Everyone is watching the cost of fuel rise.
I've heard it said that if you have to ask about the mileage a rig gets, you shouldn't be considering buying one. A version of "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it!"
On the other hand, I have read some full timers and others who RV part time, write that they are staying in one place longer, or not planning any long trips in the near future. Who knows how many, like Mike and Gerri, have parked and bought a small house again?
I wonder how high it will go in the next five to ten years.
I've heard speculation about prices rising to $5.00 per gallon this summer, and who knows if it will ever go down again.
$7.00 or $7.50 may well be the price in a few years.
Will this keep us in our "sticks and bricks?"
Maybe. Maybe not.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Being an optimist, I can see one bright side to this situation for people like us. People who have not yet bought an RV.
If fuel prices continue to rise, fewer people will feel they can afford to travel in one. They may put their rigs on the used market.
So maybe the result will be lower prices on used rigs, and more rigs to choose from.
If we can buy a nice used Class A for $10,000 or $20,000 less, the savings will go a long way toward balancing the higher cost of fuel.
I'm no good at figuring such things out, so if I'm off on this thinking please correct me.
The way I see it is if you get 7 miles to the gallon, you will burn 5000 gallons of gas to go 35,000 miles. With a pump price of $3.50 (about where it is now) this will cost $17,500.
If fuel prices go up by $2.00 per gallon, to $5.50, the same 5000 gallons of fuel will cost $27,500. That is $10,000 more.
But if you save $10,000 on the price of your RV, and apply that to your fuel budget, you will be even on your travel cost for the first 35,000 miles. (17,500 miles at $7.50)
So maybe we can go after all!
Unfortunately this does not apply to those who already have an RV. Higher fuel costs will depress the value of your RV on the used market, while making it more costly for you to travel. A double-edged sword...
