CA Question on motorhomes

[santa]

CA  Question on Motorhome. Fuel and maintenance for a motorhome must be outragess? What do you budget for these and other expences.
Santa

[RainMaker]

Wonder if Britman has some ideas since he drives the USS Grit Chip?

[3fan4life]

I've never owned one but I have driven a bunch of them.

One thing that I know for sure is that if I were going to buy one, a diesel is the ONLY way to go.


This style would be my first pick:

   


I've never driven one of these but I do know that the small diesel is very fuel efficient and has become pretty popular for ambulance conversions:

[Master Blaster]

I have owned a few, and wasnt bad years ago when they first entered production.  Most were front engine gassers, and mileage really didnt matter that much, I used to get gas for $.17 a gallon.  Back then you could work on them also.  Now if I were to get back into it I would go the 5th wheel trailer route.   My last motor home was a 40 foot gasser and was lucky to get 6 MPG.  Even the systems are more complicated, and with all the automatic functions are less reliable than the older manual systems.  If I just had to have a motor home, I would opt for one on the sprinter chassy, with the Mercedes diesel, but really think that the trailer route is the better option.   Also the entended use makes a big difference in what works best.  I loved the 40 footer, and lived in it for 4 years while working a job away from home.   This was before the slide out craze, so even the smaller units are more liveable now.  Think the most fun I had was with a small class A Winnebago I took to Alaska.  Every weekend in the summer I was down on the Kenai salmon fishing.  Wonderful times and memories.

[..]

I wouldn't buy a 42 foot diesel pusher. What a behemoth !

I reckon it gets about 5 to 6 mpg on a run. $420 to fill up a 100 gallon tank..

Worry about length width and height. Where 18 wheelers can slam thru overhanging branches I've got $30,000 + worth of "stuff" on the roof.

Some RV parks can't take the size and I would imagine where Santa would want to be is less city and more country.

I would buy a fifth wheel. Otherwide you have to have a toad following you around so you can leave where you park up.

Had to fix water tank and had new framing for tank put in. Previous owner had put a couple of small holes in the tank. 8 hours at the local RV shop at $115 an hour plus parts 

[Sergeant D]

I have a 1999 30ft gas V-10.  Bought her used in 2004 for $25K.  I lived in it full time when I sold my house for 2 years.  My mortgage was $1400 month, I piad only $300 rent for the RV.  So for me, the RV paid for itself.  I get around 9-10 mpg when I nurse her down the road.  I am seriously thinking about moving back into the old girl and renting my current house out.  To answer your question, I budget $500 month for "parking" vs "camping".  The National Parks and most state parks are reasonably priced.  I avoid all the "resorts".  I'm in the RV for the freedom, not to go swimming in a pool  or golfing. 

[art]

I just bought an mobile traveler 1989 with 27000 miles on it for $3750 from an elderly couple .Its just like new.We plan on living in it for about a year and not pay rent and utilites of $1100 a month.That frees up a lot of money for traveling.We are sick of renting and my own home is rented out and we will sell hopefully within two years.

[LandElephant]

Well Santa, I come from the fifth wheel community.  I pull a 40fter with a diesel 1 ton pick-up dually.  Mine is a toyhauler so that I can take my GW with me wherever I go.  While pulling the trailer I get between 7.8 - 10 mpgs. without I get 12 - 16 mpg.

But, I have both vehicles when I get to my final destination and it only cost me spot rent and whatever utilities the campground doesn't cover.  I've got the individual bedroom, bathroom, full shower, and decent living space.

I looked at both, and went with the fifth wheel for the convienence of not having to pull another vehicle (2 engines so on and so forth).  Mine is four seasons, and I live out of mine because of my work.  Owned this one 5 years now and might have spent 6 weeks total in my house (don't have that one anymore either).

Quality is the name of the game if you plan on living out the trailer.  Size if you plan on pulling it from destination to destination and short stays.  I've been here in Michigan for 18 months now and haven't had a problem.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

OBTW, are you going to paint it red and have the north pole on the back? Get on small enough or big enough for the riendeer.

[santa]

Boy I have always wanted a Motorhome or trailer but it just seems so expensive to operate and own. but it is fun to deam about it. The wife wouldn't leave the house for more then a couple weeks. It took me 6 years to get her to go on the last vacation. She came in one day and said "a vacation would be nice" I said in the morning and we where gone 7000 mile 4 weeks had a great time, hoping I can get her to do it again this year (June 2013).
Santa

And yes I would have all the Santa stuff painted on it if I had a Motorhome:)

[Momz]

We can't afford anymore vehicles, but our solution was a 17 foot travel trailer/toy hauler.
My 1/2 ton Chevy averages 10 mpg when we tow. Our Roadmaster trailer has air conditioning, heat, toilet, shower, stove, fridge, microwave sink, fullsize murphy bed, and a couch that turns into a twin bed.

It's ideal for my wife and I, and it is set up to haul two large touring bikes.

[ricoman]

question for master blaster
gas at 17 cents a gallon was back in the late 50's-maybe early 60's.
What kind of motorhome did you have back then?

[Master Blaster]

question for master blaster
gas at 17 cents a gallon was back in the late 50's-maybe early 60's.
What kind of motorhome did you have back then?

I had a Pace Arrow, had a Dodge commercial V8, and think I got around 10 MPG.  Bought the thing new for $5000.00, and had a blast in it.  Best trip was to Lake Guerro in Mexico for bass fishing.  That was before they built any resorts down there.  Towed a Glastron tri hull down with 5 Buds, we all kicked in 60 bucks per for the trip, and was the most fun I ever had on 60 bucks.

[cashman]

I have been in the RV business for 26 years.  From my perspective, if you are handy with tools and keep on top of regular maintenance, keeping up an rv can be pretty affordable.  The fuel however, is another matter.  My company has over 60 manufacturing facilities making pretty much any rv type out there.  None of the motorized product gets good fuel economy except the small class "b" product built on the frieghtliner/sprinter chassis with the mercedes turbo diesel.  Those have been known to get near 20 mpg.  I took one to tennesee and got 19 fully loaded driving 65 mph.

[tonyfan70]

One expense I can say NOT to ignore is tires. Most motorhomes don't get driven all that much. What I'm saying is the tires will usually go bad agewise before they wear out.

A decade or so ago I had this experience. Guy came in to my tire shop with his "new to him"  motorhome. Great big one. He was adamant about purchasing 5 tires and using the spare for the 6th. I told him the spare was well over 6 years old and couldn't be used. He argued, got my "customer is ALWAYS right" boss involved and I was over ruled. I mounted the old unused spare and installed it on the rear. Then I covered my butt best I could by making notes on the work order.

Fast forward little ways and here comes the same motorhome back to my shop. Only now it appears someone took a giant can opener and cut several feet out of the rear wheel well.  Owner said the unused, but old, spare came apart and beat the holy snot out of the body.  Several thousand worth of damage.  My only satisfaction was him telling me he wished he'd listened to me and bought 1 more new tire...much, much cheaper.

At least he didn't wreck it, and thankfully I put it on the rear for him.

Point is...cover those tires when sitting unused.  Helps keep the weathering in check. No matter what the tread depth...once they are 6 years old, they are NO GOOD.