How do you justify your motorhome MPG?

[JMonroe]

I don't feel I have to justify anything related to our chosen lifestyle. You're either prepared (financially) to enjoy the fruits of your labor, or you're not. If that $3k you're saving by taking the bus meant the difference between my being able to take RV vacations or camping out in the backyard I'd be doing the same thing you are. Thankfully I've not had to ride a bus since the 6th grade.

See you on the road.

[aauummm]

During my working career I chose to live and work in a low cost of living area and close enough to work that I didn't have to "commute". It was always less than 20 minutes from my kitchen table to booting up my work computer at my desk and free parking. Over 40 years this was enough savings to pay for a motorhome cash and have money left over.

So I've never had to justify the motorhome or it's MPG. However since it was brought up I calculated the costs for a trip we made last week for myself, wife and granddaughter and her friend to World's of Fun in Kansas City for four days and three nights.

The motel/car/restaurants route would have cost $1016 plus tickets at the park. The motorhome route cost us $400 (of which only $185 was for gas). That includes the discount on tickets we received by staying in WOF's RV Village right on site. Extra benefits that cannot be quantified by dollars are: I didn't have to lug luggage for three females in and out of a motel, we got to sleep in our own beds, the trip was as good as the destination, we got to create more memories than a motel trip; priceless.

We also do a month long trip every summer with our granddaughter that would be so costly going the motel route that we probably wouldn't do it.

We do other trips during the year with just the wife and I and the cats and some winters we have gone to warmer climates. We can sunbird in a very nice RV resort for $600/mo. This is probably the only time that I will bother quantifying costs as I am not concerned with justifying the motorhome or our travel.

[chawkins99]

Nearest bus stop is 30 miles away

[edgray]

Originally Posted by wanderso

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

Well, since I am retired (read income challenged), my answer may not count; BUT the $.57 per MILE it costs me (just for the gasoline) justifies my decision to leave it PARKED for longer times between trips.

And I know you asked for no "snide" comments, so please consider this as constructive criticism, but I notice your "progression" is actually in reverse order.
Ed

[TonyDi]

I don't try to justify my MH. I compare it to the cost of flying, hotels, eating out all the time. Then there is the inconvenience of sitting in ailine terminals. The hassle of lost luggage or getting stranded in bad weather.
I bought my rig to travel and see the country. I believe it's the journey, not the destination that matters. I have met so many nice folks and seen different cultures that it all make the cost worthwhile.

[courtjester]

I use the motorhome to get to races where I run my top fuel Harley. That bike costs me roughly 400 bucks each time it goes down the track. My boat gets around 1 mpg. The cost of motorhome fuel feels like pocket change..
As others have said, its a hobby for the most part and you'll drive yourself nuts trying to justify costs. If I have the money, I do it. If not, I stay home.

Years ago I had a wife who passed away at 39. In the years before she died, I learned to take advantage of the time you have and spend a little less time worrying about the costs. I don't mean to be snide or tell stories, but I just think we sometimes chase our tails if we worry too much about cost justification.

[Orangepeel]

I simply do not care and thus no justification is necessary. I don't log my miles. I don't track my gas purchases. I don't calculate my MPG. I simply don't give a rip. I bought my rv so I could spend time with my family. Simple math tells me how much a trip will probably cost in gas and I am good with that.

[DBOL]

You can't and I don't I enjoy and leave it to Daughter someday Paid off or not and hopefully still running.

[Borderbuster]

Many years ago, I was a recreational pilot. Really Big $.
Quit flying and then cruised Puget Sound and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia in our own boat. Big $.
I finally came to my senses, got rid of the boat and bought a motorhome. Comparatively, it doesn't cost anything.

[bailiff]

No bed bugs in my bed.

[89sandman]

We are only weekend warriors in the summer and usually don't travel more than 45 minutes from the home so we really don't spend all that much on gas. We go on vacation once a summer and leave the MH at home. I'm just not into driving the thing for miles a day. I can get there must faster in my car and a lot cheaper. When we are camping it is great to have, when on vacation I've got things I want to do and the MH would just slow us down. I guess I'm not in love with the ride its the destination that matters to me..

[ARTWERKE]

I used to have a 38' boat!

[Scarab0088]

The OP is very interesting - using the word "Justify."

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

Now, that's a question I would like to see answers to (like, ride the bus to save $ at home, travel with friends, go to Costco for cheap gas, tow a very efficient economy car or bring along bikes to explore the destination, etc)

Safe travels

[Gordon Dewald]

I currently drive a F450 pulling a 41 5er - total weight 29,000 +/-

We are purchasing a coach and stacker - total weight 55,000 +/- (will weigh when we get it.)

Subaru Outback weight 3423 +/-

The Subaru makes 26 mpg or carrys 132 lbs per mpg

The Ford makes about 9 mpg or carrys 3222 lb per mpg

The coach will make about 8 mpg or carry 6875 lb per mpg.

Obviously the coach at 6875 lb per mpg is much more efficient than the Ford at 3222 lb per mpg and the Subaru at 132 lb per mpg.

I think the DW saw through the calculations but agrees with them. We really like the coach and we worked hard and saved our money so we bought it.