How do you afford your f $%ing Sprinter?

I know quite a few engineers that climb. Many of which have spouses or significant others that also work a professional job. 150 - 200 k / yr combined income is not unreasonable for two professionals with 10 to 15 years of experience.

A sprinter is not that big of a deal for folks like that.

Guess what!? I've been doing seasonal work and living in a vehicle off and on for 13 years and somehow I've managed to do it without dropping a stupid amount of money on a van. Jesus you could buy barely used, totally pimped out Class B RV for that price! And let's not hear about the need for stealth, because if you can afford a Sprinter or a Sportsmobile you can afford a Motel 6 every once in a while when you can't camp for free somewhere.

My girlfriend and I are currently living in a GMC conversion van that we bought from a retired couple in Tuscon for $3400. It's every bit as good as a Sprinter, cops don't mess with you because they think you're an AARP member, and I have $27000 left over for gas and beer.

Need 4wd? Get a used 3/4 ton pickup with a cabover camper on it. It will have a factory stove, aux battery, cabinets, and probably a small toilet and blackwater holding tank. Probably less than half the price of a Sportsmobile.

Bill M wrote:I know quite a few engineers that climb. Many of which have spouses or significant others that also work a professional job. 150 - 200 k / yr combined income is not unreasonable for two professionals with 10 to 15 years of experience. A sprinter is not that big of a deal for folks like that.

I agree.

Bill Kirby wrote: Wow congratulations! You save more per month than a 22 year old. Let me use this post to pat everyone else on the back who wrote something smug about their financial genius.

Ain't that so. Glad a few others have chimed in that wasn't 1) you can totally buy a sprinter if you are smart like me, or 2) buying a sprinter is completely reckless...

I still haven't heard from a single one (under 40) that can financially afford having a sprinter and has tons of free time.

3 pages in, and no one suggested winning the lottery?

I know a handful of folks who work in the software world in different positions.

They are able to work from anywhere they please. They also get paid pretty well and have pretty generous time off or very flexible work hours. Sprinter living is not a financial stress for these people.

I know a guy who does product development for a biotech company. They have very set product development schedules, and outside those schedules he has unlimited PTO. He gets a lot of use out of his Sportsmobile.

There are people out there who saw the long game better than I did when I was living the truck life and they are getting to do it now, but in better style and comfort. I'm jealous of them too, but that's the breaks.

Dana Bartlett wrote:Let me use this post to pat everyone else on the back who wrote something smug about their financial genius. No kidding. There's a lot of bragging on this thread.

Finances is the biggest failure in the US imo. Schools don't teach it and most kids have parents that don't know it either. It isn't about how much you make it is about how you manage it. I know plenty of people who make 100k+ a year and are completely broke and I also know people who make 30k a year and are perfectly fine.

I met a guy who was traveling with his girlfriend across the states from NY to CA. He saved up some money built out a van and was spending 6 months and than was going to go back to a normal job. He was cool I was only planing on climbing at the area for 4 days before my friend left but ended up spending 10 days climbing with him and his girl friend before going back home.

Anyone can do it just got to save up and plan it.

reboot wrote: Ain't that so. Glad a few others have chimed in that wasn't 1) you can totally buy a sprinter if you are smart like me, or 2) buying a sprinter is completely reckless... I still haven't heard from a single one (under 40) that can financially afford having a sprinter and has tons of free time.

Define afford, does that mean making payments on time, or paying for the van in cash? And what is "tons of free time?"
I hate Sprinters. They are so cliche, no different than Outbacks with a "COEXIST" bumper sticker. While I do want to buy a recreational mobile one day soon, I'd rather spend my money on a ford, chevy, dodge cargo van conversion, a Toyota Dolphin or a truck with a small camper on the back.
I mean Jesus Christ, even Honnold doesn't drive a Sprinter.

Mike Mellenthin wrote:Honnold's got a Promaster, which while technically not a Sprinter, is close enough. Knowing what cars famous people drive is weird, huh?

Well, my reference was the scene in Valley Uprising when he's talking about people sleeping just outside of the park because of the night stay limit.
Was that a promaster or is the movie so old that he has since upgraded?
But in all honesty, if Honnold doesn't have a friend who will let him sleep on the couch within an easy drive to the valley he's probably really a dick.

The secret to making money is to convince people they will become instantly rich if they give their money to you.

http://modernnotion.com/michigan-nigerian-prince-scam/

Jon H wrote: This is the biggest fallacy in personal finance. Shelter is an unavoidable cost unless you're prepared to go fully homeless. Rent is not "throwing money away" any more than eating is. Buying a house is almost never worth it unless you plan on staying 4-6 years minimum AND believe that the real estate market will be strong when you are ready to sell. The hidden costs of home ownership wipe out all the equity and throw you into a deep hole that takes years and years to climb out of, even if you don't feel it when looking at your monthly budget. A homeowner is responsible for: closing costs($5,000-$10,000), unexpected repairs ($thousands), property tax ($1500-$10,000 per year), homeowner's insurance ($1000/year), PMI on your mortgage ($2000/year), possibly HOA fees, and lots and lots and lots more. Owning a house is seriously expensive. None of those things are the responsibility of the renter except for insurance, but it's $150/year instead of $1500/year. Buying a house is no longer the sound investment that it was for the Baby Boomers. More often then not, from a pure financials perspective, renting is the far better choice.

Those are all interesting points, but I was comparing owning a vehicle you can live in after paying off a loan on it, to renting during the same period. I wasn't comparing either to owning a home. So, don't quote me on the, "houses = best investment" :)

mediocre wrote: Define afford, does that mean making payments on time, or paying for the van in cash?

Whether you paid w/ cash or a loan is somewhat irrelevant, but you should certainly be able to make the payments on time. I'm assuming this is a vehicle for play. So the amortized cost to you should be within your disposable income: it shouldn't affect the living essentials like food, housing, health care, etc, nor should it affect your rainy day fund, long term retirement goal.

mediocre wrote: And what is "tons of free time?"

Well, from the OP, seems to be at least 4 days a week?

Mike Mellenthin wrote:But in general I'm with you that you don't need a Sprinter.

Very few people are suggesting you need a sprinter (although if you buy them new, they aren't that much more than a promaster or transit: if you can't afford a sprinter, you probably can't afford the alternatives in the same class). It's a luxury life style. Honnold probably doesn't need a Promaster either (although I bet he can write it off as work expense), but with multi-year sponsorship deals well into the 6 figures, he can certainly afford it.

Best financial advice anyone can give: go back in time and get born to wealthy parents.

My honest guess (mid-week, fancy van) would be ER physician, nurse, or PA. Great career for making lots of money but still having time off, especially mid-week.... After you pay off loans.

Tangent from the OP

Was there a giant (Sprinter size) hole in the market prior to their introduction? I've been climbing for a while and have seen the different setups.

Trucks with toppers and a platform were always popular and still are very popular. That's what I rock and have in one version or another since 1998.

Always present were station wagons, conversion vans, small RV (Toyota Dolphin), Westfalia and Vanagons, and even the occasional Maggiolina (double wide bullet box that is a tent). I never really saw anything really dominate the market.

I saw my first Sprinter in 2004, I thought it was cool as hell and figured it would make an epic climbing rig. I didn't start seeing them at the crags until 2010. By last year it seemed to be the dominate living vehicle. Was this an unrealized niche? Climber make more money now? It's no different but Sprinters are just so noticeable?

Paging Eleanor! Tell us of your van economics.

Christian wrote:Probably less true for climbers in general, who are probably smarter and better educated and hence, wealthier than average.. But yeah, why everybody at Costco seems to be able to afford 4 kids and a 50k truck

If you think going into debt is going to get you there, I'd be surprised. It might get you there, but certainly won't keep you there.

ViperScale wrote: Finances is the biggest failure in the US imo. Schools don't teach it and most kids have parents that don't know it either. It isn't about how much you make it is about how you manage it. I know plenty of people who make 100k+ a year and are completely broke and I also know people who make 30k a year and are perfectly fine.

You better watch saying stuff like that, I might actually start to like you.

plantmandan wrote:The secret to making money is to convince people they will become instantly rich if they give their money to you. modernnotion.com/michigan-n…

A better question would be how do people afford to move to Boulder (or Denver, or many places in CA) and afford to live there and climb at all? Rents and real estate in those places far exceed what someone would spend living in a decent van.

Living in a van is really inexpensive. If you can work remotely (such as some of us-about 30 hrs per week) you can maintain a decent income while living cheap. If you also were frugal when you worked a non-remote job and bought a house that isn't overpriced that you can also rent out for extra income, even better. Someone brought up the point of people making 100k and being broke and others making 30k and having plenty. It is about choices. I chose a lifestyle that lets me climb 4-5 days per week outside. Could I make more money and work more? Sure. Could I make less and still survive? Definitely. Most people that say they envy van life really don't if they actually had to give up their comforts. Sweaty nights, cold nights, no TV, not much space or stuff. No oven for baking, always finding places to shower or use the toilets. It is not all fun and games....It is a sacrifice. In reality most that glorify the lifestyle without having ever lived it would probably last a month at most.