wazone wrote: My recent 5200 mile trip (mid Jan to end of Mar, OH-AZ-OH), My average gasoline cost was $3.07/gallon. My 2006 Allegro Bay 37DB towing a 2001 Honda CRV averaged 6.96 MPG. Regarding the high cost of fuel, gas prices increased over 4X ($.30/gal to $1.25/gal) between 1971 to 1981. The same 4X increase to the end of April 2008, has taken 29 years ($.85/gal in 1979 to $3.30/gal now). The 11X increase in gas cost from 1971 to now about equals the cost increase of a mid to high range gas class A (1971 MSRP $13,500-2008 $150,000 MSRP)
FWIW, this got me to thinking about the other end of the issue -- pay.
As it happens, the exact same job I had in 1970 still exists today, so I looked up the current salary scale. Today's pay is about 4 times what I was getting in 1970.
'94 Holiday Rambler Navigator
38', Cummins 8.3 300hp, Allison 3060
pushed by a 2005 Honda Element
This is great all the post I was out in the coach running the bleach through the lines and finally getting my rear speakers installed for my surround sound. I ran the gen set for a hr and am ready to go after reading all these new post . Keep them coming, I read all the time of new Members asking how much a trip cost and what mpg do you get hope all these post answer there questions
This is great all the post I was out in the coach running the bleach through the lines and finally getting my rear speakers installed for my surround sound. I ran the gen set for a hr and am ready to go after reading all these new post . Keep them coming, I read all the time of new Members asking how much a trip cost and what mpg do you get hope all these post answer there questions
I don't own a MH yet, but I'm just about to buy one. I'm looking for one that I can afford to pay for without making obscene payments on for an obscene amount of time, and will be able to put fuel in it when I want to go somewhere with my family.
there are lots and lots of motorhomes for sale by people that owe much more on them than they are worth. It's a sad deal, but I have gotten to meet a lot of really nice folks in my shopping!
SSSStefan
2006 Chev 2500HD - Crew Cab D/A
2005 VW Passat TDI wagon - tow vehicle for the pup!
2005 Fleetwood Allegiance
The most important thing you will ever do - www.claybe.com
Sure it is painful if you're cross countrying and fill up everyday. Most of us go somewhere, stay a few days, then move on, etc. We just finished a 45 day trip seeing family etc. About 2500 miles. At 6 mpg (being conservative here) I would use 417 gal. AT $2.50 that would be $1,042; at $3.50 it would be $1460, or $418 more. Is that a lot? Yes. Does it irritate me? Yes. But, it doesn't mean that I will quit going with our dogs and cats, using my own throne, sleeping in my own bed, and having all my stuff with me. How much more would it have cost to stay in a cookie cutter motel with no view vs beach side on the Chesapeake Bay or several of the other lake side places in the south. JMHO.
The Johnsons (incls a Bouvier, Lab, and Newfie)
Cedar Island, NC (Gateway to the Outbanks)
2008 Winnie Sightseer 35J
Our Mexico trip Blog
Going out to Portland, OR via Wenatchee, WA to visit the DD and a cousin this July. We'll be putting gas in every day on the way out. Should cost me about $3500 for gas for the entire trip. We'll be sitting still in Wennatchee for about 5 days, then Portland for a week or two. Still am considering a stay for a few days on the Oregon coast.
My speed will be at 55-60 mph, mostly on non freeway roads. Should get around 8mpg with the toad depending on wind direction.
This will be our last long trip for a while. Can't keep spending our retirement money "like a drunken sailor" The rest of our 2008 trips will be to our HRRVC chapter campouts. Really afraid that the greedy speculators (hedge funds & retirement funds) are going to bankrupt the rest of us, IMHO.
SRT
2000 32' HR Vacationer with Banks
1998 Subaru Outback Ltd. 5 spd
Brake Buddy & Blue Ox Aventa II tow bar
FMCA #266040 HRRVC #84109
I know a few folks that have scaled back their trips this year. Everyone's LEISURE budget is different. It's kind of common sense.
If gas were to drop to $1.50/gallon, my guess is at least half the RV population would take more trips.
We're very happy to be able to own and operate our MH. Could we afford a more expensive one? Sure. We've looked, too. But we're using ours, more or less just as we have the past 6 years, and we're very happy that we're fortunate to be able to do so, until we find one we'd pull the trigger on.
As the OP did/does, I have a "trip spreadsheet" that accounts for every expense for a trip. Fuel prices have pretty much DOUBLED since our first MH trip in 2002. That's a lot of cash.
As it turns out, we began the year scheduling more local trips this year, not due to fuel costs, but for the desire to take more trips, to local places we'd not visited yet. Our fuel consumption would have been just about the same, as last year. Then, the Little Mrs. added a Disney trip in June, on top of the one in October. So, now we're spending more, but as Bruce Brown pointed out, the time with family and friends and the priceless laughs and memories makes it worth it. And again, we're very thankful we're fortunate enough to be able to do so. We understand others may have different priorities for their hard-earned cash.
2004 Coachmen Aurora on a FORD V-10 Chassis
2004 Jeep Liberty Don't take your organs to Heaven. Heaven knows we need them here! Dave has a dog named Muffy and Mike owns a Cockapoo!
Herewego wrote: I know a few folks that have scaled back their trips this year. Everyone's LEISURE budget is different. It's kind of common sense.
If gas were to drop to $1.50/gallon, my guess is at least half the RV population would take more trips.
We're very happy to be able to own and operate our MH. Could we afford a more expensive one? Sure. We've looked, too. But we're using ours, more or less just as we have the past 6 years, and we're very happy that we're fortunate to be able to do so, until we find one we'd pull the trigger on.
As the OP did/does, I have a "trip spreadsheet" that accounts for every expense for a trip. Fuel prices have pretty much DOUBLED since our first MH trip in 2002. That's a lot of cash.
As it turns out, we began the year scheduling more local trips this year, not due to fuel costs, but for the desire to take more trips, to local places we'd not visited yet. Our fuel consumption would have been just about the same, as last year. Then, the Little Mrs. added a Disney trip in June, on top of the one in October. So, now we're spending more, but as Bruce Brown pointed out, the time with family and friends and the priceless laughs and memories makes it worth it. And again, we're very thankful we're fortunate enough to be able to do so. We understand others may have different priorities for their hard-earned cash.
But right here is a typical ( ??) post that has to make me wonder about "things". MANY say that the high cost of fuel ( gas or diesel) has really crimped their RVing..even to the point that some SELL their rigs..some "cut back" on travel..etc..etc. YET the same "group" will travel "X" miles to a location..spend $500 to $700 for a weeks "camping"...eat meals OUT ( momma dont want to cook ..etc) and pay "admission" to a theme park that borders on outright highway robbery....but its FUEL that catches the "gripes".
It all boils down to "what do "you" want to spend yoru $$ on"...and nothing more!
RVing IS NOT a cheap sport/ hobby/ recreation..and if you want to play you got to pay...simple as that!
I know of "one individual" that drives from "up north" to "Dinny World"...and last time I looked a 3 day ticket into that clip joint was $120 a HEAD..and on top of that he FLYS ( yep..airline) his wife and child either one way or round trip...cant remember which??
"We" ( the wife and I) go when we can go...dont matter where or when. If we cant go..we dont worry about it..if we can go..then we go where we have planned. I buy ALL FUEL on a credit card Im not about to drag about enough CASH to pay for fuel on a trip...be it $1000 or $3000 dollars. When the tab comes to the mail box I pay it..usually the same month but at times we have "cash flow" problems as orthers MAY have...so?..Big deal. If I CHOSE to only pay HALF of that $3000 ( Ive never had a tab that large..this is for sake of discussion) and carry $1500 over for another month..a credit card with TWENTY FOUR PERCENT interest will clip me a WHOPPING $30 to carry that $1500 another 30 days! ( Is someone kidding me?...is it worth all the whining and teeth knashing for a lousy $30??) It sure aint to ME. Point out the individual here on the BB that will loan me $1500 for 30 days and ONLY charge me $30..
"I" chose to spend my $$$ on FUEL so that I can enjoy myself with the wife and the cats in a location so scenic most can only dream about...even if its "downtown" Alfa Turkey!!
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
Harvard wrote: Anyone who can afford the price of a new Class A can easily afford to put gas it it no matter what the cost!
That's kind of a foolish statement. We have a gathering planned in 2 weeks and had one cancellation due to the cost of fuel - it was going to be $500 for them to make the trip. That is a payment for many. Just because you have one Class A doesn't mean you can afford 2.
I happen to agree with Harvard. Simple solution. Use it or sell it.
I didn't say not to use it, I'm saying there is a limit to how much $$$ one can spend. Just because you own a Class A doesn't mean there is no limit to the budget...
I am probably like a lot of you on this forum - I love my MH - to me it's a lot more than just a MH - it's my freedom. I do not have unlimited resources for the cost of fuel - I can't control that - when we purchased it we set our budget at what gas prices were around that time - a little over 3.00 gal. There is a breaking point for me and unfortunately it's real close right now.
I think it's a crime what the oil cartel's are doing to the world - forget RVing they are starving half the world - our troubles are trivial....
Thomas "Rocket Heart" Emahiser
Anna,DW
Matthew
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The rest of our 2008 trips will be to our HRRVC chapter campouts. Really afraid that the greedy speculators (hedge funds & retirement funds) are going to bankrupt the rest of us, IMHO.
