Towing vs. Non Towing

TOW DOLLY The only way to go -We have three front wheel cars and can take anyone we want instead of having plates on each one-also 4 down or tow dolly cannot be backed up any great distance-if you are going to buy a new car for towing then maybe 4 down BUT if you already have front wheel cars tow dolly is the better choice -UNLESS you got lots of money & trailers are out of the question just because they take up lotta room.
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We have a car in Lake Havasu City, AZ. so when we go down for the winter from Washington State I don't have to tow both ways!

Just wondering how you sitesee without a vehicle? We like to explore and not sit in a campground. We travel backroads, explore unique small cities and completely check out our national parks. We would never think of doing that by driving our motorhome constantly from our campground site. Just curious.

I think it really depends on how you will be vacationing with your motorhome. If you plan on taking your motorhome to a destination and leaving it there for multiple days, then having a tow or rent vehicle is necessary. If you have a car at home that can be modified to tow, then do it. If you plan on using your motorhome to take vacation tours, meaning that you do not plan on staying somewhere for more than one or two nights at the most, then you may not need a tow vehicle at all. For me, I would rather leave the tow vehicle at home, but will take it if I feel like I will need it. I just got back from a two week vacation in the motorhome and did not need an extra vehicle at all. We also did not stay in one place for more than two nights at a time. Towing is no problem. Would advise you to modify one of your vehicles to tow. Renting is too much of a hassle.

bshpilot wrote:
i want in on your rental rates ! where are you renting cars for less than 16 bucks a day (aka less than 500 a month) ?

even with my corporate rates (no mileage) a pos chevy spark would cost me more than 800 bucks a month before taxes and fees (expect over a grand w/ the taxes etc).

Ok, 16 may be a stretch but have rented for less than that in a number of cities. Average would be more like 24. Have never rented for a full month. I can almost always get an economy rental from Enterprise for that rate. Just call the local office and tell them its all your insurance will pay what do they have. They have unpublished insurance reimbursement rentals available almost all the time with 24hr advance notice. They also have the same rates for service rentals at many car dealerships with contracted Enterprise rental desks (most Ford dealers) And they pick you up. Occasionally we will splurge on a really nice convertible or sports car rental and really upgrade the trip too. Variety is a nice benefit.

bluwtr49 wrote:
What invariably happens, with those few without a toad, is that that slowly start bumming rides to the store 'cause they don't always rent a car. This does not go un-noticed by others and, while tolerated, is not appreciated.

If you decide to go toad-less, please don't impose on others.....it will not make friends.

Yea well if you toad, don't bother asking others for help when something on your rig is broken or you need other help....it will not make friends....

Horse Puckey. What a snobbish stuck up attitude. Sure glad my wife and I are not that way nor most of the folks we meet while RVing. We have made many long time friends after meeting through necessity, both ways.

Besides, if you are REALLY all that worried about running out of milk, most towns of size large enough to have a couple grocery stores have at least one that will deliver for a fee. Lots of elderly get their groceries this way. Many campgrounds have convenience stores and just a bit of planning goes a long way.

Again, we have done it both ways. There are + and - either way but we find it much easier and lower stress to go without now and rent or ride a bike (we always have a pair of bikes in the basement). We have also taken to trailering our Spyder's to interesting places to ride. Towing both a toad and the bike trailer would not work.

*Delete*Double post*

For years we rented at our destination. However, that got old - trying to plan your destination where there would be a rental agency nearby etc. If renting from Enterprise, they will come to the campground and pick you up for the rental, which is convenient - provided that is that there's one nearby. You also have to plan your arrival around the business hours of the car rental office. Then, you still have to return the car when finished. That proved to be a pain may times as the rental office was not always in a good location to drive the rig to.

We now tow DW's 03 Explorer (which BTW just happens to match the paint on our MH perfectly!). As someone else mentioned, it opens up a lot more freedom when traveling. Now, we don't have to worry about planning a destination around the location of a car rental location. We now plan our destination in accordance to where WE want to be.

One other benefit to towing..Should you ever have the unfortunate experience of your rig breaking down whereas it needs to be towed in for repairs, you now have YOUR OWN transportation with you. You won't be stranded while your rig is being repaired. No hunting around for a rental car in unknown places, trying to get a ride or Taxi to rent a car etc. Just another "something" to think about.

A lot depends on how you plan to travel. If you want to drive to a single destination and stay there for a few weeks and then drive home, towing a vehicle with you may not be economical, unless you already have a vehicle that can be towed 4 down.
If you plan on visiting many of the sights, over the span of several months, than I feel a toad is essential.
It also depends on where you plan to go. Not all destinations may have convenient car rental facilities. Large destinations will be no problem, but some smaller, less popular or more remote locations, may not have cars for rent.
Then you have to figure the size of your coach. Obviously a smaller coach will be able to travel on certain roads, and fit in to parking areas for restaurants, that a longer coach may not. There are just way too many variables and there is no right answer without knowing all of your travel plans, family size, and expectations for a specific trip.

univmd wrote:
We did not tow the first two years, thinking we were all cool and practical with bikes. Wrong. Since we started towing, we have seen so much more of where we RV, and having your own car is priceless, just like having your own home!

i have to admit a few times when we didn't tow i relaxed on an entirely different level....

once the jacks went down we were there to stay, if we didn't have it then we must not need it or we'd figure out a way to do w/out it.