Gas prices

[spritz_55423]

I now shop around (on Internet) for gas prices now that they are avg around 4.25 per gal here in Mn, I found mid-grade @ 3.99 so I went for it. While I was fueling, a gentleman came up to me (he has a new Lexus)and asked how much does that MH hold? I said 70 in the rear and 30 in the front, I thought the guy was going to keel over... I told him that if you can't afford to fill them then don't buy one. again I thought he was going to keel over.I said hey it get 9 miles to the gal. and he thru up his arms and drove off.
I think I am pretty lucky.
1. I only have 100 gals.To fill
2. I get 9 miles to the gal
3. He paid more than 10 times for his Lexus what I paid for MH
we bought it last season, 1982 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 454 4 bbl 44,000 miles,So far only have replaced the fuel filters. Still get 9 miles to the gal. "But I love her"

[Matt_Colie]

workhardplayharder wrote:
My standard answer when some one ask -"This motorhome gets better gas mileage than Al Gore's limo"

I love (and will use this one).

I have lived my life at the bottom right corner of a spreadsheet for many years. The ROI of everything gets looked at. We currently have a classic coach that is inexpensive to maintain and I use 9.3 for my fuel management and I am always real close.

If we compare something the recent 3800 mile excursion to anything else, the coach comes out a winner.
OK,
150$/day for fuel vs 45$ for our best traveling car.
10$/day for food and drink vs 40$ for restaurants and small packages and things that have to be carried in a cooler (needs ice).
Average 5$/day for overnight vs 50$/for ho/motel (we blacktop a lot)
OK cash out of pocket is close depending on the location we are traveling. But,
We Never have to be groped by TSA.
We are never worried about where things get packed.
We sleep in our own bed and the dog along (oops, that's 30$/day that I forgot above.
We eat only what we want never what is written on the wall.
We always know where the nearest clean bathroom is.
I'll take it.....

Matt

[gcloss]

Effy wrote:
It amazes me that people who don't own or like MH's rate them as an absurd waste of fuel and impact. Meanwhile they'll spend a lot of money on a car (the build process alone has a huge footprint), drive to the airport, take a plane (great mileage there), pay a lot for a little luggage, stand in long lines, security, get your bags, rent a car and stay in a hotel and eat out. Meanwhile, we can tow our cars for free, take virtually whatever clothes and belongings we want, sleep in our own beds and sheets, take food and make home cooked meals, save tons on lodging and the best part, use the bathroom, watch TV, eat, take a nap or whatever we feel like doing while traveling and see it from a far better vantage point and at much lower cost. But they are the economically and ecologically savvy ones.

Well said.

I live on the South Shore of Long Island, about 3 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. My father was a boat person and had boats for more than 50 years. The amount of fuel I burn at 10 mpg is nothing compared to twin Chevy 350 cu in. V-8s with 4-barrel Holley carbs running at 3000 rpms. It was more like gallons per mile. I believe he would get about one mile per gallon.

[crasster]

People have a wide range of political issues and such.

But I'd always be nice. "It's just for fun and not a daily driver".

Simple as that. It's called an "RV" - "Recreational Vehicle".


I just don't see the argument on a "fun thing".

[sdianel_-acct_c]

and the MH has a bathroom!! LOL

[Dale_Traveling]

Wouldn't trade the coach for an life time free flight and hotel stay ticket.

I wonder what the fuel consumption of a jet aircraft is per seat verses what we get and who's overall carbon foot print for a vacation is bigger? I suspect much less for us when all factors are taken into consideration. My four night Memorial Day Vacation I'll probably burn 40 gallons of gasoline, 10 pounds of charcoal, use 70 gallons of water, a pound or so of propane and a couple of kilowatts of electricity for two adults. Getting on a plane, staying in a hotel room and eating out for every meal plus general out of town activities has got to consume twice the energy and natural resources.

[workhardplayha1]

My standard answer when some one ask -"This motorhome gets better gas mileage than Al Gore's limo"

[Lobstah]

The whole notion that if you burn more gas than someone else, that makes you some sort of bad/evil person is completely unfounded and ridiculous.

That "holier than thou" attitude gets me twisted every time. No way they can ever justify it with facts, it's just a notion that some people tend to embrace and thrive on.

/off soap box

Jim

[Effy]

glamisorbust wrote:

Effy wrote:
It amazes me that people who don't own or like MH's rate them as an absurd waste of fuel and impact. Meanwhile they'll spend a lot of money on a car (the build process alone has a huge footprint), drive to the airport, take a plane (great mileage there), pay a lot for a little luggage, stand in long lines, security, get your bags, rent a car and stay in a hotel and eat out. Meanwhile, we can tow our cars for free, take virtually whatever clothes and belongings we want, sleep in our own beds and sheets, take food and make home cooked meals, save tons on lodging and the best part, use the bathroom, watch TV, eat, take a nap or whatever we feel like doing while traveling and see it from a far better vantage point and at much lower cost. But they are the economically and ecologically savvy ones.

I totally agree with this!!!

And forget about safety. Something goes wrong with a plane, pilot is drunk, someone decides to blow it up etc etc. I control my MH, it's just me and my family, a breakdown isn't usually life threatening, not to mention there is no such thing as cloud side assistance, I can stop when I want, where I want, my schedule is dictated by me, not a pilot or the remianing passengers etc etc. The list is long why MH travel means I'll likley never fly again. As far as cost anlysis, I estimated an avg of 8mpg on my recent trip to Fla. DW, Son, My mother and myself. By the time I figured airfare for 4, car, hotel and food, We saved a lot of money in the MH. And had far less stress than the airport deal. And I took all our diving gear, beach gear, bikes, and car, not to mention a lot of wobble pops. Self sufficient and cheaper. The capper for me is not having to unpack or move baggage several times and sleeping in my own bed. That's priceless.

[jhilley]

A short trip doesn't save much as a longer trip. The more nights you would have to stay at a hotel the better the motor home looks. My own bedroom and bathroom are worth any extra expense even for a short trip.

[00_BUCK]

Well I sat down and did a true cost analysis once and taking all things into consideration the MH travel was a little bit more expensive ( Not very much just a few more dollars ) but the perks were many so for me it makes sense and that is at 7.5 - 8.0 MPG of diesel

[bsinmich]

I had a woman in a Prius ask me about wasting gas when I was filling up one time. I told here mine was built entirely in the US and just a little South of us in Indiana so I didn't ship any money overseas for a car. We didn't agree but I still enjoy my MH for all the reasons Effy gave above. I don't tow a foreign car either. I buy "Made in the USA" whenever possible.

[glamisorbust]

Effy wrote:
It amazes me that people who don't own or like MH's rate them as an absurd waste of fuel and impact. Meanwhile they'll spend a lot of money on a car (the build process alone has a huge footprint), drive to the airport, take a plane (great mileage there), pay a lot for a little luggage, stand in long lines, security, get your bags, rent a car and stay in a hotel and eat out. Meanwhile, we can tow our cars for free, take virtually whatever clothes and belongings we want, sleep in our own beds and sheets, take food and make home cooked meals, save tons on lodging and the best part, use the bathroom, watch TV, eat, take a nap or whatever we feel like doing while traveling and see it from a far better vantage point and at much lower cost. But they are the economically and ecologically savvy ones.

I totally agree with this!!!

[Effy]

It amazes me that people who don't own or like MH's rate them as an absurd waste of fuel and impact. Meanwhile they'll spend a lot of money on a car (the build process alone has a huge footprint), drive to the airport, take a plane (great mileage there), pay a lot for a little luggage, stand in long lines, security, get your bags, rent a car and stay in a hotel and eat out. Meanwhile, we can tow our cars for free, take virtually whatever clothes and belongings we want, sleep in our own beds and sheets, take food and make home cooked meals, save tons on lodging and the best part, use the bathroom, watch TV, eat, take a nap or whatever we feel like doing while traveling and see it from a far better vantage point and at much lower cost. But they are the economically and ecologically savvy ones.

[midnightsadie]

9mpg?? thats why we bought a sprinter .only 20 plus mpg .

[Yankee_Clipper]

Bad mileage for a car, not bad for a 1 1/2 BR 1 BA apartment.