(High Gas Prices) The bright side

[Big Dan]

Barring any sharp increase in the price of gas. I think it will help popularize the teardrop way of camping. More dallars per gallon, more teardrops on the road, Bigger gatherings, more fun. Its all in how you choose to look at the situation. Is your glass half full? Our numbers are growing and thats good right? What will it be like 3,4, years from now?

[Kevin & Sandy]

The guys at work with the BIG camper rigs were talking about never going more than about 50 miles from home to camp and only doing it a couple times a year.
I told them I was looking at going on a couple long trips this summer, and they know I am about to rib them about their big rigs, so they don't even reply....

Last week, one was saying, "Yeah, my 32 footer makes me really swing wide on such and such street"
I said, "I wonder if I can parallel park mine if I found a spot where a two car spots were open?"

They have no sense of humor !!

[canned o minimum]

I took my teardrop and VW bug to a park this weekend.. they BOTH nearly fit in a single Perpendicular parkin spot... it only stuck out a couple a feet !

How's THAT fer parkin !!???

[caseydog]

Coming home from the Beavers Bend gathering, I saw a giant Prevost motor home flat towing a Chevy Avalanche behind it.

I'm guessing fuel prices and carbon footprints are not something those folks think much about.

CD

[graybear13]

Them Ford Rangers may be gutless but they still do pretty good when it comes to gas mileage. My 86 model gets 25 to 30 mpg and is still going. Not bad for $750 three years ago.

[Dave S]

This subject has been on my mind for a long time now. I have a Vintage MH (a 1973 GMC) that I do still love.......but mileage is not a good subject. While I tease my Big Rig buddies that their rig is just the box mine came in, my mileage is only slightly better than theirs. In November and February I hooked up my 47 Cub to my 55 Ford Wagon and headed off to P-Nix Arizona for my twice annual NASCAR fix (3000 miles round trip each time)......and got a resounding 18 MPG in the much modilfied, hot rodded Wagon. Was just too much fun, and very, very popular with all sorts of folks......but the Ranger, at least the 4 banger and 5 speed, is in the works for an old highschool hotrod.......all to tow the Tear (heck, a hitch is easy after fabbing the car). With less weight than the Ranger, I am shooting for around 30MPG. What I miss in the MH (potty, heat, room) is more than compensated by the new friends and conversation.........still need to plan a top and a heater for the drive, but I love passing those big rigs and watching the smiles, even shyly.

[Uncle Chan]

My Charger, which get's 28 mpg gets only 14-16 when pulling my tear. At $4.00/gal, the tear will be making very short trips close by this year.

[2bits]

Sometimes things are a misnomer as far as a tow vehicle is concerned, my mom about flipped when I said I was buying a Town Car and called it a gas guzzler, she didn't know what to say when I showed her the numbers and it got the same mileage as the Ranger I was looking at because the V8 doesn't need to work as hard to do the same work, so it uses less gas, while the 4 cylinder has to work harder to do the same amount of work. I have always liked big cruisers and have paid the price since they all had 3 speed auto transmissions, but my Town Car has power and gets 24mpg on the freeway with it's overdrive and 281CI V8. I can't wait to get my huge 74 Monte Carlo running with it's small 305 V8 and Overdrive Transmission in it. That's form AND function, with NO computer!

Oh, I am not dissing the Ranger at all, just pointing out that sometimes you can find things you wouldn't expect out there. I had a Ranger too, brand new and it was a 5 speed and yes gutless, but I simply loved it except for the power. I felt very comfortable and confident driving it in any weather, I bought a new full size Chevy after that and always felt like I was roll it or careen off into something, I never felt comfortable in that truck. My old Chevy Full size never felt that way, so I dunno, this was 10 years ago.

Oh and I love the vintage GMC Eleganza Motor Homes too, but just for the style, I couldn't imagine trying to drive to the Grand Canyon in it or something right now, it would probably do alot better with a 700R4 behind the engine.

I love lamenting the benefits of the teardrop lifestyle to people. I am still trying to talk my little sister out of getting a pop up and getting a Canned Ham. Sparing the usual crap about Tiny trailers compared to teardrops, she needs a shower and bathroom due to disabilities so a vintage trailer would still be a cool way to enjoy the nation on a budget. We'll see...

[2bits]

My Charger, which get's 28 mpg gets only 14-16 when pulling my tear. At $4.00/gal, the tear will be making very short trips close by this year.

Wow that's a big difference in mileage! Are you a leadfoot when towing? LOL That is interesting. I've never towed in my car, only my awful 10mpg truck, I am just happy to be in double digits again LOL

[GPW]

Gas prices being what they are , I've been buying "pure" gas (non Ethanol) and am getting much better mileage.... My mechanic friend keeps warning me about the damage ethanol gas does to many car parts , especially sensors ...
Turns out the ethanol is Not really "green" , and realistically , with less mileage , the gas is even More expensive ... Good for the oil companies , bad for us ... grrrrrrr!!!!!

[GPW]

Cowboy, I think that's " the plan " ... We pay more , they give us less ... More for them ... and with the government getting a taste of that , I don't see why they'd be agin' it either ...

My mechanic friend informs me that he's been fixing a LOT of sensors due to ethanol gas (especially oxygen sensors ) and some plastic parts inside fuel tanks ... an expensive fix... again more for them ...

[stumphugger]

I get about 1 mpg less towing the little guy. However, I was shocked that it now costs $40 to fill my Chevy's gas tank up.

The little truck is not very comfy to drive, but it gets good mileage--about 25mpg towing. 26 to 29 not towing.

[Wimperdink]

wood gasification

[Big Dan]

any body notice I hit the house this afternoon late turned on the computer and took a look a the price of crude on bloomberg. says 110 a barel!!!!!!!! yickes. and i am not kidding either.

No word at all on the ap news or even a hint any where online about it from any news source. the crooks!!!!!!!!!!!

only a barely mentoin on the stock market news.

its time to hang on to your God in heavon folks. I might have to get me a double tree for this teardrop of mine and see if I can hitch my two old saddle horse up to my teardrop!!!!!!!!!!

I just pray you all across america survie!!!!!!!! hang on as were on for a wild ride!!!!!!!!
Slowcowboy.

They (the media) told us weeks ago that gas would hit $5/gallon. I won't be surprised when it doe's.

[Roly Nelson]

I get almost the same mpg with or without my tear in tow, about 28mpg in my 4 banger Camry. Nevertheless, I fear that those that have to travel long distances to attend major gatherings, will opt not to go. I know that a trip to the Dam gathering at Lake Shasta from So Calif, is 2000 miles round trip and that means over 300 bucks for gas and added to that would be the registration costs.

I suppose many of us will decide to attend local gatherings when available. I know my trips may be limited to a lake and campground, only 25 minutes from my house. With all that is going on in North Africa, I fear gas prices will even go higher, for a long time..........bummer.

Roly