Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I'm a Wanderlodge newbie, and am looking for some very general
information on the
overall cost of full-timing. I realize this is a difficult kind of
budget to plan for, but a real
rough idea would help get me started.

Say I bought a 1978 diesel pusher for around $25k with 80k miles.
Assuming the bird is
in good mechanic shape, what does basic maintenance on the road
generally run (per
month or 1000 miles or whatever)? What do you generally budget for
unexpected
expenses while out for long stretches? How much do you spend on
propane?

Any information that would help me figure out a rough monthly budget
would be very
much appreciated.

Thanks,

Lucas

It really depends on your coach. If all is in great shape, you will
not have to replace a bunch. Remember that your coach is some 28
years old. That is past prime for many things, (my doctor says
something like that to me)!. I had to contend with a lot of chassis
heater hoses that were rotten. Then there was the (gally) Water
pump.. And how are the coach batteries?
Some have advised that $10,000 be set aside for repairs. On our last
trip, we had to replace our Onan, and the Birds Radiator. Tires are
another matter also.
Where are you going to stay?? KOAs will run $30 a night, but cheaper
if you get a weekly or monthly rate.. Of course, there is 'Camp
WalMart' but dont overstay our welcome. We find that we can go about
3 nights, then it is to a campground, for time to fill water tanks,
dump other tanks and charge up the batteries..
Yes, there are many things to consider..
NOTE: Sign your posts with your Name, Model Coach, and location.
Jack Smith
1973FC31
SoCal


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "lcarlton8"
wrote:
> I'm a Wanderlodge newbie, and am looking for some very general
> information on the
> overall cost of full-timing. I realize this is a difficult kind of
> budget to plan for, but a real
> rough idea would help get me started.
>
> Say I bought a 1978 diesel pusher for around $25k with 80k miles.
> Assuming the bird is
> in good mechanic shape, what does basic maintenance on the road
> generally run (per
> month or 1000 miles or whatever)? What do you generally budget for
> unexpected
> expenses while out for long stretches? How much do you spend on
> propane?
>
> Any information that would help me figure out a rough monthly budget
> would be very
> much appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lucas

I'm very interested in this subject too.

One obvious point: if you can spend up-front for enough solar to do most
or all of your cooking electrically, you can save on propane (plus run
your computers, etc. silently and no propane/gasoline/diesel genset).
If you spend REAL bucks on solar you can do electric hot water heating
too and at that point your long-term energy costs are quite low.

But to get a combination of solar panels and batteries that will last 20
years and support that, you're talking about an up-front investment in
the $7k - $9k range. (Yes, there are SERIOUS quality batteries that can
last 20 years - Surrette 5000 series and the HUP Solar series...)

That said, megasolar has another advantage: quiet running when parked
"funky".

In other words...THE cheapest way to fulltime is to drycamp in places
cops won't (usually) hassle you. Urban industrial areas, rest stops,
small road turnouts, etc. Not for the faint of heart or the unarmed.
If you're allergic to weirdos, avoid.

Jim (no rig yet, had a ClassC years ago and yes, did my share of urban
dry-camping)

lcarlton8 wrote:

> I'm a Wanderlodge newbie, and am looking for some very general
> information on the
> overall cost of full-timing. I realize this is a difficult kind of
> budget to plan for, but a real
> rough idea would help get me started.
>
> Say I bought a 1978 diesel pusher for around $25k with 80k miles.
> Assuming the bird is
> in good mechanic shape, what does basic maintenance on the road
> generally run (per
> month or 1000 miles or whatever)? What do you generally budget for
> unexpected
> expenses while out for long stretches? How much do you spend on
> propane?
>
> Any information that would help me figure out a rough monthly budget
> would be very
> much appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lucas
>
>
>
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