Fulltiming
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09-27-2008, 01:59
Post: #11
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Fulltiming
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09-27-2008, 02:26
Post: #12
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Fulltiming
Leroy,
If you brought cigars and beer you'd never get ride of me :} Kurt Horvath 95 PT 42 10AC --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Leroy Eckert > > I got it and understand the process and reasoning.. I have even done it also. I think it is more than fair to say it costs a minimum of $6 per hour to start the generator. I have read several posts complaining about the cost of a $30-$50 per night at the local KOA, so its fair to say on average, running the genset is more expensive than using someones services for 8 hours. That nightly campground rate can be reduced by 50% with a little study. In any case, running the generator is two to four times more expensive than utilizing a park for the same period..and you don't have to look at the backside of a lot lizard, but I do agree you have to discuss the bus with the new neighbor. I just bring a beer and a cigar. I light the cigar and give them the beer. They don't stay long. lol > There; now the wannabees know the complete story. > > Leroy Eckert > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors > Dahlonega, GA > Roytale Conversion > > --- On Sat, 9/27/08, Kurt Horvath > From: Kurt Horvath > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Fulltiming > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008, 12:37 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Leroy, > > No problem, to each his own. The wife and I lived in a campground our > > first 5 years together A 28' Terry Taurus and then a 34' Avion. We > > traveled for work quite a bit and it was great. Campgrounds are fine > > if you like them, I don't always feel like sharing my life story > > every night with my newest neighbor. This is a unique problem in a > > Bird. Most campers assume, well who knows what they assume but I get > > a bit weary being the center of attention every time I set up in a > > new campground. We travel three ways. First we have a destination, > > point A to point B. When I travel alone this is generally my method > > of operation. I go, I sleep, I eat, I go, I'm trying to get > > somewhere. When I get there I camp at whatever venue I'm at. The > > second is touring. Mom wants to see and do stuff, when out west due > > to the distances and limited time she wants to see 5 states in three > > weeks there isn't a lot of time to go camping, so I'd call that > > touring. Then there is camping, last X-mass we spent 9 days camping 3 > > days in Destin,3 days on Dauphin Is.,3 days in New Orleans. That's > > more like slow motion touring. Several months ago I started a thread > > about Private RV lots. Got lots of feedback, we even purchased a lot > > in Cortez Fla. ½ mile from the beach. It had a boat slip with the lot > > the whole 9 yards. We sold it. Mom wanted to know why we would need a > > bus if we are going to sit on a RV lot. Well she's right we bought a > > bird to tour in. So I guess if I were a camper I would get a huge > > fifth wheeler with tip outs and all that. But the name is Horvath, > > Horvath's are Roma's, Roma's are Gypsies, Gypsies aren't comfortable > > in the same place for long. So if you got to go, go in the best. If > > not buy a house. They're cheaper. > > Kurt Horvath > > 95 PT 42 > > 10AC > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, Leroy Eckert > > > > > > > > This is just my opinion so don't get bent out of shape. > > > You can get a CDL, sell the coach and keep the money, go to work > > for J.B Hunt and see the same thing you are seeing parking at the > > truck stop, rest area or road shoulder and get paid to do it. They > > maintain the truck. Great return on your investment. > > > > > > Leroy Eckert > > > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N mirrors > > > Dahlonega, GA > > > Royale Conversion > > > > > > --- On Fri, 9/26/08, Kurt Horvath > > > From: Kurt Horvath > > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Fulltiming > > > To: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com > > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 9:25 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ryan, > > > > > > > > > > > > This exactly how we have traveled for years. Ocassionaly a > > campgroung > > > > > > but it's rare. > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3. When I travel, I boondock whenever and wherever I feel like it. > > > > > > > Parking lots, rest areas, truck stops, side of the road, you name > > it. > > > > > > > It's more convenient (no reservations, no driving around looking > > for > > > > > > > my camping spot, etc), allows me to live "on the go" and as I > > please > > > > > > > without schedules, and significantly cheaper (every time I've > > stayed > > > > > > > at a campground, it's been $30 - $50 a night. I'd rather burn a > > gallon > > > > > > > of diesel running the genset for electricity as needed). That's > > the > > > > > > > beauty of a Bird. > > > > > > > > > > > > Kurt Horvath > > > > > > 95 PT 42 > > > > > > 10AC > > > > |
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09-27-2008, 17:38
Post: #13
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Fulltiming
Leroy,
So, what do you get to see at a campground? ;-) Now, I've only had my coach a little over a year, but we had an old Dodge Travco before that. When we go places, we typically have a destination in mind and a list of sights along the way. Whether goofy little out of the way shops, big attractions like Rushmore, or anything in between, we still see it. I don't think I'm missing much by skipping the campgrounds. Most of them are not on site at the attractions, anyway. The last time we camped, the wife and I parked just off the shoulder of a two lane freeway, right next to a beautiful river coming down out of Mount Rainier here in Washington. By day we played in the icy cold river, cooked steaks on the grill and collected pretty rocks. By nightfall we were alone in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the noise of the water and the light of the moon. I fell asleep to the cool night air, real live nature sounds and, other than my bride and the occasional forest creature, not another soul in sight: http://www.ryanwright.com/tmp/camp1.jpg The previous time we took the coach out, I stopped in an empty parking lot at the top of a hill overlooking a larger river. We spent the evening watching fish jump and the night again with nothing but the sound of nature: http://www.ryanwright.com/tmp/camp2.jpg Out of the way? Not a bit! I literally pulled right off the road in both situations. You just can't get this at a campground. When I want the "campground experience", parking next to a bunch of other rigs and the hustle and bustle of people, I find the nearest truck stop. ;-) Just my opinion! -Ryan '86 PT-40 8V92 On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 8:13 PM, Leroy Eckert > This is just my opinion so don't get bent out of shape. > You can get a CDL, sell the coach and keep the money, go to work for J.B > Hunt and see the same thing you are seeing parking at the truck stop, rest > area or road shoulder and get paid to do it. They maintain the truck. Great > return on your investment. > > Leroy Eckert > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N mirrors > Dahlonega, GA > Royale Conversion |
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09-27-2008, 17:43
Post: #14
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Fulltiming
On Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 6:59 AM, Leroy Eckert
> I got it and understand the process and reasoning.. I have even done it > also. I think it is more than fair to say it costs a minimum of $6 per hour > to start the generator. For some reason, I had it in my head that my genset draws less than half a gallon per hour at nominal load. More than a gallon per hour on a ~12-15kw diesel genset seems like a lot unless you're under heavy load. Anyone have accurate figures on this? Anyway, when we've camped, I've typically run the genset less than 2 hours total. Once during dinner and to top the batteries off before bed, and again during breakfast. If it's 110 degrees outside and you need A/C the whole time, absolutely you'll burn more fuel than if you'd just plugged into shore power, but since I live in a desert I try to vacation in cooler climates and avoid that sort of thing. -Ryan '86 PT-40 8V92 |
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09-28-2008, 00:44
Post: #15
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Fulltiming
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09-28-2008, 01:01
Post: #16
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Fulltiming
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09-28-2008, 04:21
Post: #17
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Fulltiming
Hi Wallace,
We will be at Laguna Atascosta outside of Brownsville. We start Jan thru April. Was tapping with Mike Bulriss. He noted that we call the KOA and make res. ourselfs. This we will do as soon as I hear back from the Laguna ranger on exactly when she wants us there. We will also go to the Lone Start Rally in Fredricksburg. Bob Lawrence 84 PT36 Branson Mo. (one more month of workcamping here) Totally off the subject here, but tomorrow the park here is having 30 Eagle buses come in for a rally. Should be fun to see them and maybe get a looksee on the insides. > Bob, where around Brownsville will you be workcamping. We will be at KOA on SPI for January? > > > Wallace Craig > 95 WLWB 42 > Azle, Texas > > --- On Fri, 9/26/08, Bob Lawrence > > From: Bob Lawrence > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Fulltiming > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 9:01 PM > > Well Dave, here is our take on this. > We got our bird 4 years ago. Sold our home to live fulltime in it > getting ready to retire last Nov. > We took numerous small trips when work would allow it. This allowed > us to address any issues we might have before we left the Seattle > area. > We have been traveling fulltime since then and are presently > workcamping in Branson, Mo. with the job ending in Nov. > We will head for Texas for wood floors then on to Brownsville for our > next workcamping gig. > Bottom line, wife loves our 35/36 footer, so it has been the right > decision for us. > Would we like a bigger one? I don't know..it would have to be better > than ours. > Bob Lawrence > 84 PT36 > Branson, Mo. > > > Are there any forum members who are fulltiming in a Bird? > > > > If so, what year and model Bird are you fulltiming in? What type > > of "campground" do you primarily stay in? Rv resort, BLM land, > state > > parks, etc. Do you like fulltiming in a Bird. If you were to start > over > > would you still choose the rig you have? > > > > Thanks for the info. > > > > Dave > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > |
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09-28-2008, 04:29
Post: #18
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Fulltiming
Been there, doing that.
The spot in the campground where we are workcamping now on a curve. Every day people are slowing down, stopping and pointing. Our paint job isn't the best, but they still look, sometimes ask questions if I am outside. One time, I had the gen set out, checking oil and a guy moseyed over and said that was a small engine for such a big bus. I told him "Yes, it was, but it put out a lot of power and was very fuel efficient" LOL. He bought it, going back to his wife in the car and telling her this. Made my day!! We are parked with other workcampers, both of whom have a 2006 and a 2008 Allego Bus. We are the ones people look at, not their's. Told the wife, we should charge for a look, would help with the fuel!!LOL Bob Lawrence 84 PT36 Branson, Mo (Bus old, driver older) > > Leroy, > No problem, to each his own. The wife and I lived in a campground our > first 5 years together A 28' Terry Taurus and then a 34' Avion. We > traveled for work quite a bit and it was great. Campgrounds are fine > if you like them, I don't always feel like sharing my life story > every night with my newest neighbor. This is a unique problem in a > Bird. Most campers assume, well who knows what they assume but I get > a bit weary being the center of attention every time I set up in a > new campground. We travel three ways. First we have a destination, > point A to point B. When I travel alone this is generally my method > of operation. I go, I sleep, I eat, I go, I'm trying to get > somewhere. When I get there I camp at whatever venue I'm at. The > second is touring. Mom wants to see and do stuff, when out west due > to the distances and limited time she wants to see 5 states in three > weeks there isn't a lot of time to go camping, so I'd call that > touring. Then there is camping, last X-mass we spent 9 days camping 3 > days in Destin,3 days on Dauphin Is.,3 days in New Orleans. That's > more like slow motion touring. Several months ago I started a thread > about Private RV lots. Got lots of feedback, we even purchased a lot > in Cortez Fla. ½ mile from the beach. It had a boat slip with the lot > the whole 9 yards. We sold it. Mom wanted to know why we would need a > bus if we are going to sit on a RV lot. Well she's right we bought a > bird to tour in. So I guess if I were a camper I would get a huge > fifth wheeler with tip outs and all that. But the name is Horvath, > Horvath's are Roma's, Roma's are Gypsies, Gypsies aren't comfortable > in the same place for long. So if you got to go, go in the best. If > not buy a house. They're cheaper. > Kurt Horvath > 95 PT 42 > 10AC > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Leroy Eckert > > > > > This is just my opinion so don't get bent out of shape. > > You can get a CDL, sell the coach and keep the money, go to work > for J.B Hunt and see the same thing you are seeing parking at the > truck stop, rest area or road shoulder and get paid to do it. They > maintain the truck. Great return on your investment. > > > > Leroy Eckert > > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N mirrors > > Dahlonega, GA > > Royale Conversion > > > > --- On Fri, 9/26/08, Kurt Horvath > > From: Kurt Horvath > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Fulltiming > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 9:25 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ryan, > > > > > > > > This exactly how we have traveled for years. Ocassionaly a > campgroung > > > > but it's rare. > > > > > > > > > 3. When I travel, I boondock whenever and wherever I feel like it. > > > > > Parking lots, rest areas, truck stops, side of the road, you name > it. > > > > > It's more convenient (no reservations, no driving around looking > for > > > > > my camping spot, etc), allows me to live "on the go" and as I > please > > > > > without schedules, and significantly cheaper (every time I've > stayed > > > > > at a campground, it's been $30 - $50 a night. I'd rather burn a > gallon > > > > > of diesel running the genset for electricity as needed). That's > the > > > > > beauty of a Bird. > > > > > > > > Kurt Horvath > > > > 95 PT 42 > > > > 10AC > > > |
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09-28-2008, 07:21
Post: #19
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Fulltiming
Bob:
Small engine; fuel efficient......PRICELESS!!!!! Love our Birds!!! Regards, Hank & Naty 90SP36 heading back to Vegas from Windy City via Southwest Airlines --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Lawrence" > > Been there, doing that. > The spot in the campground where we are workcamping now on a curve. > Every day people are slowing down, stopping and pointing. Our paint > job isn't the best, but they still look, sometimes ask questions if I > am outside. > One time, I had the gen set out, checking oil and a guy moseyed over > and said that was a small engine for such a big bus. I told him "Yes, > it was, but it put out a lot of power and was very fuel efficient" > LOL. He bought it, going back to his wife in the car and telling her > this. Made my day!! > We are parked with other workcampers, both of whom have a 2006 and a > 2008 Allego Bus. We are the ones people look at, not their's. Told > the wife, we should charge for a look, would help with the fuel!!LOL > Bob Lawrence > 84 PT36 > Branson, Mo (Bus old, driver older) > > > > Leroy, > > No problem, to each his own. The wife and I lived in a campground > our > > first 5 years together A 28' Terry Taurus and then a 34' Avion. We > > traveled for work quite a bit and it was great. Campgrounds are > fine > > if you like them, I don't always feel like sharing my life story > > every night with my newest neighbor. This is a unique problem in a > > Bird. Most campers assume, well who knows what they assume but I > get > > a bit weary being the center of attention every time I set up in a > > new campground. We travel three ways. First we have a destination, > > point A to point B. When I travel alone this is generally my method > > of operation. I go, I sleep, I eat, I go, I'm trying to get > > somewhere. When I get there I camp at whatever venue I'm at. The > > second is touring. Mom wants to see and do stuff, when out west due > > to the distances and limited time she wants to see 5 states in > three > > weeks there isn't a lot of time to go camping, so I'd call that > > touring. Then there is camping, last X-mass we spent 9 days camping > 3 > > days in Destin,3 days on Dauphin Is.,3 days in New Orleans. That's > > more like slow motion touring. Several months ago I started a > thread > > about Private RV lots. Got lots of feedback, we even purchased a > lot > > in Cortez Fla. ½ mile from the beach. It had a boat slip with the > lot > > the whole 9 yards. We sold it. Mom wanted to know why we would need > a > > bus if we are going to sit on a RV lot. Well she's right we bought > a > > bird to tour in. So I guess if I were a camper I would get a huge > > fifth wheeler with tip outs and all that. But the name is Horvath, > > Horvath's are Roma's, Roma's are Gypsies, Gypsies aren't > comfortable > > in the same place for long. So if you got to go, go in the best. If > > not buy a house. They're cheaper. > > Kurt Horvath > > 95 PT 42 > > 10AC > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Leroy Eckert > > > > > > > > This is just my opinion so don't get bent out of shape. > > > You can get a CDL, sell the coach and keep the money, go to work > > for J.B Hunt and see the same thing you are seeing parking at the > > truck stop, rest area or road shoulder and get paid to do it. They > > maintain the truck. Great return on your investment. > > > > > > Leroy Eckert > > > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N mirrors > > > Dahlonega, GA > > > Royale Conversion > > > > > > --- On Fri, 9/26/08, Kurt Horvath > > > From: Kurt Horvath > > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Fulltiming > > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 9:25 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ryan, > > > > > > > > > > > > This exactly how we have traveled for years. Ocassionaly a > > campgroung > > > > > > but it's rare. > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3. When I travel, I boondock whenever and wherever I feel like > it. > > > > > > > Parking lots, rest areas, truck stops, side of the road, you > name > > it. > > > > > > > It's more convenient (no reservations, no driving around > looking > > for > > > > > > > my camping spot, etc), allows me to live "on the go" and as I > > please > > > > > > > without schedules, and significantly cheaper (every time I've > > stayed > > > > > > > at a campground, it's been $30 - $50 a night. I'd rather burn a > > gallon > > > > > > > of diesel running the genset for electricity as needed). That's > > the > > > > > > > beauty of a Bird. > > > > > > > > > > > > Kurt Horvath > > > > > > 95 PT 42 > > > > > > 10AC > > > > > > |
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09-29-2008, 18:52
Post: #20
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Fulltiming
We sold our house a year ago, bought our bird from Dick Warren (he
kept it in super shape with many upgrades and has been a great friend). We also stayed around our home area for almost 8 months, finishing up some loose ends and taking short one to two week trips to learn and get ready for full timing. We took one three week trip to Denver from Atlanta which was good experience and also did the RIV 07. We have been on the road since 3/20/08 and have been through 12 states plus Alberta and BC in Canada. We keep pinching ourselves because this life style is so great. After we travel the first year, we'll probably do some volunteering in parks, etc, to stay in some interesting settings and help maintain our public facilities which are always having budget shortfalls. Our bird is fine for two, holds more stuff than we imagined, and will last as long as we care to keep it. It does take regular maintenance, but so does a house. Morey & Margaret Zuber 99LXi41' full timing out of Green Cove Springs, FL (Currently in South Beach, OR) |
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