Cargo carriers for extra storage

[nsraja]

Folks, I am planning on visiting Miami and Yellowstone with my extended family members and have temporary need for extra cargo space (including 6 check-in size bags and three hand carry on bags) for an upcoming trip. This is a temporary requirement and I dont want to buy something outright and babysit it for years to come. These are the options I have considered

1. Dinghy tow my 25 year old car, use a rented dolly to tow, apparently manual transmissions cannot be dinghy towed. (Put my stuffs in the car). I have a Honda Odyssey too. Just sounds stupid to tow an odyssey on dolly.
2. Rent U-Haul Utility Trailer, dump stuffs and cover it with tarp
3. Bumper mounted cargo carrier. I dont think it is big enough for 6 check-in bags. The one available on e-Tailer is bumper mounted and I dont trust that the bumper can hold 400 pounds.
4. Buy a hitch mounted carrier and weld it with more steel tubing. Just sounds stupid to me.
5. Simply fly to my destinations this time. It will not be as good as RVing adventure in Yellowstone and the Arches.

What other options I have? At this time U-Haul utility trailer option stands out.

My RV can handle 6 people easily and that's how many people will be traveling for 12 days, may be decompress at hotels every 3 days.

 

[Lt Keefer]

What kind of car are you talking about? If it's front wheel drive it can go on a dolly. If it's manual, it can be towed in neutral on a dolly.

 

[nsraja]

What kind of car are you talking about? If it's front wheel drive it can go on a dolly. If it's manual, it can be towed in neutral on a dolly.

I have a rear wheel drive E-Class Mercedes, 2018 Honda Odyssey FWD and 1993 Nissan Altima FWD 5 speed manual. All three are drivable.

 

[16ACE27]

I have a rear wheel drive E-Class Mercedes, 2018 Honda Odyssey FWD and 1993 Nissan Altima FWD 5 speed manual. All three are drivable.

Both the Honda and Nissan are towable on a dolly.

Most RWD manual transmissions are flat towable, a select few are not.
FWD manual transmissions have no set rule - look up the answer in the Owners Manual (same for automatic transmissions) or check the published Dinghy Towing Guide for the year of your car.

But why go through a flat tow setup for a temporary situation?

 

[CactusJuice]

Even if your car is towable you need more than a rope to do it. It could cost thousands to set it up for safe towing. Renting a dolly to use a car as a trailer does not sound economical or easy. My choice would be an enclosed 4-5 foot Uhaul.

 

[16ACE27]

Even if your car is towable you need more than a rope to do it. It could cost thousands to set it up for safe towing. Renting a dolly to use a car as a trailer does not sound economical or easy. My choice would be an enclosed 4-5 foot Uhaul.

Yep, $15 a day for the trailer, $45 a day for the dolly.

Another option for under 500 lbs is a hitch rack.

But both the trailer and hitch cargo carrier depend on available weight capacity on the MH and rear axle.

 

[nsraja]

Even if your car is towable you need more than a rope to do it. It could cost thousands to set it up for safe towing. Renting a dolly to use a car as a trailer does not sound economical or easy. My choice would be an enclosed 4-5 foot Uhaul.

Thanks everyone! For some reason I could not send a thank you note to 16Ace27, it says "I have to spread some thanks around" before I could thank 16Ace27.

I am always against the idea of towing behind a motorhome. Yes, enclosed trailers make more sense than utility trailers, especially when the cost difference is negligible. Given the situation I am in, should I consider a wider trailer (like a 5x8 over 4x? I am assuming wider is better. This is the first time I will be towing.

 

[MJC68]

Thanks everyone! For some reason I could not send a thank you note to 16Ace27, it says "I have to spread some thanks around" before I could thank 16Ace27.

I am always against the idea of towing behind a motorhome. Yes, enclosed trailers make more sense than utility trailers, especially when the cost difference is negligible. Given the situation I am in, should I consider a wider trailer (like a 5x8 over 4x? I am assuming wider is better. This is the first time I will be towing.

Which motorhome do you own? (How many feet?) Have you ever been to Yellowstone? Do you intend to drive your motorhome around the park? If you haven't been to Yellowstone and you have a MH much over 22'-24' overall length you might be in for a rough go. Parking at all of the exhibits and features is VERY crowded with limited RV parking. AND to make matters worse most there are many entitled idjits that see no problem parking their SUV in the limited amount of RV spaces.
What is the problem with towing a vehicle behind a motorhome? There are probably thousands of RVr's doing it.
Towing that mini-van might well be the best move you can make if you plan on doing any driving in and around the Yellowstone.

 

[Lt Keefer]

I re-read your first post. Texas to Miami to Yellowstone in 12 days. IMO that is too many miles in too few days to see and enjoy any of it.

 

[MJC68]

I re-read your first post. Texas to Miami to Yellowstone in 12 days. IMO that is too many miles in too few days to see and enjoy any of it.

Good catch Lt.
We have been to Yellowstone half a dozen times over the years. If you don't give yourself at least 4-5 days in Yellowstone, you won't see much of the park. Yellowstone is too awe inspiring to rush through.

 

[Jimbo56]

Having done 29 NP’s and monuments last year, I’m glad we dollied a vehicle. The only motorhomes I saw mostly were rentals being operated by virgins who had no clue. At Zion RV resort they use nylon fittings so the renters don’t take off, hooked up, and pull water setups with them. Luggage to not, dolly a car. And good luck doing that trip in 12 days.

 

[nsraja]

Which motorhome do you own? (How many feet?) Have you ever been to Yellowstone? Do you intend to drive your motorhome around the park? If you haven't been to Yellowstone and you have a MH much over 22'-24' overall length you might be in for a rough go. Parking at all of the exhibits and features is VERY crowded with limited RV parking. AND to make matters worse most there are many entitled idjits that see no problem parking their SUV in the limited amount of RV spaces.
What is the problem with towing a vehicle behind a motorhome? There are probably thousands of RVr's doing it.
Towing that mini-van might well be the best move you can make if you plan on doing any driving in and around the Yellowstone.

Thanks everyone for more input. My RV is 2022 Thor Quantum SE27 (not the highend version) and it is 29' long. I will consider towing Odyssey on dolly. Yes I do see more than 50% of RVers tow a vehicle, it is just that I am not comfortable with.

Last year was the first RV trip to Yellowstone and I want to do it again this year. Yes it is a stretch to do Miami and Yellowstone in 12 days in RV. I have to help my sister check off her must do places.

 

[Lt Keefer]

Good catch Lt.
We have been to Yellowstone half a dozen times over the years. If you don't give yourself at least 4-5 days in Yellowstone, you won't see much of the park. Yellowstone is too awe inspiring to rush through.

I've never been to Yellowstone. The reported crowds have always kept me away from it and frankly other NPs. I have spent a lot of time in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon driving off the beaten paths. That entire part of our continent is truly impressive. The 'regular' natural beauty of just driving down a state or provincial highway makes everything else seem insignificant.

 

[nsraja]

I've never been to Yellowstone. The reported crowds have always kept me away from it and frankly other NPs. I have spent a lot of time in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon driving off the beaten paths. That entire part of our continent is truly impressive. The 'regular' natural beauty of just driving down a state or provincial highway makes everything else seem insignificant.

Even though it can get crowded in July, late May and early June are not that bad. We were there last week of May last year and we were able to see snow on the sides of the roads, mostly around the east entrance area. Most population go through west and north entrance but east entrance is much more majestic IMO. And the road from Bighorns to Cody is also interestingly lonely and peaceful.

Grand Teton peaks are great, visible from far far away, but the National Park is too much hype (I know I am going to make some folks angry), one exception is Jenny lake which is absolutely beautiful and only place worthy of the going into the park. And the govt owned campgrounds are way over priced.

 

[cgeace29.3]

Another option depending on cost would be to ship your luggage via ups to the campgrounds call the campground beforehand and let them know then they can hold them for you

 

[macdaddy1111]

Yep, $15 a day for the trailer, $45 a day for the dolly.

Another option for under 500 lbs is a hitch rack.

But both the trailer and hitch cargo carrier depend on available weight capacity on the MH and rear axle.

That rack is a pile of crap. Flimsy and cheap Chinese steal.

 

[williamprunty]

I use option 3

First attempt on option 3 was a failure, but second attempt works amazingly. I will say you get what you pay for. Also the anti bounce attachment is worth it.

 

[williamprunty]

I re-read your first post. Texas to Miami to Yellowstone in 12 days. IMO that is too many miles in too few days to see and enjoy any of it.

I agree not enough time.

 

[roguewave@sbcglobal.net]

Extra Space for Stuff

Folks, I am planning on visiting Miami and Yellowstone with my extended family members and have temporary need for extra cargo space (including 6 check-in size bags and three hand carry on bags) for an upcoming trip. This is a temporary requirement and I dont want to buy something outright and babysit it for years to come. These are the options I have considered

1. Dinghy tow my 25 year old car, use a rented dolly to tow, apparently manual transmissions cannot be dinghy towed. (Put my stuffs in the car). I have a Honda Odyssey too. Just sounds stupid to tow an odyssey on dolly.
2. Rent U-Haul Utility Trailer, dump stuffs and cover it with tarp
3. Bumper mounted cargo carrier. I dont think it is big enough for 6 check-in bags. The one available on e-Tailer is bumper mounted and I dont trust that the bumper can hold 400 pounds.
4. Buy a hitch mounted carrier and weld it with more steel tubing. Just sounds stupid to me.
5. Simply fly to my destinations this time. It will not be as good as RVing adventure in Yellowstone and the Arches.

What other options I have? At this time U-Haul utility trailer option stands out.

My RV can handle 6 people easily and that's how many people will be traveling for 12 days, may be decompress at hotels every 3 days.

I tow a Honda Accord behind my Hurricane 34p. This gives me transportation at my destination. I would do the Odyssey and rent a dolly from U-Haul. Just check the weight of the Odyssey and the dolly and the extra luggage into consideration when calculating GVWR. If you can tow that much weight, then use the tow/haul mode on your transmission. I use the CAT Scales at a local truck stop to weigh everything accurately.

 

[nsraja]

First attempt on option 3 was a failure, but second attempt works amazingly. I will say you get what you pay for. Also the anti bounce attachment is worth it.

One person suggested shipping, I did consider that but for 6 check-in bags, UPS will easily charge $1000.

Cargo carrier option is what I am settling on. I asked my sister to cut down on baggage count (from 6 to 3) and fly into Idaho Falls. Removed Miami from the trip, we are going to take it slow and do only Yellowstone and Arches this time (if greed has its way, may be Carlsbad on the way back to Houston).

I too am worried about the bounce and weld failure. I am planning on bolting two angle bars to the outer end of the carrier and the other ends go lower than the hitch, kind of like supported shelf. I will send pictures once I figure something out. If I have a mod like this I can carry additional water and soft drinks for future trips, storage is always an issue and we love the RO'ed Houston water which tastes much better than any bottled water. For the short term, I need space to carry 160 pounds of check-in baggage.

GCWR is not something I pay attention to - two adults and two kids travel most of the time, plus basic clothing, bedding and food supplies for 5 days, 1/2 freshwater tank, gas tank, well loaded tool box, 6 pieces of leveling 2x8 wood blocks, two camp cots, occasional grey/black water when we cannot dump. I dont know if that is excessive.