What's the longest you've lived in the same motorhome?

[HisAirness]

So I have put in about $90,000 on my current van that I thought I would be using for longer than I thought I would be. I've only been in it for 4 years now and I am already needing to upgrade. the reasons why I need to upgrade are that I do not have a full fridge, there is no air conditioning, there is no permanent bathroom and no water management.

I'm looking at a motorhome for $150,000 and it has all of those above items. If I keep this motorhome for 12 years and spend $50,000 within that time frame to maintain it then I will have only spent $1,400 per month. Which would be great, that is about the same you would spend on an apartment.

However, I just want to know how realistic it would be to have a single-vehicle for that long. I am skeptical because I am only at year four and I am already outgrowing my current van.


On the flip side, my current van is 16 feet long and not a motor home. It is just a converted van. This is a full-on 24ft motorhome.

What do you think? Am I being naive to think I could stretch the life of a Class B for full time living into 12 YEARS,?

The class b I'm considering is a coachmen galleria

[rowiebowie]

Welcome to the forum!

$90,000 in your current van without basic amenities. Ouch!

I think you'll find nearly any modern class b to be larger and more luxurious. If you've made it 4 years in your current one, then I guess 12 yrs. is possible in your next one if you're patient and get one set up the way you like.

Read and search this forum for opinions on the Mercedes diesel Sprinter chassis. Too many people regret the reliability problems and the hard to find and expensive service required at a certified Sprinter service center. Not all have these problems, but enough to stay clear of a Sprinter which is what the Galeria is based on.

Good luck.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by HisAirness

So I have put in about $90,000 on my current van that I thought I would be using for longer than I thought I would be. I've only been in it for 4 years now and I am already needing to upgrade. the reasons why I need to upgrade are that I do not have a full fridge, there is no air conditioning, there is no permanent bathroom and no water management.

I'm looking at a motorhome for $150,000 and it has all of those above items. If I keep this motorhome for 12 years and spend $50,000 within that time frame to maintain it then I will have only spent $1,400 per month. Which would be great, that is about the same you would spend on an apartment.

However, I just want to know how realistic it would be to have a single-vehicle for that long. I am skeptical because I am only at year four and I am already outgrowing my current van.


On the flip side, my current van is 16 feet long and not a motor home. It is just a converted van. This is a full-on 24ft motorhome.

What do you think? Am I being naive to think I could stretch the life of a Class B for full time living into 12 YEARS,?

The class b I'm considering is a coachmen galleria

Did you make an error in your presentation because a 16ft van that is converted doesn't cost $90,000 unless its been adorned like Saddam's Palace.*

What did you invest option wise into that unit & was it a brand new rig?

Why did it cost $90k?

Do you prefer to buy brand new?

I have had my 19.5 foot 2005 Roadtrek Versatile for 9 years & its the perfect** size for me in Los Angeles with all the plumbing, solar, electrical & new DC fridge being installed this week.

I purchased the unit with 38,000 miles for $38k from a very careful one owner family.

I have about 108,000 miles.

Have made several upgrades from lifting the unit, solar, cabinetry, etc.

When you say Water Mgmt I presume you mean plumbing, tanks, shower, etc?

Maybe you use a Porta Potti?

Do you have your mind set on this other model because its available, you have checked it out & are ready to pull the trigger, ie; a brand new Coachmen Galleria?

Or are you open to suggestions?

If the latter, you might find an RV with a Mercedes 144 wheelbase but all the whistles, the perfect* next step.

Or a Ford, Dodge, Chevy on a similar smaller chassis.

Or the 170* Mercedes wheelbase, if you are comfortable with some the parking restrictions of some Cities & feel you need the room.

Or again, the Ford, Chevy, Dodge longer units.

The short answer; I am in square foot Heaven ...

*yes, I was there
**RV Envy is a very real phenomena, even though Van/RV Living is an exercise in gratefulness & acceptance

[themexicandoctor]

Before I forget, anyone who has lived in a 16ft van for 4 years whether you bought it for $900*, $9000 or $90,000 before you decided you needed more space & amenities already has the Art of Van Living down ...

*its a bigger stretch

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Before I forget, anyone who has lived in a 16ft van for 4 years whether you bought it for $900*, $9000 or $90,000 before you decided you needed more space & amenities already has the Art of Van Living down ...

Well said. His next move should be a breeze.

[Bmecalo]

Sometime in the next 12 years your circumstances will change again. I wouldn't worry about recapturing all your cost when you need to change. Be prudent when you spend and do your homework when you sell. In between, enjoy.

[Scottbaldassari]

At 90K, hopefully your 16' "converted van" is still worth something after 4 years. A brand new manufactured class B can be had for less than that. Mine is 4 years old, cost 75K, has cost virtually nothing (except gas & tires, etc) and is STILL worth at least 50K. Either way I look at it, it has cost a LOT less than $1400 per month.
If you are talking about a 24' class C, I personally think you are taking a step DOWN, and your resale value will be less when it comes time to sell. At 12 years, there may be no resale value at all with a class C, where a class B should still have decent worth.
No one can tell you if you will be happy in the same rig for 12 years, that is personal preference. But if you get one that has all the necesseties, there should be no reason you COULDN'T stay in the same class B for 12 years (many people have done it).

[HisAirness]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Did you make an error in your presentation because a 16ft van that is converted doesn't cost $90,000 unless its been adorned like Saddam's Palace.*

What did you invest option wise into that unit & was it a brand new rig?

Why did it cost $90k?

Do you prefer to buy brand new?

I have had my 19.5 foot 2005 Roadtrek Versatile for 9 years & its the perfect** size for me in Los Angeles with all the plumbing, solar, electrical & new DC fridge being installed this week.

I purchased the unit with 38,000 miles for $38k from a very careful one owner family.

I have about 108,000 miles.

Have made several upgrades from lifting the unit, solar, cabinetry, etc.

When you say Water Mgmt I presume you mean plumbing, tanks, shower, etc?

Maybe you use a Porta Potti?

Do you have your mind set on this other model because its available, you have checked it out & are ready to pull the trigger, ie; a brand new Coachmen Galleria?

Or are you open to suggestions?

If the latter, you might find an RV with a Mercedes 144 wheelbase but all the whistles, the perfect* next step.

Or a Ford, Dodge, Chevy on a similar smaller chassis.

Or the 170* Mercedes wheelbase, if you are comfortable with some the parking restrictions of some Cities & feel you need the room.

Or again, the Ford, Chevy, Dodge longer units.

The short answer; I am in square foot Heaven ...

*yes, I was there
**RV Envy is a very real phenomena, even though Van/RV Living is an exercise in gratefulness & acceptance

I bought my van used with 84k miles for $33k. I spent about $20k on the engine and structural things alone. I rebuilt the entire suspension, new bushings, new shocks (because I realized after I added all these amenities like large house batteries, that the suspension was inadequat), new updated brake system, updated coolant, air conditioner repair. Then I spent just under $28k making it modern, such as the electrical system, solar power, modern locking system, sound system, new seats, water heating system, showering system. then I spent another $8-9k on accessories, I added a light bar on the front, I added a system in the rear, including boxes, for more storage. It just kept slowly growing.

I have 20 gallons of fresh water, and a shower and a toilet, but the shower and toilet needs to be set up, and then taken down manually, since there is no room. There is no grey tank, so I plug the sink until Im at a place where i can let it drain. I only drain soapy water, never black water.

To be honest, I don't mind that I spent so much on my van. I wouldnt mind spending more on it, but I have simply hit the absolute max this van can do. After all it is only 16 feet long.


I'm not set on anything. The Coachmen galleria is the easiest choice. It comes in 4x4, has lithium batteries, full time shower and bathroom, grey water tank, an AC, and full fridge and microwave convection oven.

I have thought about something cheaper and used, like around 60k. But these rigs DO NOT have lithium, solar, or AC, and typically not a full fridge. So I'm find myself leaning back towards the 150k Coachmen. If I buy something cheaper for 60k, I would need to drop another 40k to add lithium, fridge, solar, etc. Then I feel like I'm back at what I did with my current van, dropping lots of money upgrading and modernizing.

[themexicandoctor]

I had a series of more questions & answers that I dutifully chicken pecked out on my cell phone only to be logged out & have lost them.

You are very clear in your ideas so you deserve such a thoughtful discussion.

Tomorrow I will find the time to answer appropriately.

[Belzar]

How do you use your rig? Is it your daily commuter vehicle as well as home? Do you boondock in rural areas or stay in parks with hook ups? Are you nomadic or generally stay in one place for more than several days/weeks at a time?

[HisAirness]

Originally Posted by Belzar

How do you use your rig? Is it your daily commuter vehicle as well as home? Do you boondock in rural areas or stay in parks with hook ups? Are you nomadic or generally stay in one place for more than several days/weeks at a time?

All of the above except for staying in parks with hookups. I have never stayed in a park or campground with hookups. I have solar and house batteries. And my plumbing does not utilize a gray or black tank.

I live full-time, I use it as my daily driver, it's my office, and over the four years that I have lived in it I have spent weeks at a time in both rural locations in addition to city and suburban locations, as well as being nomadic one night at a time.

[themexicandoctor]

1. It seems to me that you are a Perfectionist, correct? Perfectly healthy outlook even in an RV Owner.

2. That when you purchase equipment for your rig you do a lot of research & buy the best of the best?

3. And you hire quality but expensive professionals to do the installations, etc?

4. And your first van arrived with problems you never expected?

5. And you like to drive with no compromises?

6. Do you absolutely feel you must have the floor plan size of a Class C? The pull outs, etc?

7. That the 16footer has almost everything you need but you have outgrown her & there is nothing more you can add?

This is just my impressions;

A Class C is "a wet pig on an oil floor" to drive. They are tall, they are wide they are ungainly. You could throw 50k at one & they still move a "pig on oil floor."

They use a lot more Fuel.

They are oversized for the Chassis's they come with.

Forget the 4wd option unless you are occasionally on need in rough campsites, snow or icy roads, the beach, etc.

You talk about throwing $60k at a rig & then another $40k for a DC Fridge, Solar, Batteries.

For $1000-1500 + $120-200 for the installation, you have a top.of the line DC Compressor Upright Fridge.

For the best Solar panels on a Class B 300-400watts, the best MTTP Charge Controller, high quality pure size wave inverter, meter, etc you are looking $1500-3000k with installation.

The lithium Batteries another $1000 each for Two.

The Microwave is $100.

As for the toilet ,& plumbing for both tanks, for $60k your rig should have both in place & working well.

My suggestion, get a 5.5 Gallon Thetford Ports Potti & drop kick the toilet the Class B of your choice comes with.

After 9 years of dealing with a 3 Eay Fridge & Black Tank Dumping & Maintenance, I quit.

I still habe my 10 gallon Black Tank but where the toiket used to be I removed the throne, put a piece of wood that is routed out underneath when the old drain came through the floor that covers the plugged drain pipe from view & is a platform to store my Porta Potti in between uses.

The Black Tank would last 10 days, the Porta Potti only 5 days but its a breeze to dump in any standard toilet.

Moreover if traveling I always have the ability to open thr plug on the black tank & store there for a total of 15 gallons.

[themexicandoctor]

4 years in a 16 footer, you must be a Monk.

Then again, I did it for 6 plus years, it was a very asetic experience.

The Class C is too much of a jump & they are a middle of the line up, too heavy, too ungainly compromise model of the industry.

Think of a Class B, 144 or 170, Sprinter or Dodge - knowing your personal needs for drive quality it doesn't take much for you to dial it in so it performs like a Sports Car - but its never going to happen with a Class C.

The B is shaped an Arrow, the C like a Pear.

Plus you are not going to be camped for extended periods of time, boondocking, etc instead you are going to be driving the van as your Everyday Carry.

They are not as easy to drive in urban traffic.

Then you have to park.

And its true, they do depreciate so very quickly.

The build detail & quality is not like you find in expensive Class As.

The C's are a compromise & it shows.

But you do see that focused attention to detail & build quality in Class B's.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by HisAirness

....


What do you think? Am I being naive to think I could stretch the life of a Class B for full time living into 12 YEARS,?

The class b I'm considering is a coachmen galleria

Yes, you could full-time in a van for 12 years. But no, you sure as hell are not going to do that in a Galleria.

If you want quality that is going to sustain for that amount of time, my advice is to build yourself.

My husband and I were newbies when we started this van gig, and we bought an Airstream Interstate that was about 7 years old at the time.

Then we decided that we liked it and were going to keep it long-term.

Then we realized that there's no way it would sustain even part-time living for 15 years, which became our goal. It just wasn't sufficiently durable and it did not have the capacity we needed.

So we started upgrading and replacing its components preemptively.

If we had known then what we know now, we would have built our own van from scratch using quality materials.

The only upfit that I would trust to last 12 years of full-timing use is Advanced RV, and that one appears to be outside your budget (and the budget of 99.99% of all people on Earth).

[themexicandoctor]

The Joys of stamping one's design experience on their RV while at the same time, stamping out the Wildfires that happen at 65mph when you transition from a Prospective Buyer & into an Owner.

I can attest to the brilliant info of posters like Interblog, GeorgeRA,Davvyd, Booster, MsNomer, etc.

By the way, as one owner of a Class C told me recently, he lurks over here because the quality of information not found in many sites all the internet.

He owns a 2006 Dynamax unit I believe, a high end Class C that went out of business in 2007.

[Davydd]

I think I've owned some of the best Class B's over the years. Four years seems to be my limit as I drive them over 20,000 mile per year and as Interblog said look at upgrading and replacing components. They wear out or something way better can replace them. For me, my days of tinkering except in design are over. There's better people than me that can build and they also have the experience of other RVs to build on and have a team of specialist. Also, with experience and time my needs changed and there are always shiny new wants. I guess since I am a 0.01%er I can do it.

I say this and my personal car is a 2003 Subaru Baja.

[themexicandoctor]

Yes but its the feeling of getting it just right is probably what drives the original poster.

I am 58 & full of life & yet since the honeymoon ended & my first repair was a shattered under carriage plumping 30 days in, I find myself prudently placing yellow stick it notes on various features of the van.

Not physically but in a mental form, hovering over objects like leaky gate valves, the solar roof on hot days or that box of pretzels I call my Electrical box with the shunt, inverter, etc.

As I land & hover over such aspects of such objects my mind recalls the experience in all my naive gumption to my understanding of what is truly involved & usually an image of a BIG RED X (meaning NO!), stamps itself into my conscious.

Some people would call it arriving at Sage like Wisdom ie;

"When I asked Joe if I should tackle that problem & how long it would take & could I borrow some tools (insert nightmare), he looked at me & without a word I could discern in his eyes the answer (insert) ..."

Not just in the ways his eyes fixed me with a stare or the way his frown lines of his brow furrowed & the sudden rigidity in his jaw & shoulders as I asked was his unequivocal message "In all my years of RV Ownership, this (insert) is something best left to RV Professionals ..."

I think its none of that, instead its more a result of;

1. Not experiencing any memory loss around the last time you fixed it even after you felt the Learning Curve was mastered.

2. Memories seared onto the brain's hard drive physically, spiritually & of course, mentally.

3. That you have enough finances that you can pay someone who not only does this several times a year, but they have the gear, the the tools & a formula for doing it right & even they, book it for the future & then sound like Sailors while doing the repair.

What am I trying communicate;

With your desire for perfection & a history of investing your hard earned money into capturing fleeting moments of "Its just right, I did the impossible, this is Heaven!", starting with a Class C brings to mind images of Sisyphus except that isnt a Boulder but a Class C with the handbrake off ...

[themexicandoctor]

0.01% I hope that's a positive.

As well as the Subaru you probably made good use clippling Life's physical & mental shopping coupons.

Great discipline, what a wonderful place to be.

[themexicandoctor]

A Class C is going to crush your dreams of perfection while parked in your Workshop.

The moment you turn the key on & head out onto the open road, prepare to be disappointed because the foundation that you attach your upgrades to are going to fail due to stress meeting compromise.

And when I say open road, I mean the relative luxury of an American Black Top Highway.

All bets are off the moment you turn onto that beckoning path of the roads less traveled.

Before you need to engage 4x4.

When you drive around the decaying cities of the US (for me the USA & NZ are the two greatest countries in the World - I know as I grew up in NZ until 23 & have worked in every other country or facsimile thereof, on the Planet with the USA as my base) you will notice a salient fact;

Many of the derelict RVs parked in certain no go areas are bottom of the barrel, leaking, duct taped units out there are Class C's.

[avanti]

It is true that Class C is the preferred platform for POS campers. But there are also some first-rate brands as well, with excellent quality.