What are the particular Start Up Costs associated with the van/motorhome lifestyle please? And Ongoing costs?
Assuming I buy a van/motorhome and/ or fit it out to my personal feature requirements( cost involved I know ), what are the other costs/ hidden costs( expensive Insurances? RWC? Taxes? etc) I need to know about?
Grateful for any information you could give.
Thanks all,
xx
Possum3 said
01:28 PM Feb 5, 2021
Welcome to GN's Rob, A true how long is a piece of string question. Your lifestyle will determine costings, it will cost as much to live in an RV as a house ; If you go full time permanent and sell your house you may lose any pension - you may end up paying double current living costs plus additional costs of your rig.
edit spelling - hate autocorrect/suggest.
-- Edited by Possum3 on Friday 5th of February 2021 01:30:46 PM
travelyounger said
01:51 PM Feb 5, 2021
dragonmist1 wrote:
Hi all,
Am new to this. Asking your advice:
What are the particular Start Up Costs associated with the van/motorhome lifestyle please? And Ongoing costs?
Assuming I buy a van/motorhome and/ or fit it out to my personal feature requirements( cost involved I know ), what are the other costs/ hidden costs( expensive Insurances? RWC? Taxes? etc) I need to know about?
Grateful for any information you could give.
Thanks all,
xx
I list our costs or most
Fuel
Services and running costs
Food and alcoholic beverages
Going out mainly cafes pub meals or cake shops
Tours or costs for sightseeing
Site costs but mainly free camp
Maintenance on vehicle or van
Bunnings or bcf visits
Flights back to home if to far to drive
House bills if not covered by rent
After all that I lucky I still work
Cheers
travelyounger said
02:09 PM Feb 5, 2021
dragonmist1 wrote:
Hi all,
Am new to this. Asking your advice:
What are the particular Start Up Costs associated with the van/motorhome lifestyle please? And Ongoing costs?
Assuming I buy a van/motorhome and/ or fit it out to my personal feature requirements( cost involved I know ), what are the other costs/ hidden costs( expensive Insurances? RWC? Taxes? etc) I need to know about?
Grateful for any information you could give.
Thanks all,
xx
We try to budget on 500 a week but its almost impossible if you want to to travel.I reckon for a couple to travel and see tourist attractions and to live reasonably well on the road including most costs would be between 1200 to 1500 a week thats what it cost as an average for 4 months touring North Qld but depends on if your on a holiday or its your lifestyle.
Cheers
Tony Bev said
02:37 PM Feb 5, 2021
dragonmist1 wrote:
Hi all,
Am new to this. Asking your advice:
What are the particular Start Up Costs associated with the van/motorhome lifestyle please? And Ongoing costs?
Assuming I buy a van/motorhome and/ or fit it out to my personal feature requirements( cost involved I know ), what are the other costs/ hidden costs( expensive Insurances? RWC? Taxes? etc) I need to know about?
Grateful for any information you could give.
Thanks all,
xx
Hi dragonmist1 (Rob)
Welcome to the forum
I shall try my best to give some idea of start up and running cost, but be aware that as everyone is different, then we all have different needs/aspirations
Also be aware that monetary cost is a sliding scale, as some things get more expensive/cheaper, depending on where we go
2013/14 done the lap in a 1993 Ford Falcon 6 cylinder, towing a 1984? Pop top caravan
Both tug and caravan combined, would have had a value of less than $10,000
Travelled close enough to 20,000 kilometres, and only used free/donation camps, cost approximately (kept no receipts), $6,000 over about seven months
Purchased second hand (2006 build) motorhome in my Avatar, in 2014 for $60,000
Cost of it sitting on my footpath is Insurance is just over $1,000 per year Rego is (I think) just under $600 a year
Since purchase I have travelled 89,549 kilometres Fuel cost is unknown as I only record amount used, and not price paid
Up to date I have used 11,053 litres of diesel, over 6 years, giving an average of just over 8 kilometres for each litre used. When I plan a road trip, I calculate diesel @ $2 litre, getting 7.5 KPL For example on a 10,000 road trip, I will budget for 750 litres of diesel @ $2 = $1,500 and I have never been caught short
I keep a good maintenance record, but do not write the cost down
I am fortunate that I can still maintain my motorhome on the cheap, as I have some tools at home I maintain the motorhome before each and every trip, as maintenance cost by others while on the road, could be expensive I will not be able to self maintain my motorhome when I get older, or if I was on the road full time
I use mainly free/donation/low cost camp sites, as I am fully self contained
Hope that these numbers are useful to you
Whenarewethere said
02:44 PM Feb 5, 2021
We mostly free camp but are happy to use a hotel or camp ground when needed.
A van etc will part of your assets if on a pension so check with your accountant.
Costs:
Tyre repair kit & compressor.
TPMS.
Destroyed tyres.
We mostly buy our water.
All the National Park passes.
Spirit of Tasmania costs.
Replacement auxiliary batteries.
Upgrading of solar.
Gas for cooking (metho in our case)
We grind our own coffee (good saving there)
Jumper leads.
Fire extinguisher, smoke & carbon monoxide detector.
Welcome to the gang dragonmist1, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I won't bother with lists as others have done that for you however, I am a full time grey nomad living in my aluminium teepee and have been now for just over 6 years and was part time for 3 years prior to that so have been out here in the playground for 9.
I thought when I sold up base camp and bought a new car and a new caravan that would be it. WROOOOONG! There are on-going costs to keep things going and as we speak have the Collie booked in this Monday 8/2 to get a running hot problem hopefully sorted since I had timing belt and some other things replaced just over 12 moths ago. After all that I am waiting on parts to arrive and a date to get the fridge in the teepee fixed and a new awning, both ware and tare. I honesty believe caravans/tow cars these days, even though they cost upward of $40,000.00 each new, are not built to live in full time. Appliances etc are not of the highest quality so ware out quicker than say home appliances etc.
Am I disappointed? You bet ya. I thought with the money I paid out at the beginning would see me through until I ride on ahead, but obviously not to be.
Would I have done things differently knowing all this? Who knows? I don't think so though as I love the life style and have met some great people and formed many friendships, some life long that would never had happened had I not done what I did.
Mamil said
07:48 PM Feb 5, 2021
Dougwe wrote:
I honesty believe caravans/tow cars these days, even though they cost upward of $40,000.00 each new, are not built to live in full time. Appliances etc are not of the highest quality so ware out quicker than say home appliances etc.
Good point, and what my local caravan repairer told me. He said most caravan appliances are built with the occasional holiday maker in mind, and cannot be expected to stand up top constant use.
oldbloke said
09:41 PM Feb 5, 2021
Recenty had 7 weeks away. About 50/50 free camping and CPs. Only travelled short distances between camps, say 30 to 80km. Cost averaged out $30 a day. This included fuel, parks, beer and most spending, but not food. SHMBO paid for food. lol
We do avoid touristy places and only go to pubs say every 2 weeks.
Hi all,
Am new to this. Asking your advice:
What are the particular Start Up Costs associated with the van/motorhome lifestyle please? And Ongoing costs?
Assuming I buy a van/motorhome and/ or fit it out to my personal feature requirements( cost involved I know ), what are the other costs/ hidden costs( expensive Insurances? RWC? Taxes? etc) I need to know about?
Grateful for any information you could give.
Thanks all,
xx
Welcome to GN's Rob,
A true how long is a piece of string question. Your lifestyle will determine costings, it will cost as much to live in an RV as a house ; If you go full time permanent and sell your house you may lose any pension - you may end up paying double current living costs plus additional costs of your rig.
edit spelling - hate autocorrect/suggest.
-- Edited by Possum3 on Friday 5th of February 2021 01:30:46 PM
I list our costs or most
Fuel
Services and running costs
Food and alcoholic beverages
Going out mainly cafes pub meals or cake shops
Tours or costs for sightseeing
Site costs but mainly free camp
Maintenance on vehicle or van
Bunnings or bcf visits
Flights back to home if to far to drive
House bills if not covered by rent
After all that I lucky I still work
Cheers
We try to budget on 500 a week but its almost impossible if you want to to travel.I reckon for a couple to travel and see tourist attractions and to live reasonably well on the road including most costs would be between 1200 to 1500 a week thats what it cost as an average for 4 months touring North Qld but depends on if your on a holiday or its your lifestyle.
Cheers
Hi dragonmist1 (Rob)
Welcome to the forum
I shall try my best to give some idea of start up and running cost, but be aware that as everyone is different, then we all have different needs/aspirations
Also be aware that monetary cost is a sliding scale, as some things get more expensive/cheaper, depending on where we go
2013/14 done the lap in a 1993 Ford Falcon 6 cylinder, towing a 1984? Pop top caravan
Both tug and caravan combined, would have had a value of less than $10,000
Travelled close enough to 20,000 kilometres, and only used free/donation camps, cost approximately (kept no receipts), $6,000 over about seven months
Purchased second hand (2006 build) motorhome in my Avatar, in 2014 for $60,000
Cost of it sitting on my footpath is
Insurance is just over $1,000 per year
Rego is (I think) just under $600 a year
Since purchase I have travelled 89,549 kilometres
Fuel cost is unknown as I only record amount used, and not price paid
Up to date I have used 11,053 litres of diesel, over 6 years, giving an average of just over 8 kilometres for each litre used.
When I plan a road trip, I calculate diesel @ $2 litre, getting 7.5 KPL
For example on a 10,000 road trip, I will budget for 750 litres of diesel @ $2 = $1,500 and I have never been caught short
I keep a good maintenance record, but do not write the cost down
I am fortunate that I can still maintain my motorhome on the cheap, as I have some tools at home
I maintain the motorhome before each and every trip, as maintenance cost by others while on the road, could be expensive
I will not be able to self maintain my motorhome when I get older, or if I was on the road full time
I use mainly free/donation/low cost camp sites, as I am fully self contained
Hope that these numbers are useful to you
We mostly free camp but are happy to use a hotel or camp ground when needed.
A van etc will part of your assets if on a pension so check with your accountant.
Costs:
Tyre repair kit & compressor.
TPMS.
Destroyed tyres.
We mostly buy our water.
All the National Park passes.
Spirit of Tasmania costs.
Replacement auxiliary batteries.
Upgrading of solar.
Gas for cooking (metho in our case)
We grind our own coffee (good saving there)
Jumper leads.
Fire extinguisher, smoke & carbon monoxide detector.
Blocks of wood to level vehicle.
Level.
GPS.
Maps.
Outdoor chairs.
Tools.
First aid kit, & ice/cool pack for sprains etc.
Aeroguard, mosquito coils, sandfly screen enclosure, broad brimmed ventilated light coloured hats, head fly nets, fly swat, freeze spray for ticks.
I won't bother with lists as others have done that for you however, I am a full time grey nomad living in my aluminium teepee and have been now for just over 6 years and was part time for 3 years prior to that so have been out here in the playground for 9.
I thought when I sold up base camp and bought a new car and a new caravan that would be it. WROOOOONG! There are on-going costs to keep things going and as we speak have the Collie booked in this Monday 8/2 to get a running hot problem hopefully sorted since I had timing belt and some other things replaced just over 12 moths ago. After all that I am waiting on parts to arrive and a date to get the fridge in the teepee fixed and a new awning, both ware and tare. I honesty believe caravans/tow cars these days, even though they cost upward of $40,000.00 each new, are not built to live in full time. Appliances etc are not of the highest quality so ware out quicker than say home appliances etc.
Am I disappointed? You bet ya. I thought with the money I paid out at the beginning would see me through until I ride on ahead, but obviously not to be.
Would I have done things differently knowing all this? Who knows? I don't think so though as I love the life style and have met some great people and formed many friendships, some life long that would never had happened had I not done what I did.
Good point, and what my local caravan repairer told me. He said most caravan appliances are built with the occasional holiday maker in mind, and cannot be expected to stand up top constant use.
We do avoid touristy places and only go to pubs say every 2 weeks.