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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Researching RV Living -> Budgeting Maint/Repairs
Post Info TOPIC: Budgeting Maint/Repairs
Thunder


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Budgeting Maint/Repairs
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  Hello, all I hope to be a fulltimer in the next 3 months and as I am making out my budget I wanted to get some input on what i should put for Maint./Repairs. I have a 02 coachman tt that has been used less then a month all together.. I also have a 96 f350 7.3 powerstroke in excellent condition. My Brother owns a mechanic shop and has gone through it with a fine tooth comb. But, I wanted to get some fulltimer;s opinions on to what I should budget monthly for the truck and the trailer maint./repair. Thank you for your input I am on a tight budget so this will be very helpful. Oh I plan to workamp 2 times a year 4-6 months so I will only be towing a few days a year and using the truck once I am settled in at a jobsite.

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 David Sussman lifeprotect123@gmail.com
Will Travel in a 2002 coachman travel trailer and a 1995 F350 
wmalefyt


RV-Dreams Family Member

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I recommend you read Howard's financial info on RV-Dreams.Com.  Here's a link to the financial section:  http://www.rv-dreams.com/financial-information.html

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Bill and Linda
Luvglass


RV-Dreams Family Member

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It's really hard to generalize these expenses, they are so dependent on how much you drive and your own luck with repair needs.

FWIW, here are our actual truck expenses for 3 years and 74,000 miles of driving. The diesel truck was new when we started.

Oil changes with appropriate air filter and transmission fluid changes - $1515 or $42 a month

Replacement of batteries, tires and a repair of the steering damper - $1916 or $53 a month

Total truck maintenance and repair for the Wandering Wishnie's - $95 a month over 3 years.

Hope this is of some help,

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Fred Wishnie

Full time since Feb 06 in Carriage Cameo 35KS3 and Ford F350


“If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got.”
gypsy97


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Thunder, I bought a 2004 Hitchhiker II last November, and it had been rarely used.  I would be surprised if it was used more than a month altogether.  The mattresses on the bed and sofa bed were still wrapped in the original plastic!  I thought I was getting a "like new" unit, but some things seem to suffer from non-use, so be prepared to spend a little more than you expect to in the first few months.  As an example, I had several RV service people tell me the tires on my 5ver were just fine; probably because it just sat in a storage lot, signs of dry rot are now beginning to show up, and I'm looking at buying 4 new tires next month.  That punches a hole into any budget.

Another thing to think about, if the original owner doesn't give the rig a good workout then how can they spot the little things that need to be taken care of under warranty.  By the time you or I get the unit, it doesn't matter because we will have to bear the cost of all repairs.  My advice is to budget extra for maintenance for the first year, and even then be prepared for surprises.

Good luck.
Gypsy

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gypsy97
www.gypsy97.blogspot.com
2004 Hitchhiker II
2002 Ford F-350, diesel, dually
Fulltimer as of 12/01/2008!
Speedhitch


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Thunder...Look at Fred's $$ figure. You need to budget at least that much back for the surprises that await you. Yes you will have some things go wrong ...so put at least what Fred shows away each month and pray you have a full year of use before you have to dig into that account.

Speedy

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Joe Sherri and Kris living in a Open Range Lite 308BHS. 2500 Dodge Ram Diesel  http://speedysgreatadventure.blogspot.com/
dream reachers


RV-Dreams Family Member

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I had a Coachman TT many years ago. I tried to live in it in Kentucky for a month in the winter and I had some big issues with it . After confiring with a RV repair service I was told that it was a vacation trailer and not designed to be used for fulltime use. The trailer may have improved greatly in the last few years and I don't want to discourage you from going fulltime. I see people fulltiming in all types of RVs. I would just advise you to go to warm climates in the winter and cooler climates in the summer, that is what most fulltimers do anway. We budget $50 a month for maintanence and don't budget for repairs but have savings set aside for any occurences. Best wishes on going fulltime, it's a great life.

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Allan, Jeanne and Katie the cat
Full-timers from Alabama
"07 -40' Phaeton & '08 Jeep Liberty
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