High fuel costs notwithstanding, RV travel still beats the high tally associated with the airfare, restaurants, hotel rooms, and rental cars. Still, as many of our wallets and 401Ks can attest, times are tough. Escalating fuel costs, a slippery economy, and concerns over everything from war to layoffs have made travel a bit of a luxury for some. However, we have our ways to reduce those fuel costs.

Even though there are ways to search for cheap fuel (www.gaspricewatch.com is one such service), I don’t know too many folks who want to dedicate that kind of effort of finding the lowest prices. However, even a 10-cent per gallon savings is significant when asked to refill a 100 gallons worth of diesel. As a rule, fuel is cheaper off the highway. Membership to Flying J Travel Plazas (www.flyingj.com/), for example, rewards frequent fill-ups with discounts nationwide. There are other franchises that do the same.

Otherwise, the way you drive can make a real difference. Fuel efficiency is better at 55 mph than 65 mph, so leave the lead-foot at home. Plan shorter trips, with more time outside than in the cockpit. Visiting a local state park or regional attraction not only cuts down on travel costs, but also gets you and yours to the destination that much faster. Just think, that much fewer, “Are We There Yet’s?” from the Peanut Gallery in the back.

Towing a secondary vehicle behind the motorhome is rarely a bad idea. While its added weight worsens overall fuel mileage numbers on long trips, for that short trip away from home, the cost savings quickly add up when factoring in all those errands and runabouts into town in the dutiful Saturn. It also means you needn’t break camp every time you run out of diapers. Just make sure, of course, that the towed vheicle isn’t a gas-guzzler in its own right.

Proper tire inflation is a long-forgotten, but ultimately one of the best ways to eek out better mileage numbers. An RV’s overall weight has a lot to do with these numbers as well, with a lean and mean vehicle outperforming chubbier counterparts. The moral here is to bring along only what you need. New RVers are particularly prone to overloading their vehicles with extras that would make a full-timer cringe. Leave the superfluous canned goods, tools, and set of World Book encyclopedias at home. Storage pods and cavernous exterior compartments can contribute to an overweight condition if you’re not careful.

And watch those tanks. Holding tanks filled to capacity add hundreds of needless pounds, so dump them early and dump them often. Unless you’re camped out in the middle of the Mojave Desert, there’s little reason to keep the fresh water tank to the brim. Schedule regular visits to weigh stations to help you maintain your vehicle’s fighting weight.

Yeah, fuel is expensive. And it may be for some time. However, we’re not totally powerless against these costs; there’s steps to take to reduce the sting, so we can still enjoy our time on the road.