Times are changing.... am I crazy?
- Thread starter KC Masterpiece
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KC Masterpiece
Hard Core 4+
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- May 4, 2019
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While I do know guys with car barns and the money to maintain the fleet, I think the happy place is max 3 vehicles. Classic+thrifty+Suv. For example, a pristine FJ45, a Tesla, and a 250/200. Take the classic to ice cream and coffee, daily the thrift for whoever has the worst commute, then have a mild suv with 1.5” lift for exploring and camping. You really don’t need much more than that. (I violate all of these suggestions currently but recognize I need to change. The 45 likely goes and the 40 stays because I drive it far more. Long term, we don’t need a 470 and a 100, so one will get replaced with something more practical)
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100 series for the light duty wheeling and camping with the RTT. FJ62 for Rubicon-like duty and the ‘55 Mercury for Dairy Queen runs. Thrifty would be Suz’s RAV4 Prime plug in hybrid so I think four is the magic number.
We kind of follow that logic but it falls apart with the 40/80 project trucks that hope to be a single new trail truck before the current trail truck finally dies. And of course my wife’s old convertible pretty much rotting in the corner but she can’t yet part with it.
BritKLR
Vice Commander
I wish I could....more than 3 but, less than 14 and I still want a "date car", "long distance touring car/SUV" and a "tire shredder car" and I think I'll be set.
BritKLR
Vice Commander
Agree.
They also get jealous of each other when you ignore one over another.
(or, am I the only one that notices that?)
Exactly. I have five and two are getting jealous. What I’ve noticed is that all need to be readily accessible or you wind up not driving enough and then things quickly become a project to get it back. Garage space also matters and most people don’t have a four car storage situation inside- hence the three max suggestion. I’m also not collecting new cars so age drying is a thing out here…need a four car plus a rotation driving plan to keep everything happy. Hasn’t happened in 30 yrs so…
gr8fulabe
Rising Sun Member
This is closest to our basecamp solution. We have the troopy for truck exploring/camping. But we have an old 33’ diesel pusher for base camping adventures. We can leave the dogs in it with the air on & do whatever we want without worrying about them. Then real beds, toilets, showers, satellite tv & starlink when we get back. It’s got clear coat issues now, so probably a 10-15 purchase max, compared to a 100K for a van with a bucket sh*tter in it. But admittedly, it is too big to go everywhere a van could.
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It’s not the purchase price on those that scare me, it’s tires,batts, maintenance,storage,etc. then diesel at 8mpg. 
. My parents have had a three axle pusher for nearly 20yrs. I’m not sure I want it but I agree it’s amazing to stay in if you find decent spots to “camp “
. My parents have had a three axle pusher for nearly 20yrs. I’m not sure I want it but I agree it’s amazing to stay in if you find decent spots to “camp “
gr8fulabe
Rising Sun Member
we get about 11mpg if we don't push it too hard. But we are a 33' rig instead of one of the really big ones, so that helps. everything else I see as just being maintenance on a vehicle. tires are expensive, but no more so than a set of 5 37's, and they don't come along too often. But if you find a, "cheap" sprinter van, you are usually looking at 60-75k. more like 125 for an expensive one. That's a ton of maintenance for a 15k motorhome, and frankly all the depreciation is out of the diesel pusher, more or less. Not so of a newer van. Honestly if you don't mind buying an older one & expecting some maintenence work here & there, old luxury motorhomes are super cheap compared to the new purchase price! LIke 5% or original sales price.It’s not the purchase price on those that scare me, it’s tires,batts, maintenance,storage,etc. then diesel at 8mpg.
It sounds stupid, but honestly in our case the big reasoning was our dogs. When we first bought this, we had adopted a severely special needs pup that was just too hard to try & leave with a pet sitter. So the motorhome allowed us to get out some & bring him with us, as well as the other dogs. Now, he's passed on, but we can bring all of our other dogs with us & leave them in comfort when we go out exploring, if things aren't dog approved. Definitely not a choice everyone would make! We also use the motorhome for a long 2-3 week Xmas trip back home every year, which we could never do, if we were paying for pet sitter during that time. We're also lucky that both of our jobs allow us to be full remote on that trip due to the holiday season.
I would say that, anyone thinking of this sort of an option, get happy with doing your own work on it unless you've got deep pockets. Paying for work on motorhomes is SUPER expensive!
Doing special things for special dogs is anything but stupid and I salute your dedication to your beasts.
