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Yet another reason to love trailering

profdant139
Explorer II
Explorer II
I just realized that if and when we ever get to hit the road again, I will have my own private nice clean bathroom, wherever we go. No need to worry about some stranger's germs -- just my own. 😉

Seriously, compare that to airplane travel -- yikes! I would be very worried about using the bathroom on a plane these days.

So for those of us (like me) who suffer with bad MPG, we have to offset that cost by the value of having a clean restroom at all times. Not easy to put a dollar value on that benefit, but it is more than zero, for sure.
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."
27 REPLIES 27

Slowmover
Explorer
Explorer
DallasSteve wrote:
Slowmover wrote:
I travel full time. 100k miles annually.

Really? 100K miles per year? Are you a long haul trucker?


Yes
1990 35' SILVER STREAK Sterling, 9k GVWR
2004 DODGE RAM 2WD 305/555 ISB, QC SRW LB NV-5600, 9k GVWR
Hensley Arrow; 11-cpm solo, 17-cpm towing fuel cost

_1nobby
Explorer
Explorer
profdant139 wrote:
I just realized that if and when we ever get to hit the road again, I will have my own private nice clean bathroom, wherever we go. No need to worry about some stranger's germs -- just my own. 😉

Seriously, compare that to airplane travel -- yikes! I would be very worried about using the bathroom on a plane these days.

So for those of us (like me) who suffer with bad MPG, we have to offset that cost by the value of having a clean restroom at all times. Not easy to put a dollar value on that benefit, but it is more than zero, for sure.


Pretty much the real reason my wife comes camping now. LOL

Her own bathroom.

frisbeekev
Explorer
Explorer
profdant139 wrote:
I just realized that if and when we ever get to hit the road again, I will have my own private nice clean bathroom, wherever we go. No need to worry about some stranger's germs -- just my own. 😉

Seriously, compare that to airplane travel -- yikes! I would be very worried about using the bathroom on a plane these days.

So for those of us (like me) who suffer with bad MPG, we have to offset that cost by the value of having a clean restroom at all times. Not easy to put a dollar value on that benefit, but it is more than zero, for sure.


I agree with the MPG point. I would rather have my MPG suffer and know who last slept in my bed and how my living area was cleaned as to the alternative. Plus the memories you make with the family far outweigh any cost of poor MPG.

frisbeekev
Explorer
Explorer
Draggo wrote:
I've always liked to say "I tow my hotel room behind me". There is a lot of value in knowing who has been using the bed and bathroom. I'll stay in hotels when appropriate but I prefer my trailer any day.


I agree. I have watched Hotel Impossible and seen some of the things that are in those rooms no thanks. I also notice my kids sleep easier in the RV than they would in a Hotel Room.

DallasSteve
Nomad
Nomad
Slowmover wrote:
I travel full time. 100k miles annually.

Really? 100K miles per year? Are you a long haul trucker?
2022 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT SLX 8 324BDS
2022 FORD F-250 XL CREW CAB 4X4
All my exes live in Texas, that's why I live in an RV

Slowmover
Explorer
Explorer
deltabravo wrote:
I've always said that if people are concerned enough to ask what kind of mileage other people get when towing, they probably shouldn't be RVing in the first place. Why? because if they are that concerned about the cost, then they are apparently at the upper limits of their fuel spending allowance already.

They cringe if it costs $80 to fill up with diesel instead of $60, buy the continue to buy $6.00 mochas and frappacino drinks at their favorite coffee stand.



1). They don’t know the comparison factor. Neither do you. (40% reduction from solo where that vehicle loaded same. Same roads and speed as when towing).

“Bad” mpg is where it’s worse than this TESTED prediction.

2). Savings, you don’t know either. It’s first in knowing the annual fuel cost for the family. All vehicles. All miles. The baseline. Fuel savings for RV travel is in controlling non-vacation miles. TEST.

— Chasing low fuel price while travelling isn’t AT ALL smart. An RV requires space. Risk reduction is facilities used by big trucks. Travel Centers.

— Next to the highway is best. Always. Commuter miles count for nothing. Different regions they drive differently. Many reasons.

3). The corollary is in using state rest areas. VIRTUALLY NO ONE USES PICNIC AREAS. I travel full time. 100k miles annually. An RV makes space & privacy E-Z.

— The WalMart parking lot isn’t any of these things. High risk to vehicle, high crime and high cost.

The daily trip plan is one thing. A FAIL for most (work at it). The vacation MEAL PLAN is where an RV comes into its own. Your control of your environment is most important here. Snacks or a meal shouldn’t ever be the point where “risk” of any sort is entailed.

Again, work at it. Experience (notes, not memory) is what brings focus. A map. There’s not an RV out there doesn’t have enough space (any type) for a successful meal plan covering a vacation trip. .

Note that these are all emotional problems. Nothing above was difficult to describe, much less how to alleviate. (So, who’s done it?).

Throw out the TV. Watching 4-hrs/week no different than watching 50-hrs week.
Having a life means no TV in household. None.

Object? Assume no discipline present, either. Same emotional barrier.

Outside of portable fuel (TV & TT) and potable water, dumping the sanitary tanks about the only reason to HAVE to stop up to (how many days of fresh water & propane available?).

Buying fuel or obtaining water takes a few minutes. No reason to enter store.

Is that formula difficult to express, or to live?

Once over the hump, travel is actually easier.
There’s (literally) more to see. To hear. To feel.

Choose the times & places to be with other people to fit, “what is vacation”?
Lose the slave foreman, first.


.
1990 35' SILVER STREAK Sterling, 9k GVWR
2004 DODGE RAM 2WD 305/555 ISB, QC SRW LB NV-5600, 9k GVWR
Hensley Arrow; 11-cpm solo, 17-cpm towing fuel cost

Thermoguy
Explorer II
Explorer II
Great story here,

We traveled to Oregon to see the solar eclipse a few years back. Took our trailer as we were going for a few days. On the way down, stopped at a rest stop to use the facilities, looked over, lines out the door. Popped in the trailer, 3 of us, in and out in no time, back on the road. We could see people looking over at us in envy:)

Edd505
Explorer
Explorer
profdant139 wrote:
I just realized that if and when we ever get to hit the road again, I will have my own private nice clean bathroom, wherever we go. No need to worry about some stranger's germs -- just my own. 😉

Seriously, compare that to airplane travel -- yikes! I would be very worried about using the bathroom on a plane these days.

So for those of us (like me) who suffer with bad MPG, we have to offset that cost by the value of having a clean restroom at all times. Not easy to put a dollar value on that benefit, but it is more than zero, for sure.

And another plus, I know who slept in the bed last night. Hotel/motel who knows and how well was it cleaned.
2015 F350 FX4 SRW 6.7 Crew, longbed - 2017 Durango Gold 353RKT
2006 F350 SRW 6.0 crew longbed sold
2000 F250 SRW 7.3 extended longbed airbags sold
2001 Western Star 4900EX sold
Jayco Eagle 30.5BHLT sold, Layton 24.5LT sold

dave54
Nomad
Nomad
Agree 100%

Often just pull off the road in a nice spot to eat lunch. Once watched a small family of bighorn sheep frolicking on the hillside while we ate with the cars speeding by a few yards away not even noticing.

Or the elk that came right up to our window while eating and looked in at us (had the clean the elk noseprint off the glass).

You don't experience that in fast food restaurants.
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
So many campsites, so little time...
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deltabravo
Nomad
Nomad
I've always said that if people are concerned enough to ask what kind of mileage other people get when towing, they probably shouldn't be RVing in the first place. Why? because if they are that concerned about the cost, then they are apparently at the upper limits of their fuel spending allowance already.

They cringe if it costs $80 to fill up with diesel instead of $60, buy the continue to buy $6.00 mochas and frappacino drinks at their favorite coffee stand.
2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

bobndot
Explorer II
Explorer II
profdant139 wrote:
bob, the bad news is that there might be someone standing in the bag. The good news is that person is evidently so small that they aren't a threat! 😉


:B Tiny people.

For real, they use large shopping bags. It was a problem in some cities in the sex trade some years ago and branched out to robberies and drug use. They could not install cameras so they actually had details to go into bathrooms in public places like railway stations and mall bathrooms. Intensity would fluctuate depending how liberal the mayors were and how much manpower was deployed to curb the problem.

Hannibal
Explorer
Explorer
Agree on all. However, just looking at this virus, you won’t catch it because some guy didn’t wash his hands after he touched his whistle. You will more likely catch it from the friendly neighbor who washes his hands after, steps outside, wipes his puppy nose with his fingers with all the pollen bothering him, walks over and shakes your paw with that same hand as he introduces himself, and then you wipe your puppy nose with the hand you shook his with. Or, if you’ve ever noticed when the light is just right, people spit droplets when they talk. Friendly people often get too close. We can’t be too careful with this one.
2020 F250 STX CC SB 7.3L 10spd 3.55 4x4
2010 F250 XLT CC SB 5.4L 5spdTS 3.73
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
2017 Jayco 28RLS TT 32.5'

profdant139
Explorer II
Explorer II
bob, the bad news is that there might be someone standing in the bag. The good news is that person is evidently so small that they aren't a threat! 😉
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."

bobndot
Explorer II
Explorer II
Think about it, not only good people use public bathrooms and motels. Do you think there was ever a crime scene at a motel ? A good one hour cleanup will make it ready for the next occupant, no worries !
Ever wonder who is really in a bathroom stall when you are standing at a urinal ? All you see is a pair of shoes and maybe a shopping bag on the floor. There could be a second person standing inside that bag. Now, it's two against one...you.