To towed or not to towed?

[Otexplorer]

To tow our own vehicle on trips or rent one at our ultimate destination?

That is the question.

My wife and I just traded in our 37 Ft Montana High Country 5th wheel for a Thor Ace 33.1 Class A.

We took it to a Thousand Trails campground close-by last week and fell in love with it.

The Class A was a breeze to set up and then
To get back on the way, four days later.

As it was close by, we just shuttled our cars down and back home.

Today we were planning our next adventure, a state or two away and the question arose about towing her car with us or renting one upon arrival.

With our 5th wheel, we just used my F-350 that we towed the 5th wheel.

What’s the best advice?

Get a tow bar? Get a 2 wheel/4 wheel car trailer or just rent one on our next two week trip?

Cheers
Jim

[Chateau_Nomad]

We went through the same thought process. Towing our Grand Design trailer we had the truck for excursions. Now with our class C, the further we got "out there" away from civilization, the more we wished we had a vehicle to get around in.

The places we go rental is out of the question. Luckily I had my classic Jeep TJ Wrangler "resting" in the garage, so it was a simple matter to equip it for flat towing.

We just returned from an epic 6 week trip from Ohio to Colorado... and the Jeep was absolutely a necessity.

We might take short weekends without the toad, but it's absolutely wonderful having a "get around" vehicle at further away spots.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Otexplorer

To tow our own vehicle on trips or rent one at our ultimate destination?

That is the question.

My wife and I just traded in our 37 Ft Montana High Country 5th wheel for a Thor Ace 33.1 Class A.

We took it to a Thousand Trails campground close-by last week and fell in love with it.

The Class A was a breeze to set up and then
To get back on the way, four days later.

As it was close by, we just shuttled our cars down and back home.

Today we were planning our next adventure, a state or two away and the question arose about towing her car with us or renting one upon arrival.

With our 5th wheel, we just used my F-350 that we towed the 5th wheel.

What’s the best advice?

Get a tow bar? Get a 2 wheel/4 wheel car trailer or just rent one on our next two week trip?

Cheers
Jim

For us it depends on the trip. If we are going for site-seeing, we tow. If we are going to a convention rally or visiting friends we seldom tow, we mooch or rent.

[MJC62]

Towed for us. No matter where we go inevitably something gets forgotten and having the SUV to run to town to pick up supplies without breaking down is great.
We have gone on several 3-4 day excursions where the car sat where we parked it, but if we left it at home we would need it.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Otexplorer

To tow our own vehicle on trips or rent one at our ultimate destination?

That is the question.

My wife and I just traded in our 37 Ft Montana High Country 5th wheel for a Thor Ace 33.1 Class A.

We took it to a Thousand Trails campground close-by last week and fell in love with it.

The Class A was a breeze to set up and then
To get back on the way, four days later.

As it was close by, we just shuttled our cars down and back home.

Today we were planning our next adventure, a state or two away and the question arose about towing her car with us or renting one upon arrival.

With our 5th wheel, we just used my F-350 that we towed the 5th wheel.

What’s the best advice?

Get a tow bar? Get a 2 wheel/4 wheel car trailer or just rent one on our next two week trip?

Cheers
Jim

For today, I would suggest towing it on the trip using the best option per your owners manual. Her car may require a 4 wheel trailer?

For tomorrow, you need to decide how often will you have this question? Getting a flat tow etc. By towing it on this trip you will immediately learn if you like towing it with trailer or not.

For me, I have never rented on a trip. I have towed with two wheel & 4 wheel trailers with no issues other than hassle of getting trailer and the dirt I rigged my vehicle for flat tow, but we only take it on a trip where we just know we will need.

I don't know when or if I will ever break-even with the cost, but saving money was not my goal. I simply wanted the ability to flat tow if I ever wanted to.

[Lt Keefer]

I'll never go some where in my RV without my dinghy. Back in the 90s we didn't have a dinghy as our class c couldn't tow anything. It sucked every time we ran out of something at a campground. We either did without, paid extra at the camp store or unplugged and drove the camper to the store. For us, the dinghy is a requirement no matter the purpose of the trip.

[lwmcguire]

We tow the F150 or Escape on a dolly every trip.

Never had a breakdown. However, having a towed then would be very handy.

Less than 1 mpg difference with the towed and so handy when seeing the attractions.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Otexplorer

To tow our own vehicle on trips or rent one at our ultimate destination?

That is the question.

My wife and I just traded in our 37 Ft Montana High Country 5th wheel for a Thor Ace 33.1 Class A.

We took it to a Thousand Trails campground close-by last week and fell in love with it.

The Class A was a breeze to set up and then
To get back on the way, four days later.

As it was close by, we just shuttled our cars down and back home.

Today we were planning our next adventure, a state or two away and the question arose about towing her car with us or renting one upon arrival.

With our 5th wheel, we just used my F-350 that we towed the 5th wheel.

What’s the best advice?

Get a tow bar? Get a 2 wheel/4 wheel car trailer or just rent one on our next two week trip?

Cheers
Jim

Pros and cons to both.
Is the car towable without a trailer?
Do you plan to travel to places where rental is impractical?
Lotsa stuff to think about.

"Most" people who use their RV frequently and travel distances prefer to flat tow a TOAD. If you are younger you may be able to put up with dolly towing a FWD car, but a lot of people start doing that and quickly shift to flat-towing.

[Mr Sunshine]

Welcome to the forum!

We traded our 35' Montana 5th wheel for a 33' Class A several years ago. We knew that the way we travel we wanted to take a car along. Being without a car works for some, but not us. Friends have tried a dolly, and eventually tired of the loading process and the constant concern about the straps that hold the car on. 4 down towing comes at a significant cost.

We had a car that could be towed and we swallowed hard and paid to have it set up to flat tow. For us, the expense of getting our car tow ready is just part of the RV experience cost. Hooking (and unhooking) takes only a few minutes, and we're off on our way exploring the area.

[paulwadley]

We started out two years ago dolly towing our 2014 Ford Flex. We drove cross country and it worked for that first year. We went with the tow dolly for the cost. We then traded in our Class C for a Class A and decided to flat tow the same car. I would never go back to dolly towing. Dolly towing requires climbing down on the ground to hook up the safety chains each time you want to use the car. Dolly towing usually took me 15-20 minutes to complete each time. Flat towing takes less than 10 minutes and no crawling on the ground. The turning radius between the two methods is also very different. Flat towing allows a sharper turn radius making it easier to turn. You do need to make sure your vehicle is flat towable. Tow dolly and related equipment ran about $2500. Flat towing equipment and vehicle base plate/braking system ran about $5500.

Paul

[Pete'sMH]

Strongly recommend flat towing - even if you have to trade cars to do it. Much easier although still a bit of a hassle. We now just take the RV when we want to go anywhere. Got good enough at driving it that it’s no longer a chore. I even parallel parked it a while ago! Might not work if you’re over 30 ft but it has transformed our travel.

[saddlesore]

We are true "Full Timers" and as such, tend to "Stay Put" for weeks and sometimes months at a time..Having a "4 down" toad is a required piece of equipment..

[cgeace29.3]

We do a cost comparison calculation of rental vehicles vs flat towing our Honda CRV including the cost of gas for reduced mileage in our MH towing, wear and tear on CRV , etc, etc

[Bonbonmineo]

Originally Posted by Otexplorer

To tow our own vehicle on trips or rent one at our ultimate destination?

That is the question.

My wife and I just traded in our 37 Ft Montana High Country 5th wheel for a Thor Ace 33.1 Class A.

We took it to a Thousand Trails campground close-by last week and fell in love with it.

The Class A was a breeze to set up and then
To get back on the way, four days later.

As it was close by, we just shuttled our cars down and back home.

Today we were planning our next adventure, a state or two away and the question arose about towing her car with us or renting one upon arrival.

With our 5th wheel, we just used my F-350 that we towed the 5th wheel.

What’s the best advice?

Get a tow bar? Get a 2 wheel/4 wheel car trailer or just rent one on our next two week trip?

Cheers
Jim

Owning a Class C, we traveled on some month long trips and a few short excursions and not having a car to see the local sites wAs difficult. We used Uber or Lyft Agee times but a lot of places that wZs not an option. We found a used Honda Fit 6 speed actually thru this site, and it is a game changer! Love my little Honda gem. We tow ours flat with a tow bar and it so easy , can unhook in a jiffy!

[KrisCatNC]

Originally Posted by paulwadley

We started out two years ago dolly towing our 2014 Ford Flex. We drove cross country and it worked for that first year. We went with the tow dolly for the cost. We then traded in our Class C for a Class A and decided to flat tow the same car. I would never go back to dolly towing. Dolly towing requires climbing down on the ground to hook up the safety chains each time you want to use the car. Dolly towing usually took me 15-20 minutes to complete each time. Flat towing takes less than 10 minutes and no crawling on the ground. The turning radius between the two methods is also very different. Flat towing allows a sharper turn radius making it easier to turn. You do need to make sure your vehicle is flat towable. Tow dolly and related equipment ran about $2500. Flat towing equipment and vehicle base plate/braking system ran about $5500.

Paul

I'm with you on the flat tow. We have a 32' Four Winds and at first we towed our Hyundai on a dolly. We recently bought a Jeep and had to go to flat tow. Our dolly was pretty expensive at 4,000 the flat tow Blue Ox was going to be close to that also. We lucked out as the Jeep had the the Blue Ox on the front we just needed to get for the back of the RV. Talking to a friend and they had one for sale at a considerable saving.

Both hubby and I have now driven the RV flat towing and we love it. We hardly notice that we the Jeep on the back. Also, the setup is so much easier and the hassle of the dolly.

We are both happy campers now ��

[blw2]

I originally intended to set up a car when we bought our class C years ago
but never did

Mostly weekend warrior family type RVing.... 3-4 day weekends, occasionally a week trip, and a time or two longer. Our longest trip was 19 days, FL to Grand Canyon and back

We have only vary rarely wanted a car. It's no big deal if you don't set up "camp" like you're staying a month. Just unplug, wind in the slides, and drive to town.

Ans I have rarely run into a place, even big city, where I couldn't figure out routing and parking...sometimes a bit of a pain, but it hasn't been that bad.

If we'd had a car on may of those trips I'm sure we would have used it a lot....but I realize too that having it would have generated other work and frustrations along the way too.

Thinking outside my limited view of the world, I'd definitely tow something if I were full timing or nearly that....going places and staying weeks or a month at a time.... then yeah for sure, a car or a jeep or at least a motorcycle....

[CactusJuice]

I'm in the four down tow camp, but I will tell you this. If you have a gasser MH of any size it can be very difficult to fill up on the road. It's hard enough to get an open lane with just the MH but add another 20+ feet to the total and you get relegated to hoping for an outside lane or waiting for an hour while someone parks in the RV pump lane while eating dinner at Flying J. There's no backing or maneuvering with either a dolly or a four down.

You can keep your miles down to what a tank of gas will get you in a day and fill up in the early morning most places without too much hassle. Or get a diesel and go to the big rig pumps.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by CactusJuice

I'm in the four down tow camp, but I will tell you this. If you have a gasser MH of any size it can be very difficult to fill up on the road. It's hard enough to get an open lane with just the MH but add another 20+ feet to the total and you get relegated to hoping for an outside lane or waiting for an hour while someone parks in the RV pump lane while eating dinner at Flying J. There's no backing or maneuvering with either a dolly or a four down.

You can keep your miles down to what a tank of gas will get you in a day and fill up in the early morning most places without too much hassle. Or get a diesel and go to the big rig pumps.

Or just plan out your gas stop like all the other GAS Class A MHs pulling TOADS do. It is something to be aware of, but I wouldn't put it in the "CONS" category.

[Pete'sMH]

We towed four down for several years. Like many folks we began our RV life with a pop up before moving on to a couple of travel trailers, then class Cs. Finally several class As then added a towed. We finally decided to get off the “more is better” path and recently bought a small slideless class C and we’re having more fun than we’ve had in years. No worries about slides, levelers, electric gizmos, towing/parking hassles etc. we’re getting 10 mpg, insurance is less and we pocketed more than $20,000 from the downsize. Not for everyone, of course but the “back to basics” simplicity is working for us.

[paulhead]

24ft Thor 22E. Pop the transfer case in neutral and roll. Barely notice it back there. I towed cars and RV for a living for 12 years so this was second nature. I wouldn't cheap out on a tow bar but mine was a Reese for $80 on Amazon :-P . A car hauler is another more cumbersome animal.