Jul 16, 2008 9:10 pm US/Pacific
Gas Prices Aren't Parking All Devoted RV Lovers
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (CBS) ―
Americans are dealing with the high price of gasoline as it hits another record, just shy of $3.98 in the Minnesota. The national average is even higher at $4.11.
That price is bad enough for people with 15 gallon tanks but try filling up an RV.
For the RV crowd, it's not the destination but the never-ending journey that is to be savored.
"You can do what you want to when you're in your own coach," said RV owner Janet Knight.
Janet and her husband are among several couples from El Dorado, Kansas. They formed their own RV club called "The Twisters." Their rigs are some of the 2,500 at a convention at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
"I'm basically getting eight miles per gallon," said Carl Knight. He said it's not about the mileage but it's about the ride, which is a pretty comfortable ride at that.
"Two bedrooms, two living rooms, slides on it. It's very comfortable for two people," Carl said showing of his big rig.
The Knight's bought their motor coach a year ago for $240,000. With a sticker price like that, the pain at the pump is relative.
"I'm usually in the $300 to $350 range when I fill up," said Carl. That's $350 to top off the tank; a full tank costs more than $500.
But the cost of gas hasn't kept the devoted from coming from around the country to the RV convention, although the groups president said adjustments are being made.
"We are finding that a lot of our members aren't going quite so far on their trips. That they're looking for things closer to home," said Connie Poole, President of the Family Motor Coach Association.
And while those who are at the convention don't like to focus on the mileage they aren't getting, it's clear that a lot of people who used to come to these conventions are staying home.
In 2000, when the price of gas was around $1.40, more than 7,000 big rigs came to the national convention. This year it's only 2500.
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