Impact of fuel prices on travel
We have now decided to cancel any plans on long range RV travel for the foreseeable future! Still have some plans for trips within 200 miles but the rest is now on hold. Looks like fuel costs and a...
Forum Discussion
Great advice from this post.... "I may drive 55mph instead of 65mph but thats about it." Back in the '73 oil embargo when gas shot all the way up to $1.00 per gallon slower speeds were mandated by the government. The speed limit was 50 mph for several months. Our company which operated a fleet of Chevy station wagons noticed a significant decrease in the number of gallons used each month!! Everyone had to get used to driving slower and at first it seemed like it took forever to get anywhere but soon we all adapted. There were fewer traffic fatalities also in the nation. In today's world the vast majority of drivers insist on driving 10 mph over the posted limit. Interstates with a 75 limit will have most traffic at 85, some even more. You put yourself in danger if you travel much below the posted limit however. People are so impatient and rude on our nations highways. We could all help offset the additional expense of fuel by just driving slower!!!
I had a personal experience a few years ago with my F250 with the 7.5 (460) gas engine. This truck consistently got 10 mpg. One morning I had to make a run down the Interstate to a town 90 miles away. Just before getting on the highway I topped the gas tank and reset the trip odometer counter, (just a habit) and after getting on the Interstate I encountered heavy fog. I could only drive 40 or 45 mph safely for almost the entire 90 miles. After exiting the Interstate at my destination I noticed the fuel gauge had not moved much. My first thought was it had malfunctioned. Then I realized that my slow driving had probably contributed. Just out of curiosity I topped the tank again at the exit ramp and did a hand calculation. It was almost 15 MPG!!!! I was shocked. A few years later we were on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where the speed limit is 45. Even though I had my slide in truck camper on the truck my mpg was significantly better for those three days we cruised the area.
Slow down and save some money!!
I had a personal experience a few years ago with my F250 with the 7.5 (460) gas engine. This truck consistently got 10 mpg. One morning I had to make a run down the Interstate to a town 90 miles away. Just before getting on the highway I topped the gas tank and reset the trip odometer counter, (just a habit) and after getting on the Interstate I encountered heavy fog. I could only drive 40 or 45 mph safely for almost the entire 90 miles. After exiting the Interstate at my destination I noticed the fuel gauge had not moved much. My first thought was it had malfunctioned. Then I realized that my slow driving had probably contributed. Just out of curiosity I topped the tank again at the exit ramp and did a hand calculation. It was almost 15 MPG!!!! I was shocked. A few years later we were on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where the speed limit is 45. Even though I had my slide in truck camper on the truck my mpg was significantly better for those three days we cruised the area.
Slow down and save some money!!
