Community Forums

rough road · 12-31-2010, 06:47 AM

moto, we also have looked at the -total- cost of rv ownership (including depreciation-less time at the destination, if that is important to you, and tolls) and our results were a bit different than yours, perhaps because we figured in the cost of financing and taxes. Our conclusion, we could fly, rent a car, and stay at five star resorts for LESS than owning our own, modest, rv-it wasn't even close and we ran the numbers when fuel was alot less.

I won't argue that traveling in an rv is much more civilized that travel by auto-a clean bath is just a few paces towards the rear AND one does not have to do the now requisite 'bed bug' inspection AND you don't have to put your luggage, clothing and other personal items in a plastic bag above the floor-well perhaps on second thought the double the cost aspect of rv ownership versus traditional vacations can be justified.....

TXiceman · 12-31-2010, 06:56 AM

Well, we will just go to the mode of shorter trips and staying longer in one spot.

Ken

ctpres · 12-31-2010, 07:20 AM

5-6-7 dollars? We won't stop. Good news is with so much to see and do in Texas cost of gas won't matter much, probably be fewer commercial parks to choose from but less crowded especially in winter.

**Petro** · 12-31-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FDchief

All this does have me a bit concerned, and fuel prices are just one part of it. The American dollar is getting to the point that it is not worth the paper it is written on. If we need more money we just print more, there is nothing to back it up. We keep coming up with Federal and State programs, and still subsidize old ones. Our government needs to just say "no more", bite the bullet and balance the budget. I am not happy with either side, Democrat or Republicans, but we have got to start using some common sense.

We owe tons of money to other countries, speaking of China. If they call in their chips anytime soon, we will be broke and our new currency could be the Yen! Enough doom and gloom, let's RV. God Bless America!

As our $ loses its value on the world market it will take more $$ to buy a barrel of oil. Petroleum products will increase accordingly. I have often thought our country should tie the price of a bushel wheat to a barrel of oil on the world market.

I am more concerned about the future of SS, Medicare, & Medicaid than I am about future gas & diesel prices. I can drive less but I still need good health care that is not rationed.

JMHO;

Don

Rocket Heart · 12-31-2010, 08:54 AM

Truth is it's not about us. As stated on ABC last night, it's about the public taking another hit and therefore reacting negatively to the high prices. It will set the whole country back where it was 2 years ago and virtually halt whatever gains have been made in attempt to get out of this recession.

John H... · 12-31-2010, 09:02 AM

Don't know about now ,but I sort of remember some posts about gas prices in England being around $7.00 a gal. a bit ago and it doesn't deter them. Maybe someone from across the pond can respond...

motojavaphil · 12-31-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rough road

moto, we also have looked at the -total- cost of rv ownership (including depreciation-less time at the destination, if that is important to you, and tolls) and our results were a bit different than yours, perhaps because we figured in the cost of financing and taxes. Our conclusion, we could fly, rent a car, and stay at five star resorts for LESS than owning our own, modest, rv-it wasn't even close and we ran the numbers when fuel was alot less.

I won't argue that traveling in an rv is much more civilized that travel by auto-a clean bath is just a few paces towards the rear AND one does not have to do the now requisite 'bed bug' inspection AND you don't have to put your luggage, clothing and other personal items in a plastic bag above the floor-well perhaps on second thought the double the cost aspect of rv ownership versus traditional vacations can be justified.....

I have to agree that when you figure in the cost of the RV it does alter the equation although I have seen some motorcycles that cost as much as some decent used RVs. If you travel with a pop-up camper it is far less expensive than motorcycle touring. If you travel with a $1M Prevost then there will be a distinct cost factor if you really care. There are many ways to factor costs but for the purposes of what I was saying the cost of the rig etc., were not included in the guesstimate. You could include having a S&B if you do not live in the RV or approach it with other configurations. I had just limited it to the act of traveling and it is cheaper.

hamguy · 12-31-2010, 10:28 AM

Please consider that should gas rise to $5/gal, all other sales items will rise proportionally. So not buying gas will only drive (pun intended) you to other services that will rise similarly just because their expenses are tied to the price of gas.

One can only hope that your disposable income will also rise proportionally. Of course for we retirees, it will only go down. Thanks to those responsible.

Superslif · 12-31-2010, 10:30 AM

Thanx Driver

for the time it took to inform us where the oil comes from within the "Good Old US-of-A".

We get a good deal of our fuel here in NE Ohio from a grocery chain's gas stations called "Get-Go". I'll be curious where it comes from...??

Screw OPEC....In news report, they say they are real comfortable where the price range of oil is now. I'm sure they are...

phxmtngirl · 12-31-2010, 12:03 PM

Maybe we should wait to buy our new rig till the price does go up to 5.00 p/g, the rig price should drop right down to 2008 prices????

Gary - K7GLD · 12-31-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John H...

Don't know about now ,but I sort of remember some posts about gas prices in England being around $7.00 a gal. a bit ago and it doesn't deter them. Maybe someone from across the pond can respond...

On the average, Europeans vacationing lifestyle and vehicle use is FAR different than ours - their far tighter-packed housing and apartment dwelling causes great use of public transit, and vehicle-per-capita ownership is far lower than ours, as well as RV ownership.

I'm sure they are no happier than we are over fuel costs - but a far greater percentage of them actually only see that cost indirectly, in cost of living, goods and services.

butterbean · 12-31-2010, 02:55 PM

Howdy y'all,
You can always sell your blood for fuel $$$ I'm just glad we live in TEXAS and still have some places INSIDE the state we want to see.. Sure it would be nice to go to Alaska, Maine or Washington STATE, but all of them are IN TEXAS and you can understand the language!!!
When the 'MESSAGE' got out that MURPHY'S was 'outlawing' oversize rigs
I contacted them and they wrote back and put a comment on iRV2 saying
"NO!" they are actually building more and EASIER STATIONS FOR OVERSIZED
VEHICLES... I am glad Murphy is on the USA list...

motojavaphil · 12-31-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary - K7GLD

On the average, Europeans vacationing lifestyle and vehicle use is FAR different than ours - their far tighter-packed housing and apartment dwelling causes great use of public transit, and vehicle-per-capita ownership is far lower than ours, as well as RV ownership.

I'm sure they are no happier than we are over fuel costs - but a far greater percentage of them actually only see that cost indirectly, in cost of living, goods and services.

I toured UK on my motorcycle and enjoyed it. One of the things I learned is distance is perceived differently there. Here I would think nothing of going 400 miles but that is a sizable chunk of milage there. RVs were smaller, cars were smaller, roads were narrower and the whole concept of travel seemed influenced by this. Indeed fuel was much higher and Brit salaries did not seem as high as ours which would have influenced the amount of RV travel I imagine.

oldhank · 12-31-2010, 03:44 PM

I look at it this way:

We travel on average 54 days/year covering about 8,000 miles

At 8 mpg, the $2 difference between $3/gallon and $5/gallon = an additional $2,000/year (1,000 gallons x $2)

$2,000 divided by 54 days = an additional cost of $37/day.

I can partially offset this by cutting back on other trip expenses:

Use State Park, COE and other lower fee campgrounds. Maybe throw in a little Wallydocking

and National Forest dispersed camping.

Maximize free and inexpensive entertainment on the trip. Hiking and taking photos is good enough for me.

There are also plenty of things I'd be willing to cut back on at home to cover this increase in the cost of my traveling addiction