How do you justify your motorhome MPG?

[jmoffat]

2 years ago we drove from Calif to up state Michigan in a car. Spent 3 weeks on the road and it came out that costs were $100/day for gas $100/day for motel and $100/day for meals didn't include costs of shopping and playing golf etc Other than cost of initial investment in MH not sure costs of same trip in MH would have been that much more

Jim

[trode]

Being a "bean counter" I put the pencil to paper to see just how it would come out. DW and I going to Washington DC for long weekend with 2 nieces, ran numbers and even with 7 mpg for MH vs. 30 mpg car, and even with HIGH campground prices I come out several hundred dollars ahead of hotel/gas/parking and then the meals which we can cook in the MH vs. eat out for every meal is a bonus. I have done the same for Disney trips, but comes out far ahead due to fact that 6 of us go, savings there is based on their "moderate" resorts, and again meals savings is gravy!

However, we foot the bill for gas and campground and grand kids tickets and the kids just buy their tickets, so the ones really saving is them!

BUT.... I don't have to justify, it is far more fun to travel and stay in RV. Every trip I have taken by air in the last 10-15 years has been a nightmare. Miserable way to travel.

[Musikboy]

Originally Posted by Monaco38

There is no financial justification...unless you maybe have a traveling business. My tax accountant pointed out it was not a wise financial move...after we bought our MH. For him everything is a financial equation.

For us it has nothing to do with financial justification. We don't count the cost...we just enjoy everything else that RVing has to offer.

X2 on that, it's time to enjoy life a little more than worrying all the time about the future. The future is here, now. It's outside in the driveway and we can start it up and drive it anywhere we want.

F R E E D O M -- is one way to think about it. I might be sorry 20 years from now that I spent money I might need then but how long will I live? Who knows? I could croak tomorrow and I've already started a new phase of life enjoying travel in the most convenient and wonderful way I know.

And, as stated above, the friendships we are making now would not have been possible if we didn't have our motorhome.

And my accountant too would consider it a bad investment but my cardiologist would argue with him....

[PushedAround]

Originally Posted by ARTWERKE

I used to have a 38' boat!

Yeah, I sold the racecar & trailer etc. Going away in the MH is MUCH cheaper than going racing, and a lot more relaxing. I've had my time in the fast lane. The race car was good for the spirit, but the MH is good for the soul.

[slick60]

Originally Posted by Monaco38

There is no financial justification...unless you maybe have a traveling business. My tax accountant pointed out it was not a wise financial move...after we bought our MH. For him everything is a financial equation.

For us it has nothing to do with financial justification. We don't count the cost...we just enjoy everything else that RVing has to offer.

Amen and Amen. My financial guy said the same thing. 10 years later I am still rolling and seeing something different everyday.

[CampDaven]

Before retiring we RVed at every chance for over 23 years.

I saved money. Now I spend it RVing fulltime.

My average move is 200 miles. It costs about 100 bucks. All the rest is touring with the toad, about 20K miles/year.

How else can you move everything you own 200 miles for 100 bucks, while seeing and doing places and things that most folks cannot dream of? All while I grin in my sleep....

[ckhenshaw4]

I really don't "justify" the fuel through my Dutchstar in any way. I figure that all my life I have worked VERY HARD for my money, and I will spend it any way we want, and being in our RV is what we want. Justification DONE.

[Textronics]

We are new to the RV lifestyle, but here's how we came to the decision to buy & use an RV:
1) Unless we have to cross water where there is no bridge, we are driving! I am DONE flying! The last 2 trips I was groped & hassled - once kept for 40 minutes until 5 minutes before take off before they let me go.
2) My 80# Service Dog, Jake, is much more comfortable in the RV.
3) We can stop when we want to rest or sleep overnight. We don't have to hunt a hotel at the last minute or plan in advance. We get to take our own sweet time.
4) I can cook around my food allergies & carrying food in the RV fridge beats a cooler in the van any day.
5) When we made our maiden voyage to St. Louis & stayed at KOAs, my husband noted unlike the hustle & bustle around hotels, it was calm & peaceful in the shade.
6) We are going to a convention in July. Rather than stay at a hotel & have to shuttle back & forth, we will be able to stay on the grounds. :
7) Keeping the RV stocked, we can grab clothes, stop @ Wally World on the way out of town & go camping when we want to. wavey:
8) I used to camp with my parents & grandparents -- some times boon docking, sometimes staying @ CGs. RVing brings back wonderful memories while I create some new ones with my DH.

So, for me, this is a winner hands down!

[Orangepeel]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

But in that story, I read that the question should be "How do you OFFSET or MITIGATE your Motorhome's MPG."

I think the act of using the RV rather than other travel methods can automatically mitigate travel costs. At least that is the feeling we get so far.

Case in point, my sisters wedding in September. I priced airline tickets for my family of four and it will cost $318 per person ($1272 total) for round trip tickets. I know from visiting the same area in my coach in May that gas for a round trip cost us in the $900 range.

Even if we round up to $1000 for gas to go high on cost, that is still a $272 savings just on travel alone. When you then factor in no cost for hotel and less cost for cooking rather than eating out, I save more by taking my RV then by driving.

[Butte64]

No need to justify as long as you are not depriving yourself or your family of something more important. But you could look at it this way - you are contributing to the economy. You are helping those in the oil and gas industry as well as those employed at gas stations. Furthermore, you are helping those who invested to get dividends and see their stock increase in value so they can enjoy their RVs. I would much rather be spending my hard earned money on something I enjoy and employs others than see it go down the drain in welfare and supporting illegal aliens.

[BBQ Judge]

Many years ago, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw was asked what he did with his re-signing bonus. He said something to the effect that he spent 90% of it on women and booze, the other 10% he wasted.

Where you put RVing is up to you.

[JohnBoyToo]

My question is why does it NEED justification ???

It doesn't IMHO

[PushedAround]

Best line that was posted on iRV2 concerning this issue:

It get lousy mileage for a vehicle, but pretty good for a house!

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by Textronics

We are new to the RV lifestyle, but here's how we came to the decision to buy & use an RV:
1) Unless we have to cross water where there is no bridge, we are driving! I am DONE flying! The last 2 trips I was groped & hassled - once kept for 40 minutes until 5 minutes before take off before they let me go.
2) My 80# Service Dog, Jake, is much more comfortable in the RV.
3) We can stop when we want to rest or sleep overnight. We don't have to hunt a hotel at the last minute or plan in advance. We get to take our own sweet time.
4) I can cook around my food allergies & carrying food in the RV fridge beats a cooler in the van any day.
5) When we made our maiden voyage to St. Louis & stayed at KOAs, my husband noted unlike the hustle & bustle around hotels, it was calm & peaceful in the shade.
6) We are going to a convention in July. Rather than stay at a hotel & have to shuttle back & forth, we will be able to stay on the grounds. :
7) Keeping the RV stocked, we can grab clothes, stop @ Wally World on the way out of town & go camping when we want to. wavey:
8) I used to camp with my parents & grandparents -- some times boon docking, sometimes staying @ CGs. RVing brings back wonderful memories while I create some new ones with my DH.

So, for me, this is a winner hands down!

YAY - nicely phrased.