Price of a Bluebird

[JK]

Hi Roger- I'll agree with that-We just happened to find our "Babe
The Blue Ox" at a time in our lives when we were ready to try an
alternative lifestyle (living in a motorhome) and she fit
perfectly. Spent three years sitting in a rent house driveway
getting rid of extraneous stuff and upgrading the bird to fit our
needs. In 2002, we took off and haven't looked back. It's amazing
how much fun it is to have a bird when you LIVE in it without a
stick house to worry about. Birds were built to be used and used
extensively-not like so many of the other RV's you see. That
explains the price and upkeep. She's a classic and we're very proud
to keep her in great shape-but it is a constant job-one we enjoy
very much. I guess it's like painting a stick house or mowing the
yard-it's just expected.

JK 1986 PT36
Babe The BLue Ox
Kemah, Texas (right now)
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, rogerwwebb@... wrote:
>
> In my case, the BB is much more of a hobby than anything else. I
often tell
> people I spend more time fixing and upgrading it than using it.
It is like
> restoring a vintage car, boat or plane. It is unique and I often
get a look
> of surprise on people's faces when I tell them it is 17 years old.
>
> I never looked at it as an investment, nor as a way to save money
traveling.
> It is an expense, a pita and lots and lots of fun (most of the
time) to own.
>
> Roger Webb
> 91 WL
> Cedar Rapids, IA (-5 at the moment and the Bird ain't moving from
its warm
> garage)
>
>
>
> **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in
shape.
> http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?
NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
>

[Don Bradner]

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.

[Donald Spithaler]

Hi Howard
I know I'm not Ernie or Leroy but I have been working with wood all
my life. In my 89 SP I put down Bruce 3/8 th inch prefinished when I
got my coach. I noticed after a year i cold see the wear from a little
moisture & general usage. We were particular with it too. I glued it
down. Two years I put 3/4" X 5-1/8 " with aluminum oxide finish on it
in my house. I got rid of all my carpet. I liked it so well I put it
in my coach. I used a screw called a trim screw. They took a #1
square head bit. I predrilled the toung & then screwed it down. It
isn't as fast as gluing but not near as messy & if you want to take it
up all you have to do is unscrew it. When I took up the Bruce floor it
came up in splinters other wise good for fire wood. We have had it
down for two years & it looks like new.

Don Spithaler
89 SP 36
Butler, PA ------ In Zephyrhills, FL
n On Jan 19, 2008 11:17 AM, Howard O. Truitt wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Ernie and Leroy,
> Will a floating floor work OK in a bird.
> 3/4 inch thick engineered overall, 1/4 inch top layer aluminum oxide finish.
> Howard T., Sowega, 86 PT40
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: erniecarpet@...
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 6:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Price of a Bluebird
>
>
>
> Leroy-- I wonder if any of them need flooring?
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Weatherford, Tx
> I could use some work
> Leroy-- I wonder if any of them need flooring?
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Weatherford, Tx
> I could use some work
>
>
> ________________________________
> Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date: 1/14/2008
> 5:39 PM
>
>
>
>
>

[Pete Masterson]

Last year we drove slightly over 13,000 miles (including trips for service, etc.) in the Wanderlodge. Total RV related expenses (fuel, campgrounds, repairs, insurance, upgrades -- including a new floor, etc.) came to about $25,000 for a total of $1.92 per mile. However, we were on the road for about 195 days, so the cost per day was about $128 per day. Food was not counted because we eat about the same (cooking 99% of our meals) at home as on the road. 

Of these costs, fuel was about $6300 -- or just under 50 cents per mile.

Frankly, travel by car, staying in nice hotel/motels, (we tend to prefer B&Bs when possible) etc. wouldn't be any cheaper -- and we'd have to spend more on food as we'd be unable to cook our own stuff much of the time. When we've traveled by air, then rented a car and stayed in hotels/motels and B&Bs, the daily rate usually worked out much higher... 

I also note that when traveling by car, we need to pack and unpack the car at each stop and we need to pay someone to feed the cat (at home). When the comfort, conveniences, and other less tangible factors are considered, it's a "good deal" for us.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jan 19, 2008, at 2:31 PM, Don Bradner wrote:

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@hotmail.com"

To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.comFrom": "bluethunder@arcatapet.comDate":

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. 

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[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.
>

[Don Bradner]

We are in Arizona Sands, headed back up to Q in the morning.

On 1/20/2008 at 2:15 AM Bob Lawrence wrote:

>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

[erniecarpet@...]

In a message dated 1/19/2008 6:17:10 P.M. Central Standard Time, dspithaler@... writes:

aluminum oxide finish

The finish that is out there now for wood, is the best!

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Tx

---

Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

[brad barton]

Don,

You're absolutely right about cost-per-day of travel.

We like dry-camping at WalMarts and eating our own groceries in the coach all except for breakfast.

And the pride of owning, showing and driving a Blue Bird is an enjoyment few people experience.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
bbartonwx@...

---

---

Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. Get it now!

[Howard O. Truitt]

Donald and All,

I am removing all carpet from the house and rplacing it with wood. I have concrete floors. I plan on putting down a vapor barrier and a layer of cork and floating the floor over that. That should muffle the sound of the floated floor. I'm planning on ordering enough wood and corkto do the Coach also. That should insulate anddeaden the road sounds in the coach. Since the coach has plywood underlayment I did not think it advisable to put down a moisture barrier between the floor layersin thecoach.

Howard Truitt, Sowega, 86 PT40

----- Original Message -----

From: "dspithaler@gmail.com"

To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 7:14 PM

Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Price of a Bluebird

Hi Howard
I know I'm not Ernie or Leroy but I have been working with wood all
my life. In my 89 SP I put down Bruce 3/8 th inch prefinished when I
got my coach. I noticed after a year i cold see the wear from a little
moisture & general usage. We were particular with it too. I glued it
down. Two years I put 3/4" X 5-1/8 " with aluminum oxide finish on it
in my house. I got rid of all my carpet. I liked it so well I put it
in my coach. I used a screw called a trim screw. They took a #1
square head bit. I predrilled the toung & then screwed it down. It
isn't as fast as gluing but not near as messy & if you want to take it
up all you have to do is unscrew it. When I took up the Bruce floor it
came up in splinters other wise good for fire wood. We have had it
down for two years & it looks like new.

Don Spithaler
89 SP 36
Butler, PA ------ In Zephyrhills, FL
n On Jan 19, 2008 11:17 AM, Howard O. Truitt <"truitt44%40bellsouth.net"> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Ernie and Leroy,
> Will a floating floor work OK in a bird.
> 3/4 inch thick engineered overall, 1/4 inch top layer aluminum oxide finish.
> Howard T., Sowega, 86 PT40
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "erniecarpet%40aol.com"
> To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 6:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Price of a Bluebird
>
>
>
> Leroy-- I wonder if any of them need flooring?
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Weatherford, Tx
> I could use some work
> Leroy-- I wonder if any of them need flooring?
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Weatherford, Tx
> I could use some work
>
>
> ________________________________
> Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date: 1/14/2008
> 5:39 PM
>
>
>
>
>

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date: 1/14/2008 5:39 PM

[pattypape]

Don,

did you cover the steps??

Bill 88 FC Michigan

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Donald Spithaler"
wrote:
>
> Hi Howard
> I know I'm not Ernie or Leroy but I have been working with wood
all
> my life. In my 89 SP I put down Bruce 3/8 th inch prefinished when I
> got my coach. I noticed after a year i cold see the wear from a
little
> moisture & general usage. We were particular with it too. I glued it
> down. Two years I put 3/4" X 5-1/8 " with aluminum oxide finish on
it
> in my house. I got rid of all my carpet. I liked it so well I put it
> in my coach. I used a screw called a trim screw. They took a #1
> square head bit. I predrilled the toung & then screwed it down. It
> isn't as fast as gluing but not near as messy & if you want to take
it
> up all you have to do is unscrew it. When I took up the Bruce floor
it
> came up in splinters other wise good for fire wood. We have had it
> down for two years & it looks like new.
>
> Don Spithaler
> 89 SP 36
> Butler, PA ------ In Zephyrhills, FL
> n On Jan 19, 2008 11:17 AM, Howard O. Truitt wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Ernie and Leroy,
> > Will a floating floor work OK in a bird.
> > 3/4 inch thick engineered overall, 1/4 inch top layer aluminum
oxide finish.
> > Howard T., Sowega, 86 PT40
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: erniecarpet@...
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 6:53 PM
> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Price of a Bluebird
> >
> >
> >
> > Leroy-- I wonder if any of them need flooring?
> >
> > Ernie Ekberg
> > 83PT40
> > Weatherford, Tx
> > I could use some work
> > Leroy-- I wonder if any of them need flooring?
> >
> > Ernie Ekberg
> > 83PT40
> > Weatherford, Tx
> > I could use some work
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new
year.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> >
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date:
1/14/2008
> > 5:39 PM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>