How much does a Sportsmobile 4x4 REALLY cost?

[geoffff]

I'm not sure everyone really wants to see this, but ...

I was doing some budgeting recently and (in a very nerdy way) I decided calculate exactly how much it cost me to own my 2004 4x4 Sportsmobile for the past 20 years. Here's what I found:

$116,148 ($5807/year) capital loss
$55,227 ($2761/year) gasoline
$53,347 ($2667/year) repairs
$10,500 ($525/year) insurance
--------------------------------------------
$235,222 ($11,761/year) TOTAL

Looking back at my photo collection, I see that I camped about 1000 nights, so this works out to:

$235 cost per night of camping

Totally worth it.

========================================

NOTES:

• All dollar values numbers were converted to 2024 dollars to account for inflation.
• I'm pretty hard on my van. Much of the fun for me is seeing just how far I can get off-road. If you stick to campgrounds, your repair and capital loss costs will likely be much lower.
• Yearly repair costs for my first decade of van ownership were only $750/year. This increased to $3650/year for the second decade of ownership. A lot starting wearing out after 10 years!
• I did some of the work myself, saving a bit of cost. (My time was not considered in these costs.)
• I spent even more $$ at Amazon, etc. for all the "little stuff" and toys needed for my van adventures -- not listed.
• I bought my Sportsmobile new in 2004 for $80,000 ($131,148 in 2024 dollars), and I sold it for $15,000. I subtract these for the "capital loss".
• I drove my van 135K miles. At 11 MPG and $4.50/gallon gasoline (2024 dollars), that's $55,227 in gasoline.

[edit: "depreciation" --> "capital loss" (thanks, Ozarker!)]

 

[geoffff]

Here is a list and summaries for most of my repair/service bills:

year bill (in 2024 dollars) service
2005 $40 ($63) maintenance
2005 $360 ($571) maintenance & windshield
2006 $600 ($938) 15000 mile service, Transfer Flow gas slow-fill fix attempt #1
2006 $300 ($469) front tow hitch, alignment
2006 $100 ($156) maintenance
2006 $650 ($1016) maintenance, front hubs replaced, Transfer Flow gas slow-fill fix attempt #2
2006 $406 ($635) tuner
2007 $900 ($1364) tires (4)
2007 $600 ($909) fuel pump fail, high beam lights fail
2007 $470 ($712) 30k service
2008 $100 ($149) 35k service
2009 $200 ($290) maintenance, front diff service
2009 $650 ($942) axle shaft seal
2011 $413 ($566) shocks parts
2012 $820 ($1108) replace refrigerator
2012 $350 ($473) maintenance & diff, trans
2012 $600 ($811) tie rod
2012 $270 ($365) windshield
2013 $660 ($868) diffs, t-case, hubs
2014 $750 ($962) brake calipers, window replace
2014 $260 ($333) tire (1)
2014 $700 ($897) body work
2014 $2250 ($2885) new wheels and tires
2014 $750 ($962) exhaust, battery cables
2014 $300 ($385) windshield
2014 $405 ($519) tuner
2014 $50 ($64) rear tire holder parts
2015 $1550 ($1938) radiator replace, front suspension work
2015 $31 ($38) rear tire holder parts
2016 $2000 ($2439) brake rotors/pads, ball joints, t-case seal
2016 $570 ($695) maintenance, disconnect rear A/C
2016 $850 ($1037) tires (2)
2016 $1750 ($2134) Deaver springs parts (rear)
2017 $950 ($1131) Deaver springs install, battery, maintenance
2017 $340 ($405) windshield
2017 $116 ($138) sway bar disconnect parts
2017 $640 ($762) tires (2)
2018 $470 ($547) trans service, loose steering, maintenance
2018 $1170 ($1360) front leaf spring replacement (labor), maintenance
2019 $770 ($875) starter, battery
2019 $980 ($1114) steering box
2019 $670 ($761) tires (2)
2019 $3000 ($3409) radiator replace, exhaust work, brake work
2019 $1800 ($2045) alignment, muffler, tires (4)
2019 $130 ($148) loose air intake duct
2020 $50 ($55) warranty tire work
2020 $800 ($879) tires (2)
2020 $1700 ($1868) replace radiator
2021 $1000 ($1075) rear spring shackle, body repair
2021 $3000 ($3226) both drivelines replaced
2022 $1800 ($1895) replace radiator
2023 $295 ($301) track bar parts
2023 $60 ($61) trans fluid
2024 $300 ($300) windshield
2024 $3300 ($3300) front brakes, track bar, battery, wheel bearings/seals

NOTES

• Yes, I really did need to replace my radiator 4 times! Body flex towards the end caused repeated failures.
• I went through 5 windshields.
• My tires usually ended up needing replacement from being damaged offroad -- I never completely used up all the tread. Though I did sometimes replace them all at the same time when only a few were messed up.

 

[Ozarker]

Depreciation is not a constant, annual expense, it is variable.
Repairs are on you, I've had over a hundred vehicles and none of them 5 windshields or 4 radiators, it was a cost for you to keep it going, probably not for someone else.
Depreciation is an expense of holding any asset, you don't add it back to your value.

The longer you keep it the better off you'll likely be, I would think an 04 with normal miles, wear n tear, would be worth more than $15K, but whatever.....

 

[geoffff]

Maybe I shouldn't have used the word "depreciation" in this context. I meant (Purchase - Sale) / Years.

I added all the money I put in (purchase, repairs, parts), and subtracted sale price.

I tried hard to sell my van for more $, but as I said -- I used it harder than most people do.

 

[klahanie]

Fun ! I like numbers but not enough to keep my gas receipts for 20 yrs

Totally worth it.

Agreed. And brings to mind a retrospective post many years ago by Doug Hackney (who built a rig and travelled extensively with it) where he was relating his wiring methodology. It being very attentive to drawings, layout, colour coding, labelling, bundling, terminal sealing etc etc ...
... and some wag asked in reply, "wouldn't it have been easier to just take a taxi ?!".

Well, that's not the point is it !!

Anyway, two things stood out to me from your report.

1) Cost of fuel. Thought it was low but natch that's a function of miles driven. Interestingly, a quick goolge equivilency comparison says your gasoline price used is much the same as is currently here in Vancouver, BC (imfamously expensive).

2) Cost of Insurance. Here it would be 2-3 times more.

I guess a #3 would be the repair cost of first 10 years vs second 10 years. We often struggle with where that line is of when to sell/trade up etc. To get out before the vehicle reaches what my old mechanic lovingly refered to as, "it"s golden years" (to him !).

But I totally get why you'd keep 'er rolling.

20 years is a pretty good innings. You both done good.

Thanks for the post. Good, honest info worth seeing !

 

[Ozarker]

Almost didn't comment, but if you really want an acceptable, financial analysis, you'd need to be an accountant, understanding deprecation, depletion, cost basis, interest influences, time value of money, taxation and other financial analysis techniques.

But, what you can know without much trouble is that owning a specialized vehicle of any kind and used daily will be more expensive than a Honda Accord or an F-150!

What you establish as your cost or expense of ownership is offset by your valuation of the use of that vehicle. When I bought my first pickup, the seller said, that's a good truck, it can make you money!

It's your valuation of the use of your vehicle that really matters, bang for the buck while you owned it.

 

[Steve_382]

Here is a list and summaries for most of my repair/service bills:



NOTES

• Yes, I really did need to replace my radiator 4 times! Body flex towards the end caused repeated failures.
• I went through 5 windshields.
• My tires usually ended up needing replacement from being damaged offroad -- I never completely used up all the tread. Though I did sometimes replace them all at the same time when only a few were messed up.

I won't include my complete spreadsheet, but the total numbers aren't much different. Ours is a 2008 that we bought new and has just under 200,000 miles. I also use it as a daily driver around town half the time. Only had to replace the radiator once so far, and somehow the windshield is original. Took it back to SMB and redid parts of the interior. Probably averaged 50 nights per year or 800 nights. Well worth it. Would like to get a new one, but haven't found anything we like as well. Almost bought a StoryTeller Sprinter, but the interior isn't nearly as comfortable as the old RB50 SMB with the couch in the rear. I didn't include insurance or adjust for inflation. Those numbers are just what I paid at the time. It still runs and drives fine so we may just keep it another 20 years.

 

[Steve_382]

I won't include my complete spreadsheet, but the total numbers aren't much different. Ours is a 2008 that we bought new and has just under 200,000 miles. I also use it as a daily driver around town half the time. Only had to replace the radiator once so far, and somehow the windshield is original. Took it back to SMB and redid parts of the interior. Probably averaged 50 nights per year or 800 nights. Well worth it. Would like to get a new one, but haven't found anything we like as well. Almost bought a StoryTeller Sprinter, but the interior isn't nearly as comfortable as the old RB50 SMB with the couch in the rear. I didn't include insurance or adjust for inflation. Those numbers are just what I paid at the time. It still runs and drives fine so we may just keep it another 20 years.

View attachment 866680

A couple of pics:

 

[Ozarker]

^ Keep it, good looking van!

 

[geoffff]

Almost didn't comment, but if you really want an acceptable, financial analysis, you'd need to be an accountant, understanding deprecation, depletion, cost basis, interest influences, time value of money, taxation and other financial analysis techniques.

But, what you can know without much trouble is that owning a specialized vehicle of any kind and used daily will be more expensive than a Honda Accord or an F-150!

What you establish as your cost or expense of ownership is offset by your valuation of the use of that vehicle. When I bought my first pickup, the seller said, that's a good truck, it can make you money!

It's your valuation of the use of your vehicle that really matters, bang for the buck while you owned it.

Thanks! Reading up on this a bit more, I see that perhaps I should have used the term "capital loss" instead of "depreciation".

 

[dstefan]

Two thoughts:
1. Good reason for why I never add up all my costs! Though I keep a record of them all, except gas.
2. An early financial planner I used really got on the soap box and insisted that the stupidest thing one could do was to buy any type of RV. I fired her soon thereafter!🤣

Seriously, great job and pretty interesting to look at. I’d guess doing as much traveling and using motels/hotels, restaurants etc might have cost even more, especially counting the vehicle used (or plane flights), gas, repairs, etc.

 

[geoffff]

I won't include my complete spreadsheet, but the total numbers aren't much different. Ours is a 2008 that we bought new and has just under 200,000 miles. I also use it as a daily driver around town half the time. Only had to replace the radiator once so far, and somehow the windshield is original. Took it back to SMB and redid parts of the interior. Probably averaged 50 nights per year or 800 nights. Well worth it. Would like to get a new one, but haven't found anything we like as well. Almost bought a StoryTeller Sprinter, but the interior isn't nearly as comfortable as the old RB50 SMB with the couch in the rear. I didn't include insurance or adjust for inflation. Those numbers are just what I paid at the time. It still runs and drives fine so we may just keep it another 20 years.

View attachment 866680

Remember, your van still has value if you sold it today, which you can include in your accounting -- even if you do plan on keeping it forever! (Probably worth significantly more than my old well-used van.)