Just announced Q3 profits are a new record - $5.68B, up from $3.65B a year ago, on revenue of $78B, up from $58B a year ago. Yes, we are all being royally screwed.
Diesel is the same formula from state to state, which is one of the reasons they give for extra high CA prices for gasoline, the seasonal transition and CA can only use gas refined in CA.
Ummmm, sorry. Not all diesel is formulated the same. Some states require ultra low sulpher content, which raises the price in those states.
In any event, diesel SHOULD be cheaper than gas, but we not always seeing that now.....
Elizabeth in Iowa
__________________ The carpeting is gone! The carpeting is gone! Long live the cork floor!
What's really ridiculous is the price of biodiesel $2.75 gal. It's made from used cooking oil that the manufacturers get for free probably. The smart thing for them to do is bring the price down and more people would start buying it and they would make more money.
A good part of the price of gas around here is clearly taxes. However, I am finding that the excuses after excuses as to why we are stuck above $2/gal are getting kind of old. I think it's pitiful to see gas over $2 a gallon and what is even more annoying is that diesel is even more expensive than premium gas in some areas.
The even worse part (not to sound like the sky is falling), is that this will have a big effect on the economy. We have already started to make some decsions as to travel and such based on fuel costs and towing. At $2 a gallon, a 37 gallon tank and 10 mpg (city) not towing and prob the same MPG towing you start to realize that a nice 2 week trip of about 1000 is a fairly expensive outing (not including propane, provisions, etc).
At this point there are folks throwing blame for this mess all around, and to me, it's confusing who is really at fault for this...I think I can safely say that no one person is responsible, but I feel more of several factors.
...and let's not even get into boating (which we didn't do this year)....where the average boat gets gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon.
Heating oil here is over 1.50. So it isn't taxes. That's 50% increase since last year. I don't know if the heating oil here in CT is low sulfur or not.
1.) The price of fuel is increaseing.
2.) Fuel will probably not ever drop to pre-04 levels again.
3.) The transportation costs of of goods has not been completely passed on to the consumers as of yet, it will probably hit in the next 6 to 12 months.
4.) It is going to become very expensive to continue the Airstream dream, due to increased costs.
5.) Big trailers are more expensive to tow than small trailers.
6.) It is likely that a lot of people will be priced out of RV'ing.
Looks to me that if I want to keep going as long as possible, I will have to keep my smaller trailer, look for a more economical tow vehicle, and pick and chose where I can go.
Any thoughts on this?
I'm hoping to take the family to the Grand Canyon next Summer. Trips like this may be few and far between. It's a shame because I love to drive and our kids are 5 and 7.
Gary, do a spreadsheet using various fuel costs and mpg. You will find that it isn't as bad as you think. You will waste more money trading around vehicles and trailers, than you would have spent in extra fuel. With today's prices on gas and diesel the diesel still beats out the gas by $350 a year, assuming 12K miles per year. So if you only tow, say 1200 miles a year the diesel would save you $35 a year, still cheaper than gas. Not worth trading around for as few trailering miles a year one would put on at that rate.
No matter what size TV you get, you are still looking at around 10 MPG for a gasser.
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CP 9 miles off Exit 399, I75.
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce! Air # 283
Mileage Gas P Diesel G-MPG D-MPG Savings Per Year 5 Year Savings
12000 2.11 2.35 12 18 543.33 2716.67
Gas Yearly Cost Diesel Yearly Cost Savings per Month Savings per Wk
2110.00 1566.67 45.28 10.45
Here is an example spreadsheet, hope the "cut and paste" formats OK.
Well I guess it didn't, but as you can see, even with diesel at 24 cents a gallon higher, my Duramax is cheaper than my old 454 would be at 12 mpg, driving around town.
Norbert, my fuel costs are lower than a gasser, my oil changes cost me $20. What extra costs are you refering to? I don't see any.
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CP 9 miles off Exit 399, I75.
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce! Air # 283
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The carpeting is gone! The carpeting is gone! Long live the cork floor!
Thoughts on the future 
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