Listen to the full episode here:
Turns out the cheapest mod you can make to your rig doesn’t cost a cent.
From a fuel price shock that pushed regular unleaded past $3 a litre to reworking your entire weekly shop, in this episode Ben and Lauren strip fuel economy right back to basics. They dig into why weight is the single biggest lever you can pull on any trip, how one multi-purpose camp oven lid lifter can replace three separate tools rattling around your kit, and why the smartest fuel-saving habit might have nothing to do with your car at all – it’s what you do with your bike, your kids’ public transport cards, and your online shopping cart in the weeks before you even leave.
Tune in for a genuinely useful hour on stretching your fuel budget further, no fuel additives or dodgy chip tunes required!
Shortcuts:
00:00 – Welcome
02:37 – Why we’re talking fuel economy: rising petrol prices
06:58 – Tip 1: vehicle weight is the biggest fuel economy factor
07:32 – Pack multi-purpose gear, not three single-use items
09:34 – The shift to smaller, more fuel-efficient camping vehicles
14:03 – Choosing lighter, more compact camp gear
16:29 – The payback: spending more upfront to save on fuel long-term
19:31 – Aerodynamics: what a roof rack really costs you
22:33 – Rooftop tents: weight, drag, and lighter alternatives
24:34 – Awnings and add-ons: only carry what you’ll actually use
26:03 – Towing vs. roof racks: which hurts fuel economy more?
32:06 – Vehicle maintenance and servicing for better efficiency
34:46 – Tyres: size, tread type, and rolling resistance
37:49 – Driving habits: smooth acceleration, speed, and slipstreaming
41:06 – Know your vehicle’s range – don’t overfill your tank
42:13 – Wrap-up: three key takeaways and a call for your fuel-saving hacks
Products mentioned in this episode
Helinox chairs and tables – discussed at length as the benchmark for lightweight, compact camp furniture, compared against bulkier chairs and cheaper knock-off versions
Zempire tents – specifically the Shape Shifter and Aerospeed ranges, cited as lightweight alternatives to rooftop tents – a 10-person Aerospeed tent at ~14-15kg
23ZERO and Inspired Overland – mentioned as rooftop tent brands, contrasted as heavier options (30-40kg) compared to the lighter Zempire tents
Previous episodes mentioned
Ep37 – Towing a Caravan with Kev
Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of the Snowys Camping Show Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, or Podcast Addict so you never miss an upload.
If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.
Catch you out there!
From tent pegs and air tents, to setups for summer and one-pot wonders – our gear gurus Ben and Lauren unpack the topics on every camper’s tongue, taking each minute to the limit with how-to’s, destinations, and expert interviews. Be it a swag, tent, or ‘swent’ – set up camp with us!