Your response to rising gas prices?

[VanForNow]

I wish I could find more old-style state highways where it's easy to drive 55-60 mph without causing a logjam of angry drivers (especially on 2-lane roads where visibility problems prevent passing for miles at a time). 

That's when the smaller highways even offer slower posted speeds. I chose a sleepy-looking state highway state highway over the interstate option on my last trip, only to discover that the speed limit was 70 most of the way....

Yes, even some secondary roads have speed limits higher than I would like. When this situation occurs, one option is to follow behind a truck going less than the speed limit. Other passenger car drivers will usually understand that you have a legit reason for driving slowly when following a truck.

 

[bullfrog]

It seems alot some of the trucking companies are governing speeds to around 62MPH. I was able to do just fine on I-70 this spring doing the same in the right lane.

 

[Goshawk]

Pulling a trailer with max 60 mph I usually get no static from other drivers. Stay in the right or middle lane. It’s the best speed for good MPG.


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[debit.servus]

I invest my time oxidizing my rig (making sure to not oxidize critical drivetrain components as I don’t want to lose mobility - rust is my friend, not my wife) sweep as much dirty outside as possible (this saves 2 pounds minimum), drain the fresh & gray tanks dry, remoove the ice from the fridge, make sure I’ve drank every can of soda and bottle of juice, even if my stomach is full (I’ll pee it out as I drive),  make sure my tires are exactly at their rated PSI, give away at least 10 pounds of stuff, then make sure the house batteries are at exactly 74% charged as each battery will be one pound lighter when at this level of discharge (I believe therefore it’s true).

I then check NOAA, Weather Channel, And the other indie weather forecasts, at least 5 days in advance to plan travel days around headwinds and air density, followed by checking the price of gas (I refuse to spend a penny more than I have to, even though I can easily afford the miles I drive per year at $10 a gallon. I have gotten very good at predicting my gas bill to the nickel. If the best weather day is before the cheapest gas day, I’ll try to find a gas station with a car wash that also offers a discount on gas if you buy a car wash, and calculate if the discount is greater than my price prediction. If not I’ll drive on slightly more expensive gas to catch the headwind if yes I’ll drive to the gas station on my travel day, and wait for someone who is getting a car wash, and ask to pay them cash so I can fill my tank on the same transaction so I get the discounted gas price, this sometimes takes me 3 hours or more but I Save at least $1.217 on gas. Since I’m not one of these simple dudes I Compound my savings in the stock market, that $1.217 will be worth $30,000 in 40 years. People who believe profit is evil make live harder for themselves.

I have the luxury of time so I can drive as slow as 45 mph on the interstate, I know there’s a more scenic route but the interstate is usually the CHEAPEST to drive when moving to a new area! Driving at 45 saves more fuel singlehandedly than all my MPG-gaining tactics strategies. But I love seeing the lips of Abraham Lincoln move, screaming blood curdling screams that are music to my ears.

Did you know you can get a slowpoke ticket? When I suspect a speed trap or pass a possible hiding spot I speed up to 55, yes this costs fuel but is far cheaper than getting a slowpoke ticket which is just as much as a speeding ticket in most jurisdictions.

In the summer I’ll open the hood so the sun warms up the engine, so I waste less fuel heating up the engine. I’ve painted certain parts in the engine bay black, which will pay off in 9 more years.

I value my time at 0 because VJD1977  and I’m able to optimize my MPG more than most. The biggest way I Save is to ______ ______ I don’t really like when it’s cheaper.

 Since I hold a CDL, I can explore an area taking a short term, part time, local trucking job. It has to be part time as my other job is a Thriftologist, amateur “consultant”, and home hamburgeroligist (thou shall not eat out). I handle everything myself as that’s what Frugal King Ian Matt Nichols praise. 

If I want to drive across the country, I’m a part time Semidweller. I call one of my past OTR employers and ask for a month of Slip Seat company driving. It’s like getting PAID to live on the road while the trucking company pays for the rising gas prices. I only get 5 hours sleep each night as I spend the rest of my off duty time optimizing my finances and working as a thriftologist, amateur “consultant” & home hamburgerologiest (thou shall not eat out). 

I also cycledwell, because it’s cheaper than gas. I only Cycledwell part time but I could save literally millions of dollars after componding if I wrecked the rig and cycledwelled full time, and at least 10 million if I sold the rig for every penny I could squeeze out of it & cycledwelled full time, and $20 million if I Slip Seat Semidwell saving everything but $3 a day for the rest of my able life, and Cycledwell if i want to have fun. The Smart People FINISH RICH, Warren buffet is KING. 

 I regret the tens of thousands I wasted on temporary experiences, crazy electronic music festivals, crazier weeks on dusty playa lake beds, and the craziest of all wasting money on ______ ______ (anything I spent money on That wasn’t survival since I was born, you should tell I’m being super sarcastic right now, I’m more frugal & cheap with my time now than ever! As of the writing of this post, I’m still without a CDL, still working to earn it.) 

 

[speedhighway46]

My Motorhome is a converted Peterbilt 379 road tractor. I like to drive on Interstates and primary US Highways; always at 58 mph. I seldom cause any backups; folks just think I’m just another slow truck and go around me with no problems. Driving slower saves fuel: at 70 mph I get 8 mpg; at 58 mph I always get 10 mpg and sometimes 11 or 12.

The Cat engine has almost a million miles on it, runs like a top, and doesn’t drip a single drop of anything.

Slow down and enjoy the journey is what I say!

 

[debit.servus]

debit.servus wrote
" Since I hold a CDL, I can explore an area taking a short term, part time, local trucking job. It has to be part time as my other job is a Thriftologist, amateur “consultant”, and home hamburgeroligist (thou shall not eat out). I handle everything myself as that’s what Frugal King Ian Matt Nichols praise.  .....As of the writing of this post, I’m still without a CDL, still working to earn it."

before all of that, I also make myself write the name of the place I'm jonesing to drive to.

Also, if I'm driving east-west across the southwest I'll calculate the cost of driving east-west in Northern Mexico as gas equals 40 cents cheaper per US gallon. If I'm in Canada I'll drive as few klicks as possible because Canadas gas is 15% more expensive. If I have to drive extra excess stupidly expensive distance I'll haggle with the gas station for discounted gas offering to do chores around the gas station, this is especially useful with remote, mom-and-pop gas stations. One time after a little work I bought gas at CA$ .25 cents less than retail, below the CASH price! I don't understand why people take the price that is given to them, and then go on their way.

Since I don't do any activities that costs more than $5 USD at the places I visit I can justify the long distances I drive. I've driven the Dalton, Dempster & James Bay Highways for 30% off of what a payretailer spends on gas and vehicle maintenance. Because my 28' trailer and 16' prime mover weighs just 6000 pounds after shaving pounds everywhere physically possible (I feel expert enough to confidently offer vehicle weight reduction consultancy to GM) I can justify driving the large rig I do. 

ME, in an ideal and realistic future: May 28th, 2020.

My response to rising gas prices since I was 16 years old is to run off alternate fuel that is given away in the marketplace (like biodiesel was up until the 2000s) or chemical energy generated from an overunity energy device (what most called free energy, and claim it's impossible). I'm currently running on fumigated gasoline, which gives me 35-45 MPG in a vehicle that would otherwise get 10-15 MPG. Towing PoshBox, I get 25-35 MPG driving agressively at 59 MPH.

I'm in the process of hunting down a gasoline semi-tractor, which I may need to buy from a junkyard and restore to D.O.T. compliance. I will join the Owner Operator club with a gas inhaling semi boosting profitability massively with $5 gas (thanks for the new gas tax)!

My response to rising gas prices isn't about saving money, but saving hours of my life as until I can make money appear out of thin air I will need to work for it.

( edited to remove excessive quoting- rvwandering)

 

[Wanderer]

Personally my view is "I was making $10 an hour and it hurt. Now I make $14.91 an hour and don't give a damn" (BTW I just did 80+ hours straight time and 42.5 OT God what a check that it will be)

 

[AreWeLostYet]

Gas is cheaper out west, so go west.

Not really. I just came from the midwest where gas was $2.50 and rising as I traveled west until I hit CA where $4/gal was not uncommon. Oregon and WA weren't much less.

 

[debit.servus]

If you want cheap gas, go to Texas as It doesn’t have to be shipped very far from the oil refineries on the gulf coast of Texas. MOVE to Texas and SAVE a FORTUNE in gas over the coming decades!

 

[sephson]

My general response to rising gas prices is to whine and complain about it while at the same time laughing at my friends who drive less fuel efficient vehicles than mine.

 

[OregonDeb]

Gas is cheaper out west, so go west

If west does not include California, Oregon, or Washington, then yes gas may be cheaper.  The 'cheap place' near my home, outside of Portland Oregon, has unleaded for $3.24 / gallon.  Just looked at gasbuddy.com - shows Costco has it for 3.05 but then you have to be a member, which doesn't apply to me.

 

[Goshawk]

Costco membership on Groupon is $40 (regular $60). Then you can get a Costco credit card for 4% back on gasoline purchase. It’s a strategy of sorts.


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[wcurtin1962]

A lot of chains are using fuel as a loss leader. I saved a dollar a gallon a few weeks ago by buying fountain pop. Use reward cards wherever possible and always check out gas buddy dot com while preplanning!

 

[losthighwaydrifter]

I just pay what ever it is I need gas so it is what it is. and gas is way cheap from Ohio to Nevada Stay out of Cali!!! $3.15 in Pa today but $2.63 in Ohio im right near the border

 

[DannyB1954]

Bend over and try to enjoy the experience.
Not a lot that you can do about it except drive less or get a smaller rig.

 

[Fivealive]

This is one of the main reasons I am looking into getting my M1 endorsement and buying a small motorcycle and using it for day exploring and running errands, allowing me to move the rig much less.

 

[MrNoodly]

I wish I could find more old-style state highways where it's easy to drive 55-60 mph without causing a logjam of angry drivers (especially on 2-lane roads where visibility problems prevent passing for miles at a time). 

That's when the smaller highways even offer slower posted speeds. I chose a sleepy-looking state highway state highway over the interstate option on my last trip, only to discover that the speed limit was 70 most of the way....

I get slightly better mileage cruising the Interstates. It's like my engine has a happy range between 65 and 75. Maybe there's a sweet spot in the torque and horsepower curves.

 

[sephson]

[video=youtube]

 

[wasanah2]

Forgive me if I'm re-stating something that someone else said.  I didn't see it, but I am having wifi troubles and not all posts were showing through....

GasBuddy is a great free app for getting the best price of gas for where you are.  Here locally (central FL) today, I saw gas between 2.59 to 2.79 a gallon.  Sometimes the station next door had it for 20 cents more.  So bizarre.  Anyway, 20 cents a gallon in a big tank is a huge savings if you drive to the 2.59 station.

I use GasBuddy, and I choose my adventures according to my budget.  Some months are leaner than others.   But really, I'm not so unhappy about the current prices right now.  It certainly has been way worse in the past!