Don't sell just camp closer to home! We've decided to just do weekend camping closer to home. We live in the fingerlakes and there's many nice spots for weekend camping.
I agree we are also feeling the high cost of fuel like everyone else but we still enjoy our camping time very much. It is a great break from the rat race.
We will just stay closer to home to keep the cost down and the longer trips will be for at least 3 to 4 day weekends or week long stays.
In our situation I have a company truck that I drive during the week and we usually drive the DW's Trailblazer on the weekend when we are home. The Chevy D/A is spending a lot of time in the garage these days.
I drive a small 34 mpg car... 86 mi roundtrip each day to work. And that's going 70 mph with the A/C on. No too bad IMO. DW drives the large tow vehicle for her short commute to her job.
I can think of worse ways to spend my money than own a TT and enjoy quality family time...corny as that may sound.
DH and I have been reading this thread with interest--we've been poised to buy a travel trailer since mid-April, after a two-year search that was interrupted by an accident last year that left us afraid that we'd never be able to camp again. Fortunately, the health situation is better, and that's what's left us soooo frustrated over the high gas prices and their effect on camping with folks in our situation: one teenager left at home, soon-to-be working weekends, etc., that will affect our ability to go away for much time this summer. We sat down last night and figured out the costs to camp within 100, to 400 miles away at places we hope to visit. We used $5 a gallon, and estimated that our mileage would be about 8 mpg towing. What we determined is heartbreaking for us: short trips would be VERY expensive--only by going at least 4 days or more would the fuel costs, plus the monthly cost of the trailer, make sense. If our kids were younger, and we could block out a week or two at a time, we'd do it in a hearbeat for all the reasons many of you have said-making memories, relaxing, etc. But to buy now, and not be able to plan to use it on lots of 3-day weekends without expecting to spend $400 on round trip fuel alone, or not to be able to go on that NJ to the West Coast trip that we've dreamed about NEXT summer--kid's employment be dammed --without taking out a mortgage, has me weeping. I am honestly so envious of you all who have already purchased trailers; "ours" is sitting at the dealer, and I'm going to have to summon up the courage to say goodbye....I can only hope that in a few years when we'd have to replace our Yukon XL anyway (it's at 91,000 miles now) the cost of hybrid trucks will be realistic, and the gas prices themselves will have at least leveled. Sorry to go on and on....I'm just so sad...
Feeling real good, now, about our decision to sell our 29 ft. Class C, a couple of years ago, and downsize to our 17 ft. molded fiberglass Casita. Far more comfortable in the Toyota Tundra, as a TV, and way better gas mileage.
Here in Canada gas is $5.16 a gallon and thats the cheap price. Some provences are far more expencive. I live in Alberta which has huge oil reserves and is one of the largest oil producing areas in the world. We also have a huge refining sector to make the gas.
But I will keep traveling for the good of my family and our health.
It is something I do not think I could ever give up no matter the cost. It is a very big part of our lives.
James
Me,DW & the two runt dogs
2007 F-150 XLT Towing Package 3.73 gears 4x4 7200lbs Pakage
2009 Flagstaff 827FLS
Verity wrote: I live in Alberta which has huge oil reserves and is one of the largest oil producing areas in the world. We also have a huge refining sector to make the gas.
James
and they said it was supply and demand... HMM...
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
absolutely not...I will cut other things first..go out to eat less,less (gulp, hard to say this) beer....etc,,,but I will not stop...to much quality family time that we all spend together that cannot be replaced. I think it adds a reward to the family and the kids. Makes us a closer family....
Quote: If 4$ a gallon is here to stay, I just may be offering someone out there a great deal on a rockwood and tundra....Anyone else struggle like this?
Don't worry about that, just enjoy $4 gas while you can. As far as cutting back, nah!, don't deprive yourself for a season to send a message to the oil companies. Keep on going full bore so there will be no question in their minds as to how much we're willing to spend to pamper ourselves.
Just think, if everyone had cut back seriously on coffee for a week or two when it doubled in price, maybe it would have gone back down....oh no, I forgot, there was a sudden temporary shortage.
Bonefish wrote: Note: All the Tundra parts are built or manufactured elsewhere they are "ASSEMBLED in San Antonio".
If you read the rest of the sticker, you saw that 75% of the parts are American or Canadian, and the only identified MAJOR source of parts was Japan at 20%. My favorite in recent years has been those "buy American" folks driving PT Cruisers despite them being built in Mexico for a German owned company. Also, anyone towing with a Dodge truck built in approximately the last decade can't claim to be driving anything more "American" than a Toyota Tundra. Question - What nationality would you consider this?
Blues,
Dave
dude..
with all respect...where does the money go!!!!!!????
follow the money trail and ye will see where the mother land.
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--without taking out a mortgage, has me weeping. I am honestly so envious of you all who have already purchased trailers; "ours" is sitting at the dealer, and I'm going to have to summon up the courage to say goodbye....I can only hope that in a few years when we'd have to replace our Yukon XL anyway (it's at 91,000 miles now) the cost of hybrid trucks will be realistic, and the gas prices themselves will have at least leveled. Sorry to go on and on....I'm just so sad...
