Who Has or Going to Downsize Because of Gas Prices

[tmandoug1]

Originally Posted by scenic route

We'll not be downsizing but I think our 13K mile summers are over. We've not been traveling for two years but are preparing to do some shorter trips during these higher fuel prices.

In 2011 on a trip to Alaska, we broke the $6.50 a gallon (gasoline) barrier in Canada and $5.50 in AK. So, these fuel prices are scary but our trip to Nashville in Oct. for grand D's wedding WILL happen. Sure, the trip will be extra expensive, but so are divorces.

[Ruediger]

In europe we are already at 10 dollar per gallon. And above. All a question of perspective. I switched to lpg. Which cuts my prices by half. And drive less often/ staying longer. TCO: fuel only a factor of total cost of ownership. Postponing good memories never an option.

[scbwr]

I don't think prices will stay this high for too long, but it's beyond my pay grade to make an intelligent prediction! For the time being, we'll continue to take our planned trips, but our longest trip will be about 1,000 miles in September.

As to downsizing, we are considering it in the future but mainly due to the age factor. I wouldn't do anything now even though it's a great time to be a seller. But, trying to find a good used rig at a decent price could be a challenge. We'll just plan our trips accordingly and thank our lucky stars that we can afford the added fuel cost. But I really feel sorry for folks that have to make major adjustments because I remember well when we would have been in that situation!

[Tha_Rooster]

Just got back from a roughly 700 mile trip, camping spot cost $1,100. Fuel cost me roughly $250 more than last year so I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and enjoy life.

[garyb1st]

More than the cost of fuel I'm concerned about availability.

[Crasher]

I've stated in the past that we won't alter our travel plans in our MH and I still feel that way. That being said, I thought of how our usage has changed over the last few years. Over half of our miles are to travel to our AZ home in late Sept and back to our WI home in May. No sight seeing along the way as we have been doing it for 20 years, just point A to point B. Then a couple side trips at each place that could be done in a car and motel. When I consider what the money from a MH sale can earn me along with the maintenance and fuel costs that I would eliminate, it's a chunk of change. We are going to be 80 in a few months, so maybe we are are that time in life to simplify things. The Coach is in excellent condition with records since new and with this crazy economy, it's worth more now than a couple years ago. Everything might make a downward adjustment in the next 18 months, so I'm wondering if maybe it's time to simplify our lives and take advantage of this opportunity? Guess we'll wake one day and have the answer.

[Marine359]

Don’t believe downsizing will save much fuel unless you’re dumping a Class A that only gets 6mpg. We downsized to a small TT and mid-size pickup, not for gas savings, but because of storage, maneuverability and campground convenience. We really haven’t saved much on fuel vrs buying a 30ft TT. We get 11mpg towing. But a 3/4 ton Ford Ecoboost gets almost identical mpg towing a much larger trailer than ours.

[Fleetwood24]

Originally Posted by jackreno

I don't see gas price going down anytime soon or ever.

So are you going to downsize to better MPG or drive less or just get out of RVing all together?

Part of the reason we own a Motorhome is we want to sleep in our own bed, travel at our own pace, eat our own food & not pay for campsites when possible. And gas prices will come down just like the price of everything else after our world comes back to some form of normal IMHO.

[riker1068]

I sold my travel trailer. I refuse to buy into the mess of today. Maybe in a few years, but not now!

[zzotte]

Price of Beer has sky rocket, you don’t see people stop drinking do you? LOL, OPEC knows we love our fuel ( just look at the size of our cars) we Americans forget really fast

Zzotte

[RVn4Now]

We see it as temporary so we’re not planning to downsize or leave full-time RV’ing. Life’s short…the higher diesel prices really aren't that much more money in the big picture. Live life!

[BigVern]

Originally Posted by jackreno

I don't see gas price going down anytime soon or ever.

So are you going to downsize to better MPG or drive less or just get out of RVing all together?

Downsize and get 1.5 mpg better.
You better think harder!

[ByeTheWay]

I downsized because of my age. Had nothing to do with the price of fuel

[JacqueB]

We downsized our truck before prices increased. We lived in a 42ft 5ver and truck was F450. Sold both. Moved into small 650 sq ft house. Now have Ram 1500 ECO Diesel and 2014 26ft no slide Puma
23FB. Truck gets much better gas milage 28 mpg on highway 12 mpg towing. Our travel has not been impacted.