Cost of "comfortable" dirtbagging?
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I recently read on some RV forum that you'd need 15-20k per year to stay on the road. Lets assume that rock climbing gear (ropes/shoes) and health insurance adds another few thousand. Does 25k sound enough? How much do you think you'd need to dirtbag/roadtrip for a year? |
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I've never gone on a dirtbag road trip and have no desire to, but... |
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Depends entirely on what you mean by "comfortable", and there's no simple answer. |
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25k/year doesn't sound like you'd have to do much that felt like dirtbagging. Is it enough for a year long road trip? Absolutely. You could also easily find ways to spend more if you had it. Hell, I've lived on 12k a year NOT dirtbagging, paying rent and everything. |
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A lot of RV resorts charge as much as $600 a month to stay there (according to some dude that worked at the bar of the RV park at the entrance to the Hulk TH). I was really blow away to hear that. That's about what I pay in rent. If you're traveling in a vehicle that has a toilet in it, you're probably not willing to "rough it" in the same way the average dirtbag is. I would venture that most RVers probably spend more than I do in a year, and I live in the city. |
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Em Cos wrote:If your question is "I have $25,000 in the bank, can I plan on a year long road trip without running out of money?" The answer is yes, go for it. If you're frugal enough, you could probably road trip for several years on that, maybe even buy the vehicle as well.That is the question, more or less. We (me and my GF) got about 30k in the bank and getting some serious road fever. I am thinking of actually renting an RV and going through a few major climbing destinations, staying there for a month or two at a time. |
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Get a cheap van and dirtbag it some. Try to spend around 10 so you still have 20 when you get back. I know plenty of climbers who do it for less. |
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Wal-mart parking lots. |
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Cook your own food, stay in the RV on free lots and don't make many drives and I'm sure you could get it done with 10K without any issues. That's less than 1,000/month, a little less than $30/day. |
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Is it dirt bagging if it is comfortable? |
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sle wrote:I am thinking of actually renting an RVHave you priced them? I am a full time RV'er, we have lived in our RV for the past 4 years. We travel around the US and while not the strongest climbers out there we have climbed at many of the major climbing areas and continue our journey seeking new climbing experiences. We are currently at Frenchman's Coulee for the month of June. And "volunteering" for Ginkgo Petrified State Park. About 8 miles from the climbing area. Rentals are very expensive. Once you have paid for the rental you must still consider the cost of staying at RV places. Last year we averaged $18 per night. But, we also volunteered at state parks for 3 of those months, exchanging 24 hours (12 hours each) of work per week for an RV spot. We have paid as little as $350 per month and as much as $1000 per month for an RV spot. If you join RV clubs, Good Sam, Escapees, Passport; you can get some discounts for each night. On average, a non-discounted site will run about $35 per night. My advise would be decide how much you think you can afford for your RV rental, go to RV trader, figure you will get 50% of your purchase price back when you sell it, and buy an RV. As little as $5000 will get you something. Then it's a matter of being a good shopper. RV'ing and dirtbagging. If you can car camp (van camp) and deal with hot/cold/no showers etc. you can generally stay right at the climbing areas. Our RV is 40 feet long, literally a one bedroom apartment on wheels. We can generally stay "close" to climbing areas and commute 5, 10, 20 miles each climbing day. I am not going to publish my financial report here, but it you would like to have a sounding board for your idea PM me and I will share my limited knowledge on the RV life with you. PS, the hidden cost of RV'ing is in the repairs, take a good look at rental contracts.... |
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Do you have any comprehension about what "dirt bagging" it means? |
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Relax everyone, the word dirtbagging has lost all meaning by this point. OP means glamping and climbing.... Glimbing? Doesn't really have a ring to it does it though???? |
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I found this to be interesting. |
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Dallas R wrote: Have you priced them? I am a full time RV'er, we have lived in our RV for the past 4 years. We travel around the US and while not the strongest climbers out there we have climbed at many of the major climbing areas and continue our journey seeking new climbing experiences. We are currently at Frenchman's Coulee for the month of June. And "volunteering" for Ginkgo Petrified State Park. About 8 miles from the climbing area. Rentals are very expensive. Once you have paid for the rental you must still consider the cost of staying at RV places. Last year we averaged $18 per night. But, we also volunteered at state parks for 3 of those months, exchanging 24 hours (12 hours each) of work per week for an RV spot. We have paid as little as $350 per month and as much as $1000 per month for an RV spot. If you join RV clubs, Good Sam, Escapees, Passport; you can get some discounts for each night. On average, a non-discounted site will run about $35 per night. My advise would be decide how much you think you can afford for your RV rental, go to RV trader, figure you will get 50% of your purchase price back when you sell it, and buy an RV. As little as $5000 will get you something. Then it's a matter of being a good shopper. RV'ing and dirtbagging. If you can car camp (van camp) and deal with hot/cold/no showers etc. you can generally stay right at the climbing areas. Our RV is 40 feet long, literally a one bedroom apartment on wheels. We can generally stay "close" to climbing areas and commute 5, 10, 20 miles each climbing day. I am not going to publish my financial report here, but it you would like to have a sounding board for your idea PM me and I will share my limited knowledge on the RV life with you. PS, the hidden cost of RV'ing is in the repairs, take a good look at rental contracts....why...why god why would you do that to yourselves, in june of all months |
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ViperScale wrote:Is it dirt bagging if it is comfortable?"You're either dirtbagging, or you're not" is what I said to myself before clicking the link to this thread. |
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I dirtbag quite a bit and I spend under $700 a month doing it. It's not hard to save money. The largest expense is buying fuel which can easily be tamed with a smaller vehicle, or in my case a hybrid. $15k is more than enough. The RV forum guys need $20k because $15k of that is probably spent on their vehicle--fuel and RV lot costs. So... dont buy an RV. Problem solved. Get a van and, never pay for camping. There is absolutely zero reason to pay for camping. Some 99.99999% of all land in the USA lends you to be able to sleep in your car for free. |
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If you have to ask how much it costs... |
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redlude97 wrote: why...why god why would you do that to yourselves, in june of all monthsJust plain ignorant. The weather page listed mean temperature for Frenchman's Coulee as 85 for the month of June, warm, but not intolerable. Didn't plan on it being this warm, today's forecast is calling for a high of 106. But we have made a commitment to the State Park so will stick it out. Climbing early in the morning and late in the evening. |
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20 kN wrote:I dirtbag quite a bit and I spend under $700 a month doing it. It's not hard to save money. The largest expense is buying fuel which can easily be tamed with a smaller vehicle, or in my case a hybrid. $15k is more than enough. The RV forum guys need $20k because $15k of that is probably spent on their vehicle--fuel and RV lot costs. So... dont buy an RV. Problem solved. Get a van and, never pay for camping. There is absolutely zero reason to pay for camping. Some 99.99999% of all land in the USA lends you to be able to sleep in your car for free.Actually you have never dirt bagged. |
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I've lived on less than $5 a day for two 3 month stints, out of a car. Not a climber at the time, and it wasn't exactly comfortable. I also didn't have the appropriate equipment to be comfortable. At the time I felt like a $10 dollar day was a splurging day...and $20? Fucking lavish. That included gas and food. I had a budget of $200 for a month, I ended up usually spending $250-300. |