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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Dec 17, 2015 - 10:48am PT
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I recently decided to go with a trailer as a basecamp. Got an 18 footer with one slide out and all the amenities. It is winterized now even though I got the arctic package (more insulation and tank warmers).
I decided to save the $500 on solar for the house I'm building rather than the trailer so I can take a tax credit, but since I use a generator my dual batteries get charged often.
My first night I cranked up the generator to watch Jurassic World for the first time with 100 watt surround sound that drowned out the drone of the motor. About an hour and fifteen minutes in I learned something about trailer life.
The Indomitas Rex was going on a rampage when, unknown to me, the wind suddenly picked up and started violently shaking the trailer.
I did what any sane person would do.
I chambered a round in the nearest assault rifle and bolted to the window,....
Just to check,...
For genetically engineered dinosaurs.
(the next day I went out and bought some stabilizing columns.)
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H
Mountain climber
there and back again
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Dec 17, 2015 - 10:52am PT
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Jim, That's what I am talking about. 10 times less then a Sprinter and does the same thing. Doesn't look like its been too Sportsmobiled out. Which can be pricey. Just the basics.
T Hocking, talk about Frankensteinvan!
Great thread. One thing that has not been mentioned and why I originally bought a cab-over is if your towing anything car, trailer whatever. There is a separate registration and insurance which may or may not offset the need and value.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 17, 2015 - 12:28pm PT
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http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/80171-TCO-why-we-deciced-not-to-get-a-Sportsmobile-(yet-)
Interesting post on total cost of ownership. I did something similar when purchasing my last two vehicles.
A sportmobile has a coolness factor that's hard to beat, but a question always comes up for me: Why not just drive a small SUV and use the $80,000 saved to get a comfy hotel room and go out to dinner every night? LOL. Granted it's not the same, and camping in the outback is a huge part of the appeal, but it gets you thinking outside of the box about different options. e.g. maybe two vehicles are a better fit than one.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 17, 2015 - 12:45pm PT
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Why not just drive a small SUV and use the $80,000 saved to get a comfy hotel room and go out to dinner every night?
One word: bedbugs. Oh, and rude as#@&%es in the room next door.
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 17, 2015 - 12:57pm PT
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Why not just drive a small SUV and use the $80,000 saved to get a comfy hotel room and go out to dinner every night?
If the question occurs to you, then it probably is a perfectly valid option for you. We did that for years before we got our van, but dreamed about more freedom.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Dec 17, 2015 - 01:08pm PT
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The thing I did not like about the pop top camper was having to get out in the mud or snow to transit to/from the cab.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Dec 17, 2015 - 01:23pm PT
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Why not just drive a small SUV and use the $80,000 saved to get a comfy hotel room and go out to dinner every night?
Have you ever tried to get a last minute hotel room in Bishop around Mules Days? Or around Mammoth or Lee Vining in the high summer? If you can get it, it's either a craphole or super expensive.
And going out to dinner ever night in those locales has no appeal for me. The food is mediocre or worse. I bring pre-cooked and frozen-ahead meals and my own wine and eat happier and healthier and a lot cheaper.
For sure I get your point. Owning anything like this is not cheap. But once you're retired and use it a lot, like I do, it's wonderful. I don't own it to save money on trips. I own it to have leisurely comfortable roadtrips where my rest days are like being at home - my own bed, home cooked food, a stock of books and DVDs, less noise. On occasion it makes more sense to stay in a hotel and it's never as comfortable or good an experience as my own rig.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 17, 2015 - 02:49pm PT
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No hotel room has this view.
I was just pointing out that we tend to get blinders on sometimes and don't consider all options. After my analysis I did buy a rig (but I did end up buying an older one with more miles than I initially thought I would), and one of the benefits is always having a place to crash (even if it's a walmart parking lot) and less reasons to say no to a last minute trip.
If I was retired and spending more time in it I would have probably gotten something newer and more expensive.
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 17, 2015 - 03:28pm PT
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even if it's a walmart parking lot
Ha! That is something you learn right away - that Walmart allows RV camping in many of their parking lots and sometimes its the only place to stay. Betsy and I have to laugh sometimes - that the Walmart parking lot was not really what we had in mind when we bought the van.
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 17, 2015 - 03:40pm PT
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those fancy diesel heaters
Yes, I don't know why so expensive. They are wonderful though. They are used a lot for big rig cabin heaters, especially now that they are not allowed to idle all night.
If you have a bigger RV you may not need one because you can carry lots of propane. We can't, and we use it in winter so we got the furnace. It works well and does on-demand hot water.
It is small burner box outside (under the van) that is the actual furnace. That heats coolant that gets routed inside to either heat air from a fan or run through a heat exchanger for water.
It has a take-off from the main fuel tank, but not at the bottom so you'll run out of fuel for your furnace before you drain your tank. Doesn't use much diesel though.
If you plug in, which we rarely do, then it switches automatically to electric heat. Which I didn't even know about and thought we had an electrical short because the heater got hot without the furnace running.
We camped last weekend in 17 degree weather and it had no problem keeping up on "low" fan setting. It is cold near the floor though.
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barry ohm
Trad climber
escondido, ca
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Dec 17, 2015 - 03:49pm PT
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Im looking to get into a RV soon. I plan to be a full timer and have checked out the Sprinter Vans. Im leaning toward a Truck and trailer as My plan is to be chasing construction work for a few years. When you get serious about a Sprinter van go check out the Sportsmobile Factory. They have a great showwroom really helpfull and you can get a better idea of what fits your needs. When i checked them out it was about a year to build a unit.Cheers
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Dec 17, 2015 - 04:02pm PT
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it's never as comfortable or good an experience as my own rig.
Amen Phylp, you roll like we do. The big debate now as we look to upgrade is whether or not to include a toilet!!! Our van does not have one nor a shower so no Wal-Mart parking lots for us. Something about hauling your own waste around is not all that appealing. I also wonder WTH you'd do in winter with all the piping frozen? Ney, lets connect regarding the winterization you did on your van. Besides we need to ski and I need my hammer back!!!
Cheers,
Charlie D.
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 17, 2015 - 05:26pm PT
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Awesome! Which brand are you using.
We have an Espar. I'm not sure what model. Interestingly, Sportsmobile installed it but knew very little about it. It turns out another company in Oregon designed the system and controller for Sportsmobile.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 17, 2015 - 05:27pm PT
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With my toilet as soon as I dump my holding tank I add some water and RV tank additive that controls odor and breaks down the waste. I put TP in a plastic bag instead of the tank to prevent clogs and it dumps much cleaner. It's a little bit of work but so worth it to have a private/clean bathroom 24/7.
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martygarrison
Trad climber
Washington DC
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 17, 2015 - 05:51pm PT
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Wow this is awesome! Pages of great info. Thanks to everyone. I'll keep you tuned in, having a lot of fun planning this not working thing.
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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Dec 17, 2015 - 06:01pm PT
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I got lucky with the dumping thing. I crawled under the house and tied into the septic with a line that comes up under the front deck near parking. I can remove a special deck board near the house that isn't nailed down and there is now a dump spot there. So far haven't spilled sh@t all over the front deck but I know its only a matter of time.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Dec 17, 2015 - 08:34pm PT
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I got even luckier. My house has a clean out for the septic line on the north side of the house where I park my rig in the shade. The cover unscrews and the rv dump hose screws right onto it.
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SuperTopo on the Web
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Just pour some RV (septic friendly) anti-freeze in the toilet.
Let us know!