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05-28-2008, 03:04 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Price of Fuel and its effect on you
OK this is the place to express how the high price of energy is effecting our RV'ing.
As for us....no we are not going to sell the truck and camper. We are going to ride out this Energy fiasco and see what happens.We are still going to travel as far as our Travel budget will allow but we have cut back accordingly.(a lot)We are fortunate that our truck and camper are paid for so we do not have payments sitting in the driveway.I drive charter bus and that adds to the travel budget. We will do everything to pay for 6 months in Florida(and working at Disney) I mentioned that the end of our Rv'ing experience is not yet here..but if conditions continre as they are....we can see it from here..
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05-28-2008, 03:46 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Shore
Posts: 6,009
M.O.C. #7110
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Well I get about 6 MPG when towing. To me this was a drastic improvement over our previous set up which got about 4. However with the cost so much higher now I’m sure that I’m paying more than what I was then. I think that everyone has to make adjustments if wanting to travel whether it is shorter trips, less eating out, etc…we will adjust the best we can!
Still a great feeling whenever we hook up and start down the road. We just simply love it!
Are you in Gettysburg yet?
__________________
2011 GMC 4X4 dually CC, 6.6 Duramax with Allison Transmission. Formally 2001 Montana,2007 3400RL Montana, presently 2018 3401RS Alpine.
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05-28-2008, 04:43 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Manhattan
Posts: 1,144
M.O.C. #1846
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Have already taken one trip back to Albuquerque to visit family and left the 5er here in Kansas; did take the diesel truck though - much roomier and more comfortable traveling than wife's or my gas cars (don't think my old clunker would have made it that far anyway ...). We have cancelled our summer travel plans and are now looking at only one away football game this coming fall instead of our normal 3 or 4.
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05-28-2008, 05:00 AM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Grain valley
Posts: 356
M.O.C. #5098
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So far the fuel costs will have little or no affect on our travels. We are leaving on an approximate 5000 mile trip to Nova Scotia at mid June. Have already been out three times this spring. Our thoughts are-do it while our health allows it. You never know when it will not be possible to travel. The kids will just get less inheritence!
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05-28-2008, 05:09 AM
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#5
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Gettysburg
Posts: 74
M.O.C. #7460
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We have two major trips planned for this summer. One to Canada and the other to San Antonio. Pulling this rig is still cheaper than flying, restaurant meals, rental cars and hotel rooms. Plus we all know that part of the adventure is getting there. We are still going to enjoy our second home on wheels. We are still planning a 3 month trip to Alaska next summer. But might have to rethink that one if fuel is $8.00 per gallon.
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05-28-2008, 05:32 AM
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#6
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Panama City
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #7988
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Wife and I love college sports (2 kids in college about 2 hours from our home). We take the rig over in the fall, and go to all the football games, then bring it back home after the season. In the spring we tend to go over for long weekends of baseball and then bring it home each time. At some point it might be cheaper to store it over there rather than bring it home in-between games.
We also use it for dog agility, obedience, and herding trials (Border Collies). Most of those are within a few hundred miles, so not that much diesel. The convenience of being on-site and not paying for hotels is worth the price of the diesel.
If diesel does keep sky-rocketing we'll either have to cut out something else or re-evaluate or hobbies and entertainment. Maybe I could convince the girls to move out of their apartments and live in the Montana, then Mom and Dad could visit for the sports. That would save a bunch of money. Rightttt.
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05-28-2008, 05:35 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lakeland
Posts: 261
M.O.C. #7916
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I am still working and have been doing weekend camping in several different CGs but and travel a little on long weekends and vacation to Pa and Ohio but this year we have goten a seasonal site and will hold down the travel and see where this all goes to. I need the diesel to go to work OUCH
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05-28-2008, 06:24 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Grand Junction
Posts: 246
M.O.C. #4854
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Rich,
Fuel prices aren't going to stop us, but it has slowed us down. This summer we are taking two short trips. Winter will take us to California for the warm weather. It would be nice, if our country would stop sitting on our back side. Importing 70% of our fuel at a very high price, sure isn't the answer.
Jerry
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05-28-2008, 06:46 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Blanc
Posts: 2,508
M.O.C. #5965
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We are only traveling twice this year, the Goshen Rally and Florida for the winter. I am workamping now so we are spending most of our time in our Montana and will be working for Mickey Mouse at Disney when in Florida.
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05-28-2008, 09:02 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cinnaminson
Posts: 197
M.O.C. #5316
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Well Rich... we, too, will not stop traveling but we are slowing down...literally! We have cut our 2300 mile trip down to 1200 miles and we (travelling with two other rigs)will be slowing down to 55-60 mph. The 8.1 does 8 mpgs so hopefully slowing down will slightly improve that. Our trip is from NJ to Gettysburg, Monticello to the Outer Banks, NC. This will probably be the only summer trip! We will start back up in the Fall...regardless of cost! we love travelling too much to call it quites.
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05-28-2008, 09:16 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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We use our monty for vacation, and I use it occassionally on business. Government per deum for mileage ($0.505) no longer covers the cost for business, so I hesitate to use it this year. We have traded in one of our long vacation trips out of state for a fly/hotel trip directly as a result of fuel costs. We pretty much will stay local with the Monty this year.
If fuel continues to rise, I'll just pour a concrete foundation under this Monty and make it a summer home near a lake, and bury the truck nose down and make a planter in the yard with it. That depends of course on the cost of concrete at the time !
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05-28-2008, 09:22 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Galena
Posts: 989
M.O.C. #7380
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We are trying to do trips closer to home. Love the Montana and our camping life but gas has certainly put a crunch in it. Can't help but wonder how long we really will be able to enjoy what we have now. We are considering canceling our trip to Florida this year because we only have 2 weeks and it seems like a lot of fuel cost for 2 weeks. We could save that money and go more in the summer since I have off all summer. Bummer! I will be the most depressed cold person the first 2 weeks in March but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Still in the consideration mode.... Waiting to see what happens over the summer with fuel cost. Does not look promising.
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05-28-2008, 10:14 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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We are at the N.E rally in Gettysburgh//Nice C.G and the MOC'ers are starting to pour in. Only cost us 171.00 in fuel to travel about 350.00/ Looks like we are all making adjustments in our travel plans but we are still travelling.We have been rv'ing for over 20 years and enjoy the lifestyle. our great adventure began with Helen's retirement in Oct 6 and the now high cost of energy is causing us to re evaluate but we will still have a great adventure,
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05-28-2008, 10:43 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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The "Storm" is brewing in Europe. Worse than here.
I predict serious repercussions from overseas much quicker than over here. Blockades and strikes are spreading quickly by upset truckers, fisherman, shipping co's who are on the verge of bankruptcy over there. We have that bankruptcy thing among trucking companies surging here in the US, but apparently much more advanced over there.
Citizens revolts are at a more advanced stage there. Could be a problem very shortly (within weeks?) by the sounds of it...
May make food riots look like a walk in the park compared to this. Not good.
Trouble in Europe
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05-28-2008, 11:18 AM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Onalaska
Posts: 276
M.O.C. #1666
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Truck & Camper are sitting in yard for summer. Both will be paid off in Nov. Planning on trip to Del Rio, TX (1400 mi.) at no more than $6 gal for diesel, but what scares us most is the cost of food, etc. The unknown! Example right now I am paying 89 cents for celery when we left Del Rio last March it was already 1.79. And propane is a big one. We went thru 15 tank fills this past trip at 14.75 a fill. What will it be? And will diesel be higher by the time we are ready to leave?
My hip replacement will be done July 10 and we should be ready for travel by Oct. I will do all the checking I can and figuring in fixed costs, then we will make the decision to go or stay home.
Note we haven't spent a winter in Wis. since 1994! Kinda a scary.
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05-28-2008, 12:17 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: _
Posts: 5,238
M.O.C. #6337
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Parked for the summer, cept for 2 short trips (one is 7 miles from home, even the yorkies could probably pull Tana that far, well, maybe not! )
anyway 2 trips for the twins, one 7 miles, one about 50 (one way mileage)
Then, I hope to finally get to Fort Wayne, as my trip last spring was cut short, trouble here at the stick built kept us living in Tana last summer, but no trips, and I am getting antsy to get down there and work. Fort Wayne is about 100 miles from here, one way, so am hoping to do that.
We are planning a 4 or 5 day getaway with friends, to TN to surprise another friend. 3 couples, each driving their own transport, cause we will split up and go do whatever we want after shocking our friend! They suggested we take Tana, we said, well, nooooooo, cause that would be well over $300 in fuel, JUST ONE WAY. So, we are going to do something I know I will regret, we are gonna hotel it with 3 dogs. That means we will have to stay in smoking rooms, and I am rather allergic. Now, ain't that gonna be grand?? If these were not such good friends, well, we would not even consider it. We will also be taking the green machine, the old Escort that gets 30 to 35 MPG, it will beat us to death, it is uncomfy as all get out, but it will save a bucket load of $$. What sacrifices one will make for friends.
Other than that, we are brooding over the loss of a lot of our dreams, dreams being dreamt since before 1985, of more travel and camping/rving. It is hard to give up dreams, eh??
Who said these were the golden years??
Yes, there are things that can be done to still afford it, get a job (you say that to Al to his face and see what kind of response you get! GULP!!)
Cut back, well, I can always afford to lose some weight, so, okkk, I'll diet a bit.
We already compact trips out, use the gas efficient vehicle when we can. You know the routines, I don't have to go into them.
We are praying a lot??? For things to get better. Ain't praying hard enough yet, I guess.
That said, we are still thankful we can still pay the heat bill and the electric bill and the air card bill, YIKES what would we do without the MOC to listen to our rants and raves?? GOODNESS, now, that is one scary thought!
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05-28-2008, 12:23 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Palmer
Posts: 1,526
M.O.C. #7893
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We are praying too Carol. And praying and praying.
I will say this, if you come to Seward you would never know there is a gas price crisis. There are RV's EVERYWHERE and I mean everywhere. People are flying up here and renting them by the scores. But, I guess like us, they figure better do it now while we can. I mean, after all, gas next year might be $10.00 a gallon.
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05-28-2008, 12:38 PM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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We are selling the house, to relocate to a home base closer to various vacation-lands. In the process we will have milder winters, which will translate to lower heating costs. We hope to be able to travel to different places, but really want to keep our South Padre winters in the forefront.
Here In K.C. Mo. the summers are hot and miserable, (humid) and the winters are cold and snowy, so we gotta get outa here!
Besides we need to downsize.
Good luck to all of you, I know the high energy costs are a real hardship on many, I worry about people that are barely making it now.
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05-28-2008, 12:59 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 5,369
M.O.C. #6333
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Our summer plans have not changed, as far as travel that is. However, we are driving slower, staying longer at spots and eating out less. As full timers, I think that is about all we can do, and still travel. We belong to a member org (1000 trails) and do not have to pay an overnight fee. We can stay three weeks at each park and go from park to park with no time out. Problem with that is that 1000 Trails are not everywhere. If we wanted to stay in CA, OR and WA, we could do that, possibly next summer if the excrement really hits the moving aparatus attached to the ceiling. However, we signed on to this fulltiming jig as a lifestyle for the next ___ years. Our goal is to see the country. We will do that....Of course, without a stick built house and only one vehicle and a portahome our overall expenses are not nearly that of those of you with a perm home and all the expenses related to that. I COULD NOT DO THIS IF I STILL HAD A HOME IN ALASKA, OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER...When it comes time to hang it up, I think we will buy a small plot of land, dig a well, dig a septic, run some AC, pour a slab, put a steel cover up, pull the Monty under it and call it home. That way, when we want to travel we could still do it, albeit a smaller scale. Of course, by the time we do this, land prices may be beyond our ability. Who knows, maybe we will just die on the road. I wonder if Good Sam will come tow us away if that happens(lol).....
If anyone has any other ideas, I would surely love to hear them. No Robbie, we will not become fulltime boondockers....
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05-28-2008, 01:53 PM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Olahoma City
Posts: 1,219
M.O.C. #6054
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We are taking a trip this weekend and two more at the end of the summer. I have been throwing everything I can get my hands on out of the camper. If we haven't used it over the last year it is gone. I have been driving straight to work and straight home. I used to take a lot of side trips to junk stores on teh way to work but those are a thing of the past. I will keep going until diesel hits 7 bucks a gallon and then I will hand the keys back over to the banker without a second thought.
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