Gas Prices, Burn Attendance!?!

peterakabob · Post by **peterakabob** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:44 pm

So my current prediction is that gas will be somewhere around $5 to $7 a gallon by burn time. I don't know about y'all, but I am seriously worried this is going to put a damper on a lot of people's burns this year (including my own).

Your thoughts?

StickyChron · Post by **StickyChron** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:05 pm

Start saving for gas now, so by the time the burn rolls around you'll have a nice little gas fund saved up?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:09 pm

/

At ten dollars a gallon it will be 500 $ for me.. Might have to drop the trailer and a few odds and ends for better mileage..

ConnieH · Post by **ConnieH** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:32 pm

I don't see it as a bad thing, maybe it will force people to get a little more creative and reduce their loads to save on gas, or maybe we'll see fewer gas guzzling RVs if people opt to tent it to save $$. More rideshares, etc. Maybe fewer weekend frat boys

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:16 pm

Yeah, gas will probably be expensive. One of the reasons I buy my ticket early, then I have to go. I have a motorhome, really lousy mileage, but I always fill it and use Stabil fuel additive before I store it after the Burn. So I have two full tanks, which could get me down and back, or close to it. Burning Man is not cheap. Even without considering fuel, it costs a fair amount of money. It would be unfortunate if fuel costs would keep some from coming. But I spread my costs throughout the year, buying a little all the time. If you're coming from far away, I would take Sticky's advice, start putting away a little bit now so the hit isn't so bad in August.

However, I got a notice from the BLM about the renewal of BM. It is for one year with a 50,000 person cap. It was way over that last year. I don't know if that's their limit or not. But if it kept attendance below 50,000 that might be a good thing.

I would encourage spreading out the costs. I really wouldn't want the gas prices to keep good Burners from making it.

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:37 pm

unjonharley wrote:Might have to drop the trailer..

Jeez, and I just got one. Need more stuff on the playa...

Leo · Post by **Leo** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:44 pm

Even if gas was $7.00 a gallon, I would still go to Burning Man. I might be traveling in a different vehicle, but the price of gas will not deter me.

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:09 pm

Just drive downhill, then you get great gas mileage.

wraith · Post by **wraith** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:48 pm

unjonharley wrote:/

At ten dollars a gallon it will be 500 $ for me.. Might have to drop the trailer and a few odds and ends for better mileage..

$500 would be nice. It's 1600 miles to BRC, and my truck runs 12 MPG on a good day. Let's just say that I'm saving up just now.

If it wasn't such an utter pain in the ass to get the gear I need there by public transport, I'd probably go that route. But renting a car for the week is still more expensive than the gas.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:50 pm

I think the JRS said they're _way_ ahead on ticket sales this year.

Donna Matrix · Post by **Donna Matrix** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:09 pm

Move closer. Then gas won't be such a big deal.

he he he he he

Get a job on the BM ranch and live up there all year long?

It's only money. BM is more important than money. Borrow some.

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:16 pm

Donna Matrix wrote:Move closer. Then gas won't be such a big deal.

he he he he he

Get a job on the BM ranch and live up there all year long?

It's only money. BM is more important than money. Borrow some.

Geez - Carpool.

1 Person = 100%
2 People = 50%
3 People = 33%

3 people is comfortable for me, split the fuel 3 ways.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:09 pm

mdmf007 wrote:
Donna Matrix wrote:Move closer. Then gas won't be such a big deal.

he he he he he

Get a job on the BM ranch and live up there all year long?

It's only money. BM is more important than money. Borrow some.
Geez - Carpool.

1 Person = 100%
2 People = 50%
3 People = 33%

3 people is comfortable for me, split the fuel 3 ways.

Already posted ride share, a month ago.. Will be following up on it too..

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:03 pm

At a Shell gas station on S. Virginia St regular was $4.09 in the morning....after lunch, it was $4.05

ForumSn0w · Post by **ForumSn0w** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:13 pm

I am hoping this year will be my first burn and have been trying to figure out mileage while pulling a small trailer at 16 mpg. Still looking at 160 - 180 bucks at $5/gal. Doesn't seem like much to some people, but I make a shitty wage with spotty hours. GAWD i want to go so bad. I'm on this site almost every day searching thru threads.

Minxy · Post by **Minxy** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:48 pm

I've been saving already as I watch gas prices rise. We'll be shipping out at least 4 if not more folks in our RV this year but it's doubtful if two of them will be able to contribute to gas.

We should have plenty saved up by Burn time. It just requires forethought!

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:23 am

All year long we never use change in any transaction, the change we get from using only paper money goes into the cookie jar and that gives us between $300-$400 every year.

Robai · Post by **Robai** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:13 am

My Mercedes Diesel RV gets 22mpg...

It is possible to have efficient RV's, Europe has scads of them.

Donna Matrix · Post by **Donna Matrix** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:50 am

I have three jobs. All part-time. I work my ass off to get money for BM. this way I don't have to worry about the money thing. I'm going, come hell or high water.

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:53 am

oneeyeddick wrote:All year long we never use change in any transaction, the change we get from using only paper money goes into the cookie jar and that gives us between $300-$400 every year.

That's an effective and fun saving technique, I've been doing that for a long time now, and have a five gallon water bottle that's almost full now. problem is, I never cash it in or spend it, just start another jug.

I've never counted the money and have no clue how much might be in those bottles.

Another advantage to the large jugs is that they are pretty heavy and hard for thieves to steal. Years ago, when I used smaller containers like pickle jars, my house was robbed and of course, that was one of the first things they took.

sambojones · Post by **sambojones** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:54 am

I do just the opposite of oneeyeddick for my gas money I use my cash back credit card to pay for everything and I put all the rewards checks into a seperate bank acct And I never carry a balance on the card so I get around $300 of gas money from that... Carpooling is totally the way to go I tow a open utility trailer and get around 20mpg so I try and fill as many seats as I can via the Rideshare system it makes the gas and hotels very affordable even driving 3500 miles roundtrip from here in Dallas. And if anyone is interested I still got some seats open

sorry had to sneak that in there

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:06 pm

At 4.25 a gallon I'll be looking at 2400$ round trip for gas. But then, I do rideshare with the wife so our individual portion is only half that

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:25 pm

Sail Man wrote:At 4.25 a gallon I'll be looking at 2400$ round trip for gas. But then, I do rideshare with the wife so our individual portion is only half that

Ass Grass or Cash.. No one ride for free

Sic Pup · Post by **Sic Pup** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:01 pm

Sail Man wrote:At 4.25 a gallon I'll be looking at 2400$ round trip for gas. But then, I do rideshare with the wife so our individual portion is only half that

My TDI got about 42mpg last year (I'm an idiot and carted a bike on the back of my vehicle) approx. 5600 miles @$5 and I'm at $666.66.

I'm getting a bad feeling about this year.

but will have one heck of a time!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:51 pm

Sail Man wrote:At 4.25 a gallon I'll be looking at 2400$ round trip for gas. But then, I do rideshare with the wife so our individual portion is only half that :lol:

Doesn't your son kick in? Lazy little bugger...

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:07 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
Sail Man wrote:At 4.25 a gallon I'll be looking at 2400$ round trip for gas. But then, I do rideshare with the wife so our individual portion is only half that
Doesn't your son kick in? Lazy little bugger...

Ya. My cat always kick in with some gas

peterakabob · Post by **peterakabob** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:21 pm

As far as I know I'm riding down on a bus from Portland with a bunch of people which should help. I just think it's too bad that with gas Burning Man is going to be extra-expensive. Even if you make a decent living it still ain't cheap.

Burning Man shouldn't have to be a rich man's endeavor.

I am also wondering if the gas prices are putting a much bigger strain on the BM organizers which might eff things up for years to come... Hard to say right now..

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:43 pm

I don't know anybody more adaptable than burners.

We will get there!

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:26 pm

oneeyeddick wrote:All year long we never use change in any transaction, the change we get from using only paper money goes into the cookie jar and that gives us between $300-$400 every year.

+1
I usually save a little over $120 doing that, including pennies
but hey, it adds up and helps

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:46 pm

I have mixed feelings about the rise in gas prices. We've had very cheap gas indeed, compared to the Europeans for decades. It's fueled hugely stupid and wasteful choices in our culture.

Gas Prices, Burn Attendance!?!

Gas Prices, Burn Attendance!?!

Gas Mileag