Travelling for pleasure OR perfect fuel consumption?

I always take more than I need as a rule especially spare parts and tools. I can't remember how many times I have come across someone else that has broken down and I have been able to get them going again and that's ok by me, makes me feel good and sometimes you make a new friend also. I am with you, when I am on holiday I don't want to be worrying too much about fuel or that damm phone. i have always been able to sort things out when I return without having to answer stupid questions on the phone while on holiday. Cheers Mick

Pleasure.
We know our fuel consumption (too much) we plan our trips knowing what we use.

Well I travel this country for the sheer experience and pleasure of it and to agonise over a few extra litres of fuel or to fuss about which servo is a few cents dearer or cheaper than the next most convenient one would simply distract me from the true reason why I am out there.

So yes Beatit, I too travel for pleasure and do not overly concern myself with fuel consumption. Anyway, the cost of fuel is only minor compared to the capital cost, rego & insurance plus maintenance of this beast I call Troopy.

had some people stay with us on there way home from are trip caravans with toilets & showers ,solar panels the lot the morning they were leaving found them putting 20 liters into tank i said just fill up with the hose his comment [it costs extra money on fuel to carry water ] but they stay in caravan pks every night at $30 to 40 bucks are night can,t see the logic,s in that ??!! for the few extra & we fill our tanks take what we need & stay at some loverly out of the way places swampy

We just travell and enjoy it. I don't take to much, but i do take enough. Fuel is just a part of travel as is food. I rather worry about where to camp or what fish I'm going to catch for tea.

Josh

Didn't we just have a thread about why people travel at less than the speed limit when towing to save fuel?
Personally I sit on about 90 kph because the tug, van and driver are comfortable at that speed, not to save fuel. We probably take more gear than absolutely necessary and yes we would most likely get better milage (kilometerage dosen't sound right..lol) if we left some at home. Our take is that fuel is just a part of the traveling costs and rather than try and save every last dollar the enjoyment of the journey is much more important.
I have been asked on numerous occasions about what milage I am getting towing and many are rather incredulous when I tell them I don't know because I have never calculated the figures. I just know how far I can go between re-fills.
And no, I don't have a money tree growing out the back (:-))
Cheers
Pop

I would of thought "a fisher person (?)" would rather have a chance of joining the metre Barra club than worry about the extra $2-$3 at the bowser at each fuel stop if you are going to Cooktown.
When you are too old to make the trip and sitting in the retirement village, at least he will have a short story to tell about how he saved a few bucks in Barra, Fingermark, Queenfish and Mudcrab country by not taking his boat.
Catching and releasing good fish after a photo is stuff memories are made of.
Live life, your not here long.

Thanks for the replies. It just seems to me that it is a state of mind and I'm not sure if the two are mutually exclusive. I agree that it is possible to take too much and that some items never see the light of day BUT it is nice to know that they are there.

I think that I am driving concervatively to obtain my 3kilometers/litre (or 33 Litre/100 if you like) it sounds poor and it just doesn't seem to matter if I have a headwind or hills. That is sitting around 80/90 with the occasional burst of speed to get around etc. While I'm happy with the motor I am contemplating if a larger diesel say one of those yank jobs would give me a 100% improvement in consumption and consequently a longer range? That would mean I would need to obtain just 6 Kilometers/litre.

Kind regards

Mate,
thanks for the blogs but you gotta seriously look at your tow vehicle. You are not at roadtrain status yet, but add some more weight and I am sure you can get there. LOL.

Have a think about what you are carrying and I am sure you have looked at your tow vehicle.

We do travel light but don't skimp on what we need. I know what it is like to decide what you should have and what you shouldn't. Simple things like we only carry 2 chairs and so on because others will have their own. This goes on to cutlery, plates, cups and so on and that transfers to everything else we carry.

Your mate didn't bring a dinghy but when you look at it he can hire on in Cookers. Yes the cost negates the fuel but he doesn't have to hassle with carrying, loading or unloading it.

We do know what our fuel consumption range is all the time and I use it to the max.

Never worry about headwinds or tailwinds just where I can fill and at what price.

I can see by your post that you do have a problem and will have to look at another tow vehicle, plus maybe change the weight in your van. Winning lotto wouldn't hurt either with a new vehicle.

Have a good one,
RA

I too, travel for pleasure, and don't care a stuff about fuel economy, or prices..
I have just done another trip of 2500km till yesterday, to go from one job to the next, and while bolting across the nullarbor had many questions from other travellers about fuel prices.. I had no idea.. I don't look at the price, i just fill up..
Also, while on this trip.. was looking for a place to pull up between Caiguna and Norseman, and found all the rest areas to be chock a block full of vans, with barely a bit of air between them .. so kept driving, got to Norseman, and pulled up in the van park, which had less vans than any of the rest areas..
So, even though I had to pay the $30 or whatever it was, i got more peace and quiet, i got power, and TV ... lol .. love free camping, but not when it''s busier than a bloody van park !!!