Has fuel $$$ killed RV'ing??????

[hammersley]

I think with Diesel getting close to $4 this summer and heck maybe even more - that will essentially kill the RV industry for joe sixpack! I mean sure you may have an RV now but unless you're well geeled - nobody wants to spend $120-130 for a fillup at 11-12 MPG.....

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

In a word, NO!



Wounded the RVing budget perhaps, but not killed it - besides, at least with a truck like mine, we get about the same MPG towing the 5th wheel as a SUV gets EMPTY! :-laf



Lets face it, as much as we hate and gripe about fuel costs, most can and will still pay the price - unfortunately, the powers that be in the oil industry also know that, and will continue their "whatever traffic will bear" mode of operation... :{

 

[AMink]

When the cost of flying goes up, and it will, the sticker shock on a round trip ticket for a family of four will make you want to go and hook up and head out! Maybe shorter trips, but we will still go.

 

[TSpecht]

I don't know about RV'ing but it won't stop me from taking the boat out fairly frequently. Granted I might shut it down, drop anchor and fish or swim more often, but I'll not allow it to inhibit my recreation...

 

[RustyJC]

Nope!



Rusty

 

[klenger]

Travel less, stay longer. Take a 100 mile trip instead of a 200 mile trip and a gallon of #2 is effectively only $1. 50. One 4-day trip instead of two 2-day trips does the same thing. Car pool to work and save the money for the truck fuel.



Given all the activity on rv.net, RVing doesn't seem to be any less popular. I predict a great future for companies that can make fuel efficient RV's like the ones built on the Sprinter chassis (20 mpg). Almost all the Class C motor homes on the market now are gassers. A switch to a good diesel would make a huge difference in economy.

 

[Tony T.]

Probably more close to home trips will be taken then cross country. I know my uncle and aunt won't be going to Talladega this year for the Nascar races. He told me that he just could not afford it this year the way "everything" has gone up in price. Of course theres still Texas Motor Speedway, it's only about 45 miles away for us.



Myself it will be very short trips of less than 100 miles if we go at all.



Tony

 

[FATCAT]

When the cost of flying goes up, and it will, the sticker shock on a round trip ticket for a family of four will make you want to go and hook up and head out! Maybe shorter trips, but we will still go.

Yeah, hook up old Mr. Ed to the covered wagon and get a couple of sacks of oats for fuel. :-laf

 

[Bob4x4]

I think from what I have seen in most rv camp sites... ... ... RVers have a good bit more dispoable income than the average. Rving is no longer a cheaper way to vacation but a lifestyle for those that want it all.



Bob

 

[hammersley]

I think from what I have seen in most rv camp sites... ... ... RVers have a good bit more dispoable income than the average. Rving is no longer a cheaper way to vacation but a lifestyle for those that want it all.



Bob

You're right about the income - I should have said CAMPING rather than RV'ing... ... . and with that I mean the typical camping trailer - like a 25 footer or less... ... .

 

[Katmandu]

If folks can afford a $40,000 truck and a $40,000 5th wheel WTH is a couple hundred bucks for fuel here and there ??

High fuel prices are killing POOR people!!

Oh yea... . and of course don't forget Bush's War on the Middle Class.

 

[MCummings]

Oh yea... . and of course don't forget Bush's War on the Middle Class.

It wasn't just Bush, it's been a long time coming. This is why I haven't tried to make much more money than I do now. I would have to make 50% more money just to put 20% more in my pocket...



Merrick

 

[EBottema]

I think in some areas it has killed camping and RV'ing

If your talking rich people and older folks, no they will still go out and travel.



However, in the kern river area where i frequent, it has hurt it a lot the past 2 summers. Mainly hurt families with a couple of kids. Rising prices to stay at the parks plus big fuel costs and then all the other stuff (food, etc) has kept a lot of families at home

 

[JUeckert]

late last spring and throughout the summer ,i spent a lot of time paving/repaving roads,and trailer pads in two different parks on a nearby lake. there are a total of 6 different parks on this lake,during prime camping times the only hope for a spot is by a months in advance reservation. last year was the exception,untill the hurricanes hit the gulf. prior to the hurricanes,the parks struggled to reach half capacity,afterwards it was nearly 3/4 capacity due to evacuees from the hurricane hit regions. also have parents who travel to the valley region of texas during the winter,they claim the amount of snowbirds in the parks is down maybe 20%.

 

[EGroeneveld]

We are going to have a very different summer this year. We live in Keizer, OR. Last summer we made three separate trips to Southern Utah, Las Vegas and Northern Arizona, this year not going anywhere except family reunion in Montana and camping in Oregon. Every year we usually run up to Seattle for 5 or 6 Seattle Mariners baseball games, this year NONE. Its not just because of gas/diesel prices but it sure makes you think about how far we are driving and how much we enjoy it compared to the cost. We have decided to make this summer, the 'explore Oregon' summer and 'finish all the home improvements' that have been on the to do list for 5 years. I think we are like many people that can afford the nice truck and trailer but we have made some sacrifices in other areas of life, such as eating out, movies, how big our house is, etc... we only have so much money each month and gas/diesel prices have taken more of it. When we decided to not go to any Seattle Mariners games we figured between gas, eating out and tickets we were out $200 each game, I am much more content to watch it on TV this year.

 

[WyattEarp]

the fuel prices here are killing things quickly, if your fortunate to carpool i encourage it, in rural areas we are not so lucky, and since all but a couple of factory jobs and fast food is all that remain, guess what..... pple are pawning their stuff for gas money as i saw on Cnn yesterday, thats pathetic... .

Alot less horse trailers are showing up around here to visit the area to ride, mostly Motorcycles and those of us that still have jobs are driving to work only... . Alot of Pple don't realize just how bad it really is i don't think, some i think are going to get a reallity check. Right now if it hasn't gone up this morning i am still able to get #2 for 2. 69 a gal. how long it last i don't know... . And i drive 40min. to work one way

 

[nps]

Just bought a new 5er so in my case - NO. Maybe the campgrounds will be a little less full this summer? Hope so.

 

[catoiler]

With any luck it will keep the low lifes home so the normal folks can enjoy themself's!Nothing like going camping and thinking you are in another country. but that is just my . 02!

 

[EBottema]

With any luck it will keep the low lifes home so the normal folks can enjoy themself's!Nothing like going camping and thinking you are in another country. but that is just my . 02!

The campground i frequent was packed big time 3 summers ago. They had problems with "loud and disruptive mexicans in large groups" and in their words raised the price to keep these type of people away. raised the campsite prices 20% plus doubled the extra person fee... Well, it might have been an idea but it was a bad one. It not only kept the rife rafe away but also took good families and their kids away since they could not afford it. Place is pretty dead last two summers.



Instead, they could have made new group camping rules and strongly enforced them... . and only slightly raised the price...

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I've already made plans for virtually every weekend between May 1 and Sept 30. When speaking to the state parks people, the Colorado campgrounds have not experienced a slow down in reservations. Another case of the media blowing things out of proportion.