weekend warrior lifestyle

[offroad]

So was going over the costs associated with van living lifestyle. For the weekend warrior who has not transistioned to full time.

Usually my personal interests involve driving 300 miles one way in six hours and staying for some event. Then driving back. Have to get to the 40 hour rat-race job.

600 miles round trip, at 10mpg van with $3 gasoline per gallon is $180. While if I drive a 30mpg car that's only $60 gas cost.

The difference is $120 per weekend trip. So for my weekend warrior lifestyle I tend to not camp and instead stay at AIRBNB places for $60 per night. It's the same price as owning a van part time. At least for now.

Suppose I can car camp with tent and cut costs down to $20 a night. But those tent locations need to be outstanding. And a few are.

Someday the full time van lifestyle will catch me. Looking forward to it.

 

[offroad]

Looked at some free weekend camping in national forest. The location looks like a crazy van man dream. Not conducive to pleasant company. Am rethinking the free national forest camping strategy for east coast.

It's not dispersed camping. Rather it is free concentrated first come first serve. And depending on the company it can be kind of creepy.

 

[highdesertranger]

your missing a lot here. there is a lot more than mpg that goes into actual cost per mile. original cost of vehicle, insurance, maintenance, registration, etc. all these play a part in how much it cost to get from point a to point b. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

A couple things I'd say to that.

First, if you're just a weekend warrior, I'd get minivan instead of a van. It'll give you plenty of room to camp in for a weekend and can easily get 20-24 MPG. Lots of them have fold-flat or easily removable seats giving you great comfort!

Second, I'd give serious thought to a Runaway, pop-up or tear-drop trailer that you tow with your car. Their perfect for a weekend warrior

Third, I'd be where it wasn't so creepy!! I'd be out West!

Bob

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

Usually my personal interests involve driving 300 miles one way in six hours and staying for some event. Then driving back.

I have a big spreadsheet where I document events I might be interested in.  These are mostly music festivals, harmonica events, but also Michigan State football games and other stuff.  I calculate the cost per day, including ticket, camping, and mileage.  It's a lot of work.  I've been doing this for a few years, and it never fails to amaze me when I find a new festival that is cheap and not much driving.  Driving 6 hours to a week-end event kills half the week-end.  Besides the internet, I get good tips about events just by talking to people I meet.  Also, 10 mpg is pretty poor.  I chose a sprinter van because they get 25mpg.  However, with the price of gas and the price of diesel, if I had it to do over I might go with a gas engine since gas is SO cheap.  I've also given rides to others to share the expense.  

Because of the distance and fuel costs, I seldom get west of the Mississippi.  In fact I've never set foot in California, Arizona, or New Mexico.