Gagworthy gas prices don't choke RV buyers

A selective dip from the top of the Big Gore-Tex Northwest Mailbag, where questions are stacked higher than the gas prices in downtown Anacortes:

Q: With fuel prices two to three times where they were a decade ago — and still climbing — who in the world is still buying those big, gas-guzzling RVs? And while I'm on the topic, what kind of mileage do they actually get, anyway?

A: As a non-proud former owner of two of these beasts of burden, let me tell ya: An RV that's light on gas will get you maybe 8-10 mpg, the tradeoff coming in size — you have to shower in an enclosure roughly the size of a half-used tube of Aquafresh. Bigger rigs get even less, like 4-6 mpg, depending on various environmental factors.

For instance, expect your RV mileage to drop by up to 50 percent — perhaps into negative, gallons-per-mile territory — if any of the following conditions occur:

• You face a strong headwind.

• You face a mild headwind.

• A hummingbird takes flight anywhere within a quarter mile of your front grill.

• You, your spouse, or your dog has put on a couple pounds.

• You have a hardback version of any Tom Wolfe novel in the vehicle.

• The road is wet.

• The road is dry.

• You are forced to drive, for any length of time, on any non-downhill surface.

As to your first question: Who's buying these things anymore? We wonder ourselves, but note that recent months have seen only more, not fewer, of those sprawling RV lots spring up around the Sound.

Burlington, for instance, has so many fifth-wheel trailers that they're starting to stack them vertically, like asparagus. And the official city seal of Mount Vernon, next door, now includes a propane tank.

Short answer as to who has pockets deep enough to drop $100K on a camper, plus $220 a tank to fill 'er up: your boss.

Seriously. Recent studies by the RV industry show no decline in RV sales in relation to surging gas prices. More people today — about 1 in 12 households (note: It's the one with the giant, boxy vehicle blocking the territorial views of the other 11) — now own RVs, according to a trade group.

They don't all have seniors at the wheel, either. The greatest increase in sales has been to Gen-Xers, 35 and under. But RV builders expect demand to be fueled for the coming decade by retiring Baby Boomers with disposable income.

Q: What about the people who are already stuck with them? How can they afford to go anywhere?

A: They can't. Which is why, if you see your neighbor sitting in his driveway in a camp chair, feet propped up on a Coleman cooler, roasting a Costco dog on a hibachi and swatting at mosquitoes, he really isn't crazy. He's just camping.

Q: Are you going to join the parade of Mount Rainier fans heading up to Paradise when the road finally reopens on Saturday?

A: Uh, no. Operative word: "parade."

Q: We're going anyway. Is there anything special going on to mark the occasion?

A: Of course. You'll get a chance to pay the special $15 entrance fee. And if you happen to be around the Nisqually Entrance at about 9 a.m., you'll be able to hear a special speech by U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Loud, who helped secure the money to rebuild the flood-damaged road to Longmire.

(Note: If you happen to be late in arriving, just pull off Highway 706 somewhere down around Elbe. You'll be able to hear Norm perfectly well from there. )

Q: Point taken. So when do you think crowds will finally thin out again at Paradise?

A: Oct. 29.

Q: (Quiet down, people. This is a real question.) My family just completed a wonderful trip to Silver Falls State Park near Salem, Ore. We had five families staying at the "Ranch" facilities at the park. It was nice that all of us were able to stay in one building and have all the amenities in the same complex. My question to you: Are there any state parks in Washington that have the same kind of setup? We have done the yurts and cabins, but you tend to separate yourself from others or the rooms are too small to hold everyone.

A: A number of Washington State Parks do offer rental housing, above and beyond the yurt classification (see www.parks.wa.gov/vacationhouses/). Most of these are rental houses that will accommodate one or two families. Finding space for up to five families will be a little trickier.

The only place likely to fit the bill would be Fort Worden State Park near Port Townsend, where you'll find 33 rental homes converted from officer's quarters. The houses each have three to six bedrooms and sleep seven to 14 people. Two or three of those ought to do you; call 800-360-4240 to reserve.

Ron Judd's Trail Mix column appears here every Thursday. To contact him: 206-464-8280 or rjudd@seattletimes.com.