Let me see now.......A 1500 mile trip in my C which gets 8 MPG @4.50 a gallon times 187.5 gallons is $844. Now at the same time that it was #3.50, the cost was $656. I can handle the difference of $188, so it will not stop me from the trip. BUT, I won't make it as often perhaps. I think there will always be those who love the lifestyle, and the travel itself and will find a way to do it. Maybe smaller or older RV's. I guess I can justify it my saying that I have RV'd all of the days, and cannot imagine not having one. Even if only to drive a hundred miles to a great lake or stream and enjoy the great outdoors.
MH's of any class are not "going away" I think we will all agree but new facts will guide future generations of RV owners.
We are planning a three night out trip and one of my staff said how much will that cost to go in the MH and I said the same as to go in the Blazer. She was talking about the cost of "gas". She said NO WAY.
I had checked and with taxes even the lower cost chains were going to run $100 a night plus we do not have to unpack and pack three times.
Some people are so emotional right now to see this is NOT a MH issue but a TRAVEL issue period. Heck it even cost more to at home then a year or two ago.
I keep wondering why the mfgrs don't spend the extra money to increase their mpgs. Like the better mousetrap, buyers will beat a path to their doors! I realize that the up front costs of re-tooling a plant might be tough to justify, but I guaranty that there are going to be RVers out there.....no matter what the price of fuel is. And, they will spend the extra $$$$ to get something that works for them.
I've often wondered why they haven't come out with an "over-drive" system that could be used when driving on mostly level highways, to cut the engine RPMs back even more, and saving fuel?
I was driving my Honda Civic to work the other day....highway driving, at 75 MPH...tachometer was reading 3250 RPMs in 5th gear. Cut back to 60 MPH and the engine speed dropped almost 1000 RPMs.....which means that my engine is running about 1/3 more efficient at the lower speed. Having a 6th gear, that would drop the engine RPMs an equal amount would allow me the speed (YEAH!!!) as well as the fuel economy. Now granted, I was getting almost 40 mpg, even at the higher speeds, but can only imagine the fuel savings.....if I'd only be willing to slow down
I'm sure, if it works in the Civic, it will work in the Ford V-10 on my MH. And yes, I'm aware that it won't be worth a damn in areas with mountains, but....there is a lot of this country that is flat....at least you'd save fuel there!!
Like many have posted....the rise in gas prices will have an effect on the entire RV industry, and yes, the weak will fall, and the strong will survive. The same can be said for the owners of these RVs....if you have a solid economic base (little debt, and a good budget) you will probably be OK....if you were living on borrowed $$$, you are also on borrowed time!!
There is always going to be the need for the larger Class Cs...look at Winnebago, they just built the new 31-J, with the extra bunks for larger families. I don't see them selling a million of them, but there is a market....we almost bought one....sure looked at it hard!
I won't fit in one of the smaller Sprinter chassis units.....6'7" is a lot to stuff into one, and as much as I love the fuel savings, I'm very happy with our current rig....
....and more importantly, it's paid for!!
So, will the "C" survive....yes! Will the industry have to make changes...yes again!
See you on the road....spending all that hard earned money on this wonderful 8 mpg house on wheels!!
DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008 The Pets
Our youngest daughter will be 12 years old this month. I was joking with her that by the time she has her drivers license, we would all be riding horses and horse drawn carriages. The Amish had things figured out for a long time. Minimal dependence on foreign oil.
Relax, drive safely, and enjoy God's creations.
4 Kids and Us
2006 Sightseer 33T, W18
2002 Minnie 22E, 8.1L Vortec
"I was driving my Honda Civic to work the other day....highway driving, at 75 MPH...tachometer was reading 3250 RPMs in 5th gear. Cut back to 60 MPH and the engine speed dropped almost 1000 RPMs.....which means that my engine is running about 1/3 more efficient at the lower speed. Having a 6th gear, that would drop the engine RPMs an equal amount would allow me the speed (YEAH!!!) as well as the fuel economy. Now granted, I was getting almost 40 mpg, even at the higher speeds, but can only imagine the fuel savings.....if I'd only be willing to slow down"
I cruise (55mph) on the level in my V10 powered Class C MH at very close to 2000 rpm in 5th gear.
HOWEVER, it's not engine rpm reduction that provides for better mpg in a MH ... it's the reduced wind resistance pressing against the front of the rig that comes from slower cruising speeds.
MPG is all relative anyway. I had a 98 Expedition 2WD with the 5.4 V8. It got 11 mpg...my 29' Lexington with a V10 gets 10, and it's my home!!! Less fuel to heat or cool, too!
We bought the 08 View in november because it gets 16 mpg/diesel. We drive 55 mph and realize the promised 16 mpg. In a year(maybe two) when we're paying ten bucks/gal, we still plan to travel. Longer stays and fewer side trips, but we will go.
We don't have enough guns to wrastle the worlds oil from everyone else, nor the moral right to do so. We have to adapt to high fuel costs because this isn't another cycle, it's a spiral related to a finite resource that the entire world demands.
Lemme put in my two cents' worth. I should think that until the manufacturers wake up and modify their units to use less gas, RVers will adapt. For instance, DW and I are discarding plans for long trips and are opting for shorter trips (600 miles or so) with longer stays at the chosen areas. Instead of motoring from South Louisiana to Minnesota as we planned over a year ago, we are going to Cherokee NC and staying there for two weeks. We will most probably do this for the next year until this "crisis" is over. That will happen when our government re-allocates money from Iraq to our national economy. Manufacturers WILL change; witness the number of SUVs parked on dealers' lots as we speak.
Rick Roberts
Real RV Newbie
2002 Jayco Granite Ridge 32'
Offline
Tex
