Gas prices

[Epbowen]

You all make excellent points on the comparative cost of gas to wages. A friend of mine recommends raising gas to $10 a gallon, in taxes of course, and funneling that to the government so it can be used for the needy. Pretty sure I'd stop driving a car or greatly reduce my use at that price. I'd have to bike to Yellowstone....bear fodder?

[DrCrash]

You all make excellent points on the comparative cost of gas to wages. A friend of mine recommends raising gas to $10 a gallon, in taxes of course, and funneling that to the government so it can be used for the needy. Pretty sure I'd stop driving a car or greatly reduce my use at that price. I'd have to bike to Yellowstone....bear fodder?

If they did that I would quit my job and become part of the problem !

[nevadatear]

wow, Brian, care to weigh in on the relative "flushness" of the Canadian economy and its fellow citizens?

[Epbowen]

I worked at a gas station when prices went over $1, our pumps had to be replaced, everyone complained about gas prices then....but it was better then being rationed, which we had just come out of a few years before. I had numerous rv owners complain as I pumped 90+ dollars of gas into their rigs, but they kept coming. Remember when the speed limit was 70? Why did it shift to 55? Fuel economy. As prices go up people get creative! And our little tear drops are just the ticket! There is a big business in being small when fuel prices get high. ;-)

[mallymal]

If you think gas is expensive, try filling your tank with coffee, just beans and water, no millions of dollars and regulations to get it out of the ground. People will stand in line to buy a cup of Starbucks and not even think twice on the price per cup on that stuff.

If you thing gas is expensive, try coming on vacation to the uk, getting a rental car, and filling it up over here!

Do call in, I'll buy you a coffee!

[Midget]

Just filled the truck with Diesel at $4.10/gal. Not my everyday driver but I needed to use it on my way home from work. I normally drive my Mini Cooper S which needs premium. It's at $4.60/gal. If the national average is in the high $3 range, Who's paying in the $2's. Doing 20k miles per year in my commute really cuts into the wallet. If your coming from the northwest to the IRG, fill up before you go into California.

Did you hear the latest from Sacramento? Since cars are getting better mileage and the hybrids and electrics are using less or no gas, the state tax revenue has gone down. The brains in the legislature are now considering a per mile tax on driving. That will kill me. Maybe I'll drive my old Ford Bronco as I can set the odometer back really easily.

See you all in a week! Looking forward to some cool temperatures!

[Epbowen]

Midget, they were floating that tax around several places. I had heard it would use a GPS type system...even on bikes, to make sure we all pay.

[Redneck Teepee]

You all make excellent points on the comparative cost of gas to wages. A friend of mine recommends raising gas to $10 a gallon, in taxes of course, and funneling that to the government so it can be used for the needy. Pretty sure I'd stop driving a car or greatly reduce my use at that price. I'd have to bike to Yellowstone....bear fodder?

If they did that I would quit my job and become part of the problem !

ME TOO!!!!

[rowerwet]

the planned trips for the tear won't change, even with slightly worse fuel mileage, the tear beats hotel prices by a ton. We are going back to Cape Cod for our anniversary, since it is our 15th I booked a bed and breakfast, $800 for the weekend after talking it over with my better half, we're taking the tear. $180 means that much more money to do what we want.
Gas would have to go to $10/hr before I would consider not driving so much.

[doug hodder]

If you think gas is expensive, try filling your tank with coffee, just beans and water, no millions of dollars and regulations to get it out of the ground. People will stand in line to buy a cup of Starbucks and not even think twice on the price per cup on that stuff.

If you thing gas is expensive, try coming on vacation to the uk, getting a rental car, and filling it up over here!

Do call in, I'll buy you a coffee!

I have done it...a number of times. It is shocking compared to the US prices. My UK relatives were really surprised at just how cheap our gas was compared to theirs. Me, I'm not complaining on the price, would I like to see it cheaper, yeah, who wouldn't? Most people in the US are clueless on what others in the world pay for fuel. For me, I'm lucky...I don't drink coffee, however filling a tank with Canadian Club wouldn't be cheap either. Doug

[Roly Nelson]

Right on, Brian, when I learned to drive, in 1946, gas was 22 cents a gallon and I always carried 2 quart cans of gas under the seat, so I could get to a gas starion when I ran out of gas. Whew. Now, I just plunk down the credit card, bite the bullet and hope when the bill comes in, Uncle Sam keeps sending me enough retirement money to cover the cost, probably a month or more from now. If times get too tuff, I will forego prime rib for hot dogs in the future, but there ain't any way I'm gonna miss the IRG! Bite the bullet and head on down the freeway and come and enjoy the very best TD and Vintage event that had ever been put together, with monumental effort. Thanks Teardrop Nanny and Teardrop Husband........:-)
Roly, making the 2 day drive North, in a few days...........see ya all there with the sleek, aerodynamic monster.

[Vedette]

I have been trying real hard not to get sucked in by Slow's complaints about the US economy (which is on the way up every day).............
Invest now!
But my whole life has been spent in envy of how cheap EVERYTHING is in the USA in comparison for prices in Canada.
Most everything that is taxed heavily....like Gas, Booze, Cigarettes, cost at least 2 to 3 times as much!
Most everything else is at least 50% more. Thus we buy as much as we can on Ebay or Amazon.
But, to comment on how we can fix our own economy! We must quit being so cheap! Quit looking for bargains at Walmart and any other Big Box store that exploit American workers and sell product exclusively made outside of your country by cheap labour that puts Americans out of work.
If you all bought only US made goods, then there would be more jobs to produce those goods.
But, it is so easy to blame someone else for your plight, including your government.
I don't really want a debate here.......I was just expressing my opinion!
And this, by no means has anything to do with the "Joys of Teardrop" camping, and really does not need further discussion.
There are way too many positive things to discuss now at the height of "Teardrop Gathering" season!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Roly Nelson]

Right on, Brian. We have to keep positive thoughts, which I feel is what keeps me healthy and active. Good for you, enjoying your interesting teardrop lifestyle, unlike some locals that I have met. You seem to be always on the go, checking out the northern haunts, and I wish I could do the same. However, the Canadian border is so far from So Calif, and I ain''t gettin' any younger, so must pick and choose which trips I choose to take. Sure looking forward to seeing you and your sweetie, my one-of-a-kind friends from north of the border. If it helps, I am bringing 500 gallons of "cheap" USA gas with me up to the IRG, so you can haul it home with you to enjoy in Canada.......Just kidding. How-a-boot-that? Long live the Queen! Is that proper to say?
Roly, heading north, with absolutely no TD towing aerodynamic pressures, unlike a number of my other home-built, "normal" trailers, presently in storage, awaiting future use, when I tire of this latest one...

[prohandyman]

This is an interesting thread. Since so many people on here are from many time zones, it is interesting to hear thoughts and facts on gas and other must have item prices. The comparison of Star Bucks is spot on, and if other areas have drivers racing from from stoplight to stop light in big, gas guzzling trucks and sports cars as we have here in the Midwest, the gas companies just smile at us as they watch us fill out tanks often. While we complain about the prices as we fill up, we then speed away down the road as if we have to be in the lead of some imaginary race, grab our Star Bucks, dry cleaning and hot and ready pizza, and race to the office or home. We have to have gasoline, our life demands it, and as long as we drive these gas guzzling autos, Shell, BP and others laugh all the way to the bank.
Case in point....my 2000 GMC got 21.5 mpg when I bought it new. My sons 2012 GMC , same exact truck, gets 21.8 new!!! In twelve years they did not change anything to make our love for trucks get any better mileage. My other sons 2014 GMC Denali truck gets 18 mpg. I hope the oil companies don't read this thread!

[alaska teardrop]

As summer is here and gas is soaring again, the TD makes more sense then ever for those of us who want to explore. Any great adventures planned this summer?

I agree. With continued world termoil & competition for oil, the cost of oil will only rise. The cost of fuel & increased concern for the environment should increase demand for lightweight travel.

One great adventure planned & others closer by when I can.