Thursday, November 01, 2018

Box Van's Mileage

12:03 am:
A few Readers have commented on the low mileage that Box Van gets. Our first mileage calculation was 8.28 miles/gallon. That means that it costs .43 cents to drive Box Van one mile.

Not cheap!

So, if I trade Box Van for a higher mileage truck, what does that get me? More money for my old age and retirement? Hmm?




12:33 am:
Closing off the walls between the Ford cutaway chassis cab and the box is a challenge.

You may recall that I tried the CRL Slider to Slider Accordion Boot Seal. The end clips on this seal are ridiculously short. Less than 1/2". Should be over 1" in length.
Yesterday from Amazon, I purchased adhesive foam weather stripping. Layering this weatherstripping does the job! 

I've been testing a section of the area to be sealed for a week. It works great! 




8:42 am:
I've just returned from 24-Hour Fitness. It's necessary to push myself to go to 24. It's not easy for me. However, I believe that if I do not exercise my body and mind that I will cease to be!

Now I am heading over to Denny's for my breakfast. Since I have very little food prep in Box Van, I eat out a lot.

The installation of the new propane tank is hanging fire. The welding guy has excuses.

The Nova-Kool fridge is still weeks away. I have been using an ice chest.



1:20 pm:
Scamp the Trailer is parked on Lake Murray Drive with a
For Sale sign in her window.

Lots of calls come in about Scampy. If the caller sounds serious, I reply that: "The asking price is $14,000." 

I ask the caller:
"How does that sound? Is that in your price range?"

 If the caller replies: 
"That it is a little high."

I ask:
"Have you phoned the factory? Scamps are only sold by the factory. If you phone Scamp, they will send out a brochure, and then you will know about them."

Very often a caller just wants to know the price and asks:
"What are you asking?"

I reply:
"$5,000! Do you have $5,000 in cash?"

They never do!




5:30 pm:
Scampy is now parked in the RV Specialists yard. She will remain here until all of her repairs are completed. That might be 2-3 weeks from now!
Here are the things on Scampy's To-Do list:
➜ Torsion axle too low.
➜ Grey water tank replacement.
➜ Check out 7-pin connector cord.
➜ Coupler mechanism needs replacement.
➜ Repair fiberglass damage, outside and inside.
➜ Replace tongue jack.
➜ Repair shower drain mechanism.

$2,145.88 is the total for this work. And that is for labor @ $130/hour. No parts.

Box Van and Scampy at RV Specialists.


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35 comments:

  1. So, if I trade Box Van for a higher mileage truck, what does that get me? More money for my old age and retirement? Hmmmm?


    Hi George . yes you should save some money for your golden years. 😊 :)

    Ray
    Annapolis Md U.S.A

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Ray,

      When will my golden years arrive.

      I'll be 81 next month. Is that when my golden years begin?

      George

      .

      Delete

    2. Your golden years have come and gone. Now you are in
      your supercalifragilisticexpialidocious years, George!

      Delete

    3. Joan,

      Really? That good!

      George

      .

      Delete

  2. George, I have heard of people using a rubber tire inner tube to seal the gap between cab and box. Just position it and inflate. It can even seal uneven surfaces. I have seen it used between pickup truck cabs and toppers, camper shells, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Dave,

      Wow! I never would have thought of that!

      George

      .

      Delete

  3. I think your box van mileage is pretty reasonable for a couple of reasons
    Most average large RVs get that kind of mileage
    How many miles do you travel in a given year X.43= $ ?
    A rough figure is $430 per thousand miles..
    The very fact that you don't staying at RV park save you a minimum of $35. To 65$
    So at .43 cents you travel 100 Miles in one day and and now subtract the camp fee of $35 you come out with eight dollars cost to you pr, driving day .
    The bonus is the fact that you don't travel every single day, therefore your campground fee becomes a negative to your fuel cost.
    No it's not spectacular as far as fuel mileage goes but then again the bonus is your home is only 2 feet away.



    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Ed,

      I love how your brain works! 😍

      George

      .

      Delete


    2. Is that not logical

      Thank you and I'm cute too

      Delete

    3. Not true, he could join 1000 Trails and pay a maximum of $200/mo and that includes full hookups, sewer, unlimited water, electricity (for heating as well), pools, hot tub, so no more 24 hour fitness. Not to mention the hassle of trying to find places to park, go to 24 hour fitness, gas to run around for all the above. 1000 Trails Elite lets you stay up to 3 weeks and go from park to park, but whatever, do things the hard way...

      Delete

    4. Plus no mortgage, property tax, utility bills (offset some by Propane expenses), and whatever having glorious changing scenery is worth.

      Delete

  4. Your fuel mileage is fine, it's not like you will be driving lots of miles. You travel slow and enjoy each day, after all you are "home" no matter where you are. It is still better mileage than Ms. Tioga and you were fine with her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Squire,

      Yes, that is true.

      George

      .

      Delete

  5. There is an easy fix to your pass through enclosure solution

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Ed,

      And, what would that fix be?

      George

      .

      Delete

  6. I have found that if someone keeps giving me excuses for not doing work (your welder) that I often find their completed work leaves a lot to be desired.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Squire,

      My welder phoned me this morning to schedule the work.

      George

      .

      Delete

  7. Thus stove might work well temporarily, I really like it:

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Camp-Bistro-1-Burner-Butane-Camp-Stove/34761205

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. John,

      Yes, it might!

      Thank you,
      George

      .

      Delete

    2. How wide is the gap you need to fill?
      Would something as simple and inexpensive as a pool noodle work?

      Delete

    3. Carl,

      My solution provides a solid rubber wall between the cab and the box.

      However, thank you for providing your alternate!

      George

      .

      Delete

    4. EdD,

      The gap is 3" wide.

      George

      .

      Delete

  8. George, A couple of thoughts for the pass-thru. I have seen ads in Trailer Life magazine, years ago, for an inflatable donut type collar to fit around an opening between a vehicle and a camper, which is essentially what you have. This would be the weather seal. Then get an upholstery shop to make you a boot to cosmetically bridge the open gap between the two spaces, with snaps on both sides. This would make a good looking finish and allow for movement. Just another thought to consider. GOOD LUCK, MY FRIEND!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Carl,

      My solution provides a solid rubber wall between the cab and the box.

      However, thank you for providing your alternate!

      George

      .

      Delete

  9. Gas mileage only matters when your traveling.
    Dave

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. David,

      And is that front page news?

      Thank you,
      George

      .

      Delete

  10. I bet your Democratic Social Security check that arrives on the same day every month really helps! Lucky at your age that you have affordable health care through Democratic Medicare. Both of these Democratic programs make your retirement years better. My wife and I are also retired and we sure are thankful for these two Democratic programs. Good luck George with your new truck! Looks like a winner!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Phil and Greta,

      I do not have a clue what all of your "Security check" stuff is coming from. But if you do not explain that, your comment will be history in morning.

      Thanks for the Good luck!

      George

      .

      Delete

    2. Ah yes. Secial Security is going bankrupt so it must be a democratic program as you suggest. Now it all makes sense

      Delete

  11. If you are asking 14,000 for a 2012 scampi 13
    You're higher by a factor of about four or five
    You also have to factor in the changes And repairs that you made

    https://www.smartrvguide.com/rvs-for-sale/scamp-13

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Ed,

      Scampy is a 2015.

      The Smart RV comes up with $!2,500. But that's for a base model.

      Scampy has lots of extras.

      George

      PS: Four or five times?

      .

      Delete

  12. I wonder if Phil and Greta might be Democrats. ;)

    So George, if someone actually had $5000 would you sell it to them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Don,

      No, I would not sell Scampy for $5,000.

      George

      .

      Delete

    2. If, as you say, Phil and Greta might be Democrats because they are on Medicare and receive Social Security, conversely, does that mean that Republicans reject their Social Security checks and Medicare and pay for (let's say) their five or six figure heart surgery out of their personal bank account?

      George would not be doing so well today if it were not for Medicare. It is making Box Van possible.

      Delete

  13. George, When the repairs to Scampy are complete, wouldn't you be more comfortable sleeping in Scampy at night while continuing your work during the day on Box Truck? Seems you're getting banged up trying to live in there while it is an ongoing construction zone. Or, maybe move Twaylor out of storage and into a monthly spot now that you have a tow rig and live there while you work. Having a hot shower and flushing toilet would have to be a welcome luxury after working all day.

    ReplyDelete

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