Clean bed, clean toilets, clean shower, our clothing in the closet, our food in the refrigerator, satellite T.V., Sirus XM radio. We can stop anywhere, eat a meal, stretch our legs. We really enjoy the RV over hotels and eating at restaurants for every meal. Never an issue traveling with our 4 legged furry friends either. 2017 Entegra Anthem 42 RBQ
We had one. You can't stop just anywhere. Finding a place to park the rig is a big challenge in cities or near attractions. Some places don't allow overnight parking for RV's. And if you don't take along another vehicle, once you hook up, you have no transportation.
I'm a truck driver and the best time to find parking is before 9pm , and the best place to park is in prime parking it's 15.00 dollars to pay for parking, but all large truckstops have apps you can pay and reserve parking in advance, I hope this helps you and anyone who watches your UA-cam videos. I really love the RV , it's really beautiful. I have dreams of owning one someday, but sadly I am doing poor and am not able to afford it.
You can buy our Class A for $10,000! It’s a 2001 but my husband is a master mechanic and it’s in great condition. Just want to get a 5th wheel. It was $200,000 new. Unfortunately for us, we don’t have a vehicle that we can tow behind it and end up renting a car wherever we go
Having RV’d since the late 70’s my take is: 1. Fuel is one of the cheaper elements of the overall cost as compared to depreciation & maintenance: 2. There is a disconnect between what you spend to own an rv and the sketchy/run down places you end up parking on trips
Just back from 2 weeks in Scotland. €15 to €20 a night for accommodation ( zero some nights). Food, about €30 a day. Alcohol about €20 a day. And between 70 to 90 miles per gallon. Being a biker is great. 😊
I use to drive truck and was told that when you stop to sleep write down where you are and where you're going, as that saves you from saying, "Where the hell am I???"
'good advice - I heard to get 2 full time jobs at McDonald's instead of driving - you'll not only make more $$, you'll have more home time. Retired now with a 15 year Teamster pension helping along with the social security payment
I've learned so much from Andrew Steele driving to the layouts, slides, 50m buddy plugs, Lithium Ion Batteries,Dumping of Tanks Andrew Steele is by far the best source of information on RVing Well Done Sir
When I ran OTR, I ran at height as much as possible. It was cooler at night, which made driving the mountains better. There were fewer drivers on the road, and the truckers who ran at night were generally higher quality drivers. Less traffic meant covering more miles. When it was time to shut down, finding parking was no sweat. The pickle parks were crowded and dangerous. I stayed out of them. I didn't have to wait on showers. But driving at night was hard on my body. Graveyard shift never was my thing. It aged me quite a bit.
Very beautiful coach. At first I thought the travel expenses were very high but when I figured it if I were driving my F150, your fuel expenses were about double but if you figure roughly $200/night for a hotel, you were further ahead by about $100 and you get to essentially have the comfort of your own home the whole time
But there are a lot more costs to consider. Wear and tear, the cost of the RV, the insurance for the RV, storage for the RV, costs of the places to stop and stay... So it isn't exactly just the basic costs that matter.
Wow America really has expensive sites how can they justify 110 a night you just park use a tiny bit of electricity and water and dump some waste it should be 30 bucks max.
Truck stops usually fill up around dark. Certain truck stops are full by 2:00 pm and others hardly EVER have any open spots. When I was OTR I tried to find parking around 4-6:00 pm and be back on the road 10 hours later. As for fuel: I'm guessing you DO NOT have a fuel card. With a fuel card you'll get a discount from the pump price (currently 30-40 cents per gallon) and almost NEVER have to visit the fuel desk before you pump your fuel. My solution to truck stop noise: EAR PLUGS!
Actually the lack of spots has little to do with electronic logs. I used to be OTR, and it was getting bad 20 years ago. States since have closed more and more rest areas, Utah is the worst. Plus many of the truck stops have consolidated over the years, so the smaller mom and pop stops have slowly been disappearing. When I drove, I was told to find other places such as church parking lots, industrial areas, and the places I was making deliveries to. There is a place here in Montana that one of the larger companies wants to build, and of course you have the "not in my backyard" complaints. Even though there is a large stockyard next-door, and the next exit has two stops with few issues.
Not enough parking they need to make big huge lots,like 400-900 truck spots on the interstates like the size of the Iowa 80 truck stop lot Would definitely be a huge help
@@allanmccullough8550 This is Montana, cattle get out on the highway. At least at the stockyards, they are in pens, and if they did get out, they would not be out on the highway. That yard has been there for a few decades now, and never any issues.
I remember my first time on the road, the ‘wait a minute, where am I’ still gets me. Thank you for your enthusiasm, far too many monotone rv’ng channels.
@Edgar Miller i thought the same thing thats amount was serious coin and he stayed three of the four nights in the least desirable spots to stay for rvers
I always look for a Cracker Barrel to stop at for the night. It's not just a good place to stop at but you can get dinner and breakfast too. I know everyone travels at their own pace but I find that I get a lot better MPG if I stick to 60mph. Hope you have safe travels and thanks for sharing your travels with us.
I've run the numbers and every time, every time if you get paid by the mile even if the fuel comes out of your pocket as the O/O a faster pace and more miles pays more.
I love traveling over the road. I was a truck driver and took my family with me a lot. I have an old '85 Alegro and use it a lot down in Mexico. Gasoline is expensive here. I would love to have a diesel pusher and be able to travel all over. I absolutely love this video. Thank you for uploading this adventure.
When I retired in 2014 it was a 14 hour log , once you logged on you had a total of 14 hours , the break down was 11 hours of driving and 3 hours of whatever you needed them for and you could not go over the 14 hours
Cool video with great content. Your figuring the cost from AZ to FL is very helpful. Not all RVers are going to make a trip like that, but will probably be more likely to spread out the trip, thus spreading out the fuel cost. There is a lot to be seen between your starting point and your final destination! Haha! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Andrew, just watching some random videos and yours caught my eye because I have an 07 Phaeton w/ tag like yours, although based on the head/taillights yours looks like an 08 or 09 and mine has the darker cherry wood cabinets. I’ve been full time for about 10 yrs now. I’ve driven the same route several times and often stay in New Orleans at the French Qt rv resort too to load up on po’boys, muffulettas and Abita beer. Real tricky getting off I-10 down onto the surface streets to get in the park. One missed turn and you’re driving down those narrow, creaky old streets praying you don’t hit anything/one and can get yourself turned around. I usually overnight at Walmarts and always stop mid afternoon to use my iPad with satellite view to scope out the roads getting into the Walmart to reduce any surprises. I’ve never been booted out of a Walmart but learned early on to never park near their loading docks unless you want to be awakened and asked to move at 3 am because a dozen semis are coming in to offload. I like what you said about waking up and not knowing exactly where you are. Its an odd feeling, and one I’m familiar with but pretty cool. I’ve been in one spot for too long (Hemet, CA) trying to stay somewhat isolated due to covid but being fully vaxxed I’m ready to roll the dice and hit the road again and your video inspired me to do so.
This was a fact-finding trip, right! I thought the purpose of a RV was to enjoy the journey. Coffee, eggs, toast, etc. Fun to watch, but I missed something!
Lots of Walmarts do not allow people squatting in their lots. The cities their in forbid it. You can buy a book/atlas at Walmart that lists the one that do and don't.
I’m in Dallas. You see cars that stalled all the time that have their trunks pried open, windows smashed, it’s like it’s a game to ransack cars on the side of the highway.
I’m mathematically figuring it out at 5.7 miles per gallon using 403 gallons of diesel fuel. Am I right? Since diesel fuel costs $2.65 a gallon. Distance 2300 miles.$1068. Used for fuel
@@matt89108 👍 ...or car camping in the back of your Tesla 3 or Y, getting free juice from Chargepoint... These big rigs will be much more appealing when they get autopilot.
My wife and I used to drive from Los Angeles California to Key West Florida in 4 days in our Winnebago Adventurer 37C every year for 12 years! Texas was always the kicker, plus Interstate 10 needed some love...
Buddy, well done! I want to take my family on a cross country motor home trip. Trying to figure out the best way to do it, how to save on the motor home we buy, and what it will cost us to live on the road. Super helpful.
One of the big problems with RVs is finding a place to overnight. Truck stops are full of truckers, campgrounds are expensive (and some are like middle-class ghettoes), roadside rest areas are often full and are sketchy . . . just too many hassles. The myth that you can go anywhere and stay anywhere at your leisure is just that: a myth.
Florida looks nice! Have a great time and looking forward to more videos about that great resort. I want to build something similar to their Coach Cottages at Smith Mountain Lake. Those things look sweet.
I live in El Paso and I have never noticed a sign saying “to stay in your car if it stalls” . Maybe they put it up for the holidays. I do know that El Paso has a service that travels I10 and assist travelers who get flats, runs out of gas etc, it’s hard to help people if they aren’t there. El Paso has typical crime as do all cities. But this isn’t Chicago, Houston or Detroit. I however wouldn’t recommend going across the border.
1st time seeing your channel, € it's absolutely amazing being a former cross country truck driver watching this brings back memories of that, stay safe Andrew, Happy New Year!
I made that trip from Phoenix to El Paso in our American Eagle pusher. Potholes on the freeway driving through New Mexico rattled a lot of stuff loose, cracked some tile, kitchen sink fell out, and fuel pump failed after hitting several and got stranded in Las Cruces for a weekend. We haven't been on that road since. Did New Mexico fix the potholes on eastbound I10? We have family in Albuquerque so now we use as an excuse to go that way when we visit TX, and add an extra day of travel.
LOL moment at 9:25 "I'm somewhere in the Florida panhandle" and he flashes a map of the entire North Amercan Continent to help us pinpoint exactly where he is!
You should sign up for a TSD Fuel card and see what the savings you get using it on the way back are. Big discount at TA truck stop, loves and others. No need to go inside to pay (pay at the pump) saved me a ton of money in my Allegro Bus.
@@danielchandler7223 TSD would give him referral incentives like they do to all their members. Pretty sure Tiffin doesn’t give him any money for featuring their product.
Not that many truckers ran 2 log books, most of us just “maximized” our hours. We didn’t lose hours when it took 6-8 hours to unload or 6-8 to load somewhere. Sucks sitting somewhere loading or unloading and watching your hours tick away and not get paid for sitting.
This is real life , real time , enjoying Andrews travel in the real world of motor coach traveling . I’m Learning so much from your real time travels . , this is the real deal !!
I'm a retired truck driver, i live on the north shore across the lake from New Orleans, 10 miles north of I 12 that is a bypass of I 10 thought New Orleans built around 1975 , there use to be a rest area on I 12 eastbound right before the causeway exit to New Orleans, i never stopped there, but after becoming a truck driver in 1999, I learned from other truck driver's that it was the most dangerous rest area in the country which is why it is no longer there, a truck driver was found dead in his truck there shot 8 times, people have been robbed and left stripped naked more than once there, lots of crime is going on in rest area's around the country, some do have night security Your better off pulling over at truck stops and sleeping there and no one will ever run you off because that's what they are for and what truck driver's do there and when you fill up they will give you a free shower there, or you can, if not fueling up go there for a shower anytime for around 6 dollars,
That would have been about 305 gallons of gas (at $3.50) which moves our pickup & little trailer about 10 miles down the road per gallon while towing, so that would have got us about 3,000 miles along the roads, which is from middle GA to Seattle WA and a good ways towards back home. We would also have used free stopovers as much as possible as we like to travel not more than 3 hours at a time, so that would have made 13 stops, avoiding any stop that's over $40 to $50 a night. We have no interest in expressway marathons when on the road for camping.
That was SO fun! I felt like I took the trip with you. Gotta do more of those. Looking forward to upcoming videos. Learning a ton because of you. Thank you so much Andrew🥳
Enjoyed this Andrew! We will make that trip next year. It's funny you keep so many different vlogs in work at the same time you forget where you are. It's fun to keep up with you.
I met a recently retired couple in Watson Lake Yukon years ago. They had a brand Buick with a cloths rack in the back. I was admiring the car when he came out and we started chatting. He had been a career accountand and had many clients who had retired and did the motorhome/5th wheel thing. He said you need to do it because you like. But don't do it looking for any economic reason. He calculated that he and his wife could travel anywhere they want, stay in some of the best hotels, eat in the best restaurants and not have to cook, do dishes or go grocery shopping or hunt Walmarts, truck stops or others or calculate depreciation on an RV for far, far less money. It's a no brainer.
I'll tell you this right now there's a parking shortage for semi trucks in all big cities And sometimes there is no parking whatsoever in small cities So then yet the park along the road if you can find a spot It's not the best idea or an off ramp but that's sometimes illegal too When you're driving big vehicles like a semi or a big motor home you got a plan where you're going to park for the night ahead of time.
Looks like you had a great trip. Yeah, it was always fun pulling into a truck stop and fuel up with the Big Boys. But just remember, if you're flat towing a vehicle and turn the wrong way to exit, you can't back up. You have to unhook there in front of God and everyone......Ask me how I know that!!! Great video. Merry Christmas
Just did the same trip in my Cadillac , Stayed at the best hotels ( with room service ) , ate at the finest Restaurants , saw the historic downtowns along the way for one third of the cost . Never had a problem finding parking .. try that next time
Very informative, however; if you had taken I-10 to I-12 and then picked up I-10 again, crossing Louisiana and bypassed New Orleans you might’ve saved yourself some travel time.
I live in AZ and have a MH too. Ive driven it about 50,000 miles in 6 years, coast to coast. I would never buy fuel at a truck stop, its way too expensive. As another guy said, the fuel there has additional taxes in it that non commercial people dont have to pay. I do play the grocery store fuel discount game and I will plan my fuel stops along my route by looking at the fuel prices online before leaving. Ive found savings as much .40 cents per gallon this way and when you drive a long trip, those kinds of savings add up! My MH isn’t quite as long as yours but I also tow a toad. Maybe you fill at trucks stops for convenience? I will also check sams club and costco along my route for fuel prices too. You can usually find nice RV parks away from cities or attractions for about $35 to $40/night. Check out Ft. Stockton RV park and RV Parks in Van Horn TX.
Camping World in Katy Texas is where I purchased my RV from. They are the best without pressure to buy. The best part is they tell the truth. I was going to spent way too much. They showed me why and what would work better.
Desperately looking for a Tiffin 40ft Pre-Def in this color. Hopefully by late 2022 things will get back to some normal pricing. It's sad seeing prices on used RVs 10-15k higher than they were 2 years ago.
We never got more than 8 mpg with any of our diesel pushers; single axle. Most tandem owners get 5 to 6 mpg on the flat. under 2 mpg uphills and not enough gain downhill to make up the loss. Motorhomes are great with a group, then the cost average per person goes way down, It was cost effective for us with 2 boys and 2 dogs compared to flying, motels, rental car, and eating out. Not cost effective for solo adventurers unless you are retired and full timing it.
Yet here in Europe our class C 21 foot 3500kg we get about 23 miles per US gallon. OK our diesel is about $5/US gallon So if Andrew paid $1000 for 2300 miles that's 43 cents/mile in Europe i get about 21cents/ mile and if we were paying US gas prices whoopee...
We had 2. First was a '96 Beaver Patriot, 3126/300 Cat. 7.2 mpg. Second was a 2000 Beaver Marquis C12/455, 7.8 mpg. I expected the mileage to be the other way. I guess the C12 just never felt like it was working. People would ask how the Marquis handled traffic. My answer was, it stays up with traffic, unless it decides to lead!
Saved some money staying in your RV instead of adding another $100-150 per night for motel rooms and eating out! Plus you got yo sleep in your own bed and no bed bugs 🐛
A NICE hotel is waaaay less than $150 a month....and you're not paying stupid money for insurance, payments, and gas. RV is a MASSIVE money pit...and this doesn't include the equally massive depreciation. You CANNOT make ANY case that RV'ing makes any sort of economic sense.
@@dennissvitak5475 - Half true. You can still get a decent hotel for 50-70/night, but if you buy a used RV, and equip/plan for boondocking you can travel for a lot less. He stays at RV resorts, which are a bit less than hotels. When we travel our goal is to stay free wherever possible, then try and go into town to shop, dump, do laundry and restock roughly once per week. We tend to stay 1-2 nights at any destination. Our first RV was an Airstream, which was great save you tied to full hookups every night. Now we have a 5w with 4x the batteries and solar so camping anywhere without hookups is a breeze.
@@Erin-Thor - Possibly. I know my brother is fully retired, and purchased a big dualie to pull his 5th wheeler..but can't afford to drive it. 8 mpg, at $4 a gallon means a day's drive of 500 miles will cost him over $250. He regrets his decision, but his DEPRECIATING truck and trailer can't be sold now, except at a massive loss.
@@dennissvitak5475 - Yikes! Life is expensive! My brother has a RAM 2500, has over 500k miles, and it runs great. He swears he gets over 20mpg unloaded, but he drives like a grandma.
@@dennissvitak5475 Come on guys!!!! If you have the money to spend, why not have fun and do something a little IMPRACTICAL. Life should be about enjoying yourself, too. Motorhome really don't have to "make sense" if you can afford them. There is truly something mystical about driving a coach with no particular plans in mind, and seeing what's around the bend.
Yep used to have to run the cheat sheets - you don't even want to know what we had to do to get loads dropped off on time... Nice that it's electronic now.
@David Erickson , as a Costco member ,+ they usually cheaper, show your membership card & a credit card they DO NOT TAKE CASH, BUT in NJ you do NOT have to be a member, why ?Hurricane SANDY they had gas. But we’re NOT members, SO WERE SUED & won, but still need a card, it would be interesting if they take AMEX. because they take cash, or visa in stores . Cheers 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Right, Love's gives $0.16 per gallon discount in the TSD program, TA is variable discounts but, much more in savings. I do like the Love's app and pay / start at the pump
@@stephenbrown3763 Not bad. What do you figure your approximate MPG? Living in SoCal I try and run as close to a empty tank until I get to a border state. 😏 Fuel costs are crazy in California
Andrew, they are right about the TSD fuel card. Big savings and you can pay at the pump and get back on the road. Also download the White Noise app it can create background noise to help you sleep in noisy locations like rest areas, truck stops and tailgating lots. Usually Walmart is much quieter.
Hey Andrew. New to your blogs. Just watched this video of your trip to Florida last year. My wife and I Live in Peoria AZ, I to purchased a Motorhome from North Trails RV in fort Myers. Bought a 2017 grand tour 45rl form them . Purchased site unseen for the most part. We flew out on a wed. walked trough thurs 10.00 am and on the road by 1.00, The dealership was awsome . Trent Turner was great with the financing. Everthing was done ahead of time so all we had to do was inspect and sign. Our trip back took us 3 days, lots of seat time for me.. gas was alot more for us around 4.00 now. Same problem with rest stops . But the coach was an amazing thrill to drive. Empty load . ended up getting 7 miles to the gallon. she around 45 k pounds empty, Weve had it for a month and a half now, Took it to the Blue Becon twice now for a bath. Rig is a garaged Florida full paint, so she in excellent condition. Watch some of your videos on detail them . And I bought a Garage guys deionizer to run behind water softner.. Thanks for your suggestions on products. Just had to comment once I seen you purched from North Tral. I would recomend them to anyone.Thanks man.
Dear RV Friends...If any of you remember the late actor, Ernest Borgnine...he and his son, take some interesting trips, along with a videographer...in his Maxed-Out Prevost Motor Coach, about 8 to 10 years ago, I'm guessing. Very entertaining, especially if you like the actor. He was most famous, for McHale's Navy. Thank you
Fleet wood Bounder with loaded with a full band pulling a trailer from NYC to Los Angeles is around 250 gallons each way on a Diesel pusher. So I just budget $800.00 each way. Try and use free dumps wherever possible.
That’s real cheap, you saved hotel bills, I drive from Southern California to south Florida, it took me 5 nights, with hotel bills, and I spent over $795.00 in gas, that’s real good.
So you drove your RV across country. Guess what? Now you gotta drive that big money pit BACK! The main cost you folks aren't considering is your TIME, and it's the most valuable commodity you have. I can fly across the US in a few hours, and not sacrifice four days of my vacation EACH WAY. Most people who prefer RV's are usually doing something in them that they couldn't get by with in a hotel room.
We never stay at rest areas or truck stops because we feel we would be taking up a spot that a working truck driver could use. Depending how late you want to drive we have found that a lot of the chain restaurants will let you stay in their lots if it’s near closing time, we always check with the manager first and often have a late dinner there as a sign of appreciation. We are always long gone in the morning before they even open, have yet to be turned down.
My tip, stop at the Flying J, most Flying Js have RV parking, dump stations and fuel. Also if you drive a diesel pusher at 62 miles per hour you will get the best mileage. Gas motor homes, about the same speed. Some Walmarts let you park there for free.
Great Video! I might add a couple other tips, The shoulder or even a out of the way rustic rest stop can have some very shady characters around. I stopped in one such place in Florida off I-4 late one night and was awaken by a noise , found 3 guys out back on the camera . I started the motor and they ran. And Andrew I'm surprised the pocket door going in and out doesn't bug you whole driving. :) What other rattles and creaks are in the coach while running down the road??
Stephen, I was running $1,068 figure in my head and thought it seemed a little high. There is no real reason to question Andrews numbers, but if you consider a max route of 2,262 miles with an average cost per gallon of $2.65 ($2.83-$2.42 across nine southern states) and that a 2010 42' Tiffin Phaeton gets 8mpg... it adds up to $749.28. Which is close to the $735 you are talking about. Allow me to add that I am not questioning Andrews numbers and mean no disrespect with my comment.
You seem to go from Indiana to Jersey to Arizona to Florida to Montana in the same month! You're crazy! ;-) you have to be one of the hardest working guys in the rv youtube world 🌎
Driving a Entertainer Coach for a living means that we are doing this all of the time even while you are asleep. My personal worst drive was Oakland CA to Tampa FL in 2 1/2 Daze. Our coaches were owned by the entertainer and tagged as RV's which did not require us to maintain log books. My personal bad time of driving is between 1 and 3 AM so I always get a band member to sit in the jump seat to talk to me , after that I am OK until we get to the venue .
Your first tank[s] fuel fill up to full. Write your gallons and mileage down. On your second fill up will give you your average MPG. Truck stops have applications for your phone. They list the current full prices on the app. Once you know your average MPG You can calculate your entire trip fuel cost from your starting point.
We truckers generally try to run mostly during the day time when shippers and receivers are open. In the USA we have hours of operation laws to abide by. Once we start our day(go on duty) we can drive 11 hours but we have a 14 clock that starts when we go on duty, to get our 11 hours of driving done. When either our 11 hours of driving or our 14 hour clock expires we have to take 10 hours off duty.
Really enjoyed the video, thanks. But it just confirms my desire to stick with my little diesel 23' camper which gets 16 mpg and camp at BLM lands. I'm 75 now and enjoy hiking, photographing, botanizing, etc. with my wife. Perhaps when I get old enough (90's?) I'll be ready to sit around and do nothing at the 'resorts'.
Andrew that was an trip video you did I followed I-10 from Santa Rosa Ca to Ft Lauderdale FL and I stopped at some of the loves truck stops you were at
I don't let my tank get below 1/2 because you never know when you will end up in a traffic jam. My son and I were stuck in a jam for like 7 hours coming back from CA this past June (2021) due to a really bad multi car crash. Very long wait.
Driving my parents' 05 National diesel pusher makes me squeeze cheeks every time I go under a bridge. I don't think I could ever own a big class A. I think I'll stick to my travel trailers and smaller 5th wheels. However, I would still love to have one!
@@nicolep7241 depends on the terrain, weight of the coach, speed and engine size. Prevost’s get less. I got around 7.5 in my 45 Tiffin with a 450 Cummins with a 3/4 ton pickup in tow at 65 mph on average. If I went 75 I got about 6.5.
I was disappointed when I saw this video and he didn't disclose that information. I did see that he responded with a viewer stating he figured 5.75mpg. However, generator usage is not disclosed.
@@coreysaxe3902 This checks out. We get anywhere from 7.5-8.5 in our 43' Gulfstream diesel pusher pulling a trailer with our Subaru Outback. 330hp turbocharged Mercedes. That speed difference is huge on economy!
That sign about stay in your car is in reference to sand storms . If you get out of your car , you can get run over due to bad visibility. Its not a reference to crime .
Actually, it might just be a reference to other drivers coming by HUA and pasting you. I've seen that; I am sure it was quick, but I have to think those were closed casket funerals. Avoidable, simply by staying in the vehicle. It can take the impact a lot better than your body can.
The sand storm sign is correct. However: it's in New Mexico and Arizona not El Paso. That sign in El Paso is temporary due to the construction. The police will tow you off the freeway to a safe near by location where you can make further arrangements to repair your vehicle. As far as El Paso being unsafe as the man in the video was thinking. It's actually one of the safest places in America.
@@franciscocarlos-xy9qv about the same for me. My TT is 6300lbs dry. Pulling with a newer Ram 1500 with the 5.7 liter. Might bump up to a diesel truck next year.
If I ever buy a 2.65 million dollar RV I will have itinerary map of fuel stops and rest stops for sure thank you once again Andrew you are the best source for all things RV
Clean bed, clean toilets, clean shower, our clothing in the closet, our food in the refrigerator, satellite T.V., Sirus XM radio. We can stop anywhere, eat a meal, stretch our legs. We really enjoy the RV over hotels and eating at restaurants for every meal. Never an issue traveling with our 4 legged furry friends either. 2017 Entegra Anthem 42 RBQ
This comment is a real problem...it won't let me give it two thumbs up! 😁
We had one. You can't stop just anywhere. Finding a place to park the rig is a big challenge in cities or near attractions. Some places don't allow overnight parking for RV's. And if you don't take along another vehicle, once you hook up, you have no transportation.
People are gunna ignore like the head coach of the ravens didnt comment this😂😂
@@StaledHotCheetoh lol first time seeing this video and your comment. Lol I seen this and instantly realized who it is
@@amywalker7515 First world problems :-)
I'm a truck driver and the best time to find parking is before 9pm , and the best place to park is in prime parking it's 15.00 dollars to pay for parking, but all large truckstops have apps you can pay and reserve parking in advance, I hope this helps you and anyone who watches your UA-cam videos. I really love the RV , it's really beautiful. I have dreams of owning one someday, but sadly I am doing poor and am not able to afford it.
thats why get a small camper 🤣 u can park in desirable location with amazing views 😍
Your probably poor because your paying 15.00 a night to park the truck instead of walking a few feet more
We have a 2001 Class A and we are selling to get a 5th wheel Joseph. It was $200,000 new and you can purchase it for $10,000.
You can buy our Class A for $10,000! It’s a 2001 but my husband is a master mechanic and it’s in great condition. Just want to get a 5th wheel. It was $200,000 new. Unfortunately for us, we don’t have a vehicle that we can tow behind it and end up renting a car wherever we go
Wrong@@Littlesharky-h2s
Having RV’d since the late 70’s my take is: 1. Fuel is one of the cheaper elements of the overall cost as compared to depreciation & maintenance: 2. There is a disconnect between what you spend to own an rv and the sketchy/run down places you end up parking on trips
Chef never ended up sketchy okace light yagt
Just back from 2 weeks in Scotland. €15 to €20 a night for accommodation ( zero some nights). Food, about €30 a day. Alcohol about €20 a day. And between 70 to 90 miles per gallon. Being a biker is great. 😊
@@sharonbraselton3135what 😂
I use to drive truck and was told that when you stop to sleep write down where you are and where you're going, as that saves you from saying, "Where the hell am I???"
'good advice - I heard to get 2 full time jobs at McDonald's instead of driving - you'll not only make more $$, you'll have more home time.
Retired now with a 15 year Teamster pension helping along with the social security payment
I've learned so much from Andrew Steele driving to the layouts, slides, 50m buddy plugs, Lithium Ion Batteries,Dumping of Tanks Andrew Steele is by far the best source of information on RVing Well Done Sir
Thank you for the kind words Keith!
I am watching . I enjoy
50 kw batery hybride rv
When I ran OTR, I ran at height as much as possible. It was cooler at night, which made driving the mountains better. There were fewer drivers on the road, and the truckers who ran at night were generally higher quality drivers. Less traffic meant covering more miles. When it was time to shut down, finding parking was no sweat. The pickle parks were crowded and dangerous. I stayed out of them. I didn't have to wait on showers. But driving at night was hard on my body. Graveyard shift never was my thing. It aged me quite a bit.
"Pickle parks". Does that mean what I think it does?
Very beautiful coach. At first I thought the travel expenses were very high but when I figured it if I were driving my F150, your fuel expenses were about double but if you figure roughly $200/night for a hotel, you were further ahead by about $100 and you get to essentially have the comfort of your own home the whole time
But there are a lot more costs to consider. Wear and tear, the cost of the RV, the insurance for the RV, storage for the RV, costs of the places to stop and stay... So it isn't exactly just the basic costs that matter.
Add the half a mil for the cost of the motor home
Wow America really has expensive sites how can they justify 110 a night you just park use a tiny bit of electricity and water and dump some waste it should be 30 bucks max.
Truck stops usually fill up around dark. Certain truck stops are full by 2:00 pm and others hardly EVER have any open spots. When I was OTR I tried to find parking around 4-6:00 pm and be back on the road 10 hours later.
As for fuel: I'm guessing you DO NOT have a fuel card. With a fuel card you'll get a discount from the pump price (currently 30-40 cents per gallon) and almost NEVER have to visit the fuel desk before you pump your fuel.
My solution to truck stop noise: EAR PLUGS!
Wrong generator mother heard
Actually the lack of spots has little to do with electronic logs. I used to be OTR, and it was getting bad 20 years ago. States since have closed more and more rest areas, Utah is the worst. Plus many of the truck stops have consolidated over the years, so the smaller mom and pop stops have slowly been disappearing. When I drove, I was told to find other places such as church parking lots, industrial areas, and the places I was making deliveries to. There is a place here in Montana that one of the larger companies wants to build, and of course you have the "not in my backyard" complaints. Even though there is a large stockyard next-door, and the next exit has two stops with few issues.
I don't think a bunch of cattle next to the truck stop is a good idea.
Not enough parking they need to make big huge lots,like 400-900 truck spots on the interstates like the size of the Iowa 80 truck stop lot Would definitely be a huge help
@@allanmccullough8550 This is Montana, cattle get out on the highway. At least at the stockyards, they are in pens, and if they did get out, they would not be out on the highway. That yard has been there for a few decades now, and never any issues.
@@mtevilone I guess if it doesn't smell like a feed lot it would work. Been to Montana many times, one of my favorite states.
@@mtevilone...except for smell that is
I remember my first time on the road, the ‘wait a minute, where am I’ still gets me. Thank you for your enthusiasm, far too many monotone rv’ng channels.
I love the idea of just traveling down the road boondocking all the way. Just free as a bird stopping when you want to. Awesome ride.
@Edgar Miller i thought the same thing thats amount was serious coin and he stayed three of the four nights in the least desirable spots to stay for rvers
It’s really very cheap compared to divorce and everything 😂
Thats fckd up lol. Funny if its not you, but still fckd up
Duke Reaper22 😂 happy new year 🎆🎈🎊
Actually it's a divorce is cheap if you're broke!
Too funny. Thanks for the laugh.🤣
Micha 6:8 your welcome
I always look for a Cracker Barrel to stop at for the night. It's not just a good place to stop at but you can get dinner and breakfast too. I know everyone travels at their own pace but I find that I get a lot better MPG if I stick to 60mph. Hope you have safe travels and thanks for sharing your travels with us.
Agree 👍 100 percent 👍
I've run the numbers and every time, every time if you get paid by the mile even if the fuel comes out of your pocket as the O/O a faster pace and more miles pays more.
I love traveling over the road. I was a truck driver and took my family with me a lot. I have an old '85 Alegro and use it a lot down in Mexico. Gasoline is expensive here. I would love to have a diesel pusher and be able to travel all over. I absolutely love this video. Thank you for uploading this adventure.
Thanks for taking us on your trip - it just cost me 1 beer 🍻
Next time you roll through the texas area look for Buc-ee's. Those gas stations are freaking awsome!
Great food
I don’t think Bucees allows 18 wheelers onto their property to fill up with gas or stay overnight. Not sure about 40-45 ft. RV’s.
I’ve seen those on the way to Jacksonville and my god they look amazing
Great brisket sandwiches!!
@@poppafly635All RVs allowed, no 18 wheelers. 🤠
When I retired in 2014 it was a 14 hour log , once you logged on you had a total of 14 hours , the break down was 11 hours of driving and 3 hours of whatever you needed them for and you could not go over the 14 hours
New rvs self driving mode sleep self driving ide
Cool video with great content. Your figuring the cost from AZ to FL is very helpful. Not all RVers are going to make a trip like that, but will probably be more likely to spread out the trip, thus spreading out the fuel cost. There is a lot to be seen between your starting point and your final destination! Haha! Thanks for sharing!
Now this one I really enjoyed! For that reason, that's why I want one so badly!!! Thank you!
Hey Andrew, just watching some random videos and yours caught my eye because I have an 07 Phaeton w/ tag like yours, although based on the head/taillights yours looks like an 08 or 09 and mine has the darker cherry wood cabinets.
I’ve been full time for about 10 yrs now. I’ve driven the same route several times and often stay in New Orleans at the French Qt rv resort too to load up on po’boys, muffulettas and Abita beer. Real tricky getting off I-10 down onto the surface streets to get in the park. One missed turn and you’re driving down those narrow, creaky old streets praying you don’t hit anything/one and can get yourself turned around.
I usually overnight at Walmarts and always stop mid afternoon to use my iPad with satellite view to scope out the roads getting into the Walmart to reduce any surprises. I’ve never been booted out of a Walmart but learned early on to never park near their loading docks unless you want to be awakened and asked to move at 3 am because a dozen semis are coming in to offload.
I like what you said about waking up and not knowing exactly where you are. Its an odd feeling, and one I’m familiar with but pretty cool. I’ve been in one spot for too long (Hemet, CA) trying to stay somewhat isolated due to covid but being fully vaxxed I’m ready to roll the dice and hit the road again and your video inspired me to do so.
I enjoy fueling up at truck stops. Said no trucker ever.
But he likes the vibe....and thinks that not shaving makes you a bum. 🤷🏼♂️
Interesting name there Mixer Man Bear!
The lot lizards must flock to a man who has a table and an ashtray available
@@psions555 That’s funny shit yo!😂😝😂🤣😎👍
@@rickwaggoner8479 😎👍
This was a fact-finding trip, right!
I thought the purpose of a RV was to enjoy the journey. Coffee, eggs, toast, etc. Fun to watch, but I missed something!
Walmart parking lots...certain Walmart stores allows Rv’s to park overnight...check it out....they consider it camping...
ENJOY
Lots of Walmarts do not allow people squatting in their lots. The cities their in forbid it. You can buy a book/atlas at Walmart that lists the one that do and don't.
@@Palmercot every single walmart in the northeast that I've ever been to does not allow it.
@@Rolexenforcer every Walmart in Florida man always got rvs, people living in their cars, tents anything either no one gives a fuck or it’s allowed
Generally if your in the Midwest you wont have to many issues but near densely populated areas is where you usually cant park over night
@@RolexenforcerLocal towns prohibit them.
We’ve got those “if your vehicle stalls” signs in DFW as well. Problem is people stand around on highways and get run over.
I’m in Dallas. You see cars that stalled all the time that have their trunks pried open, windows smashed, it’s like it’s a game to ransack cars on the side of the highway.
Exactly why I love the 300 gallon fuel tank in my Wanderlodge...
I know! I had an 83 FC35SB with the slow as can be 3208 CAT and a 300 gallon tank..from empty to full was a grand to fill up back in 2006!!
@@chrisreed26 Wow!
Master. Hef winabedo big ass 105 jw batery 105 miole ranfe all elrric
235 here.....on our H3. Love the range. Almost cross country.
This something that I would love to do.., with the pandemic going on this is a very safe way to travel thanks for the review 👍
I’m mathematically figuring it out at 5.7 miles per gallon using 403 gallons of diesel fuel. Am I right? Since diesel fuel costs $2.65 a gallon. Distance 2300 miles.$1068. Used for fuel
Versus $200.00 for car fuel, leaving $868.00 for motels.
@@matt89108 👍
...or car camping in the back of your Tesla 3 or Y, getting free juice from Chargepoint...
These big rigs will be much more appealing when they get autopilot.
ya.. its about the same for semi trucks too!
Before watching the video I guessed 8 mpg so 275 gallons more or less.
@@blueelectricfusion I get 6.5 + moving 80k lbs in a 1996 Pete.
Your a brave guy getting off the Interstate even close to New Orleans 😉🤔
El paso too! Could of get your but deported to Juarez!
@@sams7655 you mean Nogales
My wife and I used to drive from Los Angeles California to Key West Florida in 4 days in our Winnebago Adventurer 37C every year for 12 years! Texas was always the kicker, plus Interstate 10 needed some love...
Master chef wofe drive florida. Kay too cildirna past triple bkack jabghini. Contash canonncball run
@@sharonbraselton3135are you speaking in tongues?
@@simplyrobert it's now eltric rv 105 mile range
Buddy, well done! I want to take my family on a cross country motor home trip. Trying to figure out the best way to do it, how to save on the motor home we buy, and what it will cost us to live on the road. Super helpful.
One of the big problems with RVs is finding a place to overnight. Truck stops are full of truckers, campgrounds are expensive (and some are like middle-class ghettoes), roadside rest areas are often full and are sketchy . . . just too many hassles. The myth that you can go anywhere and stay anywhere at your leisure is just that: a myth.
This was an amazing trip! I enjoyed going along with you. This is making me want to get an RV and start traveling.
Florida looks nice! Have a great time and looking forward to more videos about that great resort. I want to build something similar to their Coach Cottages at Smith Mountain Lake. Those things look sweet.
Buy bjy cheaper eltric rv. Oneky $4500. Or $3750
I live in El Paso and I have never noticed a sign saying “to stay in your car if it stalls” . Maybe they put it up for the holidays. I do know that El Paso has a service that travels I10 and assist travelers who get flats, runs out of gas etc, it’s hard to help people if they aren’t there. El Paso has typical crime as do all cities. But this isn’t Chicago, Houston or Detroit. I however wouldn’t recommend going across the border.
Next time you come through El Paso, stop by our house. Free water, sewer, and electric hook-up in a safe neighborhood near I-10. Take care.
What’s your phone number? I’ll hit you up if I’m ever down that way .
😀
Is it open to anyone driving by on a RV?
Wouldn't mind the same hospitality.
@@dxraaaaa
Probably not for your ax murderer self.
@@johnle231 Haha... What if I create a UA-cam channel? Lol 😂
Why was it so dangerous to stop and get out in El Paso Tx ? Curious!
1st time seeing your channel, € it's absolutely amazing being a former cross country truck driver watching this brings back memories of that, stay safe Andrew, Happy New Year!
So many miles on I10 from Houston to Jacksonville. I can't even count the many times I have traveled this route.
Who you drive for I need this route
Master riat trip tyat high way average 110 mph
I made that trip from Phoenix to El Paso in our American Eagle pusher. Potholes on the freeway driving through New Mexico rattled a lot of stuff loose, cracked some tile, kitchen sink fell out, and fuel pump failed after hitting several and got stranded in Las Cruces for a weekend. We haven't been on that road since. Did New Mexico fix the potholes on eastbound I10?
We have family in Albuquerque so now we use as an excuse to go that way when we visit TX, and add an extra day of travel.
This is the dude who parks at the fuel pump for an hour. 🤣
He likes the fuel pump “vibe”.
Hey if you got it... flaunt it....
Hey you gotta shower and eat too right?
Just shows his lack of knowledge or caring!
Exactly why I never pull up behind a Suburban or dually pickup at the gas lane at Costco.
LOL moment at 9:25 "I'm somewhere in the Florida panhandle" and he flashes a map of the entire North Amercan Continent to help us pinpoint exactly where he is!
🤣🤣
You should sign up for a TSD Fuel card and see what the savings you get using it on the way back are. Big discount at TA truck stop, loves and others. No need to go inside to pay (pay at the pump) saved me a ton of money in my Allegro Bus.
That's what I use as well and was wondering if he has that?
If he does ..... im guessing he wouldn't say unless there was some sponsorship money involved
@@danielchandler7223 TSD would give him referral incentives like they do to all their members. Pretty sure Tiffin doesn’t give him any money for featuring their product.
@@coreysaxe3902 are you sure about that?
@@danielchandler7223 pretty sure on both accounts. He is pretty clear about his channel sponsors.
Love the safety first. Locking the door as you got in. I do that every time.
That was an excellent video. I really enjoyed it. Great music, great commentary, great travelling shots. Thanks.
Not that many truckers ran 2 log books, most of us just “maximized” our hours. We didn’t lose hours when it took 6-8 hours to unload or 6-8 to load somewhere. Sucks sitting somewhere loading or unloading and watching your hours tick away and not get paid for sitting.
This is real life , real time , enjoying Andrews travel in the real world of motor coach traveling . I’m Learning so much from your real time travels . , this is the real deal !!
Great to hear! Thanks!
I'm a retired truck driver, i live on the north shore across the lake from New Orleans, 10 miles north of I 12 that is a bypass of I 10 thought New Orleans built around 1975 , there use to be a rest area on
I 12 eastbound right before the causeway exit to New Orleans, i never stopped there, but after becoming a truck driver in
1999, I learned from other truck driver's that it was the most dangerous rest area in the country which is why it is no longer there, a truck driver was found dead in his truck there shot 8 times, people have been robbed and left stripped naked more than once there, lots of crime is going on in rest area's around the country, some do have night security
Your better off pulling over at truck stops and sleeping there and no one will ever run you off because that's what they are for and what truck driver's do there and when you fill up they will give you a free shower there, or you can, if not fueling up go there for a shower anytime for around 6 dollars,
Man, you have guts to park beside that SWIFT truck!!!!!
Lol he might be wanting a new Rv.
Sure Wished I Finished Training = SWIFT
Right? Even J.B. Hunt drivers cringe when they pass!
parking next to a parked Swift Carrier Truck Line freight hauler is the safest place, just imagine if it was moving , eh
He's lucky to be alive to film this video, when I'm in my Ram and approach Swift, I let they HEMI kick in and get out of work way
That would have been about 305 gallons of gas (at $3.50) which moves our pickup & little trailer about 10 miles down the road per gallon while towing, so that would have got us about 3,000 miles along the roads, which is from middle GA to Seattle WA and a good ways towards back home. We would also have used free stopovers as much as possible as we like to travel not more than 3 hours at a time, so that would have made 13 stops, avoiding any stop that's over $40 to $50 a night. We have no interest in expressway marathons when on the road for camping.
That was SO fun! I felt like I took the trip with you. Gotta do more of those. Looking forward to upcoming videos. Learning a ton because of you. Thank you so much Andrew🥳
Two years after driving semis I learned that it's hard to find Truck Stop Parking or any parking for a large Vehicles past 8 p.m.
Enjoyed this Andrew! We will make that trip next year. It's funny you keep so many different vlogs in work at the same time you forget where you are. It's fun to keep up with you.
I met a recently retired couple in Watson Lake Yukon years ago. They had a brand Buick with a cloths rack in the back. I was admiring the car when he came out and we started chatting. He had been a career accountand and had many clients who had retired and did the motorhome/5th wheel thing. He said you need to do it because you like. But don't do it looking for any economic reason. He calculated that he and his wife could travel anywhere they want, stay in some of the best hotels, eat in the best restaurants and not have to cook, do dishes or go grocery shopping or hunt Walmarts, truck stops or others or calculate depreciation on an RV for far, far less money. It's a no brainer.
Glad you made it safe and sound! Merry Christmas!
I'll tell you this right now there's a parking shortage for semi trucks in all big cities And sometimes there is no parking whatsoever in small cities So then yet the park along the road if you can find a spot It's not the best idea or an off ramp but that's sometimes illegal too When you're driving big vehicles like a semi or a big motor home you got a plan where you're going to park for the night ahead of time.
Looks like you had a great trip. Yeah, it was always fun pulling into a truck stop and fuel up with the Big Boys. But just remember, if you're flat towing a vehicle and turn the wrong way to exit, you can't back up. You have to unhook there in front of God and everyone......Ask me how I know that!!! Great video. Merry Christmas
Just did the same trip in my Cadillac ,
Stayed at the best hotels ( with room service ) , ate at the finest
Restaurants , saw the historic downtowns along the way for one third of the cost . Never had a problem finding parking .. try that next time
Very informative, however; if you had taken I-10 to I-12 and then picked up I-10 again, crossing Louisiana and bypassed New Orleans you might’ve saved yourself some travel time.
I live in AZ and have a MH too. Ive driven it about 50,000 miles in 6 years, coast to coast. I would never buy fuel at a truck stop, its way too expensive. As another guy said, the fuel there has additional taxes in it that non commercial people dont have to pay. I do play the grocery store fuel discount game and I will plan my fuel stops along my route by looking at the fuel prices online before leaving. Ive found savings as much .40 cents per gallon this way and when you drive a long trip, those kinds of savings add up! My MH isn’t quite as long as yours but I also tow a toad. Maybe you fill at trucks stops for convenience? I will also check sams club and costco along my route for fuel prices too. You can usually find nice RV parks away from cities or attractions for about $35 to $40/night. Check out Ft. Stockton RV park and RV Parks in Van Horn TX.
Camping World in Katy Texas is where I purchased my RV from. They are the best without pressure to buy. The best part is they tell the truth. I was going to spent way too much. They showed me why and what would work better.
Desperately looking for a Tiffin 40ft Pre-Def in this color. Hopefully by late 2022 things will get back to some normal pricing. It's sad seeing prices on used RVs 10-15k higher than they were 2 years ago.
We never got more than 8 mpg with any of our diesel pushers; single axle. Most tandem owners get 5 to 6 mpg on the flat. under 2 mpg uphills and not enough gain downhill to make up the loss. Motorhomes are great with a group, then the cost average per person goes way down, It was cost effective for us with 2 boys and 2 dogs compared to flying, motels, rental car, and eating out. Not cost effective for solo adventurers unless you are retired and full timing it.
Yet here in Europe our class C 21 foot 3500kg we get about 23 miles per US gallon. OK our diesel is about $5/US gallon
So if Andrew paid $1000 for 2300 miles that's 43 cents/mile in Europe i get about 21cents/ mile and if we were paying US gas prices whoopee...
We had 2. First was a '96 Beaver Patriot, 3126/300 Cat. 7.2 mpg. Second was a 2000 Beaver Marquis C12/455, 7.8 mpg. I expected the mileage to be the other way. I guess the C12 just never felt like it was working. People would ask how the Marquis handled traffic. My answer was, it stays up with traffic, unless it decides to lead!
I figured 4.6 mpg
Im quite fond of super C RV's with the small cummins diesel or the Ford powerstroke diesel
With the diesel engine up front
Saved some money staying in your RV instead of adding another $100-150 per night for motel rooms and eating out!
Plus you got yo sleep in your own bed and no bed bugs 🐛
A NICE hotel is waaaay less than $150 a month....and you're not paying stupid money for insurance, payments, and gas. RV is a MASSIVE money pit...and this doesn't include the equally massive depreciation. You CANNOT make ANY case that RV'ing makes any sort of economic sense.
@@dennissvitak5475 - Half true. You can still get a decent hotel for 50-70/night, but if you buy a used RV, and equip/plan for boondocking you can travel for a lot less. He stays at RV resorts, which are a bit less than hotels. When we travel our goal is to stay free wherever possible, then try and go into town to shop, dump, do laundry and restock roughly once per week. We tend to stay 1-2 nights at any destination. Our first RV was an Airstream, which was great save you tied to full hookups every night. Now we have a 5w with 4x the batteries and solar so camping anywhere without hookups is a breeze.
@@Erin-Thor - Possibly. I know my brother is fully retired, and purchased a big dualie to pull his 5th wheeler..but can't afford to drive it. 8 mpg, at $4 a gallon means a day's drive of 500 miles will cost him over $250. He regrets his decision, but his DEPRECIATING truck and trailer can't be sold now, except at a massive loss.
@@dennissvitak5475 - Yikes! Life is expensive! My brother has a RAM 2500, has over 500k miles, and it runs great. He swears he gets over 20mpg unloaded, but he drives like a grandma.
@@dennissvitak5475 Come on guys!!!! If you have the money to spend, why not have fun and do something a little IMPRACTICAL. Life should be about enjoying yourself, too. Motorhome really don't have to "make sense" if you can afford them. There is truly something mystical about driving a coach with no particular plans in mind, and seeing what's around the bend.
Need in detail for the trip like Gallons used for total Miles and how many gallons per mile and what kind a engine and horse power,.. thanks
A converted XLII with a 500 Detroit (12.7) and a 7 speed (?) Allison will give you roughly 10 MPG.
4.6 I figured 1..99 gallon
Yep used to have to run the cheat sheets - you don't even want to know
what we had to do to get loads dropped off on time... Nice that it's
electronic now.
Love's is the most expensive fuel on the interstate. You could save up to $.56gal at a station within 3 miles with plenty of room for you.
@David Erickson , as a Costco member ,+ they usually cheaper, show your membership card & a credit card they DO NOT TAKE CASH, BUT in NJ you do NOT have to be a member, why ?Hurricane SANDY they had gas. But we’re NOT members, SO WERE SUED & won, but still need a card, it would be interesting if they take AMEX. because they take cash, or visa in stores . Cheers 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I couldn’t drive that knowing there’s a big comfy bed just waiting for me.
You’re missing out on BIG per gal savings not using the TSD fuel card!
Right, Love's gives $0.16 per gallon discount in the TSD program, TA is variable discounts but, much more in savings. I do like the Love's app and pay / start at the pump
Great program 👍
TSD FUEL CARD is the way to travel. As I said Tucson Az to Orlando cost me 1,385.34 round-trip in fuel last week. TA & PETRO
@@stephenbrown3763
Not bad. What do you figure your approximate MPG?
Living in SoCal I try and run as close to a empty tank until I get to a border state. 😏
Fuel costs are crazy in California
Andrew, they are right about the TSD fuel card. Big savings and you can pay at the pump and get back on the road. Also download the White Noise app it can create background noise to help you sleep in noisy locations like rest areas, truck stops and tailgating lots. Usually Walmart is much quieter.
Hey Andrew. New to your blogs. Just watched this video of your trip to Florida last year. My wife and I Live in Peoria AZ, I to purchased a Motorhome from North Trails RV in fort Myers. Bought a 2017 grand tour 45rl form them . Purchased site unseen for the most part. We flew out on a wed. walked trough thurs 10.00 am and on the road by 1.00, The dealership was awsome . Trent Turner was great with the financing. Everthing was done ahead of time so all we had to do was inspect and sign. Our trip back took us 3 days, lots of seat time for me.. gas was alot more for us around 4.00 now. Same problem with rest stops . But the coach was an amazing thrill to drive. Empty load . ended up getting 7 miles to the gallon. she around 45 k pounds empty, Weve had it for a month and a half now, Took it to the Blue Becon twice now for a bath. Rig is a garaged Florida full paint, so she in excellent condition. Watch some of your videos on detail them . And I bought a Garage guys deionizer to run behind water softner.. Thanks for your suggestions on products. Just had to comment once I seen you purched from North Tral. I would recomend them to anyone.Thanks man.
Dear RV Friends...If any of you remember the late actor, Ernest Borgnine...he and his son, take some interesting trips, along with a videographer...in his Maxed-Out Prevost Motor Coach, about 8 to 10 years ago, I'm guessing. Very entertaining, especially if you like the actor. He was most famous, for McHale's Navy. Thank you
He named his coach "Sun Bum". He was one actor who was "common folks ready". Never had a "big head" about his success.
Fleet wood Bounder with loaded with a full band pulling a trailer from NYC to Los Angeles is around 250 gallons each way on a Diesel pusher. So I just budget $800.00 each way. Try and use free dumps wherever possible.
That’s real cheap, you saved hotel bills, I drive from Southern California to south Florida, it took me 5 nights, with hotel bills, and I spent over $795.00 in gas, that’s real good.
Also being able to use your own shower, toilet and bed and not having to check for bed bugs....PRICELESS!
Well the fuel is nothing compared buying that motor home. Think about it?
So you drove your RV across country. Guess what? Now you gotta drive that big money pit BACK! The main cost you folks aren't considering is your TIME, and it's the most valuable commodity you have. I can fly across the US in a few hours, and not sacrifice four days of my vacation EACH WAY. Most people who prefer RV's are usually doing something in them that they couldn't get by with in a hotel room.
@@robertfrapples2472 I am confused why are you here?
@@robertfrapples2472 unless the road (the journey) is your destiny or a part of it....
We never stay at rest areas or truck stops because we feel we would be taking up a spot that a working truck driver could use. Depending how late you want to drive we have found that a lot of the chain restaurants will let you stay in their lots if it’s near closing time, we always check with the manager first and often have a late dinner there as a sign of appreciation. We are always long gone in the morning before they even open, have yet to be turned down.
Just drove my 1990 Prevost Liberty Xl 40 from Sioux falls to central florida for just under $900.. That was 1500 + miles... She is a classic
Not bad at all. Thats about $.72 cents a mile. Im sure a granny in a full size suv would be about the same.
@@williscurry6557 🚌😅🤣so true
My tip, stop at the Flying J, most Flying Js have RV parking, dump stations and fuel. Also if you drive a diesel pusher at 62 miles per hour you will get the best mileage. Gas motor homes, about the same speed. Some Walmarts let you park there for free.
Like a ya h t at 32 mph cruse speed
Always great watching your honest videos. 👍
Have you ever compared diesel prices at truck stops vs regular gas stations?
Thank you Andrew for the road trip awesome' and when on the road so long it can get dizzying happy travels.
Great Video! I might add a couple other tips, The shoulder or even a out of the way rustic rest stop can have some very shady characters around. I stopped in one such place in Florida off I-4 late one night and was awaken by a noise , found 3 guys out back on the camera . I started the motor and they ran. And Andrew I'm surprised the pocket door going in and out doesn't bug you whole driving. :) What other rattles and creaks are in the coach while running down the road??
Hey Andrew get the TSD fuel card.. I just went from Tucson az to Orlando with 42 ft coach for $ 735 each way
Stephen, I was running $1,068 figure in my head and thought it seemed a little high. There is no real reason to question Andrews numbers, but if you consider a max route of 2,262 miles with an average cost per gallon of $2.65 ($2.83-$2.42 across nine southern states) and that a 2010 42' Tiffin Phaeton gets 8mpg... it adds up to $749.28. Which is close to the $735 you are talking about. Allow me to add that I am not questioning Andrews numbers and mean no disrespect with my comment.
Agree... but don’t use TSD at Loves, discount is deeper at Petro and TA
@@PH_INFO_101 I really would not add in the last stop as he was almost there. That fuel was not really used.
@@markbarnett64 Thanks Mark. After I posted the comment, that thought did enter my mind.
what was your mpg, looks like 6 to me
What mpg
You seem to go from Indiana to Jersey to Arizona to Florida to Montana in the same month! You're crazy! ;-) you have to be one of the hardest working guys in the rv youtube world 🌎
Driving a Entertainer Coach for a living means that we are doing this all of the time even while you are asleep. My personal worst drive was Oakland CA to Tampa FL in 2 1/2 Daze. Our coaches were owned by the entertainer and tagged as RV's which did not require us to maintain log books. My personal bad time of driving is between 1 and 3 AM so I always get a band member to sit in the jump seat to talk to me , after that I am OK until we get to the venue .
The cost of ownership confirms to me why I cant afford a coach
Rent one once a year....
You can if you get a divorce
Nice to be on the road trip with you. Great video and thanks for the costs and virtual experience Andrew!
Your first tank[s] fuel fill up to full.
Write your gallons and mileage down.
On your second fill up will give you your average MPG.
Truck stops have applications for your phone. They list the current full prices on the app. Once you know your average MPG
You can calculate your entire trip fuel cost from your starting point.
If you want to park overnight in a truck stop you have to get there before the sun sets.
The latest you should get to a truck stop is 6pm.
@@KG-rt7wm why
That is the time most truckers end their driving shift for the day.
@@KG-rt7wm
Oh so the lot gets filled
We truckers generally try to run mostly during the day time when shippers and receivers are open. In the USA we have hours of operation laws to abide by. Once we start our day(go on duty) we can drive 11 hours but we have a 14 clock that starts when we go on duty, to get our 11 hours of driving done. When either our 11 hours of driving or our 14 hour clock expires we have to take 10 hours off duty.
Loving your partition doors and cupboard doors all flapping around when you're manoeuvering around in truck stops and petrol stations
Really enjoyed the video, thanks. But it just confirms my desire to stick with my little diesel 23' camper which gets 16 mpg and camp at BLM lands. I'm 75 now and enjoy hiking, photographing, botanizing, etc. with my wife. Perhaps when I get old enough (90's?) I'll be ready to sit around and do nothing at the 'resorts'.
Bes sjze mog 23 f o r rv cabin crusrr most fukkefect low hp small full bill
Andrew that was an trip video you did I followed I-10 from Santa Rosa Ca to Ft Lauderdale FL and I stopped at some of the loves truck stops you were at
You are a fine young man...press on..always injoy that smiling Andrew...PeAce💜🤴
I know he's so stinking cute when he gets wound up talking about coaches! LOL
I don't let my tank get below 1/2 because you never know when you will end up in a traffic jam. My son and I were stuck in a jam for like 7 hours coming back from CA this past June (2021) due to a really bad multi car crash. Very long wait.
Are you running the generator while your driving or stopping that affects fuel consumption maybe something to mention
Before I retired the best time to find a parking spot in a truck stop was before 4pm and no reserved parking. Of course they didn’t charge to park.
That’s my uncles property next door😂 should of got a lot at river bend next door allot nicer than river landings.
Driving my parents' 05 National diesel pusher makes me squeeze cheeks every time I go under a bridge. I don't think I could ever own a big class A. I think I'll stick to my travel trailers and smaller 5th wheels. However, I would still love to have one!
Hi. Your costs are one thing, your fuel mileage is another. Did you calculate your average miles per gallon on your trip? Merry Christmas.
I wondered the same thing. I found it made a huge difference in MPG to drive 65 instead of 75 in my allegro bus.
@@nicolep7241 depends on the terrain, weight of the coach, speed and engine size. Prevost’s get less. I got around 7.5 in my 45 Tiffin with a 450 Cummins with a 3/4 ton pickup in tow at 65 mph on average. If I went 75 I got about 6.5.
I was disappointed when I saw this video and he didn't disclose that information. I did see that he responded with a viewer stating he figured 5.75mpg. However, generator usage is not disclosed.
@@coreysaxe3902 This checks out. We get anywhere from 7.5-8.5 in our 43' Gulfstream diesel pusher pulling a trailer with our Subaru Outback. 330hp turbocharged Mercedes. That speed difference is huge on economy!
Andrew - excellent stops in LA and MS at their welcome centers - especially for RVs. Use them regularly. All are enroute to FL from AZ and returning.
That sign about stay in your car is in reference to sand storms . If you get out of your car , you can get run over due to bad visibility. Its not a reference to crime .
Actually, it might just be a reference to other drivers coming by HUA and pasting you. I've seen that; I am sure it was quick, but I have to think those were closed casket funerals. Avoidable, simply by staying in the vehicle. It can take the impact a lot better than your body can.
The sand storm sign is correct. However: it's in New Mexico and Arizona not El Paso.
That sign in El Paso is temporary due to the construction. The police will tow you off the freeway to a safe near by location where you can make further arrangements to repair your vehicle.
As far as El Paso being unsafe as the man in the video was thinking. It's actually one of the safest places in America.
I see its at 2.64 a gal in your video.
Currently 4.14 nat average for diesel 5/29/2024 for any of you want todays figure for estimating
Wow. That’s incredible. I spend more in gas pulling a 28ft TT than you do in the diesel pusher. Thanks for the video and safe travels.
What truck do you use for pulling it and how heavy is your rv? I have a 27 ft jayco i average 9 mpg when pulling with my 2002 gmc 2500 sierra
@@franciscocarlos-xy9qv about the same for me. My TT is 6300lbs dry. Pulling with a newer Ram 1500 with the 5.7 liter. Might bump up to a diesel truck next year.
Hybir ektric truc usesds les fikle
If I ever buy a 2.65 million dollar RV I will have itinerary map of fuel stops and rest stops for sure thank you once again Andrew you are the best source for all things RV