High gas prices keeping you closer to home with your RV?
posted by Staff Report @ 3/30/2012 05:00:00 PM
148 Comments
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Friday, March 30, 2012
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148 Comments:
The Moho will not go!
Yes, the fuel prices have forced my family to find new places right here in Eastern WA.
After roaming about in our 31' Class C Four Winds, we have now begun to settle in Mission, TX. We have now purchased a lot in a nice Park and will leave the RV there and travel back and forth with our car that gets 30mpg that we towed on a tow dolly. Gas prices have forced us to trade fuel for hotels and restaurant food. It used to be a wash...fuel or hotels and food, now, it is more reasonable to take the hotel route.
I agree! Short trips have been my salvation for over a year. FL has an abundance of public parks and most are well worth the trips. There are Federal, State, and County campgrounds with nice camp sites.
What? I thought you had gypsy blood in you Chuck.....travel no matter what. Travel is worth every penny. I am dissapointed ):
Same here, we planned at Spring Break trip to Walt Disney World, round trip close to 1,700 miles, estimated cost for fuel would be around $800. Canceled our reservation at Fort Wilderness, drove our Toyota 4Runner which got 27 MPG and stayed at the Disney All Star Resort, funny our room cost less than staying at the campground. So it was a Win-Win deal.
I agree Chuck. The cost of fuel is going to hit the RV industry hard.
I pull a little 13 ft Scamp, but my mileage is cut in half when I tow it.
I too will stick close to home here in North Central New York State. Fortunately, we have lots of beautiful country close by.
Short answer is no. I'm 64 yo and alone. If making me happy means spending more money for fuel, then so be it. I will stay at several campgrounds for longer times this summer to keep from moving a whole lot, but I had planned to do that anyway. Besides, it's too dang hot in FL in the summer!!
Bill the GolfFireman
No....life is too short. Giving up booze and junk food(savings)has paid for higher gas costs quickly. Think about it!!...and enjoy your pleasures before you're "gone."
Aside: your daughter and time spent together is more important than gas, Chuck
I was going to Alaska again this year but I have scrapped that idea. The cost for just the diesel fuel would be in the range of $4800. Yup $4800.
This last winter the Mrs & I spent in the south of the US, drove 7500 miles with a average gas price of $3.65 per gal mostly premium. Yesterday I was in town (Loves Park, Illinois) and gas Regular was up to $4.059 per gal. Our government is out of control and things are getting worse fast.
Our life involves traveling. We travel from Alaska in the fall and cross the lower 48 twice before we return to our beautiful Alaska in late Spring. We intend to do this till we are physically unable..... price of gas be damned! Of course we would prefer the gas was cheaper...so we could have more money to spend on grandchildren!
We live in Michigan and drive a Monaco 30ft motorhome. We had planned on visiting our daughters, one in Oregon and the other in Washington this summer. Alas, we will not go due to the high gas prices. We will stay close to home and enjoy the camping in Michigan.
Living in Colorado we have a lot of beautiful places to see within a short distance. But we have been going to Florida during the winter months, and probably will not go next winter at least not in the motorhome.
We adjust our distance from home. Gotta go camping. Lots of parks within 100 miles of home.
We plan to travel 6 months this year in a 2010 40 foot Phaeton. We will drive lower to max the mileage and stay at ROD and Thousand Trails parks to keep cost down. Sure sorry you had so much trouble on your last trip. I am 75 and my dad told me years ago that we could not get there from here. I am afraid that is truer now than ever. Fuel can only increase due to the great debt we have given our grandchildren.
Keep safe and enjoy Gods green earth.
Otis P. Lutz
Sorry to hear that you had to cut the trip short. To the question of the PAIN AT THE PUMP we are planning many short trips, and one longer one. Good luck with the Tax Man.
We're full-timers and were going to be traveling from FL to the northeast. We calculated a fuel cost of $12-1400. for our motor home, round trip, let alone everything else. We determined that it just wasn't worth it so we're staying in the Southeast. We'll stay in touch with our friends and family by phone and email, and hope that prices moderate.
The rise in the price of gas is just another item of increased cost that digs at you. You have to throw it aside and enjoy the scenery of the country. Along the way, you know you have your own bed along with you, and all the other benefits of travelling with the RV. Look at it as another part of the SKI program. Spending the Kids Inheritance.
We're still in Arizona and will be heading for home soon. We're from the east side of WA. state. I don't want to even think about the fuel cost ---it will probably be around $1500.00 to get the old gal home. We've been gone 7 months this year, so I guess that's not too bad if you look at it time wise. We'll have to stay home all summer instead of traveling though.
In Minnesota the prices are a little better, however, they are still high. I agree with you that shorter trips, in state, make more cents. We are fortunate to live in an area with many lakes and campgrounds, and we also spend the money for a Wisconsin State Park sticker so we can enjoy their parks also during the season. Life is still good when you can get out and enjoy the season here in the midwest.
We will go. We are in our seventies, and we finally have our ducks in a row so we can travel to visit the places we have always wanted to see. Because so many of our friends have suddenly had things happen which restrict their ability to travel, we will take advantage of our relatively good health while we can. We may boondock a bit, stay at Walmart or Flying J more often on our way, and will chose campground central to what we want to see and travel from there.
Last year I only put on a 100 miles on the MH. This year due to the high cost of gas I don't think i'll put any more miles on the MH than last year.
Chuck,
Like you, I will be staying close to home, visiting the many beautiful Kentucky State Parks in the area I live in.
J Skidmore
I wanted to take the motorhome to Alaska with my brother, but it would cost about $6,000 to $7,000 - and only about $350 to fly roundtrip.
I am sorry to hear that your big trip plans have been- lets say, put off. It just means that things will have to change in order for you to go, and I will look forward to your journaling at that time. In the meantime, keep writing great stories about your "local" travels, as you know, they can be adventures in & of themselves!
We will not be traveling around America any time soon.Gas prices control our lives in a way that
helps us decide where we will go.
America has plenty of of in a number of oil fields. where are they sending it? I believe America could survive without buying oil from other Countries.Politicians
got us into this mess, but they aren't going to get us out. I have a 2 year old motorhomr and can't enjoy long trips in it.
We are so happy we made our trip from Florida to Alaska and back last year. We almost put it off. This year it would be even more expensive.
I wish we lived in the Northwest. That is our favorite place to go in the summer. From Florida to Washington is over 3000 miles. The eastcoast is not RV friendly as far as we are concerned. Parks are always full all summer. Roads are congested etc.
When it comes down to it, we might just head west and bite the bullet. You only have a small space of years to do this when you are our age. It is now or never.
I am just glad with the price of fuel as high as it is ( yesterday in NY was $4.20) that i have a seasonal site as this way i can drive my small car there and enjoy it. With these kind of prices for fuel and the greater economy in trouble i am sure a lot of folks will be doing the stacation again this year!
I was going to purchase a motor home this year but changed my mind. I will be traveling short trips in car. going back to pop up camper...
I will be staying close to home also. I have a good retirement, but it isn't unlimited. We have two RVs, a large one stays on a nearby lake now and a small one we use for weekend get a ways. We will still only travel around a 100 miles and have a blast.
Yes, it can be depressing when I am approaching retirement with the thought of wanting to explore. So, I have changed where I spend the money. More on gas...less on campsites. I am looking into hosting. I can stay in an area for a while and explore with my 38 mpg Yaris. That looks as though it will be my plan.
One can get too short sighted on these matters. We have lost three close RV friends (all were untimely) in the past month. We are full time and doing as much as possible while our health allows. We usually select a central site and use our car to cover anything worth experiencing within a 200 mile area. The sights are mostly free so the fuel is the cost to get there.
We were taking a trip to New England, in July, for 10 days; 3500 miles round trip and like you it was to expensive. Now to justify the gas for the trip we are going for 30 days. We have a friend, in the area, who has a farm and wants us to camp there,(we will dry camp) as a base, and use our car to run around. Sometimes you have to explore all of your options and think outside of the box. We are offsetting the gas cost by not paying camping fees. We will, however, do things for our friend for his kindness.
As a beginner in RV'ing and first time buyer, it has to be asked how economical is purchasing a TT or fifth wheel & new truck to tow with? We are a few years off of retirement and want to join friends & family who RV during summer, but fuel prices are killing us here in Canada too! Our gas is equivalent to 5.50 per gallon and diesel higher yet!! Oh and every holiday, spring break and busy travel time our fuel goes up also! If we do purchase a unit this year it will be close to home traveling only... Maybe it's time for the RV industry to challenge & lobby on this "highway robbery"! Gas companies have way too much power!
The price of used RV's will drop way down, and the gas prices will then drop. Result there will be winners.
I hear everyone here talking fuel prices, but when on the street no one to include the media is concerned enough to raise their voices as one on the issue. Heck the price of a Latte cost as much a a gallon of gas and people just keep buying them. I plan to take a looong trip next winter and see the lower 48. I'm 68 and may not get another chance. Life is to short.
The time and memories that you will gain with your daughter on your road trip back east are priceless. The money spent on fuel will soon be forgotten, but the memories of your trip will last your lifetimes.
Fulltimers still roamin, not stoppin, not slowin down. Time is fleeting!!
We are saving for our winter get-away by stashing extra cash now. Even if we just go south a little way, it will be warmer than the mountains we live in! Our projected trip will be to see relatives in another state but we are flexible and can stay as close as 100 miles from home and still be warmer if the diesel prices continue to sky rocket!
As full timers we either suck it up or park. We suck it up a lot as our friends and family are widespread. We plan Key West to Prince Edward Island this year. The only way to manage it is to spread the cost over a longer period of time. Fuel costs may slow us down but won't stop us. I'm just afraid my clothing budget will take a hit as we may still be in the Northeast into October...brrrr.
I think you said it right, yes we can afford to spend the $4.50 per gallon to RV, but does it feel right? NO, so we also will be staying closer to home, lots of small trips out in the beautiful Northwest. And God willing, the prices will come back down, even a little, and we will take off again for longer trips. We have been across the states twice in the last 6 years, so we are feeling pretty blessed.
We have worked way to long and to hard as not to enjoy our retirement, fuel prices be what they may, we will stay alittle longer and enjoy our surrondings more and get to know our fellow RVer's abit better. Going out to eat or taking in the local paid attractions will be where we intend to save the extra money. I know that screws the local economy but something has to give. Prices will come back down.
Those poor truckers can ill afford today's current prices.
We live in coastal BC. Years ago with cheap gas we spent 4 to 10
weeks each winter in Florida, my wifes home state, even tho our
truck camper only got 10 mpg (at best) We thought those days were
gone forever, then we found a good used Pleassureway Plateau
(Sprinter) that gets 20-25 mpg so we are back on the long road
again (like a band of gypsies!) Our long range plan is to buy a
park model or old Class A in Florida and just use our Sprinter to
go back and forth--it's perfect for the two of us and our 2 dogs.
We are winding down our 12th year of winter trips to Florida. The fuel costs continue to be an issue. Several years ago we learned that "you fill up when you get here" in Jan saves a little on the return trip home. There is ALWAYS an increase before time to head home in April. Our budget for our winter trip has been hurt by the fuel costs, but it won't stop us from our yearly trip. As my mom always said, "where there's a will, there's a way" Happy Trails to all!
We pull our 5th wheel about 6000 miles per year. At 10 mpg and $3.00/gal that's about $1800/year. At $4.00/gal, that adds about $600/yr. I can't imagine giving up that much enjoyment for $600.
Chuck, We also will be camping close to home. There are a lot of beautiful campgrounds in Missouri. We had hoped to take a trip to Oregon/Washington this summer but that may be on hold until next year. We have joined a camping club so will enjoy camping with some local people in some campsites we have never visited. Wherever we go we just love to be in the outdoors and enjoying our time together. Cost is irrelevant when you think about how fast the years are flying and with our health still good we want to "make hay, while the sun shines!!"
Our most immediate response to this recent fuel crisis is to remain close to home for economic reasons, however we refuse! Life is far too short, and we have "miles to go before" we " sleep". We will compensate as best as we can in other areas of our lives. alan
If gas prices hurt your budget, short trips are a great idea. If you're one of us old guys and can afford the gas, don't stop because you feel guilty. Life is short and there are still many things to see. If you enjoy it, do it.
It's a shame our government keeps letting the richer get richer and the ones of us wanting to see the US get poorer. We are retired, on a fixed income and want to see the US but are stuck on the East Coast because of fuel prices. Don't get me wrong I love the east coast but would love the west coast also if I could get there. But we have to eat.
This year will be a wash for us as I am deployed and the wife will not venture out on her own. Therefore, the camper is in storage until next year. Typically we take one long trip 300 or more miles per year and the rest are within a couple of hours from our home base as we are weekenders. Hopefully the gas prices will come back down by next year, but only time will tell.
Chuck, the time you would spend driving your daughter back to New York for a few days (and for a small fortune) would still be available to visit until the actual day she flew back. And she would return in just hours, for substantially less money and fatigue than the long drive. (And after the drive, you would still have the long, expensive drive home.)
Chuck,
I have only met you twice briefly, but somehow this doesnt seem to be you! As far as your taxes you could have filed for a extension clearing you into August. Now for some clear thinking,,,,,Emily is your bright shining star. Your her father & you share a close bond. You & I are the same age & I know I think about when my end will come & I refuse to put off life as I want to live it . Life is getting ever so shorter. In short my friend........get loaded up & get back on the road! At our age the peace & contentment that comes from doing what we really want to do is paramont to our true happiness. I wish you the best. Bill @ nw_rver@q.com
Chuck,
Go if you want to go. I am 76 years old, a widow for 14 years and in those years I have put 186,000 on my Leisure Travel Van. I find going alone is the best way. I like my own company and I do meet people camping along the way if I find need for talk.
This past year after spending 5 weeks driving in Australia in a rented car, I loaded my van "Lee" and we took off for California. I avoid Interstates whenever possible, and find so many wonders along the back roads. I went from Hernando County, Florida to Santa Barbara--then up Big Sur to San Jose--and north to Chico--and then back home. Adventures abounded, some lots of fun and one quite scary--the scary one did not have to do with being attacked--but with having the Serpentine belt break on the van on the way down the Rocky Mountains--having no power steering and no brakes--That is when my Angel started appearing--and came to my aid for the rest of the trip. 7200 miles in 5 weeks--a woman alone.
I always like to think I am youthening (Merlen told Arthur to live backwards)--and I have had Systemic Lupus Erythematosus all of my life.
I am a retired Florida school teacher--therefore on a pitifully low fixed income-. My salvation is that my home has never had a mortgage--my clothes last for years--and I don't drink coffee that costs $5 a cup!
So, get up and go again. See down the road.
Chuck, You ONLY live once. For goodnesake get out there and enjoy life whilst you can. Yes you need money, but remember you cannot take it with you. It is nice to leave money behind for your children, but what gives them the right to start where you left off. GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY LIFE.
My husband retired February 24, 2012, drove our Class C to Phoenix, AZ from Salem, OR, for NASCAR, then to Las Vegas for the same. His dream trip of his entire working life. Upon return a couple weeks, ago he said he couldn't enjoy it due to the price of gas and he wasn't doing it ever again. Oil speculators are killing the dream.
We are saving up to be able to afford to go to the end of our driveway!
Not only fuel has gone up, but so has the cost of staying at an RV park that is way up for the same thing as last year only now it is older. So my usual wandering about has come to a halt. If this keeps up I'll sell the old bus and use my house in Mexico for the winter and a camp or something up north for the summer.
Of course all plans are written in Jello :)
National debt has NOTHING to do with fuel prices! There are many reasons for higher fuel prices in the U.S. 1) more competition for available fuel from other countries that are getting wealthier, 2) Oil refineries that haven't been improved in the U.S. in decades and the lack of them, 3) Greed on the part of Oil Corporations for more profits. 4) Speculators in the oil market futures buying up the cost of oil world wide because of politics in the middle east. There is little we can do about the cost of gasoline other than how much we use of it.
I live in my motor home. We will stay longer in areas, but still travel. Letting an expensive motor home just sit is ridiculous. Life is too short not to enjoy yourself. It is only money; not that we have a lot of it, so we will just cope!Even though we live on a fixed income, we will just adjust our budget. Will eat out less, use more coupons, boondock more and stay in less expensive parks.
The only problem with "staying closer" to home is that everyone else has the same idea, therefore less camping sites available. In the Omaha Ne area even if you go to a site on Tuesday or Wed for a site on the week-end, there are non available.
We are fairly new. Bought a used 31 foot A class with 8.1 Vortec put in Royal Purple synthetics in Engine and Tranny. We get 10-11 mpg at 55 mph. I am pleased that an 18000 lb. vehicle achieves this. I remember some cars from the 70's only got that. I am surprised at the number of rvs that fly past us. Your vehicle requires more than a 300 per cent increase in horsepower to push through the air at 75 mph vs. 50 mph. That extra horsepower requires a lot more fuel. Slow down, save more! pollute less! and enjoy the scenery! What's the rush?
Like the majority of the posters here, we too will NOT be traveling as much. Staying closer to home. We bought our MH to save on the cost of hotels, motels, and restaurants when we visit our great grandchildren in Washington State.
Plus traveling at our leisure to get there from the east coast.
The government says gas prices Should be in line with the European countries which are around $10 a gallon and it seems as if it will get there, Diesel will cost around $15 a gallon.
Guilt for traveling has Nothing to do with our choice.
Who can afford those gas/diesel prices and eat too?
Only the very rich. And they travel using their "Own" planes and hotels. That leaves the RV industry in the rear view mirror.
Even short trips may be out of the question.
Our trailer has become a spare bedroom with prices the way they. Thank goodness we live where we can do that.
We have spent June thru September travelling the U.S and Canada to get away from the Arizona heat for the past six years and plan to do the same this year. We stay in commercial campgrounds (and very occasionally public ones)and typically burn around 1000 gallons of diesel. Although the cost of fuel is of some concern, considering the initial cost of our 40 foot diesel pusher and the fact that we bought it to experience and enjoy the scenic wonders of this country (and Canada) as well as to visit friends and family, we consider the fuel costs (which average about 25% of our total expenses) relatively insignificant.
Okay Chuck: FIRST, you aren't just 'wandering around', you are living your lifestyle. NEXT, regarding the trip you recently cut short, you are only paying the extra cost of fuel - you would have paid something for the trip if the prices were lower, so the difference is really all that matters. FINALLY, how much do you think your daughter's airline ticket is going to cost? Deduct that from your cost and add the benefit of the experience with your daughter and you are on your way to the East Coast!
Buck up and get on with it...
I just returned from Southern California and the price of diesel was around $4.50/gal. But on Gas Buddy as you go east it looks like it averages out to around $4.00/gal. Still more than I'd like to pay, but driving to NY would be a little less.
Message is: stay off the west coast for cheaper fuel.
We are semi-retired and bought a 28' Four Winds 2006 vintage since we want to see this wonderful country before we go into the next life. The cost of gas is frustrating and not for any reason that we can figure. We have planned to drive from CA to NY and back to see some sites and then stay in NY for two weeks and see tons of Broadway shows. It will cost about $2500 not including RV camps on occasion since we are going to boon dock when we feel like we are in a safe place. The gas is more than a plane trip to NY but we would not be able to enjoy the views and the places we will see driving. We pull a jeep for running around when we stop. We also try to go out once a month to local places just to use the MH and enjoy it. All in all life is short and we will regret not doing what we have planned for a long time. We have lost many friends over the years and we need to not wait. We work hard to enjoy our life and if we check out with no $$$ that would be perfect. Use it or lose it! All that being said, do not blame the President for the gas prices...go look at Congress and the special interest groups...this whole world is based on greed and something has to change or global warming will look like nothing in comparison. Sorry for the soap box ending.
Please do not stop your dream...if it not gas it will be something else. You can not take anything with you when your time comes. All you have is your memories and what you have dreamt. Money is the evil we all have to live with. I know it is upsetting but so is regret!!
Oh Chuck, you are making me sad! I sure hope that after things settle down a little for you, you find your wanderlust again.
Personally, the last two years have brought a lot of upheaval in travel plans for my husband and me. I understand your frustation. And I just came back to our RV (fulltimers) from an AIR trip that my husband talked me into because of the fuel prices. It was not that much fun!
To put it in my own (vulgar) terms, re fuel price: if we stop because of that, the b.....ds win!
Hi Chuck, It looks like you've been given good advice. And the 76yo lady has given me some inspiration. After 2 yrs of owning a new 24'Phoenix Cruiser, diesel, and making only 1 long trip (Monterey to Montana)a yr ago with friends, I have only taken some short trips here in California, usually with friends. I'm a retired nurse, OK financially, so I should be making the dream trips with my dog & ukulele, but no guts. And now the diesel price thing is justifying thoughts of selling this terrific RV. However, thanks to some of these messages, I'll think about it again. Maybe you should to?
Sadly, gas prices have deeply effected our plans. We spent the last 2 summers traveling out West (from the East) and this past Jan/Feb down South. Plans were on for this summer...but no more. $4.19 for diesel at 10 miles/gallon is just too steep. Makes me very sad....
Hey Chuck, sounds like you've had a Murphy's law experience. Ck this out. Downside - I got laid off last year and forced into retirement sooner than planned. Now on a fixed income, am forced from my place into my rv fulltime rather than when I planned. Upside - I can finally take off for parts unknown, adjusting expenses as needed. I figure I can sit around worrying and being unhappy or just get on w/enjoying my life.
Don't fret and please don't miss the trip w/your daughter. Just forget the price of gas. It's only money. I've had a trip planned from CA to Murtle Beach for some time but work always got in the way. Now I'm going this summer/fall, w/lots of stops along the way, and then back to Quartzite in Dec. I am dreading the extra cost of diesel but, I won't let it stop me. I am also going to Alaska summer 2013. I've got to tell you I am breathing a lot better these days and looking forward to the best time of my life. As Mark Polk says "Just RV it". I say go for it
Sorry to hear of the shortened trip, even more sorry of your desire to only take short trips due to the high cost of fuel. Three or four years ago when gas first hit $4.00 we had been planning a trip from the Sacramento area to Maine. The plan was that our daughter's and son's families would be buying or renting motorhomes for the trip also and would be joining us. Then gas prices hit $4.00 and we all chickened out. Well my wife and I again are planning this trip for up to three months and are going to do it come hell or high water. We are so sorry that we chickened out before because now the oldest grandson can't go, my son now has a new better paying job but can't go because he won't have enough vacation time and my son-in-law now has new responsiblities. So I say, since you admit that you can afford but it bothers you to much to pay that kind of money "just to travel around" YOU SHOULD GO ON THE EXTENDED TRIP AND ENJOY IT! You can do as I have done with our 5th wheel and pick-up. Last year prior to a 6000 mile trip, I bought a cold air induction/filter syystem for the truck and built an adjustable air deflector for the roof of the truck. The total cost of these two items were $175 and one days time to build and install them. The results were amazing, my mileage with the loaded trailer and truck went from 9.6 to 11.3 and that is almost a 20% increase in mileage, which was a savings of over $400 dollars just on that trip alone. Since we no longer feel the need to get from point A, to Point B as fast as we can, I will be driving slower (about 55 MPH) on future trips and am sure that I can get my mileage up to nearly 12 MPG.
You seriously brought tears to my eyes because I know deep in my heart that we are not going to be able to do all the traveling we had hoped when my husband retires next year unless these prices come down. Will not be a matter of should we for us, but will be a matter of not having the money. We are hoping maybe to do some campground hosting to get us out to different area & stay put for a while instead of traveling around so much. If you can afford it however I say go while your health is good & you are still young enough...life is short!
Well Chuck I'm sure you will get a lot of comments. I'm strongly thinking about selling our class C. Reasons: Upkeep, Insurance,license fees, service plan, amount of use/or nonuse,and of course gas. I think I would need an extra job just to supply the petro for the RV @ 8-10 mpg. I will not get into what is happening with the dumbos in D.C. Sorry to be so negative about this but it affecting our happiness.
Bob & Ruth Adams
As my dad said, he has never seen a Wells Fargo truck deliver any money to a cemetary...enjoy what you have, you can't take it with you when you are dead. Im 45 and just started FT in my travel trailer. I'm definitely not stopping, but I am slowing down to see more of the areas and a few odd jobs at my discretion.
Wow - look at all the responses on this. Our bottom line is simple. We worked hard until we turned 66. The rest of our life is called "retirement" and come hell or high water we are going to do just that and travel in our motor home. Left California on March 20th for a 2 year trip to the East coast. Now in San Antonio, TX for the weekend ("remember the Alamo"). Diesel was $4.65 in CA, just filled up at $3.99 here. Sure don't like high prices for fuel, but the "stay at home" option is just not on the table.
I also am sorry for the fact that the price of fuel has slowed down our plans and yours too. In March we are planning a trip to Utah for a graduation of a grandchild, I have planned this trip for about a year now ant don't think fuel will stop this trip, however the ones after this one may not come about. I pull a 30 ft. TT and get around 11 MPG towing. and Yes I would hate to see what it would be if I hadn't doctored up the old Dodge Diesel. I think this trip will slow me down (55 MPH)a bit to see if we can get better mileage out of it. We are starting out from the Spokane area and plan to take the back roads (hyw 195 and Hyw 95) Stopping in Nampa,ID. then the freeway and on to Salt Lake City. After the graduation it is off to Montana via Yellowstone, and the Star Valley. I have worked out the trip using the Trailer Life Directory which has given a Cost of around $2000. for the trip, and that is just for the fuel, no RV parks have been added yet. Of course we do have family all along the route so staying some place is really not a problem. I really hope the cost of fuel will go back down, but that is unlikely, it will go up just to make me stay around home. Maybe take the boat out and see the lakes and rivers. Hope everyone has a GREAT SUMMER!!!
I figure that I might put 10,000 miles on my Class A gas this year. ( My toad gets 30mpg and that helps me out for sightseeing and routine travel.) At 8mpg and $4 per gal for regular I suppose I will use 1250 gallon of RV gas costing $5000 for the year or $416 avg per month. In the past even at $3 per gal the cost would have been $3750 or about $312 avg per month.
I suspect there is more to your decision than the cost of fuel. I am retired and on a fixed income. I certainly will implement as many cost cutting measures as I can. But will I park the RV? For an additional cost of $1250 per year, I don't think so. I find it hard to believe that you would either.
We need you out there Chuck. Perhaps you should reconsider. Make the trip to New York part of a bigger plan. Find a travel companion. Etc., Etc. Whatever it is that is bothering you there is a way to overcome it. On the other hand, you may just be tired of RVing. That is OK too.
We are fulltimers and will not travel as far this year as last.We were planning on going to PA to see the Civil war reinactments at Gettysburg but with the high cost of campgrounds in that area and the price of fuel we are staying in the southern states. The higher fuel goes the less we will travel just stay longer at each stop. George
Exactly!
Live your dream since you can't take it with you.
It sure has changed our plans! we intended to go back to WA byo Colorado to see friends and family. No way can we do that now. Will have to go straight home and use credit card to do even that...pay off a.S.a.p.
We agree, Chuck. We were full timers for 4 years but have had to pull in our horns. We used to go to Arizona from North Carolina each winter but we had to stop that. The Carolinas are beautiful and we'll spend more time here and drive less.
I am the 76 year old widow who wrote earlier. I forgot to say my Class B Leisure Travel is a 1998 Dodge gas engine--gets 16 miles per gallon.
My rig gets 13 mpg (14 mpg on flat Texas areas). At $3.50 per gallon, that costs me 26.9 cents per mile. At $4.00 per gallon, the cost is 30.8 cents per mile. With a difference of 4 cents per mile, each 100 miles costs me $4.00 more at the higher cost. That's $40 more for each 1000 miles. I didn't plan on driving over 4000 miles this year anyway, so that's under $200 for the additional cost of fuel. My peace of mind from having a vacation or three is worth more than $200.00.
Still putting 8,000-10,000 miles annually on the MH.
I so agree with Bill the golffireman!
I will do what he does, just me and my 2 dobies, I will also cut back on everything else to continue my passion of RV travel.
Agree, price of fuel is outrageous but I didn't work 43 years at the same company to retire and sit in a rocker! Camping is still the most economical way to travel and see the US. It's not going to get any better so if not now...when?
Some friends of ours have come up with a solution. They have TWO travel trailers. A permanent site in Florida, and a permanent site in Wisconsin. They then use their little commuter car to go back and forth in the spring and fall, and never have to "haul" a travel trailer.
OK, let's talk money. My husband and I took our truck and camper (packed with our own food and drink) and spent four excellent days in Death Valley National Park. We spent $347 on gas round-trip, and $12 per night in the campgrounds.
If we'd taken our car, the fuel bill would have been $100. BUT, one night in the least expensive room at Furnace Creek Inn is $295; one night in the extremely basic Stovepipe Wells motel is $130. Add three expensive meals per day per person, drinks, etc. Do the truck-and-camper fuel costs still look bad?
The vastness of the desert and mountains, and what they represent in geologic time, reminded me that a human life is very, very short. Economize where it hurts the least, and get out there if you can!
Yes, fuel costs more. But remeber,everything is fuel based. Because of those cost everything goes up relative to that. Air, Bus, Train. Hoetels wil go up as well as restaurants. I have spent the last 40 years defending this great Nation. Now I am going to see all that I have defended these many years. That means travling in my RV. It still can be less in the long run.
I hate the price increases as much as anyone but it's not the catastrophe some make it out to be. We travel about 15,000 miles a year fulltime and get 8.5 mpg with our Ford F450 tow vehicle. The $1.00 difference between diesel when it was $3.20 and now at about $4.20 costs us about $1,700 a year. We've found a few ways to save in other areas to make up some of that like buying more store brand products and staying in a Walmart parking lot more frequently when we are travelling between destinations. Since we're fulltime we are never in a hurry so I travel between 50-55mph which saves me over 10% from the 65mph I used to travel. And since we already work a few months each year for some extra spending money, we now work a few extra weeks to make up the rest. We're going to Alaska in 2013 and don't plan to let the gas prices stop us. We'll just get as creative as neccessary. Don't let the price of gas stop you from chasin' your dream!!!!!
I have just put 2500 miles on my 2005 Rialta (17 mpg) traveling from WA state to So. CA and Phoenix - I found a couple of rideshares on Craigslist and ZimRide who contributed $200 for gas and had some great conversations and met some real neat young people. I will drive back to the PNW with some boxes of books for another $100. I boondock at city parks and on quiet streets, buy food at grocery stores rather than eat at restaurants and am having a great time. Plan to travel back east this summer -- don't give up on your dreams of travel -- it IS doable!
This winter 4000 mile trip 8 miles to the gallon of gas @3.65 will be my last trip like this till gas comes down,even tho we had a great time. I can think of a lot of good things to do in our New England area for camping also. We will enjoy camping with friends. Feed up with these people in Washington that don't care, just talk out thru there back sides,even we are sending our petro out of the USA so they can make more on gas & fuel. Low life's we put in office, that they give us to vote for. When will we rise up?
Last January 2011 I had begun to save money geared for the gas it took for our cross country trip from NJ to Oregon and South to AZ and back home the summer of 2011. It was a small fortune, however, the money was earmarked so it didn't hurt--as much. It was a trip of a lifetime that included a wedding and places we've always wanted to see. In a few weeks we are on the road again to AZ to welcome our 5th grandchild. The gas money will be taken out of our small savings account (really small) but I'd rather burn the few thousand for the end result. Life has to be lived once in awhile and we will plan to stay free along the way and back. This trip was a large decision because of gas prices, now being retired, no income. However, I would like to find a way for our government to hear us all, the little people............the AMERICAN CITIZENS who put them into their jobs.........
I think that the MH is not a lawn ornament to set in the driveway. It cost to set or drive it. You might as well drive it. You are not getting any younger and if you don't travel when you can then you won't get to travel. We will travel no matter what the price of the fuel.
We traveled lots of US 48 last summer and found using gasbuddy.com you can find the best gas prices. Other than Washington, Oregon and Calif. we never paid more than $4.00 a gallan (diesel). This year we will be leaving AZ middle of May spending most of Summer in Washington state. Still RVing.....
We will be staying closer to home - which there are many state and local campgrounds in the area that are very nice.
I am fortunate enough to live in Colorado where there are many RV'ing opportunities without breaking the Bank. If i decide to go for 2 weeks or more, then i will consider a trip to the northwest.. I've always wantd to ride my motorcycle up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Fran to Vancouver BC. But for just DRIVING around, no way!
Yes, we have also focused on shorter trips, partly because our cats don't like the noise and vibration of travel. I mention in passing that, despite recent politically-motivated ads, gas prices were HIGHER 6 years ago, under Pres Geo Bush (I didn't have an RV then, and my 27mpg Miata was a whole lot less painful).
Life is too short and too precious to let gas prices rule it.
Anonymous Apr 1, 2012 12:25 PM
Chuck, my wife & I usually go to the East Coast several times every summer to visit family. This ends up to be around 3000 Mi round trip. Gas prices have forced us to stay in a 100 Mi Radius of Joplin, Mo. The news media want to make us believe gas prices don't make a differance. I am glad they have that much money, as not to care.
Wow, with that downer attitude about RVing, you will need to get out of the business you are in Chuck. It is disgusting that gas and diesel are up in price but then, they are up a lot from the .25 to .35 per gal we paid when we were very young. For most of us, RVing is not our business but our dream.
My husband & I are planning to retire,into the RV lifestyle and are saving the down $'s to do so. We purchased an RV lot, in a resort, in a beautiful area and receved a Coast to Coast membership. We will be able to enjoy the lifestyle and meeting those that Rv as the membership allows us to rent cabins or even RV's at the many parks.
The type of RV we planned to purchased has changed to a Toyhauler. This way we will have a beautiful home. If we want to go to an area of the US, we will hire a "hotshot" to take the RV there and bring it back. Geeze, with the prices of gas (we know will not be going down) why let it hinder your ability to see the country? Just plan wisely and go for it!!!!
Can't afford to go anywhere, not even within 1004 miles.
Wow! No shortage of commentors. I agree with you. We are just lucky we live in such a beautiful part of the country. It is tough to beat the great N.W. for scenery and camping spots. We will continue the shorter trips and enjoy each one all the more. Keep the wind at your back.
Ore. Camper
We plan 1 good vacation each year and several shorter ones. We travel the back roads (more scenic)and drive about 50-55 mph.This allows us get 12 mpg pulling 19 foot trailer with our silverado. We also work our golden age card pretty hard which saves alot of money.
I agree 100% with this post! I was so disappointed to read your dreary post this week Chuck!! Guess worries got the best of you! We have been full timers for nearly 6 years...will continue to go as long as we can! life is too short to "short change yourself"! Perk up Chuck and get what is really important back in your life!
High gas prices are because of our weak dollar, and all this war talk. But no one seems to care.
We have been RVing in Western Canada since 1974, & have gone through a number of trucks/campers/trailers & one Toyota mini-motorhome. We currently own a 17 foot Boler & Ford F150 that we drove about 3500 miles miles camping last year, & a Get-Away campervan (GMC 2500 chassis) that we drove for 6200 miles for parties & other social events that involved overnight stays. Gas was between $5.00 to $5.50 a gallon (Imp) Gas costs came in at about $2300.00, An incease of about $.50/gal as projected for this year would increase our costs by 10% or about $230.00 for next year for about the same amount of travel. The only way we feel we can afford to travel as we like is with smaller rigs & slower speeds (55 mph).
Hello Chuck,
It's all about either time, money or both. Our intention is to invest energy in making possible the full experience of the trip,....and the actual driving aspect is but only one. Each town & region, properly researched!, has an abundance of experience to offer.
And, not smoking for a year has save me close to $3,000, to say nothing of perhaps some extended time!!
Bill
We are staying close to home. We plan to leave our motorhome in different locations throughout the year and drive to it in our 40 mpg car.
I was on the RVTraveler.com forums as Grandmotherbear in 2005-2008. At the time I was waffling between an Aspen motorcycle pop up and a campervan. We are still planning on a camper van (intead of towing the aspen with an economy car)but haven't yet purchased it. Our 3,000 mile roundtrip camping trip FL to Boston is still on for September because 1. we're not getting any younger and 2. I've seen too many people have life plans wrecked because of unforeseen illness. We'll take the Tent Mahal, which is bigger than my first apartment was and takes 2 adults to pitch- if I ever travel as a single I have a 1 man backpacking tent that will work just fine until I get the van. Boston is Grandfatherbear's dream vacation- it is expensive, but by staying in a campground on the rail commuter line, we avoid daily parking fees, hotel charges, restaurant charges, and don't forget tourist tax.
We are getting slowly into Solar with panels and a Xantrex power pack, so we won't have generator costs.
Chuck- how many times does your daughter leave home for college? Is part of your decision that you were more enthusiastic about the trip than she was? I have found that many trips I arranged over Grandfatherbear's objections and the children's whining are now remembered fondly by them and Grandfatherbear also.
I agree and am also 64 and solo. I bought a 2005 Leisure Travel Van in Oct of 2010. I get 21 to 22.8 miles per gallon of diesel and that is a big reason I bought it. I recently retired as a high school principal and am currently a stay at home foster mom to sweet babies. LTV will be paid for in Jan 2013 and I will hit the road. Whatever fuel is I will pay it until I run out of money. I will boondock a lot, etc, and save other ways.
Continued. . . It is also too hot in Texas in the summers.
I like your last paragraph. Go for it!!!
We tow a small 17 HiLo, but the gas prices have hit us hard up here in New York. I would have liked to plan some big trips out west and down south within the next year (retirement looms). BUT with obscene and manipulated gas prices, we changed our horizons and will be camping in the Northeast (within 300 miles). Fortunately we have the Adirondacks, Catskills and 1000 Islands all in New York.
Dann & Diane
We know exactly how you feel, we are sick to our stomachs that our 30' Class A RV, our boat and jetski are just sitting. Even a short week trip to the Colorado river, 250 miles one way costs us $900 in fuel. We use the RV to pull the jetski and a diesel Excursion to pull the boat. What used to be a quarterly event is now an annual event, if even that. Fortunately we don't have payments on all those toys so we can wait out the current administration.
Julia, you are buying into the government spin, biggest reason fuel prices are up is the Federal Reserve's "Quantitative Easing" of the money suppy, twice, over 1.2 Trillion dollars printed and distributed into the world money suppy. Oil is traded in US dollars thus our dollar does not buy as much. Proof ? There is no shortage of oil supply, not in the US, not in the world. Do your homework, don't believe what most talking heads are saying on TV.
I'm spending the money now and moving on down the hi-way. I'm too old to wait for a cheaper price on fuel, I'll be dead before that happens.
Have been doing short trips for a couple of years. Long trips are in our Honda CR-V (gas sipper). It's cheaper doing reasonable motels & restaurants than pulling the trailer with our Tahoe. (I've done the math).
Hang in there Chuck, get your business taken care of and see how you feel. Then hit the road and enjoy if you can. We all just have to make the best of the fuel ripoff, it will get better
The price of oil effects all things in our lives.If money is a problem we must priortize. If rving is on the bottom of the list so be it. I have a feeling rving
is not for most of us and we will continue as best we can.
While the price of diesel fuel is high, my wife and I haven't taken an RV excursion for a couple of years (too busy). This year in May we're headed out to visit sites that we've not viewed in years and many relatives as well as doing a little more family history data gathering. We're going to take about 6 weeks and cover approximately 4,800 miles. We've got too many places and people to visit and too few years left to do it.
My wife and me had planned on traveling North West this year to complete our West journey and now traveling home from Florida to Buffalo, NY our first fill up cost $180.00 and that was not with an empty tank.Just into georgia and still have 1000 miles to go at 10 MPG. Will stay home for Summer
No California State Square dance convention for me this year. Same w/e as good dances nearby and no 400 mile r/t driving. No big gas expense. In town I get a monthly senior pass and use the buse and trains. No parking problems or tickets, no accidents, and I catch up on my reaading. I still get some exercise walking to and from the bus stop(s).
Was complaining about the high cost of fuel to a fellow camp grounder and he took his cane and drew a line in the dirt. "This line is your life", he said. "here is the start and here is the end" as he pointed at each end of the line. "Do you know where you are on the line?" he asked.
"No" I replied.
"That's right." he said, "Better spend it while you can. You ain't taking it with ya"
Point well made, point well taken. We will be on the road this summer. If we run out of money, well, we have a place to stay anyway.
Two comments: 1. If you figure the percentage of increase of gas over last year, the figure is small; therefore, keep RVing. 2. Whether you look at the world through your RV window, or look at your RV through the kitchen window depends on your priority in life. My priority is fun and enjoyment, not penny pinching. 3. Whether your drive or sit depends on whether your RV is a means to a destination, or and end to enjoyjment of travel. Aint not gas gonna slow me down. Lomesome Mike, Kure Beach, NC
I guess I am like a few others here. As long as I can afford it I am going to keep on trucking. I have waited most of my life to do this and I am not going to let a few extra dollars get in the way of a life long dream
The way I see this; the oil companies raise fuel prices because they can! In the last 15 years seems there is a new paradigm in business; GREED, when I was in business we used to use a word called reasonable profit. No more reasonable, just get all you can get. Are they investing in new refining facilities, none that I can see. So all this ripoff just to feel powerful. Next they'll be demanding the Government build new refineries for their exclusive use at our expense. Then comes the next level of GREED, Hedge Funds jockeying billions in the Futures Markets. So folks enjoy what you have because there seems to be no end to the greed factor in our new generation of Corporate Managers.
When you are in your late 70's and still healthy enough to travel we believe we have no choice but to travel as much as we can while we still can. We did buy a smaller motorhome when the old one needed replaced but will use it as much as possible. Typical summer trips are between 1,000 and 2500 miles. We will also take some shorter trips that can be done on one tank (60 gallons). The low interest rates are really hurting us.
Ok, let's try this again. We are planning at least one long road trip this summer towing a 34' TT woith a gasser SUV. We'll get about 10 mpg with a tail wind on a good day. If we slow down to about 60 mph we'll save about 10-15% on fuel. Life is Good...
Bill, you've done something great for yourself! Congratulations!
I've been quit of a 2-pk-a-day, 40-year habit for 2-1/3 years now, and have saved $11,000. The savings helped me finish paying off my horrible debts, and will provide much of the purchase price of my retirement dream (small RV) in a few years. And yes, without quitting who knows if I'd even live long enough to enjoy an RV, supposing I could still afford to buy one.
When the cost of something you love goes up, you just have to find other things to economize on that maybe you don't love so much, they've just become habits and things you *think* you can't do without.
I will find the money for my full-timing dream, by continually evaluating what "necessities" are actually luxuries, and what lifestyle modifications can be made.
Meanwhile... attaboy, Bill! And Chuck, perhaps your priorities need re-examining? See you down the road. - Leenite
Several years ago we were traveling full time. we got a notice forwarded that the IRS wanted to do a full office audit of my last company, I had closed. I told them we were in Florida traveling full time and that all our records, cpa firm, attorney were in San Jose, CA. they scheduled the audit in Florida anyway. We declined. they tracked us all across the US and tried to schedule the audit in every city we stayed at a few days. We finally got home, and scheduled with them and our people. They wasted a year of our time and money and when they were done we owed them about 400.00 due to a double posting error that my cpa firm missed so they paid it. While we were here off the road we bought a house and while unloading the rv a stranger walked up to me and bought it. We never did get back to full timing as we had planned to. Having said all that, I am saying that we are going to make the identical trip to British Columbia and back to San Jose just as we did last year. 2010 miles round trip. I figure you only live once and that may not be much longer. Make that trip chuck, you and your daughter will never regret it and will probably always be glad you did. Bill age 80 now. :)
My husband is 89, and we sure aren't going to stay home because of gas prices!! Your daughter is more important than how much gas costs!!!
You may never again see $4 gas, I wouldn't wait.
Just My 2 Cents... Higher gas prices won't keep those who can afford it at home... But it will keep a lot of us still on the fence about all the increase cost involved RVing off the road... Its not just the higher fuel cost, Cost of most new RV's are out of range for many future travelers and with higher campground fee's, pickup prices, tires, on and on... the world I live in has gotten more expensive and at the same time my fun money available has shrunk... Too crabby to sleep in a Tent. RV There Yet?
I work in the petroleum industry. There's no reason for higher gas prices other than the quest for higher profits. But that's the American way isn't it, screw thy neighbor for a dollar!
Glad to see you a little more "up" this week! Take the good advice that these rvers have given you and get the most out of your life!!! You can't take it with you!! an old adage but true!! It is not good for a man who writes for an rv travel magazine to discourage rv travel!!!
We are cutting down on other things to be able to afford the travel. So, this means that the attractions that cost extra we will just pass by. I stay at the least expensive campground we can find and use Passport America to it's fullest. Staying at state and national parks where, once there, the hiking, etc is free. We still plan on doing Alaska but will be re-thinking how we go about it. For instance, the ferry trip one way is likely out. It just costs too much.
We need to put people in office that remember 'For the People' and not for themselves.
Wow! Something isn't adding up here. $900 of fuel at $4.00 per gallon is 225 gal of fuel. 250 miles driven using 225 gal of fuel is 1.111 mpg combined for the RV and the Excursion. Am I missing something?
What he said!
Wow, reading some of these replies was depressing. I'm 62, just retired, downsized to a 28' 5th wheel in Feb 2011 from 38' that we used twice. Want to travel & hubby doesn't, not even local. Going solo for a month in Aug just to get out and see our beautiful country. Heading from WA to UT, via ID,MT,WY. I want to see things before I get to old and not able. This will be my first solo trip with 20' truck & rig and am a little scared. But what's life without a challenge.
Back in 2010, we went for about 5 months, with diesel truck and pull behind tt. From North Carolina, to Colorado, eastern parts of California (Mojave Desert), Montana, Wyoming, and back. Whetted our appetite for more. Then bottom dropped out of 401K. So, after being retired 2 years, was called back to work in 2011. still working now, trying to save for a really long trip, if politics, nation, etc hold. I'm 68, wife is 71. Don't want to wait much longer, too many friends are getting sick and incapacitated. Many decisions to make, and we must make them soon. I still want to do much more of my bucket list. I get a trapped feeling every so often, and then we go out to the storage to the trailer, and have lunch, talk, look at maps, and plan. That's ok.
You can do it! I just hauled our 34' 5th wheel to Florida and back, including some stops along the way, did over 3000 miles. Hubby can't drive anymore and I don't want to stay home. So, I do all the driving.
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