JASON'S  STORM  CHASING  WORLD

Cost Overview

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WORK IN PROGRESS

  • Gas
  • Lodging
  • Food
  • Cellular - Internet Access
  • Auto Repairs

GAS

Below is a few tables for calculating Gas prices.  Because there are three factors, it isn't easy to graph in 2-D.  Below the table is my previous formula when planning for 1999.

Average MPG = 22

5000 miles

6000 miles

7000 miles

8000 miles

9000 miles

10,000 miles

227.27gal.

272.73gal.

318.18gal.

363.64gal

409.09gal.

454.55gal.

$1.00

$227

$454

$1.05

$238

$476

$1.10

$250

$499

$1.15

$261

$522

$1.20

$272

$544

$1.25

$284

$567

$1.30

$295

$590

$1.35

$306

$612

$1.40

$317

$635

$1.50

$340

$681

$1.60

$363

$726

$1.70

$386

$772

$1.80

$408

$817

Increase 1998 total by 14.5% for increase in price, and mileage difference. Also add the amount necessary or the increase of the mileage for the return trip home. Note however, this amount will be in flux depending on what ever vehicle is purchased.

To estimate approximate mileage you think you will travel, below is a chart to illustrate how quickly miles add up when chasing in the plans.  The bold values on the left are average daily mileage for the total length of trip, including arriving and departure to and from the great plains from your home location (i.e for me it is Miami, Florida).

Accumulative Mileage

7 Days

10 Days

14 Days

21 Days

28 Days

33 Days

150

1050

1500

2100

3150

4200

4950

200

1400

2000

2800

4200

5600

6600

300

2100

3000

4200

6300

8400

9900

400

2800

4000

5600

8400

11,200

13,200

500

3500

5000

7000

10,500

14,000

16,500

600

4200

6000

8400

12,600

16,8000

19,800

700

4900

7000

9800

14,700

19,600

800

5600

8000

11,200

16,800

900

6300

9000

12,600

18,900

1000

7000

10,000

14,000

1100

7700

11,000

LODGING

Lodging is fairly simple to graph. It's number of Days to Price per Day. Below is a graph for viewing. As before, I have left my 1999 notes at the bottom.

7 Days

10 Days

14 Days

21 Days

28 Days

33 Days

$5

35

50

70

105

140

165

$10

70

100

140

10

280

330

$15

105

150

210

315

420

495

$20

140

200

280

420

560

660

$25

175

250

350

525

700

825

$30

210

300

420

630

840

990

$35

245

350

490

735

980

1155

$40

280

400

560

840

1120

1320

$45

315

450

630

945

1260

1485

$50

350

500

700

1050

1400

1650

$55

385

550

770

1155

1540

1815

$60

420

600

840

1260

1680

1980

$65

455

650

910

1365

1820

2145

$70

490

700

980

1470

1960

2310

$75

525

750

1050

1575

2100

2475

$80

540

800

1080

1680

2160

2640

More camping must be done to reduce 1998 total lodging cost. Also, for safety reasons less time should be spent sleeping inside the truck on the road. A guide to Campgrounds should be purchased to help plan for camping areas. Make a list of previous campgrounds and their rates. Subscribe to AAA, it is the most widely used for getting Hotel discounts. Try to get hotel guides a much as possible shen on the road, from rest stops, and tourist info centers.

FOOD

Much more effort should be put into the planning of food consumption. Food that will be taken upon departure of trip and food shopping lists for purchase on the road should be listed and strictly followed.

CELLULAR/INTERNET

Because of the nature of the internet access on the road planning of cost for cell phone is hard. What must be determined is access ou in Rural and ranch areas in the depth of the central plains. Be sure to stick with one of the major cell phone companies and be sure tho check if existing analog equipment can still be used or if digital equipment would be better and cheaper. See if list or some document exists of the locations of towers, coverage of the company’s equipment. Be careful of agreements or lack of agreements between companies that may affect the billing for cellular use.

AUTO REPAIR/ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

With the large amount of miles typically placed on a vehicle during the time of Storm Chasing a good number of routine maintenance will have to be done while out on the road. I would be advisable to get familiar with the vehicle that will be used during the trip so that as much maintenance can be done without having to pay for labor costs. Many replacement parts should be purchased prior to departure.

If you'd like to email me, please mail me at this address: 

n3prz@aol.com

 
Last Update: 12-27-2001 11:55pm Eastern Standard Time

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