Well, I bought a Revel, have been outfitting it for the past four weeks. Is about 75% ready now. I should be taking off maybe by the end of the first week in June. The cost of Diesel has me in shock. All of a sudden the cost of fuel is forcing itself into becoming a factor even though I don't want it to be. I am single and registered here to perhaps establish a base camp, back up, information support resource.
How do you do?
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user 22017
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Welcome Conundrum
I had to do a search for Revel Diesel. So, it's a Ram pickup truck?
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Winnebago Sprinter Conversion van I guess
Guess this summer is not going to be a hot tourist travel year. A big part of success in Nomadic life is being adaptable to changes in travel plans. At present that means less driving around and staying at campsites longer. Unless you are wealthy this is not a year to visit all the National Parks on your bucket list or cover that map of 50 states with stickers for places you have been to.
We went through this situation of unaffordable travel a number of years ago including a higher cost of living, layoffs etc. RV sales took a nearly 5 year dive and lots of RV businesses had to close down. Tourism will be taking a big financial hit this summer. Not nearly as many people at the National Forest site I am camped at this month as there were this time last year.
It is a shame you have to go through it just as you are reading your goal of a Nomadic lifestyle. But you will still be able to have fun, not exactly the way you envisioned it but there is still enjoyment to be had out here. ADAPT your plans, savor what you can do instead of staying focused on what you can't do.
We went through this situation of unaffordable travel a number of years ago including a higher cost of living, layoffs etc. RV sales took a nearly 5 year dive and lots of RV businesses had to close down. Tourism will be taking a big financial hit this summer. Not nearly as many people at the National Forest site I am camped at this month as there were this time last year.
It is a shame you have to go through it just as you are reading your goal of a Nomadic lifestyle. But you will still be able to have fun, not exactly the way you envisioned it but there is still enjoyment to be had out here. ADAPT your plans, savor what you can do instead of staying focused on what you can't do.
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It's a camper van. Winnebago builds it on the Mercedes Sprinter van.Welcome Conundrum
I had to do a search for Revel Diesel. So, it's a Ram pickup truck?
Yes, that's what it is.
After two years of Covid incarceration I was ready for some serious mileage but this 6 and $7 per gallon is upsetting. My home base is Florida so everything is far. It’s 15 or 1800 miles to get anywhere that begins to be interesting. I keep thinking about it but have not made up my mind yet. The Canadians keep sending me these enticing suggestions. This week it’s 6 icebergs drifting along the coast from Southern Labrador to Eastern Newfoundland. Apparently iceberg watching must be hot because they even have icebergfinder dot com. Not sure if I want to do that. I could watch small icebergs floating in a glass of Scotch instead.
You can still go and do, just drive more slowly and stay closer to home.
The good thing about our Diesel engines is that we get good mileage, and our engines if well cared for will take us more miles.
Don’t despair, practice the “pivot and adjust” mindset which is a necessary part of successful extended travel.
The good thing about our Diesel engines is that we get good mileage, and our engines if well cared for will take us more miles.
Don’t despair, practice the “pivot and adjust” mindset which is a necessary part of successful extended travel.
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Gas prices have certainly been an issue... for everyone... it just means we move less often and traverse shorter miles.. if we can...
I am looking at an 800 mile jaunt over a 3 weeks period to get from Silver City NM up into Colorado... it is gunna sap my budget, but then staying put for 8-10 weeks will mean very little $$$ going out on fuel for the beast. It also has meant the the moving I have done has cut into the budget deeper than would be sustainable.
As a new nomad myself, it is all a stack of challenges to be figured out for ones self. And there in lies the key.... this and other resources allow us to get a "good idea" of what we will encounter and maybe even how we will process it for ourselves, but the truth is that we all do it a bit different... and there is another key... the variety in how it gets done is so vast, and with this comes the lesson of acceptance of others ways... I have been a part of two groups at two different camp locations, and have learned a lot from the experiences...
Baby steps? Doing what you can?
I would suggest picking a place to go, and be for a month or more. Start to live inside "the box" you set up for yourself. If you have to put energy into the moving process ( planning routes/overnites/researching locations, packing &prepping to move, camp set up etc etc) you will be doing less "living". My situation put me into that mode by default. I suspect it will be at least another year before I fully moved in and sorted.. ( yes I have too much stuff!)
HOWA does not coordinate caravans in the summer months, We all tend to spread out to various parts of the country, but then tend to congregate in the greater SW to avoid the nasties of winter. So I guess it makes sense...
As you interact with people here and otherwise, you may find some that choose to hide out at higher elevations and wouldn't mind you joining the area they are in....
See You Out There...
I am looking at an 800 mile jaunt over a 3 weeks period to get from Silver City NM up into Colorado... it is gunna sap my budget, but then staying put for 8-10 weeks will mean very little $$$ going out on fuel for the beast. It also has meant the the moving I have done has cut into the budget deeper than would be sustainable.
As a new nomad myself, it is all a stack of challenges to be figured out for ones self. And there in lies the key.... this and other resources allow us to get a "good idea" of what we will encounter and maybe even how we will process it for ourselves, but the truth is that we all do it a bit different... and there is another key... the variety in how it gets done is so vast, and with this comes the lesson of acceptance of others ways... I have been a part of two groups at two different camp locations, and have learned a lot from the experiences...
Baby steps? Doing what you can?
I would suggest picking a place to go, and be for a month or more. Start to live inside "the box" you set up for yourself. If you have to put energy into the moving process ( planning routes/overnites/researching locations, packing &prepping to move, camp set up etc etc) you will be doing less "living". My situation put me into that mode by default. I suspect it will be at least another year before I fully moved in and sorted.. ( yes I have too much stuff!)
HOWA does not coordinate caravans in the summer months, We all tend to spread out to various parts of the country, but then tend to congregate in the greater SW to avoid the nasties of winter. So I guess it makes sense...
As you interact with people here and otherwise, you may find some that choose to hide out at higher elevations and wouldn't mind you joining the area they are in....
See You Out There...
It's a Mercedes Sprinter van sold by Winnebago. It is 4 x 4 like a pickup.Welcome Conundrum
I had to do a search for Revel Diesel. So, it's a Ram pickup truck?
CoyoteG
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What kind of fuel mileage do you get in your vehicle?
How much would you pay not to push it that far?
Probably much more than you are paying right now.
How much would you pay not to push it that far?
Probably much more than you are paying right now.
rruff
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Pretty sure the fuel price will be <25% of the cost of owning and driving a new RV like the Revel. Unless you've squeezed your budget so tight that you literally can't afford it, I wouldn't worry about it.
20mpg, $6/gal, 10,000 miles, is $3k.
14.5 MPG Diesel
Unfortunately it will be more like 14 MPG once it's loaded. I drove it 2,000 miles empty and got 14.5 MPG. 10K miles will cost $4,300 avoiding CA, WA and Canada. Otherwise, it will be nearly $5K. 50 cents a mile for a tiny 19 ft van. A little bush plane only drinks 10 gallons per hour but you can't camp in it.
I too am a little concerned about the fuel prices. I’m putting away a savings to get me west mid August or early September.
I’m at the point of needing to retire for health reasons as much as anything. Number one thing is I want to see grandkids more. (They are 1500 miles from me and I have nine). Maki2 spells it out perfect! Adapt... budget... and plan.
I don’t know if I’ll get “home” again. That’s hard! I live on a lake in northern Minnesota! I worked my life getting here... the environment is hard on my body. Winters (which I used to live for) about kill me literally.
This lifestyle I think will be far easier on me and my pocketbook. Temps we can control by moving strategically and in a place where extremes are not as severe.
Whether you stay in a sticks and bricks or get moving on the road you’ll be dealing with fuel prices. Typical houses whether heating or cooling I believe you’ll have less control then to put yourself in a place or places that can keep the needs minimal. I took a stab two years ago and got my feet wet... last year I got a lot wetter... to the point I’m hooked! Sounds like you have a great rig... you can spend time dialing it in to best fit your needs. Where I go I found solar power is the ticket... anything to make your life as normal as it’s been. Doesn’t sound like you have a lot of time before you get moving. You may find the initial getting “to places that interest you” may cost... But once out there, just slow down. You’ll be fine. You won’t believe the great people you’ll meet! Blows your mind!
See ya out there and welcome! It’s an amazing world out there full of amazing people...
I’m at the point of needing to retire for health reasons as much as anything. Number one thing is I want to see grandkids more. (They are 1500 miles from me and I have nine). Maki2 spells it out perfect! Adapt... budget... and plan.
I don’t know if I’ll get “home” again. That’s hard! I live on a lake in northern Minnesota! I worked my life getting here... the environment is hard on my body. Winters (which I used to live for) about kill me literally.
This lifestyle I think will be far easier on me and my pocketbook. Temps we can control by moving strategically and in a place where extremes are not as severe.
Whether you stay in a sticks and bricks or get moving on the road you’ll be dealing with fuel prices. Typical houses whether heating or cooling I believe you’ll have less control then to put yourself in a place or places that can keep the needs minimal. I took a stab two years ago and got my feet wet... last year I got a lot wetter... to the point I’m hooked! Sounds like you have a great rig... you can spend time dialing it in to best fit your needs. Where I go I found solar power is the ticket... anything to make your life as normal as it’s been. Doesn’t sound like you have a lot of time before you get moving. You may find the initial getting “to places that interest you” may cost... But once out there, just slow down. You’ll be fine. You won’t believe the great people you’ll meet! Blows your mind!
See ya out there and welcome! It’s an amazing world out there full of amazing people...
rruff
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Yikes... thought it would be better.
Living in FL would make it tougher I think. I love the west. It's easy to find amenable climates all year round out here, without a lot of movement... mountains in summer, desert in winter. No mosquitoes, sunny, warm/cool, plenty of sun, easy to avoid rain. I don't go very far east of the continental divide without a good reason.
Humidity - Florida is very humid, and that will require 24/7 A/C unless you are very much acclimated to it, and that moisture can lead to other issues inside your rig. Outside of that and the masses of people, FL can be nice..
Nomads don’t live at campgrounds. That’s for “campers.”
