Ian - One other thing (well, there's many more), but big RV's get POOR mileage at best. But utilizing hypermiling techniques on an RV, i.e. gentle on the pedal, coasting, driving with load, coasting, coasting, coasting (did I say coasting), 55mph on the flat roads, gentle acceleration going down hills, and keeping the RPM's in the highest part of the torque curve, if you can find that out, can increase RV mileage considerably.

My last time out last fall, I averaged 9.6mpg. Compared to your Civic, that's horrible. But a 34', 15000 pound motorhome with 10 big thirsty cylinders, and a 3000+ pound car in tow, and 9.6 ain't too bad. Oh yea, the 5.5KW generator was running the entire time too.

Do I feel guilty about the mileage - Yes, sorta! But I conserve in every other way, so the long term average is probably less fuel consumption than most Americans I see driving like Heck to every stop sign, slamming on their brakes, then pedal to the medal to the next stop sign, etc; They do this 20K miles a year, and use double the fuel that I do in my daily driving. So the 4K miles I put on the motorhome each year at 9.6 mpg, averaged in with my exceptional mileage on all other vehicles, plus I heat my house with firewood from trees that would otherwise go to waste, I don't feel so bad. Yes, the wood is free, and the exercise of cutting, splitting, hauling, stacking several times, is good for me.

There's a balance in nature, and RV'ing is a life long enjoyment for my wife of 40 years and I. We have many camping friends, and will spend 2 weekends a month with all of them all year around. If you ever start, I hope you enjoy it half as much as we do