The United States is the Third Largest Petroleum Producing Nation on the Planet (Really) ... More than Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates
http://www.squidoo.com/oil-production-facts
Canada is an oil producer, most of the oil/gasoline we buy locally is imported. We're paying close to 1.30 cad per litre, multiply that by 3.78% to arrive at the US gal = 4.91 cad, x 1.05 Exchange = 5.1597 USD per 1 US gallon.
Everyone is on the gravy wagon, except the consumer!
Eugene & Stella
08 Dolphin DL35C, WH-24, Allison 6 Spd.Tranny.(FOR SALE)
2013 Kia Soul 4U.Automatic, Rental Tow Dolly for now.
FMCA 318247
I think it depends on how you look at it. We live in ours. It's nice to pull into a rest area and not have to worry about getting out of the motorhome. Also, if we break down on the side of the road we can still use the generator to keep the interior cool or use the microwave. You just have to try to stretch your money as far as you can by not taking unnecessary trips or taking trips in your tow vehicle instead of your motorhome.
The safety factor about not having to get out of the unit is very important since we have had a bad encounter with a couple of dudes which shook us up quite a bit.
Also, some of the motorhomes could be gas and the people want something with more power like a diesel pusher. Finding out that I wish we would have gotten one of those even though this winnebago voyage has done a great job.
You can face anything with joy if God is the center of your life.
We had a Revolution LE and sold it about 4 years ago. We miss it and are thinking about getting another diesel pusher, seems like their are some great deals nowadays.
Wondering what the group thinks would be the best buy for 175-200k ?
We like the look of the Travel Supreme Select, but would like to hear about all our options!
A note about Class A's and gas cost. My Itasca Suncruiser with a 454 engine costs about 50 cents per mile at current prices. From here, I would expect the cost of fuel to only go up. Therefore, my favorite destinations, which are about 250 miles away, cost $250 considering the total trip is about 500 miles, and not in my fun budget. I'm also a fulltimer in a remote area of So. FL, so to worry about foreclosures or reposessions. Regarding oil production in the US, our US oil would only produce a drop in the bucket, and that oil will have already been bought up by the world market. So if you think more drilling in the US and offshore (leases already purchased by the Chinese) will make us independent, you're addicted to listening to the lies of those neo-nazi, holyroller talk show hosts of the likes of Glenn Beck, who are sponsored by your favorite energy companies!
* This post was
edited 07/24/11 08:14am by summerwinds48 *
J-Rooster wrote: Who really knows? Last two people that I talked with were selling there coaches because there partner died and they didn't want to travel anymore. I've kept tabs in my neck of the woods and there are very few good deals on used coaches. The bad economy with high fuel prices hasn't hurt the used motorhome industry. They just downsized and got more efficient and there doing very well. One company here in the PNW is buying a lot of used coaches from auctions (Banks, Credit Unions etc.) and turning high profits. There selling more used coaches than new. If you ever see a Winnebago with deep claw marks on both sides then you know that I sold mine.
That was funny and will think of you if I see the deep claw marks.
A few years ago there was talk of banks, CU's etc where holding or has just not foreclosed on a lot of MH's (100,000 was tossed out as a number). The thought was that when they hit the market that it would put a huge pressure on the new market.
Locally there is a retired vehicle dealer with good connects in large cities who owns lot of closed retail business rental properties around town. He keeps bringing in used MH's from new like to 15 years old that he parks on these lots around town with his cell phone number in them. If he is paying over 50-60% of what he is selling them for most would be surprised. Sources looking for liquidity of repo's know he is very liquid.
Very good point Gale! The DW & I went to all those motorhome shows in Quartzsite and Parker, AZ. this past winter and couldn't believe the prices they were asking. Big $$$ and people were buying them. Most of the people I seen buying were trading up from gas to diesel.
PyrateSilly wrote: The United States is the Third Largest Petroleum Producing Nation on the Planet (Really) ... More than Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates
http://www.squidoo.com/oil-production-facts
Silly, don't even get me started! Most of the Western U.S. (and we also ship supertankers to Japan) gets it's oil from the North Slope in Alaska. This is oil owned by the People of the United States of America, and we get charged Arab Oil Prices for our own oil! Not one politician in Washington State or the other Washington will do anything about it! It's really pathetic how afraid they are of the oil companies! They threaten to do a study, while they are lining there pockets with oil Pac money for there next campaign!
The original post posed the question as to why it seems that so many motorhomes are for sale.
When we first started participating in this forum (around 2004), it seemed like every day, someone was announcing the fact that they had just purchased a brand new motorhome. Back then, I couldn't figure out where people were getting the money to buy a six-figure vehicle that was only being used for roughly two weeks a year (according to RVIA stats). Eight years later, we don't see many people announcing the purchase of a new motorhome.
My guess is that many of the motorhome purchases that were made back then were driven by emotional optimism, inflated home equity estimates, good marketing, and unrealistic financial expectations. Combined with the fact that many of us are getting older and life is getting more expensive, it becomes fairly obvious that something has to give somewhere.
We're full-timers and thus don't have the option of selling our motorhome. We could rent a house somewhere to save gas but then utility costs would quickly outpace our current fuel consumption expenses. As full-timers, we can essentially control the number of miles we travel each year. We could also trade in our motorhome for a less expensive trailer but then again, we'd have to purchase a truck.
Every sale has a story. My guess is that many of the stories are based on hard times in one form or another. While it's okay to show the world what you've worked hard for, it's also important to understand that during tough times, people may not be as impressed with our "toys" as they were a few years ago. That being said, I'd recommend full-timing to almost anyone. I'd also spend a lot more money without the help and advice given on these forums.
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