toad versus no toad

We have a 24' C and never have had a Toad per se but... I do have a 6 X 10' cargo trailer {14' overall} that I use to haul either my Indian Springfield motorcycle or our Polaris Rzr side by side depending on what sort of fun we want to have on any given trip.

I guess you could consider either the bike or the Rzr a Toad and they do see duty in that function though their primary purpose is having way too much fun. You have yet see any National Park until you do it from the back of a motorcycle and the Rzr is street legal in most states. We are planning on doing Yellowstone and Grand Teton in June and only need to find a site within 20 - 50 miles of either park and can then easily ride the bike to and through.

We went with the 24' C so as to never "need" a Toad and that has worked out very well even when we leave the trailer, bike and Rzr home. Did a 2 month 7,800 mile coast to coast trip a couple of years ago and never even came close to needing a Toad. It was always nice to know that no matter where we went, even if they only had one site we would fit. Sightseeing and even grocery getting was always easy to do and we spent more then half of our nights "Mooch Docking" {I love that term, LMAO} staying with friends and family. While many had lots of room some did not an any rig larger than ours would not have fit.

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

We have a 26’ Class C and towed our Jeep Liberty out west last fall.
Class C > 5000 miles
Jeep. > 2000 miles
We enjoy riding fire lanes to spot wildlife and would have missed a lot without the Jeep.
Getting gas while hooked up was never an issue.

LarryDel wrote:
My wife and I currently tow a 4 door jeep wrangler. We are planning a trip out west (from our home in Delaware). We plan to visit as many National Parks as possible. We have always towed a vehicle, but it is a nuisance to gas up in tight crowded gas staions, hook up and unhook, extra weight going up and down mountains, poor gas mileage, etc. We were thinking of going without a tow vehicle and rely on Uber or car rentals as needed. We thought we might save enough on improved gas mileage to pay for car rentals. But not sure Uber or car rentals will be available where we are going. Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcomed.

From your profile, it looks as if you have about a 30 foot Class C? In my opinion that length is too long to try and get to destinations or around at destinations without renting a small vehicle or pulling your own.

However, it's a different situation with a smaller Class C. We've had a 24 foot Class C for around 13 years and put over 76,000 miles on it and have never towed or rented. We've traveled all over the U.S. visiting national parks, state parks, private parks, county parks, staying on private land, and exploring out in the middle of nowhere ... plus many other places when making two long trips across the U.S. - one of 9 weeks and one of 10 weeks.

There is something to be said for always having your little home always with you - for quick rest breaks, quick potty breaks, and a hot or cold snack anytime - even when in a National Park parking lot. That's why we went small when we bought our Class C and have never regretted it.

All I can do is agree with everyone else. Take the toad. Never had an issue getting gas, if it looks tight, stop on shoulder before committing. Go to next gas station if you feel uncomfortable at the first. Also start looking for gas when the guage reaches 1/2.
Extra fuel used, minimal, convenience with toad, priceless.

Ken

Nuisance? It’s part of RVing, not something to complain about. When life gets too easy, you’re dead!

My usual was drive the DP someplace and plant it, then use the toad to go here and there, even renting motel rooms on occasion. Going on a trip without a toad was unthinkable 95% of the time!

Now with my little Toyota I never take a toad.

Our situation is different than yours. We don't have a toad and never have. We have had a motorhome for nine years, over 60,000 miles. Sure, there are a few times that we have wished to have had a toad. But, they are few. A lot of national parks have free public transportation. Most that do not are close to cities that have rental car agencies. Yellowstone Natl Park, for example, is very close to a nice town that has great RV parks and rental cars. Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon Natl Parks have great public transportation. And, discourage private cars in the parks. It is my opinion that if you leave the toad at home, you will not regret it. In fact, unless the toad is your daily driver, you may even consider selling it. I will note that before we got our Class C, we had a Foretravel diesel pusher.

We are 30' with a toad, and have used Walmart filling stations all over the eastern and western without unhooking. If we are leaving a campground and it is not too far, DW will drive the toad to the filling station, then we hook up the taod while I am filling the MH tank.

My 26’ E450 V10 powered Class-C averages 8.5 mpg when not pulling my 3000 lb toad, 8.0 mpg when pulling it.

whemme wrote:
Gas stations in the west part of the US are more open and as not as tightly packed as the eastern states where you live. I have always been able to fill my Class-C and toad without unhooking them.

x2 even when driving a friends 42 ft. with a toad no problem. As far as fuel mileage. I drove on a trip of 275 miles with the toad, next trip without the toad, same trip same


mileage. My 2 door JK had no effect on mileage. I forgot it was there until I made a left turn into a street...