If people thought the economy was bad 2 years ago, wait untill this year, $5+ per gallon will cripple the world economy!

 

My fuzzy math says you are adding way more than $6-700 in cost to the summer trip. Certainly nothing wrong with the new trip you have planned, but it will cost more to do it by far. (The "new" trip sounds fantastic, but then again so did the "old" trip.)

I just got my Ex specifically to tow my camper. Yes, my timing could have been better regarding fuel prices, but it is what it is. Nobody ever said owning a camp trailer was a cost effective way to entertain oneself.

I'm not ready to surrender, probably just slow down a little and go have fun. Not to say I don't feel it, these prices certainly take away from other things to be sure.

 

Exx,

The "first" new trip this July will entail 1300 miles of driving around CA and Nevada at 25mpgs...so right off the back I'll be using ~2/3 less fuel overall...sure my hotels will cost a few bucks as will my food and alcohol since I won't be hauling it with me...but buying food at the grocery isn't cheap these days nor is beer!...one thing I didn't mention is that the hotel I normally stay at for business is getting me hooked up with "Friends and Family" rates at the hotels in San Fran and Vegas...so we'll save $$$ there. Hotels near Yosemite are not cheap no matter how you cut that place though.

The "second" part of that July trip entails a free rental car for my wife in CA when I am on business...so the hotel suite cost is covered by my business travel...sure we have to eat...but we have to eat at home and the hotel has an awesome breakfast included as well as a good dinner included Mon-Thurs...so those TWO weeks are essentially FREE to us...

The "third" new trip (8 day cruise) this December will be cheaper overall than our 3 week trek would have cost for the cost of the cruise (food included) and my airfare is basically free due to all my freq. flier miles. The 8 day cruise cost versus the 3 week towing/camping costs are pretty much a wash...granted one is 8 days and one is 3 weeks though...so $/day is much higher on the cruise...but I can't drive to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San Juan, Barbados, etc...and I get to enjoy SUNSHINE at the END of DECEMBER too!!!

Overall my family will spend THREE WEEKS in California (two with me while I work and 1+ tooling around sight seeing...but you are right...in the end...my "overall" alternative plans will cost more in the end to save $6-700...BUT I feel for that $6-700 I am NOT giving the oil gougers...I am getting MORE value from...

I also agree with you that I bought my first camper in 2006 and newer one in 2007 to see the country...well my kids at almost 12 and 14 have already been in 36 states...so we do travel...and I traveled in 2008 out to the Grand Canyon...another near 5000 mile trek...do you remember 2008?...well that was the LAST time fuel topped $4/gallon for 87 octane...

Moral of the story...BLAME ME for the fuel prices I guess since it seems everytime I plan a LOOOONG trek...the fuel jumps!

But seriously...I believe in showing my girls just how beautiful this country is...and I think I have done a fine job...I just decided to alter my plans this year because of a few circumstances that make it much more economically feasible right now with my airline miles AND hookup on the hotel rooms (both friends and family as well as my business travel)...so...

Is it the right decision for everyone?...NO...it just seems to be the right one for me. If fuel prices continue to stay as high as they are (I'm doubtful but it is possible)...well then I'll have to re-evaluate next year's plans...because I WANT TO get to Glacier...that is HIGH on my list...but so is Yosemite and I can't easily drive to Yosemite...so this alternative is a good one in my mind.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Joe.

 

You are preaching to the choir on the travels Joe. I've had various Chevy conversion vans over the years towing a 22' trailer. My kids have been to 42-46 states and a handful of foreign countries with me depending on the kid. (I have 4) But I had a bit of a head start since my youngest is now 18. Sounds like you will end up about the same or even pass me up when you are done.

Please don't think for a moment that I felt your plans are bad plans, au contraire it sounds excellent. Quite possibly more value for the money even. But I'm not buying for a second you are saving money.

Not so sure it's YOU that are the cause for the gas prices, might be ME! Gas jumped from .99 to $1.99 the summer I decided to take the kids to Yellowstone, Idaho, and Glacier. I almost backed out of the trip because of it until I really thought about it. Best 3 week trip ever BTW. Now it jumps again just when I get the Ex and have plans to travel a lot more this summer with my new to me 28' trailer.

On a side note, I've read quite a bit of what you have written on here and thought there is a guy who has it figured out regarding towing a camper with an Ex. Thus I am going to shamelessly copy your setup on mine for the most part since I am totally new to this truck. Might pass on the HA hitch, but we'll see how it tows. And for that information, I am thankful to you for sharing.

Eric

 

Eric,

Thanks for the kind words on my posts...I try and share what I can and have learned/figured out on these tricky trucks...hopefully it helps folks is all...right!

As far as the travels this year...I do agree with you...I am NOT saving any money this year ...

I do also understand that I bought this camper to TRAVEL and it sounds like you get it and have been DOING IT...so my hats off to you for doing it and giving your kids the memories they will have for a lifetime!

I figured I'd let the glacier thing slide one year to see where the prices settle...next year being an election year and all...who knows I guess...but I am NOT going to let the oil gougers steal my kids memories...Yosemite is one I have talked about with them...so we'll knock that one off and add Nevada to their states visited list in the process...I have been wanting to see the new bridge over the Hoover Dam area...I have been watching it being built on "Build it Bigger" I think for the last few years...quite an impressive structure that I now want to see in person!

Glacier is HIGH on my list...especially since in 20 years there may be no Glaciers to SEE! ...so that one is a definite trip.

I love to tow with my Ex...it is a pure DREAM for a family to travel in and spend time together...the memories we have of being in "Bessie" are priceless to me and my family...she is one of the family if you will...so we're no where near done traveling in her yet!

So it is YOU that causes the gas prices to go up huh?... And here I was thinking it was me for all these years!...I am even responsible for the stock market dropping BIG soon after I make any kind of purchase too!

BTW...I didn't take anything you wrote as anything other than friendly chatter back and forth...so thank you for your open mind and friendly exchange!

Have a great one...I have to go and put the pier in the lake and put the boat in too...those crappies aren't going to wait forever!

Thanks again,
Joe.

 

The oil companies have prompted me to get back on the back of a steel horse. I bought a 2007 Honda CBR600 to ride this summer, and I'll probably use gas prices as an excuse to buy a fuel efficient car this fall as well. I'll never sell the Ex, because I need a tow vehicle and it's worth more to me than it's actual value at this point (my 01 is in great shape and "low" mileage at 115k.. definitely couldn't replace it reliably for the 7kish that I could sell it for).

I'm disappointed with gas prices. I just bought a new boat last summer, and I doubt it goes out more than 2-3 times this year. I just can't afford it. It was costing over $100 to take it out just for the day at a lake 25 miles from home last year. This year it'll be more like $140, and that's not even to get to a fun reservoir or camp. Ouch.

 

We used to have at least 4 classes in America, 1) poverty level, 2) lower middle class living paycheck to paycheck, 3) middle class that was able to save 20% to 30% of their income each month, and 4) the wealthy.

This new administation is hell bent on doing away with #2 and #3 above. You don't need boats, large SUVs and travel trailers! Whoever voted for Obama, all I can say is enjoy the ride and stockpile some cans of pork'n'beans!

 

The new administration? Try again. The erosion of the middle class was happening LONG before Obama took office, and Republican policies are far more harmful to the middle class than democrat policies.

Ultimately, neither party is doing anything for us. Time to put an end to both of them. Too bad American's are too stupid to stand up for themselves these days, and blindly vote for ideologies that really don't follow their own beliefs.

 

this is sort of off topic...
hey "1 excursion camper" and "x_hemi_guy" I see you guys have 4.30 gears and a V10. Do you leave over drive on when towing?
Without a trailer my 04 Excursion Limited 4x4 V10 is turning 2000 rpms at 72mph. How many rpms are you guys turning? I am pretty sure I don't have 4.30 gears. We just got a 2011 Springdale 303bh-ssr which weighs in at 7800lbs empty(11000 gvwr). Driving on flat ground in Ohio(on the way back to PA) it was able to maintain 70mph in OD but even a little incline and the trans would drop down to third. If it was really steep it would go to second gear. So I got 7mpg driving 500 miles from toledo,oh to west chester, pa where i live. I can't say I was too surprised. It is going to take more fuel to move 17,000 pounds down the road compared to the Excursion by itself. I'd appreciate any tips you guys have learned over years.

 

To a certain extent, yeah.

You need to be hired as a stand up comedian because your material is hilarious!

Republican policies and idea's for the US are far from perfect, but they are SO much better than the Dem's.

But, I don't wanna hijack this thread any more than it has been, so I'll let my rebuttal be short and sweet.

Stewart

 

I could not decide if we were going to pull the car hauler and car to Nashville for a car show. I have the Ex, the hauler, a car and a family that had fun last year at the show. In the end the kids are growing, they will be gone before I know it. We are going to make side trips from Nashville, one is Mammoth Cave.

It is going to cost us double in fuel but I am not going to let Obama's poor policies and the Arab countries ruin my fun and my children's childhood memories.

 

Selling the ex wouldn't gain much anyway. The mpg versus the room factor (if that makes sense) won't change much and you would still have to pay a lot for a smaller suvs' gas......paid $170 to fill up today.

 

Yeah Joe we were going to travel from AZ to NY and go through Nashville and D.C. starting next week. I got 1 month off of work! Now its going to be a California trip because of these dang gas prices! Oh and by the way I passed a Ford Diesel 6.0 on a 7% grade towing my hauler with my gas 8.1 and it didn't even blow the head gaskets and egr cooler! My truck gets about 7-8 towing at 65mph.....I'm liking it, but I do miss my Excursion!!

 

Thank you everyone for the great ideas for vacations. I know that wasn't the intent of this thread, but my wife and I are sitting here chatting about summer vacation plans, and I think we're going to do some towing! Woo-hoo!

...and the fuel prices be damned.

 

We changed our plans from a long trip to a trip to a State Park in Northern MN. The last three summer trips have been to Mt. Rushmore, Niagara Falls, and Yellowstone. This year we won't even leave the state! As far as the X, it will never be sold, but I am in the process of obtaining an 02 Escort as a commuter so I can leave the X parked when not needed. I am hoping to get the Escort for next to nothing, but it needs some work.