RV Usage and High Fuel Prices

[Gene Arnold]

I returned home yesterday from a trip to Nebraska and Colorado.

3964-Total miles;

249. 6 total gallons of fuel used (15. 88 mpg over-all);

$754. 04 total fuel cost ($. 19 per mile fuel cost);

$3. 02 average per gallon fuel price.



Eliminating all solo and mixed driving I had 1926 exclusive towing miles;

124. 5 gallons used;

15. 47 average mpg.



I tried to stay off the interstates as much as possible and kept my RPMs at 2100 most of the time.



There’s been a fair amount of talk here about whether or not the present fuel costs will curtail RV-ing but I saw a lot of RVs on the road. I didn’t enjoy paying out as much as $3. 31 per gallon for fuel, but the purpose of the trip was some very important family business including our 50th wedding anniversary reception in our old home town, Grand Island, Nebraska.



Gene

 

[KBalzuweit]

Thats a pretty good avg for about a 50/50 toing and not towing avg!! I am about 14. 7 for the same. As far as it stopping rv use I say NO. Maybe some of the people may rethink the coast to coast trip, but they will likely still hit the road. I know I am.



Heck last year diesel was lets say in the 1. 90 range and now at 3. 20. So the vacation trip I made last year my fuel cost was about $500 this year about $750. Am I going to skip my vacation for $250? NO WAY. As far as the full timers out there heck if they can afford the 70k for the big 5er and 45k for a new dually or 80k for the new med duty they can afford the fuel. Fuel cost is not going to stop us from having fun!!



Karl

 

[jwduke]

Thats a pretty good avg for about a 50/50 toing and not towing avg!! I am about 14. 7 for the same. As far as it stopping rv use I say NO. Maybe some of the people may rethink the coast to coast trip, but they will likely still hit the road. I know I am.



Heck last year diesel was lets say in the 1. 90 range and now at 3. 20. So the vacation trip I made last year my fuel cost was about $500 this year about $750. Am I going to skip my vacation for $250? NO WAY. As far as the full timers out there heck if they can afford the 70k for the big 5er and 45k for a new dually or 80k for the new med duty they can afford the fuel. Fuel cost is not going to stop us from having fun!!



Karl

Karl, you are 100% correct! $250 isn't going to keep me at home. I figured if we went on a 2000 mile trip averaging 10 mpg (I average 11. 5-12 mpg), I would use 200 gal. of fuel. 200 gal. of fuel @ $3. 50 per gal is going to cost me $700. My wife and 2 kids can't fly, stay in a room, & rent a car for $700!



I know its a lot, but I could spend a LOT more!

 

[RHamner]

We just came back from a trip to Or and Wash from Cal. Fuel for the trip may have cost $500 more. We would do it again, but I find it just modify's my planning not my going. For now we will stick to just our coast, just a few states.

 

[klenger]

With the way fuel prices are going, dont' think for a minute that air travel will stay as cheap as it is now. It's all relative.

 

[Grizzly]

Thats a pretty good avg for about a 50/50 toing and not towing avg!! I am about 14. 7 for the same. As far as it stopping rv use I say NO. Maybe some of the people may rethink the coast to coast trip, but they will likely still hit the road. I know I am.



Heck last year diesel was lets say in the 1. 90 range and now at 3. 20. So the vacation trip I made last year my fuel cost was about $500 this year about $750. Am I going to skip my vacation for $250? NO WAY. As far as the full timers out there heck if they can afford the 70k for the big 5er and 45k for a new dually or 80k for the new med duty they can afford the fuel. Fuel cost is not going to stop us from having fun!!



Karl

Good for you Karl, I admire folks like you. My wife and I were rethinking our scheduled trip to Alaska next summer, but reading your post convinced us to go for our trip. Fuel may cost me $2,500. 00, but I didn't purchase a $40,000 plus rig to see it parked in the garage.

 

[rweis]

Still RV'ing, just closer to home.



Bob Weis

 

[SBall]

Jealous!

Gene,

Your average MPG pulling a 34' Airstream is better than me hauling a Lance slide-in camper! I guess those Airstreams are indeed more aerodynamic than a slide-in camper that has the drag coefficient of a Steinway.

Steve

 

[JMetzger]

We will still RV but don't think we will go to the east coast next summer. Will stay around NV,CA,WA & OR.

 

[mlandis2]

Still the best way to travel... . especially with kids and regardless of fuel price. I would think though, that attitudes like mine and many others is probably partially to blame for the high prices in the first place

 

[RMachida]

Still the best way to travel... . especially with kids and regardless of fuel price. I would think though, that attitudes like mine and many others is probably partially to blame for the high prices in the first place

I agree that it is by far the best way to travel with a family, especially if you have the time. We were comparing cost on some recent trips and our last road trip was about 12k miles for ~6 weeks and the cost was about half of our last 2 week fly-out-and-have-to-rent-everything trip. Fuel costs weren't that significant compared to all the other expenses.

 

[CLAYTON]

Hasn't stopped me from going this year. . I have been going closer to home though. I would still like to go a couple more times this year if at all possible before the snow hits.

 

[Mrudolph]

Fuel prices are high, but with the wife, 3 kids, 2 dogs, we can't afford to fly. We travel to Anahiem CA each summer from So. GA 2500mi to vist family.

 

[Whiskey]

Well,
I am in Georgia right now,heading to Alabama tommorow.

Spent the summer in NY,gonna keep traveling as long as my money holds out, we all have to enjoy it while we can.

Oh I bought a new 2006 long bed duliee while in NY... .

whiskey

 

[CCutshaw]

Filled up in Baton Rouge La. $2. 89 Sunday morning.

On the way home it was $3. 69 half mile down the street it was $2. 99. At the house over lunch it dropped . 30.

Calvin

 

[K5IP]

Starting to rethink my annual rv/fishing trip to Alaska next year. Flying is starting to look good, but not nearly as much fun as driving.

Rog

 

[nps]

Just got back from the Grand Canyon - a 5 day trip and 800 total miles driven. At $3. 05 per gallon, it was still less than 2 nights in one of the lodges inside the park (and I didn't have to put up with the maid staff either).

 

[jwduke]

Diesel has NOT dropped 1 cent here! $3. 22 to $3. 33 here!