High Fuel Prices Curtail RV Trips
Inside the door of their 36-foot-long RV is a map that shows the route Bob and Linda Timko have pulled their “fifth wheel“With fuel prices at record levels, they allow that the trips may cover shorter distances – especially when they get 10 miles to the gallon. There will be some sacrifices for the retirees: perhaps fewer meals out, maybe working a part-time job.
But they can’t imagine giving up the RV lifestyle: a sense of freedom and adventure mixed with close friendships developed over years of traveling around the country. They don’t plan to turn in their wheeled home for a condo.
For millions of Americans, towing the vacation home or traveling around the country in an RV is a way of life, even with soaring fuel prices. This time of year, for example, thousands of “snowbirds” are working their way north after spending the winter in Florida – as the Timkos are doing. By Memorial Day, many parks and campgrounds will be full of RVs. In fact, one indication that the RV crowd still considers the price of fuel secondary: Slots in campgrounds and RV parks are filling up fast.
According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), some 8 million households own an RV. One in every 12 vehicle-owning households owns one. About 80 percent are “fifth wheels,” the variety that is towed.
Cabela’s anticipates some spillover effect on its sales. “Some customers travel 500 miles to come to the store to shop,”"A good gauge will be after Memorial Day to see if people will jump in the car or RV to visit us.”
The Pine Hill RV Park in Kutztown can attest to the incoming tide of RVs. Most of the RV park’s 123 sites were taken for Mother’s Day, especially after the offer of a free breakfast Only a few slots are left for Memorial Day weekend,
“This summer, we’ve booked a lot of clubs like the Kangaroos, the Shriners, the Campers for Christ.
Just down the road from Cabela’s, the Boat-N-RV Superstore offers buyers 30 acres’ worth of RVs for sale. The business is expanding, adding a fourth location, Some of the business includes RVers who are downsizing and buying vehicles that use less fuel.
Filling up an RV can be a wallet-sapping event. A Winnebago rv Destination, which has a $164,752 price tag, carries 90 gallons of gasoline. At today’s fuel prices, it would cost $332 to fill it up – an event that occurs relatively frequently since the vehicle gets seven to 10 miles per gallon.
RV manufacturers are trying to produce vehicles that get better fuel mileage. “We’re now building vehicles with a smaller chassis and lighter materials and utilizing engines with better fuel efficiency”.
