Price of a Bluebird

[Bob Lawrence]

Hey Don,
We are presently in Fortuna De Oro here in Yuma till Mon, then on to
Q. What park are you in?
Bob Lawrence
84 PT36
Yuma, Az
>
> I am not about to argue that this isn't an expensive hobby, nor
that people shouldn't think about it when deciding to buy a Bird or
other RV. Just separating out the different topic of all of the RVs
that sit, as most do, and why that might be.
>
> With the exception of my post-army days crossing Europe with
nothing but a backpack, I have generally found it expensive to
travel. Setting out as we do every fall for 3 months around the US is
going to cost a lot no matter how you do it. I would argue, however,
that RV travel of that sort is much more economical than air/hotel or
car/hotel. Note that the distinction is not cost per mile, it is cost
per day. Our longest trip so far is 95 days, and was around 9000
miles (two years ago). We averaged $17 per night for parking, which
included both free nights and expensive ($40-$50) nights. Meal cost
was only slightly higher than if we had stayed at home. At today's
fuel prices and the Bird's 5mpg that would have been about $7200 for
fuel and lodging. $75 per day; you would have trouble averaging that
just for hotels!
>
> Once you factor in the vehicle cost you will of course lose ground.
Anyone who pays for an RV to get less expensive travel is crazy; the
benefits range from sleeping in your own bed to drinking your own
brand of coffee, but total savings are not an expected benefit.
>
> So I'm in basic agreement that those who cannot afford to do a lot
of traveling can probably expect to see their expensive RV sitting
around, and might want to reconsider.
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Posting today by satellite from Yuma, AZ
>
> On 1/19/2008 at 10:52 AM brad barton wrote:
>
> >Don,
> >I'll admit I didn't do a scientific survey, just imho. But for
someone
> >considering a first coach..and an older Bird to boot, I thought a
> >realistic view of the ongoing costs of storage, maintenance and
repairs
> >might save disappointment later. Brad Barton 00LXiDFWbbartonwx@...
> >
> >
> >To: WanderlodgeForum@...: bluethunder@...:
> >Sat, 19 Jan 2008 08:09:01 -0700Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re:
Price
> >of a Bluebird
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >I suspect that is not true.I'm in my 5th winter in Arizona,
visiting with
> >the same travelers that I saw back when diesel was $1.29 a gallon.
I will
> >admit to having spoken with only a few of the "always in storage"
folks
> >around the country - they aren't found where I am, which is on the
road
> >with others - but those I have spoken to have the same universal
answer
> >for why their coach always sits in their driveway or in storage:
Time, and
> >the lack thereof. People who own those stored coaches are
predominately
> >still in the workforce, and getting at most a few weeks a year for
> >vacation. The more a coach sits the harder it is to pull it out
and get it
> >ready for a weekend or other short trip. Eventually inertia sets
in and it
> >never moves.Don Bradner90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"Posting today by
satellite
> >from Yuma, AZOn 1/19/2008 at 8:41 AM brad barton wrote:>The reason
most
> >coaches spend more time idle than on the road is the cost>of
operating and
> >maintaining the coach.
>