427435
Rochester, Mn
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Joined: 11/12/2005
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quark wrote:427435 wrote:The rig is paid for---I only wrote one check. Doesn't cost me any more to use it or park it. Excellent. That's the way to go. I pay cash for my cars, but eventually they wear out and I have to buy a new one, so they still have a cost/mile. How many miles can one reasonably get out of a MH? 200K? 300K?
I don't expect to be able to drive this MH into the ground like I have my cars over the years. I'll be lucky to be driving it in 10 years when I'll be 75 (Lord willing). Ten more years at 6,000 miles per year means there'll be a little over 100,000 miles on it then. I fully expect it will run at least that long as I maintain it well and it is parked in a shed when not in use.
To answer your question, I think this MH will actually run to 150,000 miles or more without engine problems and likely without transmission issues. If the transmission doesn't make it, a rebuilt transmission can be purchased for under a $1000 and installation shouldn't exceed $500.
Mark
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis
2003 Ford Explorer toad with US Gear brakes,
ReadyBrute tow bar, and Demco base plate.
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427435
Rochester, Mn
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keith and sharon wrote:Wife and I are planning a 14 day cruise/land tour to alaska next year (can't convince her to drive the mh there) it will cost us abt. $5500 estimate, next years prices aren't posted yet.
$5500 divided by 14 days is $393 a day!!!
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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A MH is comparable to other forms of travel if you can find someone else to purchase and maintain the MH with their money. 
Today the IRS computes the cost of owning an average car getting average MPG at at 58.5 cents per mile. Clearly the more miles you drive the lower the cost per mile due so many of the associated costs are fix. With all of the variables I would guess $2 to $10 per mile driven with about $5 being typical for many.
Dated info from one MH owner.
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rmmpe
Milford, PA
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Joined: 06/22/2007
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All these comments about the expense/economy of owning and using a MH are pointless.
I prefer the convenience of the MH; privacy, no hauling bags in & out, knowing what's in my food, a clean bed, no bugs, no drunks in the hall, hearing what's going on in the adjoining bathroom, no kids playing in the elevator, etc.
And that's saying nothing of being on the road seeing this beautiful country of ours (ours for at least for a while yet).
Sure, it's expensive. But it's all about the lifestyle.
And, if I don't like my neighbors, I move my house.
But, then again, what else am I going to do with all that money Social Security sends me every month?
Roads Scholar
Carry on, regardless
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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RodLyle wrote:We drove 8424 miles from WV to MT and averaged about $150 to $200 for gas and about $40 for camping. I question the $116 for the daily average for gas and camping. Just wondering...
$200 for gas at $3.00 a gallon = under 70 gallons for 8424 miles = 150 mpg?
I'd check my math. or was that 842 miles in which case you were getting 15mpg? a little high unless you have a sprinter van.
bumpy
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VintageRacer
Dundas, Ontario
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$200 for gas at $3.00 a gallon = under 70 gallons for 8424 miles = 150 mpg?
I'd check my math. or was that 842 miles in which case you were getting 15mpg? a little high unless you have a sprinter van.
bumpy
Umm - "daily average" - the OP spent $116 per day for gas and camping, and didn't do many miles a day - Rodlyle drove farther each day and spent more - $150 - $200 per day for gas and $40 for a campsite.
All this sounds really good! I'd have to learn how to NOT drive my normal 8 - 10 hours and 500 miles per day, and really slow down - but I think that's part of the point of being retired and not having to get back to work!
Brian
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab, Hemi, 5 speed manual, 3.73 gears, Tow Beast hitch with 24" extension.
28 ft race car hauler, Lola T440 Formula Ford, NTM MK4 Sports Racer
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MegaDodge
Ontario, Canada
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If you are talking about "comparable travel" ruling out tenting, motels, etc. then traveling with a truck and a fifth wheel trumps a motor home every time. We have a 35 foot long fifth and a Dodge 3500 and we would spend considerably less for them, new, compared to a motorhome of comparable quality. The Dodge gets 11 miles per gallon (US gallon). So, even considering depreciation, which is less than a motor home, and less initial cost, therefore less taxes, etc. I think a fifth and truck trumps a motor home for efficient...(cheap) travel.
MegaDodge
Dodge CTD 1 ton. 5 speed.
2003 Everest 323P 5th wheel 13000 pounds ready to roll. .
"An honest man is the guy who does the right thing when nobody's looking"
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BarbaraOK
Livingston, Texas, USA
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Joined: 10/27/2003
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quark wrote:427435 wrote:The rig is paid for---I only wrote one check. Doesn't cost me any more to use it or park it. Excellent. That's the way to go. I pay cash for my cars, but eventually they wear out and I have to buy a new one, so they still have a cost/mile. How many miles can one reasonably get out of a MH? 200K? 300K?
More than a lifetime.
Barb & Dave - full-timing
Traveling catpanions Kit (age 18) and Shadow (age 11)
Figment II (2002 Alpine 36 MDDS)
Mischief (2004 Subaru Forester Toad) 
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pingpong
Texas
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Funny...I was talking about this with my parents (we are in our late 40's and they are in their late70's/mid80's)
We just got back from a weeklong trip and got into how much gas was, etc...so I was saying something like, "we might pay a lot for gas, but when you figure in that we only paid $20 per night at the state park, it's all averages out...and is cheaper than flying somewhere and staying in an expensive hotel and eating out every meal...yada yada yada"...
to which my mom so quickly added, "Oh right...and for the amount of money you paid for that thing (yes...she said, "that THING"! ) you could have taken 100 trips someplace nice. HMMMMMMMMMmmmmmm...don't think she quite gets it...nor does she like the fact that we bought the motorhome.
Funny...but I think mainly because they have a lake house (cabin and bunkhouse) and feel like the motorhome is a sort of "threat" or takes us away from visiting them...sad really...you think they'd be happy for us that we bought the motorhome...and were ABLE to buy it...and that we are creating great memories with our own family. But maybe there's a litle jealousy and like I said, resentment, out there.  Too bad, though. I still would rather stay in our motorhome and in OUR bed, than a hotel somewhere.
And like we've said before...you really can't justify the cost...just like you can't justify the cost of going hunting by saying, "but honey, just think of the money we'll save on meat!" 
Oh well...to us it's worth EVERY penny...and dollar!!! We have it, so we might as well use it and enjoy it!...it wouldn't make sense to travel any other way.
Husband, Wife, 2 kids, 3 cats
2007 Newmar KSDP 3910
2007 Jeep Liberty
"Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again!"
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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On a daily basis, I used to think that if I averaged 250-300 miles a day maximum, it would cost about the same as driving and staying in motels. of course that was before $3.76 gasoline and not including paying for the RV.
But a daily rate is somewhat misleading. If I would go to a campground 400 miles away and stay two weeks, the daily driving cost would be minimal. it all depends on your type of travel.
the local paper had an article a few weeks back showing that it was cheaper on a 800 mile trip to RV than to fly, and renting a car.
bumpy
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