Comments on: The Long Trip: Five Ways To Save Money On A Multi-State Road Trip

By: MALE DRIVER

MALE DRIVER — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 05:19:26 +0000

Stop ripping the advice of pulling in behind a semi truck. I can tell you that I do this a lot. But I am very alert to my surroundings. I’m not eating a burger, checking my hair, talking/texting on the phone. All of my attention is on driving my car. I have “NEVER” been in any kind of an accident. Heres a tip. Dont do it if you can’t handle it.

By: steven

steven — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:31:05 +0000

One way to save money on fuel is to check and make sure your tires are properly inflated to reduce rolling resitance. Avoid getting off freeways and going threw towns going threw towns can burn more fuel buy stopping at lights and stop signs. Use your AC rather having your windoow down. One more way is that dont us your AC unless nessary and keep your windows up.

By: steven

steven — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:12:31 +0000

I am a big rig driver (semi) to all that read this it is a bad and unsafe idea to travle behind us. Reason number 1 we cant see you if you r too close so we dont know that you are there. True it will reduce you drag or air resistance, it may cost you your life i am pleading with everyone please don’t. If i see an emergancy and have to stop suddenly you and your car can end up under the trailer the fuel you save is not worth your life.

By: Brian Amend

Brian Amend — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:04:12 +0000

Trent,

I use cruise control and think it is a great idea as long as the roads are dry.

Otherwise, cruise control, water (or ice/snow), and physics can orchestrate disaster.

See Snopes–search “cruise control” there or go to link I’ve put down as “my” website (though of course it’s not).

Thanks, Brian

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:55:23 +0000

There are also companies where you can sign-up to ‘deliver’ cars. They try to match where you are and where you’re going and you get a free tank of gas with it. A refundable deposit is required, but if you have a family or a few friends makes for a frugal trip and keeps the miles and maintenance off your car. http://www.theinnovativetraveler.com

By: Dexion

Dexion — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:39:11 +0000

No, don’t drive behind a semi, besides from feeling like you’re about to lose control of your car at any given second because of the loss of airflow coming infront of you.

You can’t see traffic and cant plan your next move and if that semi has to stop fast you’re going to turn your car into a go-cart.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:43:08 +0000

The benefit of drafting is significantly reduced at slow speeds because the power needed to overcome air resistance varies with the cube of velocity. Driving 60 mph instead of 80 mph will require about 60% less power to fight the air.

That said, I think some people are being a little hysterical about the dangers of driving. In moderate traffic people routinely have less than 1 second following distance. Some people are safe with that, others are talking on their cell phones or feeding their kid and are not safe even at 2 seconds. Why not leave it up to the judgment of individual readers about whether it’s something they can handle?

By: Docah

Docah — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:14:54 +0000

I love the supermarket idea, something that hadn’t occurred to me before. A lot of supermarkets have pre-cooked hot meals now, letting you be much more healthy in your choices than a fast food place built into a gas station.

To the people who said don’t use cruise, that’s a very poor recommendation for MOST people. Most people vary speed by as much as 5 miles per hour and it costs them as much as 2 mpg over a tank of fuel. I’d cite the source, but i can’t find the article today.

By: Restless

Restless — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:47:08 +0000

@janewilk: We took a 5000 mile trip through Texas and New Mexico last year in my brand-new Acura and used cruise control extensively. I got two miles per gallon better mileage than the EPA’s estimates for highway mileage. I’ve seen the same in our Camry and my old Grand Prix.

Granted, it takes more umph to get over hills, but unless the grade is really high your momentum and a few hundred RPM for fifteen seconds is better than hitting the gas and you’ll get a lot of that energy back on the downhill slope, anyway. If your car has to really labor on a moderate hill, you might want to get a mechanic to take a look at it.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:27:31 +0000

Trent: It looks like no one is voting for the “drafting” trick to save gasoline. Why not consider re-writing this article and removing that tip. You could replace it with my favorite for saving money on long trips: “Getting dad and mom to send me a plane ticket!” I loved the other ideas though.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:44:18 +0000

I have to chime in and agree with most of the others… trying to save fuel by staying behind a truck, even 2 seconds behind, is not a good idea. If nothing else, as others have mentioned, it reduces your look ahead capacity by effectively blocking a large portion of what is “up ahead”. It’s just not worth the added risk of an accident.

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:53:09 +0000

“slipstream surfing” behind semis is wreckless, but if you have an air-cooled engine in your car (I do in one), then it can also result in an overheated engine.

By: janewilk

janewilk — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:20:55 +0000

Trent,
You may want to re-think the cruise control idea, too. I never paid much attention to gas mileage and how my driving affected it till we got a Prius (and the little videoscreen that tells you your MPG minute-to-minute!). Cruise control decreases my MPG dramatically, because the engine has to really rev to maintain the speed up hills, etc. Anyway! I do appreciate the tips, but this one doesn’t work for me.

By: Brett

Brett — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:52:34 +0000

I just got back from a multistate trip. My tip would be to avoid speeding tickets. I got one that set me back $160. Ouch. We were doing so well on our spending until then….

By: snappyfrog

snappyfrog — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:31:31 +0000

As a trucker, let me advise you to not drop in behind a big rig to save fuel. If you are less than 2 seconds behind, you can not see where you are going or what is about to happen in front of me! If I have to panic stop….

If you are around 2 seconds behind me, the turbulence from my truck will actually decrease your fuel economy.

Please don’t do this. My attention needs to be focused forward, not trying to find your shadow to see if you are still there.

Your friendly trucker,

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 20:04:19 +0000

in order to get the draft benefit of a semi, you have to be too close…far closer than the 2 second rule. the 2 second rule also only applies at slower speeds and during optimal driving conditions.

second, do not use the cruise control. the gas savings is pretty much neglible and using cruise control is more dangerous. by using the cruise control, you are not an active driver, and you become complacent. also, foot placement is not optimal for emergency braking.

By: Trent

Trent — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 03:15:43 +0000

Look, you should always use the two second rule when driving – that’s the standard of safety. Following another vehicle at that distance, though, is well worth it – I’m not talking about tailgating at all.

By: carter

carter — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:07:02 +0000

“Settle in behind a large vehicle”

This is just simply reckless. Folks, please do not take this advice. I’ve seen no less than three personal finance blogs advocate this lately. Do not try to save a few dollars by tail-gaiting.

This practice is *at best* discourteous (and illegal in most states) and worse, highly dangerous for everybody you share the road with.

By: akl168

akl168 — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:31:53 +0000

It’s a little irresponsible encouraging folks to stick their noses behind a semi to save gas. We already have enough bad drivers out there.

By: George

George — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:23:06 +0000

While you certainly can dramatically improve gas mileage by following closely behind a large truck, you’re also dramatically increasing your chances of getting into an accident (since you can’t see what’s ahead of the truck, as !wanda notes). You also increase the likelihood of getting rock chips and windshield chips/cracks by following close behind a large vehicle.

IMHO, the gas savings from tailgating just aren’t worth the tradeoff in safety. I’d rather drive with nothing but open road ahead of me – it’s far more relaxing, and that’s what a vacation is supposed to be about.