Cost of ownership

[jwasnewski]

-Yes sir I understand. I have been there. In my case the wife was
the driving force to buy a motor home. She didn't think I would like
it---for once she was wrong-----LOL do not wake her up.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40
Niceville, FL



-- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "gcyeaw" wrote:
>
> Leroy,
> I have a lot of work to do before I can get the DW to weigh in on
> the plan. Oh,I could probably go ahead and do it on my own, but
then
> I would become a 'full timer", alone, with half my income.
>
> You know the old expression about divorce.
> When you are married you get up in the morning, leave the house
> and kiss your wife good by.
> When you get divorced, you get up in the morning, leave your
wife
> and kiss your house good by!
>
> Gardner
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Well Gardner:
> >
> > Come on man, jump on in with the rest of us. You will be happy
you
> purchased the ol school bus. Just look for the best physical
> specimen before you buy.
> >
> > Side note----the wife wanted a Prevost. She said the Bluebird
> looked like a school bus. I said, you have traveled many a mile
in
> a school bus and you are still here. Now---I cannot get her out of
> the thing.
> >
> > You will love a Bird. It is a lifestyle.
> >
> > Leroy Eckert
> > 1990 WB-40
> > Niceville, FL
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: gcyeaw
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 7:47 PM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> >
> >
> > Mike, Leroy, I can't disagree that if all I wanted was an RV,
> then
> > buying a new or slightly used motorhome would be the way to go.
> When
> > I saw an older Bluebird, it just looked so great. It was a true
> > classic with character and that is the attraction. It certainly
> > isn't the wisest investment if all you look at is the dollars.
> There
> > has to be a return in the enjoyment and satisfaction of caring
> for
> > and reviving such a machine.
> >
> > The reason I ask questions is to make sure I am going in with
my
> > eyes wide open. The more I learn the better I will be able to
> make a
> > wise choice when purchasing. And along the way I am meeting new
> > poeple on the forum, so it's already showing some reward.
> >
> > Gardner
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Mike:
> > >
> > > I agree with you. When we purchased our bird we planned for
> > deferred maintenance. I guess if we knew the costs of owning
> these
> > beautiful machines up front we could become consultants and
> charge
> > $200.00/hr. Then we could be sued for misrepresentation. It's a
> > crazy world.
> > >
> > > Leroy Eckert
> > > 1990 WB-40
> > > Niceville, FL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Mike Hohnstein
> > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 12:49 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> > >
> > >
> > > Uh, you sure a new class C wouldn't be a better choice?
Trying
> > to see the future with an antique vehicle is very irrational.
> > > MH
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: gcyeaw
> > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 11:54 AM
> > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> > >
> > > James,
> > > Thanks for your data. There seems to be some controversy over
> > the
> > > level 2 maintenance cost, but based on an average speed of
say
> > 30
> > > mph, that's 60,000 miles in 2000 hours. So if it's $800 or
> $1200
> > > it's not much different spread out over that mileage/time.
Not
> > > knowing the cost of adding a swing radiator, it would seem to
> > pay
> > > for itself on the first broken belt or hose. I imagine that
> > removing
> > > the dog house and putting down a protective runner before
> > heading in
> > > for service might also save some labor and probably please
the
> > > service tech as well.
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Gardner, here are some actual maintence costs for the model
> > > of 'Bird
> > > > that you are looking for.
> > > >
> > > > If you take the 'Bird to an authorized Cat Center for oil
> and
> > > filter
> > > > changes it will cost $280.00 -- This will include all of
> your
> > oil
> > > > and fuel filters, a complete chassie lube and Cat brand
> motor
> > > oil.
> > > > Of course they do all the work, you watch them and start
the
> > bus
> > > > when needed.
> > > >
> > > > Here are the parts cost:
> > > >
> > > > 16 Qts. 15/40 Cat -- $34.40
> > > >
> > > > 2 - 1R-0713 -------- $11.20
> > > >
> > > > 1 - 1P-0808 -------- $2.46
> > > >
> > > > 1 - 1R-0750 -------- $11.88
> > > >
> > > > 1 - 8N9803 --------- $20.10
> > > >
> > > > Total parts cost is $80.04 -- so, you can save two hundered
> > bucks
> > > > here if you do it yourself. This is a once a year task for
> > most
> > > > folks.
> > > >
> > > > Tires, every five years between $2200 and $3000 depending
on
> > Tire
> > > > Brand.
> > > >
> > > > Cat PM level 2 Maintainence -- every 2000 hours or 10.000
> > gallons
> > > of
> > > > fuel -- Costs $790 at a certified Cat Center and includes
> > > > everything. This service also includes the above listed
oil,
> > > filter
> > > > and lube service.
> > > >
> > > > 1) All new hoses and belts
> > > >
> > > > 2) Performance Analysis report
> > > >
> > > > 3) Steam clean engine
> > > >
> > > > 4) Valve lash adjustment
> > > >
> > > > 5) cooling system service (flush and clean)
> > > >
> > > > That is pretty much your ongoing maintenience stuff. You
can
> > also
> > > > figure on a transmission service every thirty thousand
miles
> > with
> > > a
> > > > new filter and fluid for about $175.00 including labor.
> > > >
> > > > That's the stuff you can count on doing and what it
actually
> > > costs.
> > > >
> > > > Hope this helps.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > James
> > > > 78FC33SB "Old School"
> > > > Orange Lake, FL
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hello, Gardner.
> > > > >
> > > > > The biggest factor in the cost of ownership of a 25 year
> > old, or
> > > > > older 'Bird, lies in the condition of the bus that you
buy.
> > > > >
> > > > > Remember we are talking about older buses here and no two
> > are
> > > the
> > > > > same. You will find "project buses" on the market that
may
> > need
> > > > > everything replaced on them from the motor and
electronics
> > to
> > > the
> > > > > fridge and carpet ect. However, from time to time, a very
> > nice
> > > > > highly updated example will be offered for sale that will
> > need
> > > > next
> > > > > to nothing.
> > > > >
> > > > > Obviously the cost of ownership will be much higher on
> > > a "project
> > > > > bus" than on a Cheery example with newer motor and
> > everything
> > > else
> > > > > in the bus having been already updated and in good
working
> > order.
> > > > >
> > > > > I guess my point is to buy your bus wisely! The project
> bus
> > at
> > > a
> > > > > rock bottom price that needs everying replaced will not
be
> > your
> > > > best
> > > > > value. Rather, find a bus that has had on-going care by
> > folks
> > > who
> > > > > were enthusiastic owners.
> > > > >
> > > > > Take my bus for example ... the motor is about 4 years
old
> > with
> > > > > 15,000 miles on it. At the time the motor was replaced so
> > were
> > > > all
> > > > > pumps, fan assembly even the main started motor. All
belts
> > and
> > > > > hoses are two years old. Trojan batteries less than a
year
> > > old.
> > > > > Twin 55 amp Iota charges less than a year old. Xantrex
> pure
> > > sine-
> > > > > wave inverter less than a year old. High deffenition
> Direct
> > TV
> > > > > system less than a yera old. 27" Samsung LCD TV less than
> a
> > > year
> > > > > old. Refridgerator about 4 years old. AC units about 3
> years
> > > > old.
> > > > > Roof deck rebedded, refastened and painted less than a
> year
> > > ago.
> > > > > Polished Aluminum wheels that you can comb your hair in.
> New
> > > > carpet
> > > > > about 2 years ago. I could go on and on, but you get my
> > point.
> > > > >
> > > > > If I were to sell my bus tomorrow I could get around 25
to
> > 27
> > > > > thousand.
> > > > >
> > > > > Now think about that "project bus" that has been sitting
> > behind
> > > a
> > > > > barn for 8 years before someone pulled it out, polished
it
> > up
> > > and
> > > > > hung a for sale sign on it. These are two very different
> > > pictures
> > > > > arn't they? Certainly you would experience a very
> different
> > > cost
> > > > of
> > > > > ownewship betweeen the above examples. Now you may be
able
> > to
> > > buy
> > > > > the project bus for 16 thousand bucks, but get ready to
> > spend
> > > that
> > > > > much again, and more, to make it into a good looking
> > reliable
> > > > runner.
> > > > >
> > > > > So shop wisely, and buy the best bus you can find in your
> > price
> > > > > range.
> > > > >
> > > > > Good Luck.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > James
> > > > > 78FC33SB "Old School"
> > > > > Orange Lake, FL (Mid-Eightys, total over cast and raining)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "gcyeaw"
>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have asked other questions on this forum and I do
> > > appreciate
> > > > > the
> > > > > > responses I have received. I have been building a
> > spreadsheet
> > > to
> > > > > try
> > > > > > to estimate the real cost of owning a vintage Bluebird.
> I
> > love
> > > > the
> > > > > > look and would enjoy repairing/restoring the systems at
> my
> > > > leisure
> > > > > > prior to retirement.
> > > > > > The price range I am looking at is under $30,000 for a
> > 1984
> > > > or
> > > > > > older FC 33 TO 35. Given that price range I would
expect
> > to
> > > have
> > > > > > lots of small things to fix. Also given the age, I
would
> > > expect
> > > > > > higher incidence of failure in in basic engine/transmit
> > > > > ion/chassis
> > > > > > systems over say, a 10 year time span..
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Would it be reasonable to estimate $700/year for
routine
> > > > > > maintenance and $1000/year for unplanned maintenance
> > averaged
> > > > over
> > > > > a
> > > > > > ten year time span? (assuming I don't need an engine
> > rebuild)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I am really trying to determine the value as the clock
> > > ticks
> > > > on
> > > > > > 20 to 25 year old coaches. They may be well built, but
> so
> > was
> > > I
> > > > 40
> > > > > > years ago!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Gardner
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>