Do I really need a toad?
Traveling cross country for first time in RV (34' class A/gas). I'm driving myself with no help from another adult or driver. I'd really like to NOT have to bring the car and would prefer to bike ...
Forum Discussion
Been RVing on 3 to 8 week trips at a time several times a year since 1999. Fiver for first 3 years, but since 2002 had the 36ft Gas A series and never taken a toad on any of our trips. Rented a local vehicle twice in that time = Anaheim for 4 days and Vegas for 3 days when we wanted to get out to Hoover Dam and Up to Pahrump. We have covered 43 or 44 of the states inc Hawaii and Alaska and honestly don't ever remember missing having a toad in the past 13 years. That includes having the engine blow 90 miles North of Pocatello and spending a week there awaiting a new engine install.
Mind you we are the type that are "darn it, oh well, it is what it is" and we just deal with it and adjust, others that are of an easily frustrated nature might not be so content dealing with not having a toad.
Now with all that said and done as hubby and I intend to FT in less than 2 years, we do intend to purchase a jeep and towing kit closer to that time to experience some of the off roading option in Arizona and the likes. However, even then we've discussed still doing maybe the first 6 months to a year without to see how it goes.
We've just done our travels the last 13 years to accommodate using local transportation and good walking shoes or our cycles and don't feel it's inhibited us in any way. We find we get more exercise that way than when back at home base even. We are also avid boondockers/dry campers keen to explore the area not the CG destinations, and we are not adverse to travelling and staying the night before dry camping outside an attraction we will experience the following morning/day.
We have also done North and South Dakota for several days at a time this way, driving our RV to some of the more remote locations as an enroute to the next.
So there's a different perspective to the majority for you OP if that helps. For sure I don't know that we'd be wiling to invest in purchasing a new vehicle and set up for towing just for a one off trip, and would struggle to justify the cost on that basis alone.
Mind you we are the type that are "darn it, oh well, it is what it is" and we just deal with it and adjust, others that are of an easily frustrated nature might not be so content dealing with not having a toad.
Now with all that said and done as hubby and I intend to FT in less than 2 years, we do intend to purchase a jeep and towing kit closer to that time to experience some of the off roading option in Arizona and the likes. However, even then we've discussed still doing maybe the first 6 months to a year without to see how it goes.
We've just done our travels the last 13 years to accommodate using local transportation and good walking shoes or our cycles and don't feel it's inhibited us in any way. We find we get more exercise that way than when back at home base even. We are also avid boondockers/dry campers keen to explore the area not the CG destinations, and we are not adverse to travelling and staying the night before dry camping outside an attraction we will experience the following morning/day.
We have also done North and South Dakota for several days at a time this way, driving our RV to some of the more remote locations as an enroute to the next.
So there's a different perspective to the majority for you OP if that helps. For sure I don't know that we'd be wiling to invest in purchasing a new vehicle and set up for towing just for a one off trip, and would struggle to justify the cost on that basis alone.
