Final accounting, 14 years with a Super C

[G7ARYM]

It took a year of looking and deciding prior to buying our last and first rig. I wanted a turbo diesel commercial truck-based RV with a car behind and she wanted a one-bedroom condo with no shared areas in the floorplan. My intention was to work from it as I was not limited to working from from home as long as I had cell service and an internet air card for the computer. This was after all way back in ’06. I could call on customers if in their area and work from anywhere we happened to park, a cornfield in Kansas, in any wine country, a National Park or casino parking lot. From four makers using the Kodiak chassis we got the Jayco Seneca HD 34SS with so much storage both inside and out that we were never able to fill it all even when packing for four-week trips. Given what I know about it now after 14 years and 67,000 miles I would make the same decision. It never let us down and nothing on it malfunctioned resulting in any trip interruption. There was a good Chevy truck place near home and a competent RV repair business for all things home related for required preventive maintenance and inspection. This fun is never cheap but was always within budget. Here is how it worked out.

The fuel tank holds 80+ gallons and I spent them frivolously. My concern was not the mpg but the MPT (Miles per tank) or an easy 550 to 600 miles between stops. Total fuel used 7,883 gal. or 8.50 mpg towing at 60 mph in CA and 69 mph everywhere else. This kept me up with or slightly ahead of truckers making a living on the road and not being one of those people who insist on exercising their rights while getting in the way in the name of sightseeing. On the road I was a professional driver herding 54 feet of rid weighing a total of 23,900 lbs. Saw lots of high country in 17 western states from SoCal to Portland, OR, Iowa, Kansas City, Phoenix for a total of 60 different State, National and commercial RV parks plus a total of two nights not plugged in somewhere. The purchase price amortized over 482 nights spent in the rig comes to an average of $220 per nigh. Add to that the cost of site rentals ranging from $0 to $125 and I still see that as a better value sleeping in my own fully equipped condo rather than in a comparably priced hotel room. The real killer which I choose to ignore is the cost of around $42,000 which it took to store it in SoCal for 14 years. But then I am making more than that back at the sale this week. How many first-class flights and how many Caribbean cruises could my wife and I have taken? Not enough to make up for the RV experience. All done, out.

[js218]

Can't go wrong with a Super C.

[kwplot34]

We just traded our 2016 Thor 31L on the E450 chassis for a super C, 2020 Thor XG32 omni on the F550 chassis 6.7L diesel. what a huge difference. Should of purchased the super c the first time around.

[G7ARYM]

An F750 funmover like yours was the first Super C I saw. Nice but a little more than I wanted to take down the road and a little beyond our budget. The Kodiak turned out to be the sweet spot. With all of the choices in the RV market there is something for everyone. Find yours and have fun.

[cbigham]

Good for you. I had a f750 based funmover 39c for 12 years. C7 cat engine. We put 92k on it over the years 2005 to 2017. We are avid dirt bikers, off roaders, towed a jeep. I chose the f750 vs the kodiak 5500 at the time because it was more robust and carry capacity. We weren't as lucky on the repairs ?????? Cab chassis .. heui pump went out, warranty. (2004 year problem) lost air compressor governor, dual tank switch, and one brake air tank sprung leak, rust accumulation. House? Slide out, bathroom tub leak onto floor, generator 7500 needed to be pulled for simple belt change (no slide out tray..poor design) minor slide leaks, microwave oven gave up ghost, mounting rattles,and hydraulic motor leak for lift on storage area come to mind. 7.7 to 8.1 towing a Jeep Rubicon all over the west where we like to ride, camp and sometimes family reunions. Could sleep a bunch in back cargo hold! Got some right offs for it as I used it to haul supplies or occasional carpentry work in back shop area. (I'm in the rental housing business)

Was hectic to drive the monster around curvey roads. Sold it, got a very common v10 based short class C. More "uptime" to use a computer term for equipment availability. Nowadays take only 1 bike on back of towed jeep. ..if I even take the jeep. Life is simpler, less hassles, and I like it best.

Best RV is the one you want for the stage in life you're at.

Good deal

CB

[G7ARYM]

Yes, it’s a great hobby. Yes, it’s a costly hobby. And no one made me do it. The payoff is that it was worth every penny. To many it may have been dumb, stupid and a waste of money but it was my money, my enjoyment and I contributed a lot to the economy. I think I remember someone saying the goal is to reach the end with nothing in the bank. Enjoy.

[youracman]

To the OP: What a GREAT post. Thank you for taking the time.

[js218]

4 years 172,250 miles @ 7 mpg yeah it's an expensive hobby.

[Grit_dog]

Cool synopsis of cost.
What do you estimate your net cost at?

[G7ARYM]

The big reason I went with a Super C based on a commercial truck chassis was due to its design and intended use. The truck is used as a box truck, small passenger tour bus, flat bed tow truck and a few dozen other applications. It is used, abused; beat up, flogged, ridden hard and put away wet by employees who have no respect for the vehicle. Now, if I use the rig as if I was the owner and cared for it like my passenger vehicle, I figured the truck would outlive me. And it will with a new owner. Sad to see it go.

[SteveB]

G7ARYM, Great report. I would like to have a Kodiak based diesel Seneca. Almost had the DW convinced a couple of years ago but when we went to a local dealer to check out a used unit it had been sold so they wouldn't let us look at it. I just wanted to see if it would be something that could work for us. I was dreaming of flat towing my dually behind it with a golf cart or Sportster in the bed 🙂
That was it, so I am fixing up the old 5er and will enjoy it like we have for the past 13 years.

[ronfisherman]

Good report. My numbers are similar to yours. Except was closer to 90k miles in 11 years. Averages mileage was 9.8 over those miles. Tried to hold 62 mph. No storage cost. Have a RV pad at my home.
I burnt all the papers last year while cleaning house. Never had a repair to the Kodiak chassis.
Over the 11 years had to buy 2 sets of tires. Little over $5k.
I do not see any Super C's like ones built on the Kodiak Chassis on the market today. Similar ones on the Freightliner Chassis are prices over $200k.
Good luck with your sale. Mine was on the market 3 days.

[PartyOf_Five]

For a mobile office, I woould have tried for more days in it, especially if clients could be visited. We may have preferred smaller, and seen more. But you did it while I'm talking about how I'd do it. There's no substitute for this adventure and I thank you for giving me a perspective, while we think about our own 1 bedroom condo, without wheels. Oh and just because you sell doesn't mean we can't see you down the road somewhere. Keep smiling.

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

Nice record keeping and summary. Thanks for the information. Two things I took away...8.5 mpg while towing sounds very acceptable and paying $3000/year for storage would be unacceptable for me. I am fortunate enough to have room for an rv pad on the side of my house. Glad you might get some of that money back when you sell.