Cost of ownership

[gcyeaw]

Leroy,
I am at the stage where I must rent a motorhome and 'see if we
like it'. This is a tough sell because the first trip is almost sure
to be a disaster unless I do a tremendous amount of homework and
pick the right campgrounds and the right MH etc.etc. Too bad there
aren't any Bluebirds on the rental scene.
Gardner


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jwasnewski"
wrote:
>
> -Yes sir I understand. I have been there. In my case the wife was
> the driving force to buy a motor home. She didn't think I would
like
> it---for once she was wrong-----LOL please
> do not wake her up.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40
> Niceville, FL
>
>
>
> -- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "gcyeaw" wrote:
> >
> > Leroy,
> > I have a lot of work to do before I can get the DW to weigh in
on
> > the plan. Oh,I could probably go ahead and do it on my own, but
> then
> > I would become a 'full timer", alone, with half my income.
> >
> > You know the old expression about divorce.
> > When you are married you get up in the morning, leave the
house
> > and kiss your wife good by.
> > When you get divorced, you get up in the morning, leave your
> wife
> > and kiss your house good by!
> >
> > Gardner
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Well Gardner:
> > >
> > > Come on man, jump on in with the rest of us. You will be happy
> you
> > purchased the ol school bus. Just look for the best physical
> > specimen before you buy.
> > >
> > > Side note----the wife wanted a Prevost. She said the Bluebird
> > looked like a school bus. I said, you have traveled many a
mile
> in
> > a school bus and you are still here. Now---I cannot get her out
of
> > the thing.
> > >
> > > You will love a Bird. It is a lifestyle.
> > >
> > > Leroy Eckert
> > > 1990 WB-40
> > > Niceville, FL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: gcyeaw
> > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 7:47 PM
> > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> > >
> > >
> > > Mike, Leroy, I can't disagree that if all I wanted was an
RV,
> > then
> > > buying a new or slightly used motorhome would be the way to
go.
> > When
> > > I saw an older Bluebird, it just looked so great. It was a
true
> > > classic with character and that is the attraction. It
certainly
> > > isn't the wisest investment if all you look at is the
dollars.
> > There
> > > has to be a return in the enjoyment and satisfaction of
caring
> > for
> > > and reviving such a machine.
> > >
> > > The reason I ask questions is to make sure I am going in
with
> my
> > > eyes wide open. The more I learn the better I will be able
to
> > make a
> > > wise choice when purchasing. And along the way I am meeting
new
> > > poeple on the forum, so it's already showing some reward.
> > >
> > > Gardner
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Mike:
> > > >
> > > > I agree with you. When we purchased our bird we planned
for
> > > deferred maintenance. I guess if we knew the costs of owning
> > these
> > > beautiful machines up front we could become consultants and
> > charge
> > > $200.00/hr. Then we could be sued for misrepresentation.
It's a
> > > crazy world.
> > > >
> > > > Leroy Eckert
> > > > 1990 WB-40
> > > > Niceville, FL
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Mike Hohnstein
> > > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 12:49 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Uh, you sure a new class C wouldn't be a better choice?
> Trying
> > > to see the future with an antique vehicle is very irrational.
> > > > MH
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: gcyeaw
> > > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 11:54 AM
> > > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Cost of ownership
> > > >
> > > > James,
> > > > Thanks for your data. There seems to be some controversy
over
> > > the
> > > > level 2 maintenance cost, but based on an average speed of
> say
> > > 30
> > > > mph, that's 60,000 miles in 2000 hours. So if it's $800 or
> > $1200
> > > > it's not much different spread out over that mileage/time.
> Not
> > > > knowing the cost of adding a swing radiator, it would seem
to
> > > pay
> > > > for itself on the first broken belt or hose. I imagine
that
> > > removing
> > > > the dog house and putting down a protective runner before
> > > heading in
> > > > for service might also save some labor and probably please
> the
> > > > service tech as well.
> > > >
> > > > --- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > 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
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
>