Allowing my SO to take our unit for the weekend ?

Either bite the bullet and go or tell your friends that the time and expense of a 6 hour drive, towing that beast, for < 24 hours is just too much to expect for a "visit". Either that, or see if they have a spare room you can use and take the compact. Personally, I'd be hard-put to do it and I d@mn-sure wouldn't let =anyone= untrained on my rig, let alone my DW do this. Now, if this is an "event" (special b-day, anniversary, wedding, etc.), then that's a different story. Just my 2 cents...

Lyle