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Only Human
 
Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire
| Is the high price of fuel affecting how far you choose to travel with your motorhome? |
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Liking what I've found
Posts: 53
| We are being careful at the moment and are only travelling a maximum of 500 miles each time we go out.
Nice to see that the cost is coming down, we paid 1.26 per litre at Morrisons in Scunthorpe on tuesday.
Quite a saving when you need to fill up. |
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Treasured contributor
Posts: 803
Location: 2010 Burstner Aviano i728G
| We are just careful on watching speeds, using cruise control where possible, but after saving hard and waiting so long for our MH we would rather cut back elsewhere - now I have my buss pass I suppose I could use that to save a few pennies?  |
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Pops in from time to time
Posts: 85
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire
| My main gripe at the moment is the high differential between petrol and diesel. Before the credit crunch the price difference was approx 4p now its more like 16p. Does anyone know the reason for this.
As for cutting back and not using the motorhome, no way !!!!! |
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The special one
Posts: 12469
 
Location: E Yorks, Carthago C-Compactline i-138
| Err ... Mr Mod, there's something not right with the Poll! I just voted on 'Yes' when it was at 11 'yes' (50%) and 11 'no' (50%) and it's added 1 vote to each so they are now both showing 12 and 50% each!!!
It is/will make us more careful - we are (hopefully) going on holiday again towards the end of August to France, had the fuel not been so expensive we would probably venture off into Germany but as it's so costly we'll probably stick to the northern half of France instead. I wouldn't let it stop me going somewhere I really wanted to go but just for a nice tootle about it will make us think twice.
Edited by Mel B 2008-07-24 10:41 PM
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| At the end of the day the situation is not going to get a lot better, so it is a case of either you curtail your enjoyment or you just carry on as normal. Life is too short to curtail anything, so for us it will be carry on regardless of any cost, it will not change our use of anything, you might be dead tomorrow.
Also 'High Price' is relative it is only high compared to recent years as a proportion of earnings it is much the same as it was years back it has just become cheaper over the years, relatively.
Bas
Edited by Basil 2008-07-25 8:18 AM
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Lives on the forums
Posts: 518
Location: Surrey - Hymer B504
| I agree. We have just collected our motorhome and intend to get as much use as possible out of it. If we don't do it now we never will. There are plenty of other things we can cut back on. If we are not at home and visiting supermarkets & large stores but somewhere in the country enjoying what nature has to offer, we will not be spending as much. That is, of course, after we have equipped the van with the basic essentials - it will be a bit hit and miss to start with! We intend to have full use. Why else buy a MH in the 1st place., If we choose to outlay this substantial cost and then feel we cannot afford to run it - why bother. We intend to enjoy every moment and hope to meet lots of interesting people along the way - yes, even some of you who 'post' on here - if we know who you really are! Basil - 2008-07-25 8:15 AM At the end of the day the situation is not going to get a lot better, so it is a case of either you curtail your enjoyment or you just carry on as normal. Life is too short to curtail anything, so for us it will be carry on regardless of any cost, it will not change our use of anything, you might be dead tomorrow. Also 'High Price' is relative it is only high compared to recent years as a proportion of earnings it is much the same as it was years back it has just become cheaper over the years, relatively. Bas |
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Forum master
Posts: 2924
Location: Beddgelert, North Wales
| No certainly not, just drive a little slower. Incidently someone mentioned cruise control as means of saving fuel, it will have the opposite effect. |
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| rupert123 - 2008-07-25 12:44 PM
..... Incidently someone mentioned cruise control as means of saving fuel, it will have the opposite effect.
Not in our case it hasn't, our cruise control has infinately better feathering capabilities than my heavy right foot, after the fitting of an aftermarket cruise our mpg has improved to the tune of 15 to 20% not to mention the more relaxing drive, but hey thats off topic.
Bas |
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Epic contributor
Posts: 1237
Location: Surrey. Knaus/Renault
| No. Over 9000 miles since June 07 fuel has been a relatively small part of the overall cost of our M/H. Total spent to date £52,057 of which, purchase and fitting out £44,011, loss of interest on capital £2,186, fuel £1,380, site fees £908 (94 nights), Insurance £739, Servicing £488, Road Tax £365, LPG £71 etc. Diesel represents just 2.65% of the total.
When it hits £5 a litre................
Bob |
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| Usinmyknaus - 2008-07-25 3:20 PM
When it hits £5 a litre................
Bob
Wot next week you mean!! 
Bas |
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Forum master
Posts: 2173
Location: South Lincs
| Our local Morrisons has dropped diesel to £1.26/9 so things are getting a little better.We use our bus passes for short journeys so that helps a lot its short journeys that use more fuel. Its a pity domestic oil prices cannot drop by 50% at least because a rise from 17.5 p ltr to 65.0p ltr in 4 years really hurts as we use about 3000 ltrs a year " ouch " |
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Forum master
Posts: 2253
Location: North West - Peugeot Eldiss
| Kelly, do you have one of those bus passes for the whole oif the UK? I have been onto the council here and they don't know where you get them from  so I went onto age concern shop and they couldn't help..... they said try MERSEYRAIL..... local rail service ..... but surely they will only help locally. If you have one, who did you apply to please? Joy |
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Liking what I've found
Posts: 64
Location: Billingham, Cleveland. M'home Hymer B550 Starline
| We will not be cutting down on our travel but I may just reduce the average speed that we travel at - we are never in any real hurry anyway as there is always somewhere to stop along the way to wherever. |
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Forum master
Posts: 2924
Location: Beddgelert, North Wales
| ROON - 2008-07-25 8:18 PM
Kelly, do you have one of those bus passes for the whole oif the UK? I have been onto the council here and they don't know where you get them from so I went onto age concern shop and they couldn't help..... they said try MERSEYRAIL..... local rail service ..... but surely they will only help locally. If you have one, who did you apply to please? Joy
Joy, mine came from local council. It does not say it is a national pass but seems to work most places except National Express, although have no reason to try this. Where I live, Gwynedd North Wales, the council do a combined bus and rail pass for ten pounds but I believe all councils work in slightly differant ways. If you have a local pass just try it outside your area I did and it has been accepted in many places in the UK. |
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Has lots to offer
Posts: 467
Location: Devon Murvi Morocco
| try www.direct.gov.uk/buspass
I'm just applying for mine and my provider is www.devon.gov.uk/nationalbuspass so you could try your county council or local council. I'm looking forward to saving a bit more when we are away in the UK. |
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Forum master
Posts: 2173
Location: South Lincs
| Our passes are issued by south holland district council and cover the UK we can travel at anytime not just after 9.30 like most other districts , to obtain one you have to be either disabled or 60 years old or over i got mine on my 60th birthday . This last Tuesday we went to hunstanton for the day changing in kings lynn so we passed from lincolnshire into norfolk no trouble a lovelly day out which cost us nothing. Every little helps.. |
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Forum master
Posts: 2253
Location: North West - Peugeot Eldiss
| Thank you all. I will try again now. I have the local one so will check whether this covers UK and if not then go back to council and see if I get someone more helpful. Thank you.
Joy |
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Epic contributor
Posts: 1235
Location: Hobby Van EXC - Milton Keynes Bucks.
| ROON - 2008-07-26 9:33 AM Thank you all. I will try again now. I have the local one so will check whether this covers UK and if not then go back to council and see if I get someone more helpful. Thank you. Joy Joy, The ones issued in England can be used with any bus company except National Express, but they cannot be used in Wales or Scotland. |
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Epic contributor
Posts: 1622
Location: Salisbury. but on the road, Marnhull, Dorset.again
| kelly58 - 2008-07-25 7:47 PM
Our local Morrisons has dropped diesel to £1.26/9 so things are getting a little better.We use our bus passes for short journeys so that helps a lot its short journeys that use more fuel. Its a pity domestic oil prices cannot drop by 50% at least because a rise from 17.5 p ltr to 65.0p ltr in 4 years really hurts as we use about 3000 ltrs a year " ouch "
When you think that somewhere like 80% of fuel price is tax I think that is where the reduction should come. And not by 2p.
Mick H. |
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Pops in from time to time
Posts: 107
| If you use cruise control to drive at similar speeds to those you normally use then it may not help with fuel consumption.
However if you use cruise control to limit your speeds to a lower vale then it will help significantly with consumption.
I find that without cruise control I end up at a speed of 70+ mph on the motorways as I just let the speed creep up and up as I notice all the cars going by me at speeds of 20 - 40 mph faster.
If I set the cruise control to 65 mph so (hopefully) that I am not continually accelerating and decelerating the journey is less fraught and more economical.
I also find it useful on those long uncluttered roads with lower speed limits enabling me to drive without worrying about excessive speed.
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| I drive at exactly the same speeds and cruise has definately reduced our consumption. Cruise is just more efficient than I am at controlling the throttle and maintaining the set speed continuously i.e no creeping up or down.
Bas
Edited by Basil 2008-07-27 12:34 PM
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Just joined
Posts: 1
| OAL Moderator - 2008-07-23 4:07 PM
Is the high price of fuel affecting how far you choose to travel with your motorhome?
Our motorhmes are not the most economical of vehicles and I think we pay a heavy price for the fuel we use.
The price of fuel in this country is outrageous, the price has fallen on the international market, but the oil companies are very slow to reduce prices and then by the smallest amount that they can get away with. |
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Location: Dunnshargin
| OAL Moderator - 2008-07-23 4:07 PM
Is the high price of fuel affecting how far you choose to travel with your motorhome? Yes it has. Normally we would spend our weekends touring and visiting places of interest, but with fuel costs so high we now go direct to our favoured site and park up for the Sat/Sun.
Cost of fuel comes in at about £15 and another £15 site fees, so for a total of £30 we can enjoy those two days at a reasonable cost.
Touring would add another £10/£20, and though this may not seem excessive does make quite a dent in our pensions/savings.
I don't think this would affect our main holidays where costs are built in and expected, but as long as fuel prices remain high, weekends will stay strictly local. |
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Just joined
Posts: 8
| We just drive at a steady 55 mph.
Diesel currently E1.37 / litre in Dublin Area. |
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Just joined
Posts: 1
| Generally YES as we are looking to make savings on our consumption anyway Cruise control does make an awefully big difference for example a trip to York around 45 miles mostly Motorway / dual carriage way driving 62 mpg there and 54 mpg back the difference being the trip out I was able to use cruise control for 95% of the trip and keep to a average 65mph looking to remap the car for towing to improve it's 35/45 mpg with the van on AND I'll not be doing French motorway speeds for a while since their fuel prices have matched ours BUT I must ask if anyone can work out why in the UK diesel costs more than unleaded and abroad Unleaded costs more than diesel |
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Forum master
Posts: 2173
Location: South Lincs
| Things are getting better local Morrisons to-day Unleaded £1.10/9 Diesel £1.22/9 ltr this time last year diesel was 94.9p ltr so a long way to go yet |
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Location: East Sussex. Motorhome: Knaus Boxstar 600 Street
| djchapple - 2008-07-26 8:22 PM If you use cruise control to drive at similar speeds to those you normally use then it may not help with fuel consumption. However if you use cruise control to limit your speeds to a lower vale then it will help significantly with consumption. I find that without cruise control I end up at a speed of 70+ mph on the motorways as I just let the speed creep up and up as I notice all the cars going by me at speeds of 20 - 40 mph faster. If I set the cruise control to 65 mph so (hopefully) that I am not continually accelerating and decelerating the journey is less fraught and more economical. I also find it useful on those long uncluttered roads with lower speed limits enabling me to drive without worrying about excessive speed. However, that is not really the effect of cruise control on fuel consumption, it is the effect of driving more slowly overall that you are allowing the the cruise control to impose. For what it's worth, my impression of the cruise control on the new Transit, which is my only experience of cruise control, is that it may benefit fuel consumption when traffic is relatively free flowing and light (that rules out the M6: no dammit, most of the UK!), and when there is little wind and few gradients. Where traffic is heavier, and you have to keep slowing in lane, I think much of the advantage is cancelled by needing to brake more rather than just backing off earlier. If you encounter a headwind, or a gradient, the cruise progressively "floors the pedal", whereas under your own control, you'd shift down and use a lighter throttle in a lower gear. It has its moments, but for the amount of time it is usable, I think it is a bit of a gimmick and probably has little real benefit to economy. On non-motorway type roads it is seldom usable, because you have to actively drive the vehicle up and down hills and round bends and roundabouts. On the above basis, I wouldn't expect the cost of retro-fitting to be recovered in saved fuel, but ours came with it, so the same is true in reverse, if you see what I mean! |
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Forum master
Posts: 2904
Location: Anywhere Sometimes. Hymer 584 (2000)
| The only difference it has made to us up to now, is that we are watching our speed a bit more, in the motorhome, but have carried on as normal otherwise, the difference it may make next year is whether we decide to stay in the UK or go abroad, we usually do one year in the UK next on the continent if fuel stays at a constant price for a while will probably go abroad next year but if we have more price hikes, will rethink our plans. Carol. |
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Legendary contributor
Posts: 8671
Location: Bedfordshire, Globecar 636SB
| kelly58 - 2008-07-25 7:47 PM
Its a pity domestic oil prices cannot drop by 50% at least because a rise from 17.5 p ltr to 65.0p ltr in 4 years really hurts as we use about 3000 ltrs a year " ouch "
3000 ltrs a year! that sounds a large amount, is that just for a house? |
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