Cost of fuel vs. Cancelling a trip ...

Does the cost of fuel really have that much effect that anyone would cancel a trip because of it ... I just figured my next trip south ... and the difference in over-all cost. Not enough to even consider cancelling for me.

I know we're all on budget (maybe not all, but some or most), but when I factored everything into the equation -- I'm packing up.

Even if fuel cost me more, I still have my "condo" with me, and decided if it stay several days instead of one or two days at a specific CG on the way, then half the fuel budget extra is one month, and half the next month -- so I split the extra beteen two months and it cost me an extra $250, or $125 a month. That's not gonna stop me from traveling (Trip is 2000 miles RT) ...

We consider food and living expenses will be the same if we sit in Cape Cod or travel to Georgia -- so, why not be warm for a few months. Although my site rent is free on the Cape (I still own a home there), I still live in my RV when I'm there ... so, yes, the RV site costs more -- but I'm only considering the fuel hike here, because that seems to be what many consider to be the biggest change and may cause some RV'ers to modify plans. So, maybe we should think again, and actually look at the real cost difference overall, instead of just the fuel cost. Like in my example above, the real cost difference in only $250 on a trip that will probably run a few thousand bucks all things considered. So, not as big a difference as one might think at first ... SO, if I would have done it for $2500 say average, then $2750 won't keep me in the cold ...

Monkey, I live on a budget ( not a big one) but if I am going to let fuel cost cause me to cancel my trips I might as well sell my RV and stay put. Fuel is not going to get any cheaper in the near futher. I agree with Monkey I will spend more time in one place rather than on the road every day. We are planning to go to the Quartsite area for the winter, will probably not stray too far from there, maybe some time in Yuma or Laughlin.

I agree that the increase in fuel is insignificant when compared to sitting at home base brooding about it. We went on a short trip earlier this year up the East Coast and what was really nice is the availability of sites since fewer RVs were on the road. For some places, when we called for reservations they just stated that it wasn't necessary, plenty of space. So we're getting ready to take another short trip as soon as we can clear the hurricanes out of our area.

The only way that you will avoid the fuel costs is to sit a home and never travel. If you travel by car or plane, you will still have to cover the increased cost of fuel.

The way to make it more economical is to stay longer at the destination because the savings of living and eating in your own rig is factored into the fuel costs by the number of days you are saving that money instead of paying resturants and hotels.

I did a quick spreadsheet a while ago and it seemed to me that on a trip of 2000 miles, one had to stay 2 weeks to break even. So I will still keep traveling and just stay at our destinations a little longer.

Joe

Seems some of the folks I talk to or "forum" with, nag, nag, nag about the cost of fuel -- and I agree, it p...s me off too. But if we factor in all the costs we spend (RV payment, insurance, repairs, maintenance, tires, etc) fuel is really a pretty small percent of what an RV is all about.

I expect some day the cost of fuel might impact a trip more even than it does now, but it will never be as much as sitting in a stick house day after day after day, wondering if you should get on the road. A mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance buys an awful lot of fuel, even at $3-$4 a gallon.

I don't full-time yet, but do RV alot. And still own a stick house (one son at the local college, so until he leaves the nest, I wait ) but will sell it and be gone ... but I still spend at least 25% or more of my time RV'ing or camping each month ... and have done trips of several months at a time.

Matter of fact, what would affect RV'ing more would be the per night rates for a site -- that could put a 'nasty' on the RV more than fuel price, I believe anyway -- although then I'd spend alternate nights in a rest stop :

Hey, during my travels if I am doing only an overnight I have no problem parking in a truck stop. I find them rather spacious and interesting. Easy in and out and dining anytime.