Just got back from 3 months on the road.

[Frank @ TX]

Hi,
Some have asked that I compile the costs for traveling. 
MC9 , 6V92 , 5 speed man trans, pulling a 4,000# Jeep
I don't count food 'cause it's the same here or there.
There were times when we used the diesel genny and the AquaHot ( shore and Quartzite ).
We left Dec 28, and returned Mar 24.

We went from Kerrville TX,
To...Quatrzite AZ
To...Nogales AZ
To...San Carlos MX  2 month stay
To...Nogales AZ
Back to Kerrville TX
Total of 2,791 miles
No bus problems at all. ( used 1/2 quart of engine oil )

Costs:
Camping in the US   $248.79
Camping in MX        $950.00
Mexico Insurance for car and bus   $320
Tolls Roads in MX  $66
MX tourist visas  ( total for both of us )  $46
Gallons of diesel burned  390.0
Cost for diesel  $1,217.50

By the way diesel in MX is $2.30 / gal, yeh I filled up before crossing the boarder.
Some say the diesel is the kind that is called low sulphur not ultra low sulphur.

I hope this helps those that are planning to travel with your cost estimates for moving around.

Frank

[cody]

Nice trip frank, I really can't think of anything more enjoyable than seeing whats over the next hill, unless it's whats around the next corner.  When we hit the road fulltiming last fall, we figured a buck a mile on the road as a guideline and for the most part it worked out pretty close as far as covering fuel, campgrounds, etc.  Now that fuel has gone up conciderably we are revising it up to 1.25 a mile just to be safe.  I'm sure diesel will fall soon, to maybe 3.99 a gallon lol.  My plan is to invest in oil futures and start thinking about the pile of cash that will suddenly appear in front of me, as soon as I do that, the bottom will drop out of the market and we can all hit the road again with a full tank. lol

[Dreamscape]

Hi Frank,

Sounds like ya'll had a nice trip.

Glad you didn't have any problems and you are made it home safe and sound.

Hope to see you guys at TBR 2008 in September.

Paul

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Frank,

Sounds like all had a great time!

Thanks for sharing about the costs and your trip.

Nick-

[zubzub]

thanks for the cost breakdown, very helpful as I will be there next year (I hope).  One little question. $950 for camping in mexico, were you staying in rv parks near the beach mostly?  And were you aware of places that you could have parked that would have been less expensive, or was that about as low as it goes?  $10 a day is fine really I was just wondering.

[Frank @ TX]

Hi zubzub.
This is the price for FHU ( water, free 30 AMP and sewer ) about a block from the beach.
You could always drycamp on the beach but you still ned to dump and get water.
Other than RV Campgrounds there are no other ways to fill/dump the tanks.
Hope this helps
Frank

[bobofthenorth]

We have typically found Mexican campgrounds to be in the $15 to $20 range but they often give you 7 days for the price of 6.  $10 per day is a pretty good rate - we've never done that well.

And yes there are beach boondocking opportunities but I'm not wild about having surf landing on my bus.  The few times I have parked on the beach with previous RVs I have regretted it for a long time afterwards.  I guess if I had an Eagle it wouldn't matter but I like to keep my Prevost rust free.   

[cody]

Yeah, yeah bob, pick on the poor iggles lol, here I sit watching the waves roll in, palm tree's swaying, is the snow gone yet in alberta? lol

[Stan]

That is amazing oil consumption. I have never heard of a diesel engine (all brands) that didn't use some oil up to large quantity which the manufacturer says is normal. When Rolls Royce engines were put in trucks, they said three gallons per thousand miles was normal for the first 100,000 miles but should improve after that. 

[luvrbus]

Stan, people I know with 60 s  use less than a gal every 5 or 6 thousand miles, my 8v92 is a fresh rebuild with 8,000 miles and uses 1 gal every 3500 miles and I know it will use less after 20,000 miles break in

[Frank @ TX]

About the oil usage,
The 6V92 had about 40,000 miles after the complete rebuilt when I bought it.
Cylinders , pistons, bearings, cams, most valves, rads, new front gears, , water pump, and clutch.
It now has about 80,000 miles total.
The guy that did the rebuilt is the sourch that the bus companies use in southern PA.
I brought it back to him to have the Jakes installed.
He ran the racks again.
He just loves 2 strokes.

Hope this helps

Frank

[makemineatwostroke]

Frank sounds like the guy did your engine right I do not doubt your oil useage if the engine is rebuilt the right way and you drive your 6v92 in the 1800rpm range they don't use that much oil but they will use more Rotella and Delo than any other brand of oil that I know of for some reason, my question is what brand of oil are you buying

[Frank @ TX]

Hi MM2,
The oil in it now is DD CF2.
I was having a hard time finding oil and took a short cut to DD 'cause I was in a hurry.
I was supprised the DD oil was not that much more than what I was paying.
The big difference with DD oil is that it is almost clear, I was use to a light amber color.
BUT, the oil usage seems to be the same with whatever oil I can find CF2--40 wt.
I change it between 10K to 15K and use the oil analysis EVERY time.
Before this trip I bought "Phillips HD II" CF2--40 wt.  So that's what it'll get next time.
It is very close to DD specs.

Hey, MM2 you're in PA aren't you?
We were from PA until we moved to TX.
No snow in this part of TX.

CU Later
Frank

[makemineatwostroke]

No Frank I not from PA I grew up in Houston and worked for Stewart and Stevenson for 40 years last 22 was over the South American operations for them live in Scottsdale AZ now and hate it would like to live in the hill country of TX with the 4 mild seasons

[Frank @ TX]

Hey MM2,
There's lots of room , so come on down.
Frank