Article by Adam O’Connor

Filling up is causing American consumers escalating pain in the pocketbook, with average prices at the pump approaching $3 per gallon. The main reason for rising costs is the price of crude oil, followed by the cost of refining. If a gallon of gasoline costs $2.90, crude oil accounts for about $1.60. Refining costs add another 64 cents or so to a gallon of gasoline. Distribution and marketing costs account for about 11 cents per gallon, and taxes are about 55 cents per gallon. These prices are determined by the global market, which dictates how much people are willing to pay at any moment in time.

The spiraling cost of fuel is adversely affecting the uniquely American way to cruise the country — by recreational vehicle. RVer’s love the ease of being able to drive their home anywhere they like and take pleasure in the amity that RV and motorhome parks offer. Getting an RV is an option you should consider if you want to drive extensively within the United States and are comfortable handling a big rig.

Considering how popular the RV lifestyle has become here are five ways to save at the pump:

  1. Find the gas station near where you camp that offers the cheapest gas and shop there first
  2. Under-inflated tires require more energy to roll, so check your tire pressure
  3. Prices usually rise on the weekend, so fill up on weekdays
  4. Fill up at night: pumps deliver more gas when temperatures are lower
  5. Fresh gas has more power than gas that may have become contaminated by just sitting there, so fill up at busy gas stations.

(For more tips on saving money on fuel for your RV visit Tips for Better Fuel Economy in Your RV“).

While we can’t do anything about the actual price of gasoline, we can do something about how often we need to buy it. Other tips for saving on gasoline include driving at steady speeds — you’re throwing energy away every time you hit your brakes, keeping your engine tuned — some mechanics estimate that a poorly tuned engine can use up to 50 percent more gas than one that is running well, minimizing your driving, buying a more fuel-efficient RV, cutting down on A/C and extra baggage — A/C burns fuel and rooftop carriers will detract from fuel mileage by creating drag, and planning your trips and driving routes to avoid traffic congestion.

Article by Adam O’Connor, RVTravelPro.com

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