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New Post 4/12/2010 11:49 AM
  RVdigitalboy
3 posts




Re: Easiest way to save money while RVing 
murffdog123 touched on many money saving areas. I'd like to expand on that based on my RVing experience.

My wife and I go down the road in a 38' diesel pusher coach. We tow an SUV behind it. Diesel in Florida is now at or above $3 a gallon. It has always been my habit to travel the interstates at about 62 mph. This extends my fuel mileage to 9+ mpg including using my diesel generator while driving. I also find this more relaxing as I stay in the far right lane except to pass a slower vehicle. I marvel at all the traffic - auto, truck and RV - that whiz by me at 70-80+ mph. ADVICE: whether you pull a 5th-wheel, travel trailer, pop-up or drive a motorhome ...SLOW DOWN! Your cost of fuel will drop and your brake linings will last longer.

The most important component of any RV is the TIRES. Monitor your tire pressure. Make sure the cold pressure is adjusted to the tire manufacturer's specs for the amount of weight the tire is carrying. This means you should weigh your RV. Use any public scales. Call a moving company or a trucking company and offer to pay to weigh your RV. Keeping the proper tire pressure will improve mileage, not to mention safety.

On cross-country trips we have stayed at WalMart, Flying J and even the occasional interstate rest stop. Campground owners hate this as they think they are losing revenue. We do this in cool weather. However, with diesel prices so high and the summers so hot, I have found that the estimated cost of running my generator through the night (we want to be comfortable) when added to what we might spend in the WalMart was higher than a night's stay at a campground. If we stay at a Passport America park we save even more.

EAT IN! It costs less to buy food and prepare it in your RV than it does to eat two or three meals a day at resturaunts.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Lew Mann
Webmaster & "Doer of Many Things"
J.D. Sanders RV Center
Alachua, FL
www.sandersrvs.com
 
New Post 4/13/2010 10:26 AM
  angela
133 posts




Re: Easiest way to save money while RVing 
I agree with many of your points, especially taking it slow and eating in. I find that taking it slow is less stressful. It's also nice because you don't have to slow down for cars that are coming onto the highway, as they are usually going faster than you anyway!

One thing I wanted to ask you is how much I should expect to pay a moving company or trucking company to weigh my RV?
 
New Post 5/3/2010 5:47 PM
  bukhrn
164 posts




Re: Easiest way to save money while RVing 
Some other ways to camp/rv on the cheap, besides the good ideas already mentioned, are to use the National Forest, National Park, COE, & so on especially if you can go without full hookups, & IF you are set up to boondock, it's very cheap. (usually free).Much more scenic too.
We save a lot on campgrounds, by using Passport America, and if you're old enough, the America The Beautiful Senior pass, both will GENERALLY get you 50% off camping.
 
New Post 10/4/2011 8:50 AM
  georgito
106 posts




Re: Easiest way to save money while RVing 
Here are some tips that may help:

1. Make a checklist to make sure that you don't forget anything. That way, you don't have to keep on going out to buy in convenience stores, which sell these at a higher price.
2. If you're planning to spend more than just a couple of days, check if the campground that you're planning to go offers weekly and monthly rates. They come out cheaper than just going for the daily rates. Added bonus: if they accept discounts from Passport America and the like, they add to your savings the more.
3. If you need to have some of your camping gear replaced, buy them during the off-season where you can avail of the huge discounts.
 
New Post 10/25/2011 10:17 PM
  mikeporter
139 posts




Re: Easiest way to save money while RVing 
I agree on caring for your tires. Making sure that your tires are properly inflated and are in good condition will not only require you lesser amount of fuel to go from point A to point B. It will also be a safer trip for you and your family. You can check out the article here in Camping Road Trip on How to Care for Your Tires
 
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