How do you justify your motorhome MPG?

[CRICKEYDOG]

Originally Posted by wanderso

For those not yet retired, how do you justify your motorhome MPG? .

I don't!!!


Happy RV'ing!!! See y'all down the road!!!

[golfpgb]

Its easy. In the previous years when we spent a week at a lake in central Arkansas we would pull our boat using our Yukon. The gas mileage on the Yukon was around 10MPG.

We got around 7.5MPG pulling our boat with the motorhome plus we saved money on renting a cabin verse paying the camping fees.

[Chow5656]

Originally Posted by CRICKEYDOG

I don't!!!


Happy RV'ing!!! See y'all down the road!!!

LIKEWISE!!!!

[jdoc]

The fact that I am still alive and, not being short of breath and having the chest pains or the heart attack I had, when we were out one year with several friends at the Alabama/Coushatta Campground east of Livingston,Texas with our fifth wheel means I don't have to justify it.

Jerry

[rivraton]

Originally Posted by Brockx

Old School, how many of you remember Humphrey???

I remember Humphrey, he wuz Joe's buddy.

[pagosajoe]

Don't have to. I EARNED it.

[laj]

Originally Posted by pagosajoe

Don't have to. I EARNED it.

x2 exactly

[Finelinevan]

My wife and I work for the school and since our 4 kids were babies still crawling we left for the road as soon as school let out till a week before it started, we never spent any summers at home and still dont. We been all over this country with them. Now we are down to 2 kids at home and in 5 years to be retired. How else can you be on the road for 8 weeks for under $4000 thats gas lodging food included and see so much. A lot dont cost much if you like hikes and nature.
With the kids we towed trailers that accomaded 4 bunks. Now we just bought a used low milage unit off a senior couple who couldnt drive anymore and didnt go far when they did. Its on E450 thats really for my wife and I to retire with. Perfect for 2 with 2 guests sharing pull out couch. Its garaged at our home looks like brand new dispite being 10 years old.
Now as far as justify cost it was easy. Where else can you be on the road with 6 people for 8 weeks other then in an RV. We just returned from 3000 mile trip.
Our Gulfsteam BT Cruiser got between 10.5 and 11.5 towing ford esacape, over 12 not towing car keeping it at 55 mpg all the time. I dont think thats a lot per gallon and we stay mostly in state parks for 25 per night. I still think its a steal plus we dont owe any money on unit. So retirement will be easier to manage as we will be 6 months a year on the road.I POSTED PICS OF UNIT AND REHAB COSMETIC WORK I DID TO GET HER BACK TO NEW.https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=bef700a26f

[Santara]

if you need to justify a MH then maybe you don't need or want 1. like said before its a Hobby. have fun & live life & see things beside whats on the boob tube

[frankdamp]

We no longer can and can't afford 8 mpg at $4 a gallon. Add to that the increase in CG fees (it's hard to find any under $40 a night). With regret, we're out of the hobby. After we've used the MH as supplementary bedroom accommodations for a big family get-together over the Labor Day weekend (our 50th wedding anniversary), it's on the market.

[Moderator Edit]

We're out in the weeds a bit, very northern part of the western Washington mainland (though we're actually on the only one of the San Juans you can drive to!). As the crow flies, the border with Canada is about 50 miles north and Seattle is abou 85 miles south.

[gmasters]

I guess we have posted in this thread already but I will post my thoughts again today. We are just about ready (packed) for our month long trip from Va to Upstate NY and a few point between.
Im looking at some of the points people are talking about but as in any vacation any family takes its not the FUEL cost that make the trip COSTLY, its lodging food entertainment
We travel each Quarter of they year for work (flying) from Va to San Diego, Miami, Seattle, Tucson,(this past trips) for 5 day trips. And different cities each time. Our Air/hotels are paid for as well as most meals. But I will tell you that the meals we do pay for add up fast.
Our up coming trip for the 30 days will most likely cost us
$500 gas=1000 miles drive RV/car
$1500 food= 50 per day two people (this looks high but we eat well I guess)
$350 camping fees= Thousand Trails membership past 20 year and a week at our best KOA .I did add in the membership / 365 days!!
Our trips cost us about $2100 for 30 =$70 per day
Our trips for work cost (company) over 2100 each Q for us both two attend a 5 night meeting.
Last issue, we are booked to fly (company paid) for my wife and I to attend a meeting in OH YA....Maui...air is 1250 each , room is 275 per night, all this cost and we sit in meetings from 8am until 4pm... oh well it is Hawaii our 3rd trip..in 7 years.
MY WIFE WILL NEVER SEE THIS.... SO
I would give up a steak cooked out on the grill for more gas money to relax with my WIFE away from WORK and our GROWN kids

[Finelinevan]

Originally Posted by wanderso

These days, I ride a bus to/from work in downtown. This saves as follows per year: (2011 Subaru Outback)

8,200 commuting miles
310 gallons of fuel @ $4/gallon
2 extra oil changes @ $35 each
$300 insurance savings due to reduced mileage policy
$1440 in parking
= $3050 per year

Above doesn't even include depreciation, wear & tear and other maintenance.

That's $3,050 in real cash to pay for for fuel and travel costs for the RV "hobby". We all know that it doesn't offset the overall cost, but it is a start. In this case, all just for being willing to ride a bus for 20 minutes longer than driving each way. I guess I see that as worth it for the vacation payback and I can do my email on the bus anyway, getting back part of the commute time lost and less stress.

For those not yet retired, how do you justify your motorhome MPG? No snide comments please. .

Its a state of mind. People save all year for a weeks vacation somewhere probally spend 3000 on it for a family. We found that money in a rv gets us 4 to 5 weeks on the road. We cook our own food, stay in state parks for 25 a nite. 3000 mile trip averages 1000 in Gas. Units paid for. Freedom to make the trip and see things is no bad for the time with the family or just my wife when we take romantic couple days after the long summer trip here and there leaving grandma to watch the teens. The memories our family always talks about is our summer trips which lasted 5 to 6 weeks some summers not a week. If not for the Rv we could not do that. For us we are blessed we have the time most do not. I always tell people if you use it a week or 2 a year cost wise its not worth it buying a unit big new unit. But if you like the outdoors its the only way to travel. So even the maintence which I perform myself and garage the unit at my home makes it affordable in every way.

[beamisl]

I just got off a week at work that was very difficult. I work in a heart testing unit at a high trauma hospital. Very high stress job like many others.

I am stuck in a room with very sick patients. You cannot (at least I can't) not be touched by their illness and pain and their deaths.

You do not get outside, often miss lunch and there is no such thing as a break. It is constant, it is unending, and often hard to deal with. Some of these patients are so amazing with all they go through. But it hurts often.

When I retire we will buy a MH and hit the road. I do NOT want to see another hospital room. I want to see trees and grass, mountains, and waterfalls. Rivers and prairies and sand and cacti. With retirement so close in sight I struggle daily with the need to travel.

No longer will I be locked in a room with illness and disease, No longer will I have to deal with stupid regulations that take my time away from the patient.

I will breath fresh air and see the blue sky and stars. I can walk outside when the mood suits me and take a deep breath and smile.

It is worth the cost of the fuel to me in more ways than I can state.

I wish you all good health and happiness. Lynne

[DieselTech39]

Lynne, You are an angel to many. Enjoy your adventures. May God Bless you and thank you for performing such an unenviable job.