Cost of ownership

[orbitalsolutions]

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
> >
>