it mostly for advertising and promotion,” Frank said. “But eventually, we’re hoping to
Developers hoping for contracts
make it available for rides, for private parties and as a mobile office.”
The Star of Vegas mobile lounge will be on public display at a high-traffic event this week. Frank said the vehicle will be parked near the entrance to the San Gennaro Feast, the valley’s largest Italian food and music festival, which opens Wednesday at the Grand Canyon Shopping Center, just west of the 215 Beltway at Flamingo Road.
The interior of the vehicle is even more impressive than the dazzling exterior.
There are eight television screens ranging from 32 inches to 80, a link to two receivers for DirecTV, video-game consoles for Xbox and PS4, a karaoke setup and a 4,000-watt sound system.
Leather couches abound, and there’s a private VIP room and bar in one of the motor home’s slide-out room extensions.
One of the most surprising features inside the motor home is the staircase. Eventually, Frank hopes to modify the vehicle again to provide a deck on the roof to take the party outside. Another 50-inch video screen is planned for the deck.
The vehicle also is equipped to be a mobile office. It has eight universal serial bus ports and 15 Wi-Fi hotspots. There’s plenty of storage under seats for office equipment.
Frank plans to license the vehicle with the state so that he can transport passengers in it.
While state laws address the use of buses and limousines transporting passengers, it doesn’t consider recreational vehicles. But Frank says he won’t take any chances and get the vehicle properly licensed with a certificate of public convenience and necessity designation.
Frank said he was inspired to develop the one-of-its-kind vehicle because his parents owned a recreational vehicle.
He acquired the vehicle for $30,000, keeping the original Fleetwood eightcylinder gasoline engine and stripped the interior down to its frame.
Since then, he has invested $130,000 in the vehicle, having the work completed by Apache RV Custom and Interior Design of Las Vegas.
He expects he will recoup most of his investment if he gets two good advertising and marketing contracts. What’s next for Frank? After completing the deck, he said he would probably look at acquiring another vehicle and trick it out with more high-tech amenities.
If all goes according to plan, he may have a fleet Star of Vegas vehicles on the road. Contact reporter Richard N. Velotta at rmelotta@remienjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find him on Tnitter @RickVelotta.