Fulltiming

[Ryan Wright]

Leroy,

> 50%-.675gph
> 75%-1.012gph
> 100%-1.35 gph

Well, I can tell you when I boondock I run the genset maybe a couple
of hours per day at nowhere near 50% duty cycle. Just a 15 amp draw
off the battery chargers, maybe the occasional microwave use. So I
might draw a whopping gallon of diesel per day, and use a bit of
propane if it's cold out. Still cheaper than a campground and I don't
like campground showers and bathrooms. Half the reason I own a coach
is to have my own facilities.

I know you included a bunch of operating costs. I don't include them
in my calculations because most of the costs you listed are fixed for
infrequent users such as myself. I have to change the oil, coolant,
filters, etc, whether I use them or not. I have to replace batteries
and parts and equipment as they age whether I use them or not. I don't
use any of it enough to wear it out - everything is replaced on a
schedule of time, not hours, because I don't go through that many
hours.

So, the way I figure it is, why own it and spend money to keep it up
if I'm not going to use it? So I park and camp wherever I like and use
my genset because it seems a waste to haul it around with me and pay
for maintenance and not use it.

Anyhow, there is no right or wrong answer here, everyone's situation
is different.

> One bad thermostat combined with a failed auto shut down system and the
> above numbers are out the window in a matter of seconds.

True, but the same could be said about your main engine, too. Why
drive it at all, something might happen and cost you twenty grand for
a new engine. Better to stay parked at home so it will last forever.
;-)

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

[Leroy Eckert]

Your accounting method is OK by me. I would exclude fixed or semi-variable costs if someone else wrote the check. It is like saying there is no cash outlay for mowing the lawn, painting the shutters or replacing the roof on the homestead. Perhaps I can talk the B of D at the condo complex to discontinue the CAM fees. It would save me a few bucks. Leroy Eckert 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors Dahlonega, GA Royale Conversion --- On Mon, 10/6/08, Ryan Wright wrote: From: Ryan Wright Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Fulltiming To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, October 6, 2008, 12:51 PM Leroy, > 50%-.675gph > 75%-1.012gph > 100%-1.35 gph Well, I can tell you when I boondock I run the genset maybe a couple of hours per day at nowhere near 50% duty cycle. Just a 15 amp draw off the battery chargers, maybe the occasional microwave use. So I might draw a whopping gallon of diesel per day, and use a bit of propane if it's cold out. Still cheaper than a campground and I don't like campground showers and bathrooms. Half the reason I own a coach is to have my own facilities. I know you included a bunch of operating costs. I don't include them in my calculations because most of the costs you listed are fixed for infrequent users such as myself. I have to change the oil, coolant, filters, etc, whether I use them or not. I have to replace batteries and parts and equipment as they age whether I use them or not. I don't use any of it enough to wear it out - everything is replaced on a schedule of time, not hours, because I don't go through that many hours. So, the way I figure it is, why own it and spend money to keep it up if I'm not going to use it? So I park and camp wherever I like and use my genset because it seems a waste to haul it around with me and pay for maintenance and not use it. Anyhow, there is no right or wrong answer here, everyone's situation is different. > One bad thermostat combined with a failed auto shut down system and the > above numbers are out the window in a matter of seconds. True, but the same could be said about your main engine, too. Why drive it at all, something might happen and cost you twenty grand for a new engine. Better to stay parked at home so it will last forever. ;-) -Ryan '86 PT-40 8V92

[Ryan Wright]

On Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 4:42 PM, Leroy Eckert wrote:
> Your accounting method is OK by me. I would exclude fixed or semi-variable
> costs if someone else wrote the check.

Again, there is no right or wrong answer here, but my point was this:
Other than the cost of fuel, I have to pay for the rest whether I use
it or not, otherwise it falls into disrepair. I can't exclude such
costs from total cost of ownership, as I'm obviously paying for it,
but when it comes down to, "Should I start the genset or not?", those
costs don't enter into that discussion. Only the cost of fuel matters
at that point.

For example, I'm taking the coach out this weekend and I'll run the
generator, and when I get back I'll change the oil. Whether I run the
generator this weekend or not, the oil still has to be changed. If I
don't run it at all for the next year, the oil still has to be changed
yet again. So the cost of oil changes doesn't even count when deciding
whether or not to fire the thing up. The same argument can be made for
most of the other maintenance I perform on my coach. Most of the stuff
doesn't wear out due to use, it just gets old. My trip this weekend
won't cost me an additional dime for tires or maintenance, I'd have to
pay for that even if I left the coach home and walked. It's owning the
coach, not using it, that brings these costs. As long as I've made the
decision to own it I might as well use the heck out of it and
everything on it because I'm paying for them anyway.

> It is like saying there is no cash outlay for mowing the lawn

No, it's like saying, "Don't play on the lawn, kids, because it costs
money to water and mow it." You're going to pay to have it watered and
mowed, anyway. Whether someone plays on it or not makes little
difference.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

[Dave Mayo]

I've been away for several weeks and have not had access to the
forum.

Thanks all for the great info.

Appreciate it.

Dave


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "tumble_weed_ft"
wrote:
>
> 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
>