Thoughts on the Cost of RVing

[bstar1952]

In the process of planning a trip next summer out to Glacier NP, Yellowstone and all the NPs in Utah. About 3800 miles, round trip, and at least 30 nights. So, I just read an article in Barrons predicting much higher gas prices after the election. It’s been a good run on low gas prices the last few years and we've got in a lot of great trips. I do remember the $3.75 - $4.50 a gallon price that was common 5-6 years ago and how that curtailed our travel to the point we could only afford to go a couple hundred miles. If prices raise to $5.00 a gallon, as being mentioned by other media, and campgrounds raising their rates as is happening, we are starting to question if we can afford to continue making long trips.
By the way, so far in my planning, campground nights will average $55. Of course some parks will be lower and some higher. With a near $4K just in gas and campground fees, probably looking at well over $6K for the trip. To get to the point of my post, wondering what other folks may be thinking about the cost of RVing these days? At what point does it get just too expensive?
Please, there is nothing political about my post and I hope comments can be civil. I also know the economics of RVing has been discussed here in the past and I’m not harping on high costs as they are what they are. Just wondering what/if folk’s concerns might be here in the present about the high cost of RVing.

[ReneeG]

Simply put, this lifestyle is just that - a lifestyle. Even without gas prices going up, maintenance is costly. It's not an inexpensive hobby or life choice. We do it because we love it. It's that old Oscar Wilde quote of knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

[wapiticountry]

GrandpaKip wrote:
We are retired and travel is our main expense. We don’t eat out, go to movies or to bars, etc.
We go to state parks, COE campgrounds because the are usually the best for privacy and not being in a glorified parking lot. We don’t boondock. Been there, done that, don’t wanna do it anymore.
Since overseas travel is out for now, we use the camper a lot more.
I’m not worried about fuel costs. The US has gotten off cheap for years. There’s a reason Europeans don’t have big trucks or SUVs. The last car we rented was in Italy in 2019 and it got almost 60 MPG, converted from litres and KMs.
Like some say, it is what it is. We’re gonna go enjoy it as much as we can.

Fuel prices are way down the list as to reasons Europeans don't have large SUVs and Trucks. The fact that almost the entire infrastructure of the continent makes operating a large vehicle impractical to impossible is a much greater reason.
The roads in many towns were laid out by Ben Hur and his associates. They are barely wide enough for a horse and chariot, much less a one ton dually. Parking that truck would be impossible anywhere near the city centers of most European cities. Many Europeans have plenty disposable income to enable them to buy the fuel if they actually wanted and had huge vehicles. Bicycles, scooters, micro cars and public transportation are the commuter vehicles of choice in vast parts of Europe. Big vehicles just aren't a part of their DNA.

[GrandpaKip]

We are retired and travel is our main expense. We don’t eat out, go to movies or to bars, etc.
We go to state parks, COE campgrounds because the are usually the best for privacy and not being in a glorified parking lot. We don’t boondock. Been there, done that, don’t wanna do it anymore.
Since overseas travel is out for now, we use the camper a lot more.
I’m not worried about fuel costs. The US has gotten off cheap for years. There’s a reason Europeans don’t have big trucks or SUVs. The last car we rented was in Italy in 2019 and it got almost 60 MPG, converted from litres and KMs.
Like some say, it is what it is. We’re gonna go enjoy it as much as we can.

[valhalla360]

wanderingaimlessly wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


As it looks like now, the Federal Govt is likely to be in a stalemate for at least a couple years. If Biden takes the Presidency and the Republicans keep the Senate (as it appears now), expect a whole lot of nothing to happen. (sorry this is a close to a-political as you can get based on your political twist on the question).

Now let's say it's a worst case scenario and gas is $5/gal.
- 3800miles at 10mpg is 380 gallons or about $1900. Round it up to $2000 for some local site seeing.
- Even at $2.50/gal, that's only a $1000 difference. Since you are heading out west where boondocking is a lot easier, you can make most of that up with 10-15 boondocking nights. Plus $55/n not being cost conscious. We just ran southern Wyoming thru Utah to Vegas...and our worst price was $35/n with most nights in the $20-25/n range.

All this concern while buying $60,000 trucks and $30,000 trailers...

So nope, I'm not really worried about costs of gas and RV parks suddenly getting out of control.

I hope your right, but with the concessions to the New Green Deal, Gas WILL go up, even if the laws dont change. As was done in the prior administration, executive orders, and additional regulations will be the drivers, raising the cost with zero benefit to anyone but the Government. Who as always will find ways to benefit from the taxes.

You'll get some changes but far less than if one party or the other controlled both branches. The New Green Deal is dead in the water without both branches under one control.

Gas prices probably will go up...inflation adjusted, gas is dirt cheap right now but short of the economy roaring back, I don't see it going up more than $1/gal during the next year and it could just as easily go back down that much if the current situation drags on.

[Lantley]

I'm by no means rich, But I'm not frugal. I won't choose a poor CG or a poor location just to save money.
Camping is my preferred method of travel , vacation and relaxation. I have no problem bearing the cost.
I have already committed to camping by buying the RV and truck, gas cost and CG cost are insignificant compared to the cost of the combo.
I go camping to relax and have a good time, not to save money.
I won't choose a lesser location vs. being in the more expensive tourist area. I always choose best CG available. It's great when that best CG available is a budget friendly state park. However best CG available for Disney is Fort Wilderness which is quite expensive.
As to fuel prices they never enter the equation. I committed to buying lots of fuel the day I purchased my RV. If I reach a point when I cannot afford fuel cost than it will be time to sell the RV and move on. Parking or not using the RV due to fuel cost simply defeats the point of owning an RV.

[lane_hog]

For 2020, I budgeted $0.35 per mile on gas, assuming $2.50/gal and 7.5 mpg.

Yeah, it's probably on the high side but gas prices fluctuate by state, and whatever is left over will pay for the pre-trip oil change.

$50 a night for campgrounds isn't unreasonable, but you can bring that down considerably by finding state parks, COE/NFS/NPS campgrounds, and a few nights in a Cracker Barrel, Walmart or casino parking lot. We do a lot of distance running, so that's our preferred option unless my wife absolutely needs air conditioning...

A couple weeks back we debated flying vs. taking the trailer with us to visit family about 800 miles away. I work for an airline, so airfare isn't a consideration for us. $99 per night for a hotel, $30 a day for a rental car plus eating out two meals a day came out to be more than what we paid in gas and camping fees at a nearby NPS campground. Plus we were in our own bed with a closet instead of trying to stuff a rollerboard bag with clothes for the week.

Since the food we pack, the trailer and truck are already sunk costs, there's not much point trying to justify those when looking at the cost of taking the RV with us. We pay that out regardless.

The equation usually works out to be food/hotel/car > gas/campground every time. In this case, running gas at $5/gall was only $140 more than flying and getting a hotel, and it gave us a lot more flexibility in deciding when we came and went.

[azdryheat]

We just did a 5500 mile trip towing the trailer. Doing some quick math it is cheaper to RV than to hotel and eat out.

[Grit_dog]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
2008 diesel fuel prices were $5 gallon........we and 1000's of others continued to RV

Don't see that changing regardless of possible fuel price increases IF that happens

True story, but in 2008, I bought our current 07 Dodge diesel almost new for $31k, an almost new $65k boat for $40k and a fire sale on a large chunk of land.
Not everyone lives enough within their means to weather some financial issues.
And not everyone is lucky enough to keep their job in an economic downturn.

IMO, Rona or not, if the gas price doubles, you’ll see 50% less RVs on the road as this year. Partly economic, partly mindset.
It’s cheap, spend.
It’s expensive, can’t afford it.
Many don’t actually run the numbers prior to making decisions.

[ferndaleflyer]

We just returned from 2 weeks and 1000mi. $533 for campgrounds, all private, $300 for diesel, and $61 for propane for furnace, range, and refrigerator. This is in a 36ft diesel pusher towing a Smart car. Got 8.5 mpg average w/8.3 Cummins.

[bstar1952]

Walaby - Covid Wagons, LOL now that's a great moniker....

[Walaby]

My take

If fuel prices increase dramatically, all the people who purchased COVID wagons this year and are filling up the campgrounds will stay home, and it will be easier to make reservations.

Mike

[theoldwizard1]

bstar1952 wrote:
So, I just read an article in Barrons predicting much higher gas prices after the election. It’s been a good run on low gas prices the last few years ...

I don't see the cost of fuel, driven by demand, significantly increasing until 2022, when most of the US will have received 2 COVID anti-virus injections.

[kellem]

Illiteracy taking the forefront here, sorry.
Supply and demand controls fuel costs.

Doesn't matter who's in office, wow.

[bgum]

You probably will see $5 gas in California but it is not likely in the rest of US. That has no relation to true prices. The days when big oil can charge whatever it wants is over. Cars and trucks are getting incredibly mileage. If we transition away from oil others will pick up any slack. Electric autos can and will fill the void. Solar and wind will help. At one time coal could never be replaced. Well guess what.

If things are that tight for you maybe you should limit your trip or choose another method of travel.

[Lantley]

When it comes to RV'ing money. The only way to get value out of your RV is to use it. Yes taking a trip may cost more if gas prices increase however you will still get the maximum value out of your RV by using it.
Parking the RV and not using it is a bigger waste of money than any gas expenditure. Do you really believe you are saving money by not using an RV that you purchased?
I am committed to RV'ing. If the budget must be tightened the savings will come from non RV activities.
Those of us that have been RV'ing awhile survived the last round of 5.00 a gallon prices. We will survive the next round whenever it occurs.
I'm at the age where quality time on earth is more valuable than money.
Earthly time equates to RV time. One can always find ways to conserve and or replenish their money however our earthly time is finite.
Don't spend too much time being frugal while the clock of life ticks away.
The price of gas and our future finances are not guaranteed.
More importantly Tomorrow is not guaranteed either.