Fuel price topics

[Paladin]

This ought to get me flamed quite a bit for speaking up but more and more I'm finding myself coming here less and less and the reason is that this seems to becoming a fuel forum more than a bus conversion forum or maybe it's just me. I'm pretty sure there are other forums dedicated to the fuel problem.
Don't get me wrong, I'm just as aggravated as anyone else about the price of fuel since I'm not a rich man which may be a bit of the sensitivity but I come here for conversion information and bus talk. It seems as though every other thread is yet anther fuel rant as if that will somehow force costs down. I am annoyed when certain people announce that if you can't handily pay the fuel cost or the cost of a power plant upgrade etc then you shouldn't be part of this 'elite' club but it also bothers me when all I see is the ranting. Simply put it's up to each owner or prospective owner to decide how this all affects them as an individual and how far they can afford to go and then act accordingly and I don't blame anyone for giving up if it's beyond their threshold. The whole thing about these beasts is that it's very individual in so many aspects.
I have decided that my bus means more to me than just the fuel that goes into it and we're going to do whatever we can to keep the bus and try to work around the barriers for as long as we can. We knew going into it that it would be very expensive in many ways and that we'd lose money in the end but again, it's about the fun factor.

Perhaps we could have another section dedicated to the topic of fuel and it's costs? I'd read it now and then to catch up but that is not that main reason that I joined even though it's certainly related to the hobby. If I were in a group and the conversation turned to griping about fuel I'd probably move on, it's a waste of energy and time unless you are going to act on it somehow.
I'd also like to see a section dedicated to on road travels, experiences on the road, places visited etc. Maybe that would help keep the excitement level up instead of the doom and gloom. I think we could use a little fresh air in my opinion.

Flame on!

-Dave

[buddydawg]

I agree.  If you want to talk fuel issues as related to a bus, post it here.  If you want to talk about the business and politics behind it take it to OT.  I don't like having to wade through the multiple off topic post to get to the nitty gritty.

[superpickle]

 

[belfert]

Fuel prices have a huge amount to do with bus conversions these days because there are plenty of people who plain can't afford to drive recreational vehicles that get 4 to 9 MPG with today's prices.  I am certain there are folks out there who have quit working on bus conversions because they won't be able to afford fuel when done.

I do agree that posting rants against oil companies isn't productive and is a waste of forum resources.

For me personally I can afford today's prices.  $5 a gallon becomes questionable.  $6 to $7 a gallon and my bus likely becomes a lawn ornament or gets sold for pennies on the dollar.  Shorter trips are not an option for me since I go to several specific events each year.

[superpickle]

I Really Really do NOT mean this in a Molicious way..
But, It strikes me, Some would just Rather Not see it and keep their head in the sand...
I cant read those posts about Bus Crashes, Id rather have my head in the sand than feel all the pain for it.
So, I dont read them.. Simple solution.   
JMHO..

[buddydawg]

My head is not in the sand.  I just do not care to see people fly off the handle and opine on a subject that they clearly do not understand.  I'm not saying don't post it.  If it makes you feel better, then do it.  Just ease on over to the OT board and rant and rave all you want.

[Paladin]

Yeah, my point isn't about reading them as much as being inundated with them ad nauseum as I've been seeing. I want to know about the current issues on fuel and other things but a hundred threads all bitching about the price of fuel  and politics just clutters up the forum and ultimately serves no purpose but an outlet for the authors. If it were one or two as the accident reports generally seem to be then fine but just look at the recent and often heated O.T rants that have nothing at all to do with bus conversions. If everyone posted nothing but jokes in the main forum I'd feel the same way. I didn't join to read only jokes, talk about cars which I also have a passion for although this isn't the place or rant about politics, I'm here for bus chatter.

I still stand by the proposal of at least a temporary section dedicated to the fuel topic.

[cody]

I fully realize that at my income level I have no business owning a bus, but I do.  I'm as frustrated as everyone else over the cost of fuel but I see it from a different side, not only trying to do what I can to save money on fuel but also to do what I can to be a help of some sort to somebody else.  We've been on the road about 7 months now, some of our stops have been to help out with the woodworking end of a conversion.  I never intended to do conversions for anyone, just to help them with the conversion they were doing.  We'll stop for a few days and make some sawdust and then move on, we do it at no charge, the idea is if someone has to pay for the work then that money might be comeing out of their fuel fund and I don't want to take away from their travels besides I enjoy meeting new people and I save on the cost of a park while we're making the sawdust.The bus I'm working on now is the 12th one since december, some projects were small ones some larger but all enjoyable for me.  We all determine our own price of recreation and it's not market driven but all personal choice.  Everything cycles and has tradeoffs, thats the way life is.

[rcbishop]

Hooray for U, Cody....and while I agree in principle with all of the posts on this thread, I wonder if we aren't all just looking for comfort? I have always heard there is comfort in numbers... ...and since we are interested in a "hobby" or whatever one might to call it, I can understand the frustration.

But I must say, fuel, along with the Democratic race, have just about done a number on me. I am sick of them both, but I wonder if the old adage, "squeaky wheels get greased" is not the thing here.  Congress comes to mind.  We as a group have a bit of strength; perhaps, if  we could some how utilize it, as with truckers...they went to DC recently; albeit when Congress was "away".

Diesel has always been at the bottom of the barrel....why not now?  I noted today a 70 cent differential...the other direction. Congress has done two charades (sp) with the Oil Execs....and drop your voice. Nada...So, perhaps we could somehow figure a way to be heard.  I have never been an "activist"... except for Jesus Christ, but now may be the time.

Cody,  and others  in "our " same boat....don't be ashamed. We, in some small sense, are responsible for those coming behind us.  I can say, as some above have said, "not a problem" now....but to them I would say "wait".  The day will no doubt come when "fixed income" will be your  fate or your lifestyle. 

Be patient with us, folks.  We're just out there with you tryin' to "enjoy life".

FWIW >

RCB 

[cody]

Nothing in this countries history has been given easily, what we enjoy and take for granted has come at a price that had to be paid, our history is filled with both hard times and good times and each cycle had to be paid for by someone, as bus nuts we enjoy our hobby or lifestyle depending on the depth of your particular involvement.  Each time the road got rough we found a way to overcome it and I see no reason the current problems are beyond our reach. In the bus world, someone with welding skills is probably working on the engine cradle of someones Eagle, someone else is already helping an MCI owner redo his airbags, an electrical guru is diagnosing the wiring problems on an old fishbowl, meanwhile a bunch are sitting around a fire talking about the next great adventure yet to be taken or a rally is being planned.  Think about all this for a moment and enjoy what is here now, life is too short to worry and complain about what we have no control over, what we can do instead is to make the most of our individual talents and do what I've seen done here over and over, look after your friends and help out where you can, if a person doesn't need to pay a welder 60 bucks for a small job, thats 60 bucks for fuel and it'll get the bus far enough up the hill to maybe enjoy the view for a bit.