Fuel prices!

[Happy Gilmore]

Gas on the low side is $3.40, diesel is about a dollar more. On the high side I saw a local Mobil advertising gasoline at $3.69 and diesel at $4.59 cash price. unch:

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Like you I will not drive out of my way to buy gas or diesel.

Let's say your average 1/2 ton truck gets 15 mpg and gas is $3.50 per gallon. That means it cost $.233 per mile for fuel. Now figure 5,000 mile oil changes at $35, thats $.007 per mile. Now brakes every 50,000 miles at $200 average. That's $.004 per mile. Tires every 40,000 miles at $800 works out to $.02 per mile. It works out to about $.30 per mile to drive. 5 miles each way cost $3.00. So even if the gas is $.10 cheaper and you bought 30 gallons it would just be a wash. Not really due to the miles accumulated and other wear items on the truck. My diesel cost 1/3 more.

I track all 3 of my vehicles. My 1/2 ton cost $.30 per mile last year to drive. My 1 ton diesel was $.43 per mile.

Chris

Interesting breakdown, scary isn't it, now imagine throwing in vehicle cost, taxes and insurance etc

 

[Diamondpilot]

Interesting breakdown, scary isn't it, now imagine throwing in vehicle cost, taxes and insurance etc

Yea, I do everything like we do in the Aviation World.

Variable Cost: gas, tires, brakes, tolls, ect (vary with how much you use it)

Fixed Cost: storage, insurance, monthly payment, plates, ect (fixed so no difference if parked or not)

Chris

 

[Eyecatcher]

I have a trailer mounted diesel tank I use for fueling my tractor & backhoe. Closest diesel is 2 miles away. When I need fuel, I hook the trailer on the tractor and go. Fill up both. 2 weeks ago, it was $3.59 (off road), and bought a little over 100 gal. Next day I drove by, and it was $3.79. Did that fuel he had in the ground go up .20?

 

[lutt]

Yea, I do everything like we do in the Aviation World. Variable Cost: gas, tires, brakes, tolls, ect (vary with how much you use it) Fixed Cost: storage, insurance, monthly payment, plates, ect (fixed so no difference if parked or not) Chris

DP, do you keep a notebook in each truck or something else, I have to start keeping up with mileage for our small hog and cattle operation. Document trips to town when going for parts or feed and the like. Just wandering what your system was, you seem to be pretty efficient by reading your post. thanks LUTT

 

[jejeosborne]

DP, do you keep a notebook in each truck or something else, I have to start keeping up with mileage for our small hog and cattle operation. Document trips to town when going for parts or feed and the like. Just wandering what your system was, you seem to be pretty efficient by reading your post. thanks LUTT

If you have a smart phone, plenty of apps for that. Nothing better to do while waiting at the pump. Better than watching the dollars fly by on the pump. The app will also remind you of maintenence items since you enter your odometer reading every tank. Nice to see the cost breakdowns and charts too.

 

[Diamondpilot]

DP, do you keep a notebook in each truck or something else, I have to start keeping up with mileage for our small hog and cattle operation. Document trips to town when going for parts or feed and the like. Just wandering what your system was, you seem to be pretty efficient by reading your post. thanks LUTT

I use a app on my smartphone called "millage".

Chris

 

[farmgirl19]

I have a log in each vehicle, and track all expenses. I also keep the same on the tractor. I keep it in terms of both mileage and hourly operating costs, even on the trucks.

And has already been previously mentioned, just because gas is cheaper, or the car gets a couple of mph more, when one factors in the fixed costs, even if all one carries is liability insurance, no collision (as I do on an old farm truck), any finance fees incurred, etc., most of the time it costs a good deal more for that second "economy vehicle", than just running the primary transportation, and paying more for fuel.

 

[Ford850]

Fuel prices just dropped here. Gas - $3.55, Diesel - $4.30

 

[lutt]

Thanks guys for the answers, I'm gonna download the app and use a notebook like I already do, I have to have things documented for tax purposes of course! Thanks , LUTT