Interesting thread. We just returned from 14 days on the road, from near A Coruña, Galicia,Spain to Alicante, Valencia Spain Pais Valenciana and return.

We kept exact records of expenditures. We ride 2 BMW G650-GS , traveled exactly 2,200 K each and spent almost exactly 300 euros on fuel (150 euros each) , and exactly 25 euros a day each by camping 10 nights and staying at hotels like Gaudi Hotel in Astorga, Spain for 65 euros breakfast included for 3 nights.

We ate at moderate restaurants once a day - campground cafes in Spain
are excellent...

We have a small wood stove plus a gas mountain stove for coffee and tea and toasting bread or melting cheese and heating meat... we eat almonds and dried fruits for snacks - we drink water from fountains en route.

Total cost 14 days on road 2,200 K for 2 BMW 650 - GS = exactly 1000 euros or approx 1,300 USD (total) that is for 2 people and 2 motorcycles!!!

We (a relatively young, attractive, very educated female and me -male - now 65 years old) have also recently ridden 6 countries in South America 34,000 K each on 2 NX400 Honda Falcons and expended about the same on fuel and about half for lodging and food. We frequently bush camp in South America - sometimes with cocoleros , bandidos, narcotrafficantes and even with the rural police. Never had a problem , zero tolerance for being ripped off and it never happened. I carry a boludometro , (my invention) and about 20 inches of a very thick broom handle tucked obviously under the straps of my tail bag.

Good Roads and Fair Weather xfiltrate

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Europe By Camper: Touring Europe for a Year - What does it cost?

This couple drove 23,044 miles around Europe from April 2011 to March this year. 66% of the time wild camped in their campervan, ate out 101 times.

£28.83 per day for them both total cost.

Their fuel cost £4k. Fuel for the same trip in my Unimog £13k.

So £500 a month possible for a trip? Maybe.

In a Mog? No.

Stop worrying, the worst case scenario is you stop off and get a job for a month.
I'd sell my soul to do the same/ £30 a month and a bicycle if the choice was available.
Yes the MOG is a great vehicle though thirsty.
Good luck.....

I second to what Road2Manchester said ... you might want to think about ditching the Mog.

My personal favorite would be getting a clean Ford Connect van and transfer it into a mini camper van. We run a Connect at our business and I have nothing but praise for it. Easy on fuel (8 liters / 100 km), fits in every parking lot, does not stand out.

You could either slap a roof tent on top and use the transportation compartment for your gear and as a living room, or you could relatively easily convert the van to live and sleep in it. It is a bit on the short side (1.8 metres) but that can be overcome by pushing the drivers seat to the front once you stop for a night´s rest.

Our van is euipped with a trailer hitch and it tows quite well. So even a small camping trailer or a gear trailer would be a possibility.

The drawback is of course, it is not a 4x4. But then you could take a C90 along and use the van as a base camp while you run the dirt roads with the light bike.

Just my two (€) cents ...

£500 ... IMHO No!!

Stopping somewhere to get a job that pays enough to get a Mog moving .... You'll be parked up in Asia or Sth Americas a looooong time!!!!

A few other considerations -

Rice and beans every meal .. could you live on that?

We rent our house out while we are away. In the last financial year we had 3 months where the house was unoccupied, unforeseen repair bills i.e. Central Heating Boiler replacement = £4000 plus other day to day costs which left not a lot to go towards the trip.


Taking a stock of Red Diesel with you could cost .. You could be charged by Customs for importing it into whichever country if it was discovered. You would also have problems with Customs and Excise back in the UK if you got a pull for a fuel check, Red Diesel leaves a trace in your tank which takes a long time to dissipate and would leave you with a lot of explaining to do. They do pull private vehicles.
Apart from that, even if you were allowed to carry Red Diesel you would need to be towing a 40' tanker to make it worthwhile.

Just a few thoughts, not intended to put you off.
Good luck to you however you end up doing it.

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RTW Jan 2009 - Aug 2012. Currently in Europe waiting for the next ride
www.takingthelongwayhome.co.uk