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Expensives

Yahoo Message Number: 108414
To all the full timers. We have owned several motorhomes, including two Country Coach diesel pushers. We used them for extended vacations, some snow bird time, and weekends at the shore.
My question is: How much cash does it take to go full time. Assuming that nothing major needs repair or replacing. What is a good figure to start with. I'm also planning on having at least $10-$15k in reserves for major fix-it's. Thanks

Re: Expensives

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108415
It seems to me that no one can answer this question but you. There are too many variables. It depends on what location you choose, how much does the camp site cost, whether or not you will try work camping to pay for your sites, how much you eat out, how expensive are your groceries, how frequently you move, etc....Also you must understand that the only cost per mile is not just diesel fuel but maintenance, wear and tear, insurance, etc. How old your coach is becomes a factor. For example, 10-15K dollars may not come close to fixing an engine or transmission failure not to mention hotel cost if you can't stay in the coach while it is being repaired.
Just running my mouth.....
DJ

CC81072

Re: Expensives

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108417
I'd say some where between $125 to 200 a day. If you travel a lot you won't get price brakes on your RV space. If you travel where everyone else is, you'll pay higher amounts, too. And don't expect off season discounts; they are getting more rare all the time. Rv parks are raising prices and our planning to do so again next year as the price of fuel has remained low. Its their turn to make a profit, they say. If you like to visit Theme parks, RV resorts and live the better life prices are going to be higher. If you stay a week at a time you'll get a discount, monthly stays off season our a real money savor. Friends of mine are Elk and Escapee members and save a ton that way. But tell me their average costs as they travel 8 months a year have been increasing steadily over the 5 years. Its not like the good old days when we could get nice slots for under $20.00 a day, now its close to or pushing over $40.00 to $45.00 a day average. And stay away from the KOA's. Unless you have kids of course. $10 to 15,000 seems about right to me, my worst year was new tires, with partial credit for premature failure., rebuild my genset and charge air cooler replacement. $11,000. The second worst year $9800. So good luck. TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Expensives

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108419
We average $35 per night for RV spots overall. Some years have been as high as $50 per night in the northeast and popular areas. We try to offset that by shopping for cheaper RV parks, using water electric only, staying in state parks and Corps of Engineers park. Some people also boondock. You can also camp in campgrounds without hookups in National Forest and State Forest sites. Not as feasible in the east and southeast. We also take advantage of weekly and monthly rates at campgrounds. If you stay a month you are also not using fuel as much. For 9 months of travel this last year we averaged $350 per month. If fuel prices go back up that number could increase dramatically especially if you move around a lot. Insurance is another high cost. You will pay more for full timers insurance and it depends on the state of residence.
For maintenance, it depends on the age and mileage of the coach. oil changes, filters, generator service, refrigerator service (for gas absorption), Hydro Hot/Aqua Hot maintenance, etc we spend about $1200. You might want to put a bit more in the bank for unplanned things that you know will be coming up in the future.
We had to have radiator work done (first time after 110,000 miles) tires every 7 yrs, new seals in wheels, new brake pads (first time after 130,000 miles). We just had the awning fabric replaced (we planned for that expense).
Other costs are internet, cell phones, satellite TV subscription, insurance and maintenance for your toad.
We didn't consider food, etc because we eat the same type of food we did when we had a stick house and don't go out to eat that often. We have a 2004 Allure with over 130,000 miles on it and have been full timers for 7 years.

Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065

Re: Expensives

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108436
I've full timed for ten years and could only afford to do so by joining Thousand Trails. Once you join the membership you can camp for free. Granted I payed $5600 for the lifetime membership and pay $545 every year for dues, it has paid for itself, and now that camping is going strong the new owners are pouring money to the parks.
2000 allure #30505



On Saturday, October 1, 2016, 'Thomas Insall, Jr.' cmarshall@... [Country-Coach-Owners] Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Re: Expensives

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108452
Campsite cost can be your biggest expense aside from groceries and dining out.
I agree regarding Thousand Trails. These resorts are not Five Star campsites but, they offer most amenities that folks enjoy. They even offer what they call a "Zone Pass" for one quadrant of the country at no initial cost except one year dues. This is designed to allow you to try before you pop for the initial fee for the full National membership. Get the details online. These parks are generally located near the coastline areas. I am a member of TT and would not leave home without it!

Also, go online to check out:

BPOE Elks Lodges with campsites (more prevalent in the West) Moose Lodges with campsites
Escapees Club

Resort Parks International (RPI)
Coast to Coast

The requirements for most fraternal organization lodges are that you are breathing, that you respond to stimulus and that you pay your dues.

Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure 30226

Re: Expensives

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108468
We have been full time for a couple of years and our we have had months where our expenses are around 2,300 and other months that have been double that! On average we are spending 4K a month and we typically spend a couple weeks in one location and camp at a lot of state, county and coe parks. About two-three months of the year, we park somewhere for a month and take advantage of a monthly rate. We also do some boondocking as we have a pretty robust solar set up.

Cori & Greg Young
"The Restless Youngs"

2008 Allure Crane Prarie, 31655

http://www.therestlessyoungs.com http://www.rvsolarsolutions.com