What Would Be The Acerage Total Cost Of Chasing in a season?

[Willie Dines]

Just out of curtiousity as it would be a good one for potential future chasers, (like myself) to be more aware of the total cost of being able to chase on an annual basis

Your thoughts and input are greatly appreciated on this one

Willie

 

[M Potter]

Year End Cost

I chase most all slight risk and abouve days and chase mainly Ok,Tx, Ks and my year end cost was around $9,000 for 2007 and I do sleep in hotels when I stay out but if I am within 150 miles of the house I drive home. Hope this helps

 

[Tony Laubach]

I've gone between $5000 and $10000 a season in terms of chasing, that number growing more and more each year as I chase more and more. I figure about $100 each day I'm out including gas, hotel, food, etc. It varies around that number, usually less, but can go either way.

Good luck!

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

Good question... this is something that I don't think most of those new to the hobby understand, I know I didn't when I use to dream of being a chaser. Though, I think its tough to put a numeric value out there. It depends on several unpredictable factors, location of events (chasing Solo, just a couple of round trips from Southern to Northern plains (OAX to AMA) would cost $500+ throw in actual "chasing miles" and add that all up over the course of a season, throw in motel rooms and just between those two your WELL into the Thousands of dollars). Then there is the debate of what do you include in your total costs. Do you include things such as vehicle maintenance/wear and tear, tires, oil changes, transmission services, a couple speeding tickets, insurance deductible ext... ext..., and one I often forget to consider... time spent not working, everyday during the spring/summer chasing is a day I could be working at least 8 hours instead, when you throw that into the equation your costs increase exponentially. I always assumed the equipment was going to be the biggest cost, besides the obvious gas, I have quickly discovered equipment to be nothing compared to the other factors. I know for a doubt without chase partners, there is no way I could afford to be chasing, while earning nearly no income as a student. Looking at the costs not only monetary but social as well, I often wonder what the hell I'm doing, but when you have the passion as strongly as I do, there is little that will stop you from being out there.

 

[Jay McCoy]

I figure about $100 each day I'm out including gas, hotel, food, etc. It varies around that number, usually less, but can go either way.

Wow you get off cheaper than I do Tony but I am sure your van is better on fuel than my Explorer. I use at least 2 tanks of fuel on a chase so thats almost $100 alone with todays prices plus food/hotel. When I am on chase vacation I budget about $200 a day just to make sure I have enough. Sometimes its a local chase and fuel usage is less or it may be a 3 tank day so add another $45 but 200 is a good average I have spent daily over the past 5 years on vacation. Depends on kind of hotel also. I prefer a little nicer over the roach motels. Give me a Comfort Inn any day.

 

[Michael Towers]

Depends on how often you go and where you’re based. My expenses for a long chase weekend (Friday through Monday) run at least $1200. That includes airfare from Chicago to Plains destination, rental vehicle, hotels, fuel, & food. I go solo so about $750 of that could be reduced if split with other(s). If you don’t have any equipment add costs for laptop, software, camera, camcorder, weather radio and any other additional items you may want. You could chase bare-bones with no equipment other than a weather radio, but if you want to give yourself the best chance for success you want to have access to data and you most likely will want to be able to capture any event you’re lucky enough to encounter.

...and one I often forget to consider... time spent not working, everyday during the spring/summer chasing is a day I could be working at least 8 hours instead, when you throw that into the equation your costs increase exponentially.

That’s the cost that affects me most with any holiday. Since I have a small business I don’t get paid holidays, I lose all revenue from lost business during the time I’m away and also future business that would have originated during that time. In all a chase costs me quite a lot, but the experiences and memories are more than worth it.

 

[Dan Robinson]

If you count vehicle depreciation in the cost, I have been averaging $10,000 to $16,000 a year, with 2004-2005 topping out close to $20,000 per year. Now that is chasing *everything* - tornadoes during the Plains spring season, thunderstorms/floods/ice storms/severe weather in the midwest, 1 to 3 hurricanes, and every type of weather event (year round) within an hour or two of home. Video sales used to cover all of those costs and then some - but not anymore, since the weather video market fizzled. Everything is out-of-pocket for me now, which will limit my seasons in the future.

Back when I was just doing local lightning chases plus a week in the Plains (2002 and earlier), my costs were down around $2,500 a year.

A week in the Plains - including gas and budget hotels - costs around $2,000 per week per vehicle with today's gas prices. Carpooling will divide that cost, but if you chase solo that's what to save up for. Add another $200-$400 to that cost for vehicle depreciation per week. You won't see that cost until it's time to replace your car a couple years earlier than you would have without using it for chasing.

You'll also need to add equipment to the cost - data access, fees, cameras, tapes, film, etc.

 

[Dann Cianca]

I try to chase on the cheap.

I went out 22 times last year for a total of about 9,000 miles.

My expenses last year were:
~$900 on fuel (averaging $3/gallon and 30mpg in my Nissan)
~$250 on food
~$0 on lodging (I tend to drive home after the chase ... even if it's 500 miles away)
~$350 on equipment
~$20 on duct tape ... haha

I can at least double my fuel cost this year as my new/old Explorer gets 17mpg highway. booooo

Dann.

 

[Willie Dines]

Hey guys,

Sorry about the typo on the thread title btw, (Unfortunately I was trying to type that little bit faster before going out to run some errands)

Thank you all very much for your replies, there's alot of good info here and it's great to get some advice from you guys and it's all very much appreciated

I was thinking that as well as working out the average annual costs of chasing, that it would be worth while to use this thread as a way to try and find ways to bring down the costs of chasing in some way or another, after all, it would be more of a benifit to all chasers out on the road each year if we could all find some way(s) to reduce the level of expence each year.

for example, one idea could be to have an estate car (Wardrobe on wheels type car) and replace the back seats with a matress and make it into a bed, this way you can travel around whilst chasing and save on expences paid for road lodging, or else create a team of chasers that are all based in a 50 mile radius or so, and chip in with the expences, this way it would be possible to try for reduced room rates at motels, etc

Personally I think that there should have some kind of reward for chasers, where if they are network certified chasers, then they should automatically get 50% off room rates wherever they go to, reguardless of the hotel/motel company, (At least that's the way I would have it anyways)

Thank you once again guys for your replies, you guys rock

Willie

 

[Jason Foster]

more info for your use.

http://www.weatherwarrior.net/chaser/cost2008.html

Above is the link to the page I did a few weeks ago. I try to do these to help chasers work out money estimates for the season. The averages are based on several year so of chasing going back to 1997. I also posted a thread, which also talks about chasing costs, averages, and ways to save.

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14803

 

[John Erwin]

for example, one idea could be to have an estate car (Wardrobe on wheels type car) and replace the back seats with a matress and make it into a bed, this way you can travel around whilst chasing and save on expences paid for road lodging,

I've had to use every cost-cutting measure I can for chasing since I simply don't have an extended budget to do it. I sleep in my vehicle on extended trips (outside of ~200 mi or so from home), use a cooler for drinks/food where possible (I usually only buy breakfast in a restaurant) and basically save the bulk of my budget for gas. The past few years it seems that around $150/day is a number I've been able to work with, although it's been a couple years since I've taken any larger trips (more than 2 days at a time).

 

[Alan Broerse]

Cost per chase trip

From Oklahoma City to anywhere in the state...I can chase on $100 bill round trip for gas in my mobile office (2007 Ford Expedition) Add $20 for food on an average 10-12 hour chase day........if The TV station sends me to the Texas panhandle...(and I love to chase there)..add at least $50 towards fuel...and $10-$15 more for food. That is cash out of the pocket average....not including vehicle payment or insurance ect. I rarely spend overnight in the field....even if it means getting back 3a.m. There's no place like home......My average in state chase runs 300-450 miles.....and if I go to Texas or Kansas 400 -600 miles round trip. Hope that helps you guys/gals trying to average while driving a larger vehicle.

 

[Willie Dines]

Thank you once again guys, it's great that you're posting in with this info and advice, after all, I would imagine that there are quite a few future chasers who check out sites like Stormtrack and look to find out some help and advice about being able to manage the costs of chasing so that they can really know the average extent of the cost before going out on the road

Personally, I like the idea of doing what "Dusty", (from the "Twister" movie) did with the old school bus, and kit the darn thing out with a bed, microwave, cooler, etc, that way if I'm in the situation where it's gonna be over 200+ mile trip from home, I would be able to cut back on expences on things like motels, resterasunts, etc, this way as John Erwin has mentioned, it helps to save more finances to go towards the cost of gas, but also by doing this, it reduces the risk of falling asleep at the wheel if it is late at night as I imagine that quite a few people may have experienced this.

Willie

 

[Scott Roberts]

For a "local" trip (inside 3 hours one-way), I expect to spend about $100-$125. That assumes I come home for the night. For an extended trip, where I'm staying overnight several times, I'll expect somewhere in the neighborhood of $175 a day. If it's a really short trip...i.e I can do the round on one tank of gas...I can do it for $60-$70.

For mileage comparisons: Dodge Grand Caravan...get about 23 mpg, sometimes better.