mpg does it matter

JnJnKatiebug wrote:

bmanning wrote:

You'd think that what you say would be true, however, I look at the way the younger generation is living and it makes me realize that although I have no debt and a pretty comfortable level of income I am likely more concerned about the price of a Starbucks coffee or my mpg than those who have debt up to their eyeballs. I probably need a reprogramming but where do I go for that?

I agree, that attitude is why you are debt free. Just because a person has lot's of money to spend does not mean he should blow it on sailboat fuel. If anyone here has money to blow send it my way. Just because I have the money to drive 75mph and waste fuel does not mean I am going to do so. I save everywhere I can.

Well said. I'd venture a guess that there are plenty of people out there with a LOT of money that watch it more closely than others with very little.

I don't make the world (understatement right there) but I watch my money more closely now than when I was a college kid working for peanuts then blowing it on beer and pizza.

Donald Trump said something along the lines of "Worry about the pennies and the nickels will come."

To those who make so much that what you spend isn't an issue, I say be thankful you're in that position and root for the rest of us to get there someday, LOL.

bmanning wrote:

You'd think that what you say would be true, however, I look at the way the younger generation is living and it makes me realize that although I have no debt and a pretty comfortable level of income I am likely more concerned about the price of a Starbucks coffee or my mpg than those who have debt up to their eyeballs. I probably need a reprogramming but where do I go for that?

I agree, that attitude is why you are debt free. Just because a person has lot's of money to spend does not mean he should blow it on sailboat fuel. If anyone here has money to blow send it my way. Just because I have the money to drive 75mph and waste fuel does not mean I am going to do so. I save everywhere I can.

bmanning wrote:
I think it's an individual's personal economic state that's going to determine if they care about fuel costs or not.

The guy with 25 years on his job, making a nice salary, a couple of investments, and a paid-off truck & trailer isn't going to give a hoot if fuel is $3.50 or $3.75 or whether his truck gets 8mpg or 11mpg.

The (likely younger) guy with 2 years on the job, a moderate salary, and a couple of kids at home is probably going to have to do some calculations to have a grasp on how much that weeklong trip is going to cost to ensure that it's in the budget.

I think, when you're passionate about something, you find other areas to cut back on before you ax what you enjoy most. I'm sure many less-than-affluent RVers have cut out the Starbucks stops or went with basic cable without the movie channels in order to have camping funds!

You'd think that what you say would be true, however, I look at the way the younger generation is living and it makes me realize that although I have no debt and a pretty comfortable level of income I am likely more concerned about the price of a Starbucks coffee or my mpg than those who have debt up to their eyeballs. I probably need a reprogramming but where do I go for that?

It has to matter to some extent. If you travel through remote parts of the country you have to make sure to have enough fuel to make it to the next gas station. Some could be over 100 miles apart.

travelnutz wrote:
Might it be that many don't realize how much a 1, 2 or 3 mpg increase really means and what the cost in dollars just for fuel used savings amounts to?

One RV etc trip of the comparing of fuel economy is like saying one grocery store sells a can of sliced peaches for $1.05 and another store has the same can for $1.02. Wow! saved 3 cents! It's the accululative dollars spent over the time period owned and used and all trips that really matters and tells the story of the real difference. Even a ONE MPG increase makes a large difference.


just using 50,000 miles of total RV use during gas vehicle ownership time looks like this with the per/gal gas price at $3.50/gal:

8 mpg for 50,000 miles = 6,250 gal used X $3.50/gal = $21,875 spent for fuel

9 mpg for 50,000 miles = 5,555 gal used X $3.50/gal = $19,444 spent for fuel or $2,431 less than 8 mpg

11 mpg for 50,000 miles = 4,545 gal used X $3.50/gal = $15,908 spent for fuel or $5,967 less than 8 mpg


If vehicle is a diesel pulling the very same RV at the same speed on the same trips with the higher price of diesel at #3.75/gal, it looks like this:

11 mpg for 50,000 miles = 4545 gal used X $3.75/gal = $17,045 spent for fuel or $4,830 less than 8 mpg gas engine

12 mpg for 50,000 miles = 4166 gal used X $3.75/gal = $15,625 spent for fuel or $6,250 less than 8 mpg gas engine

13 mpg for 50,000 miles = 3846 gal used X $3.75/gal = $14,423 spent for fuel or $7,452 less than 8 mpg gass engine.

Non towing savings are also big in fuel dollars saved also and if the fuel price where used is higher than the $3.50/gal and $3.75/gal numbers used, the savings are even greater.

For 100,000 miles driven over the vehicle owned period, the savings are double and it's one heck of a lot of money between $5,000 and $15,000 or more fuel dollars saved.

MPG's do matter big time to most RV'ers!

Or we do but don't care. if things are so tight you need to figure how to save that much money over that long of a period owning toys isn't for you. It should be fun and worry free. Who cares if you are getting 8 or 9 mpg. Go have fun and enjoy yourself. You can't take your money with you when you die.

travelnutz wrote:
We're over 70 years and long retired, have multiple RV etc and don't have to worry about fuel costs or money issues but that's not remotely like the balk of the RV'ers by far. Look in the CG's and talk to the people staying there and it's an eyeopener and turn's on your light of understanding. Especially most couples or families or the younger families with kids and struggling to afford the RV and use it more than once or a couple times a year and only going an hour or so from home.

Just because something's not an issue for us does not mean it isn't for most others! 50% plus one is the majority and means "most".

100% agree; camping doesn't necessarily equate to forking out big dollars for a dually and a 5er.

And the kicker is, sometimes that family that towed the popup to the campground with the minivan is having as much or even more fun that the fat cat with the $50,000 truck and $30,000 camper.

Lantley wrote:

bmanning wrote:
I think it's an individual's personal economic state that's going to determine if they care about fuel costs or not.

The guy with 25 years on his job, making a nice salary, a couple of investments, and a paid-off truck & trailer isn't going to give a hoot if fuel is $3.50 or $3.75 or whether his truck gets 8mpg or 11mpg.

The (likely younger) guy with 2 years on the job, a moderate salary, and a couple of kids at home is probably going to have to do some calculations to have a grasp on how much that weeklong trip is going to cost to ensure that it's in the budget.

I think, when you're passionate about something, you find other areas to cut back on before you ax what you enjoy most. I'm sure many less-than-affluent RVers have cut out the Starbucks stops or went with basic cable without the movie channels in order to have camping funds!

I guess that's true but in the end. If you are struggling financially you should not buy an RV regardless of your job tenure or point in life.
If you own an RV you are going to spend a decent sum on fuel.
Kind of like taking up swimming and hoping you don't have to get wet.
Once you've committed to the RV you've committed to buying fuel for a low MPG vehicle. No way around it.
Other than staying home. Although you could get a seasonal spot.

Totally agree that RVing, in general, is not for the economically challenged...however I do think it can be done on a somewhat tight budget. I've seen many older pop/ups in campgrounds that were towed there by minivans, small SUVs, or even sedans, so I don't think taking up camping as a hobby necessarily means biting the bullet on owning a huge pickup getting 9mpg.

We're over 70 years and long retired, have multiple RV's etc and don't have to worry about fuel costs or money issues but that's not remotely like the bulk of the RV'ers by far. Look in the CG's and talk to the people staying there and it's an eyeopener and turn's on your light of understanding. Especially most couples or families or the younger families with kids and struggling to afford the RV and use it more than once or a couple times a year and only going an hour or so from home.

Just because something's not an issue for us does not mean it isn't for most others! 50% plus one is the majority and means "most".

bmanning wrote:
I think it's an individual's personal economic state that's going to determine if they care about fuel costs or not.

The guy with 25 years on his job, making a nice salary, a couple of investments, and a paid-off truck & trailer isn't going to give a hoot if fuel is $3.50 or $3.75 or whether his truck gets 8mpg or 11mpg.

The (likely younger) guy with 2 years on the job, a moderate salary, and a couple of kids at home is probably going to have to do some calculations to have a grasp on how much that weeklong trip is going to cost to ensure that it's in the budget.

I think, when you're passionate about something, you find other areas to cut back on before you ax what you enjoy most. I'm sure many less-than-affluent RVers have cut out the Starbucks stops or went with basic cable without the movie channels in order to have camping funds!

I guess that's true but in the end. If you are struggling financially you should not buy an RV regardless of your job tenure or point in life.
If you own an RV you are going to spend a decent sum on fuel.
Kind of like taking up swimming and hoping you don't have to get wet.
Once you've committed to the RV you've committed to buying fuel for a low MPG vehicle. No way around it.
Other than staying home. Although you could get a seasonal spot.

I think it's an individual's personal economic state that's going to determine if they care about fuel costs or not.

The guy with 25 years on his job, making a nice salary, a couple of investments, and a paid-off truck & trailer isn't going to give a hoot if fuel is $3.50 or $3.75 or whether his truck gets 8mpg or 11mpg.

The (likely younger) guy with 2 years on the job, a moderate salary, and a couple of kids at home is probably going to have to do some calculations to have a grasp on how much that weeklong trip is going to cost to ensure that it's in the budget.

I think, when you're passionate about something, you find other areas to cut back on before you ax what you enjoy most. I'm sure many less-than-affluent RVers have cut out the Starbucks stops or went with basic cable without the movie channels in order to have camping funds!