Price of a Bluebird

[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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