Toad 4 down or car on trailer? Need advice

[Kidoo]

I am lurking at taking a toad on my next trip, I have a scooter but it is not allways the best way to go around. I am looking at a Suzuki X90 automatique and from what I have read I can pull it 4 down or I could use a trailer, full 4 wheel trailer with the car drived on.

I like the idea of a trailer because it seems much easier to back it if I have to, without disconnecting.

What are the incovenient / advantage of both tow system?

[John___Angela]

Well, having towed a lot both ways (4 down, trailer and dolly) I would have to agree with everyone on here that with careful planning and assessment for the most part you won't have to worry about backing up much pulling a toad four down. Having said that, I like the freedom that comes with pulling on a trailer. I routinely back into spots in everything from truck stops to casinos that simply aren't available to anyone else. Its a nice to have not a need to have but i still prefer it. Storage for a little trailer like ours isn't a bid deal as for the most part it just rolls under the back of the motor home like a dolly. Maybe 5 or 6 feet sticking out max.

There's no one right way to do stuff but we all have our druthers. For me I can't imagine going back to 4 down anytime soon (the smart car can be towed either way as it is really a standard without a clutch pedal) . But to have a little trailer you also need a little car, which obviously isn't right for everyone. 🙂

[obgraham]

Another vote for 4-down. In 40,000 miles of towing the CRV, I was faced with backing up a total of ONCE. On a blocked on-ramp in San Antonio. Cop told me "just back her up and get out of here". Me: "No thanks, officer, y'all'll have to wait while I unhook."

[dieharder]

Four down for me is just too easy. A trailer is just another thing that will take room on your site, if they even allow it.

[JimM68]

the problem with a trailer is "where to put it when we get there"?

If you plan ahead and are careful, not being able to back up is not a problem.

As for fun, I dare anyone in a smart car to try to follow me around Moab...

[Reddog1]

I tow 4-down, and have been doing so for about 10 years. I have a truck/camper and tow a Suzuki Samurai. I have towed with a trailer. I much rather tow 4-down.

There is too much drama using a trailer. When you reach your destination, you typically have to not only unhook the trailer, you must also find a place to store it and then park the towed. I unhook my Samurai the same as my trailer, but no need to store it.

I think the cost to setup either method is about the same if you purchase everything off the shelf.

I think a rear camera is almost a must, either way you tow.

[Kidoo]

Thanks, I guess 4 down is the winner.

[hsteinle]

not having a trailer is one less thing to have to worry about 'storing' in a campground. many campgrounds now charge for 'extra' vehicles, which a trailer is considered. As already indicated by several people. VERY few times, if ever, do you need to 'back up' especially if you are careful and plan.

[dadd]

DSDP Don wrote:
I can't say I've done both, I've only towed four down, but I think I can give a view on what I see as the pros and cons. Towing 4 down requires a car that is capable being towed, adding base plate equipment, lighting, brakes and tow bar (between $1000. - $2000 for equipment). It can't be backed up (some will for a few feet in an emergency) without disconnecting. Once the above has been purchased, connecting and disconnecting a towed can be done in just a few minutes. Typically, when we arrive at a campground, my wife checks in while I disconnect the towed in the registration lane. By the time she's registered, we're ready to head to our sight.

We travel all over the southwest and I rarely see RVer's towing cars on trailers. When I do, it's often something that they don't want on the ground, like an older hot rod. I'm guessing you probably could buy a good used trailer for about the same price as the tow equipment for four down towing. You can also backup a trailer without any issues. Those are the pros, but I see many more cons that are hard to overcome. Both when camping and at home, you have to have a place to store the trailer. I know many will say that they just get pull thru sites, but that really limits you as to where you can camp.

When arriving at a campground, without a pull through spot, you'll need a place where you can off load the car, while the trailer is still attached to the RV and then figure out where you can park the trailer if it won't fit in the site (typically won't because you also have a car to park). Lastly, it's just more work, not only do you have to attach the trailer to the coach, along with chains and wiring, like a tow bar, but now you have manipulate heavy ramps to load the car and crawl around the trailer and strap the car down.

I see that you're driving a short coach and intend on towing/trailering a small car. I would just tow it four down. You won't be that long and will easily be able to negotiate fuel stops. We're a 40' coach towing a Chevrolet Silverado 4 door, with an overall length of 65'. I rarely use the big truck stops for fuel because their prices are so much higher. In this day and age, there are very few gas stations we can't get into.

I HAVE towed both ways and this response pretty well covers all the pros and cons......I trailered for 2 years and then went 4-down.....I'll never go back to trailering

[richarfg]

I've done both; prefer 4 down. Bought a new trailer in October 2014, drove 400 miles, had a flat and couldn't feel it in the coach. By the time I recognized I had a flat, I had ruined the tire and rim. Wife and I realized that it could cause more problems than we care to deal with. Going to Alaska in May...don't want to worry about 4 more tires to ruin on bad road. I think I will forever be a toad carrier! BTW...you can back a toad if you are travelling with someone...have them steer the toad as you back.

[mowermech]

Over the years, I have done all three methods of towing a vehicle:
1. four down. Very easy, IF your vehicle can be towed that way. However, if expensive modifications are required (lube pump, driveshaft disconnect) IMO the advantage is lost. the braking system, if you want one, is also fairly expensive. while some people say you can back up, I tried it once, and failed, I will not do it again.

2. On a dolly. fairly easy, great for front wheel drive vehicles, not so great for rear wheel drive vehicles, no good at all for 4X4 or AWD vehicles. Backing up is NOT recommended. the dolly may or may not have brakes, and if brakes are installed they may be surge or electric.

3. On a trailer. Fairly easy to load, IMO. Can be backed up any distance anywhere, depending only on the skill of the driver. Brakes and lights are no problem, any trailer that weighs 1500 lbs. or more unladen or 3000 lbs or more GVW (depending on your state of residence) are required by law to have them. ANY vehicle up to the weight and size limits of the trailer can be loaded. Many campgrounds have a parking area where the trailer can be dropped. A trailer can be used for other things, when necessary. I used mine to haul hay for the horses, when we had horses. IF (heaven forbid) one should break an axle or some such thing, the rig can be loaded on the trailer and taken home, instead of having to fix it so it can be towed.

the choice is, of course, purely personal preference. I tow my truck four down. I tow the PT Cruiser on a dolly. I used to have a 16 foot flatbed trailer to haul the Jeep on long trips (those big off-road tires are EXPENSIVE!!).

[John___Angela]

Kidoo wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
We have done it both ways and like both ways for different reasons. But towing on the trailer is our preffered method of towing. We like to be able to back up, the wear and tear is on an inexpensive trailer and tires.

It takes us 10 minutes to hook up vice 5 but it stores well under the rear of the motorhome so its not a bother. Storage won't be as easy with a bigger trailer so it depends on what you top I guess.

To each his own. This works for us. The car is a lot of fun too.

Nice setup, did you have the trailer build for the car?

No. Its actually a modified quad trailer, but then again, the car is about the same size and weight. 🙂

[Kidoo]

John & Angela wrote:
We have done it both ways and like both ways for different reasons. But towing on the trailer is our preffered method of towing. We like to be able to back up, the wear and tear is on an inexpensive trailer and tires.

It takes us 10 minutes to hook up vice 5 but it stores well under the rear of the motorhome so its not a bother. Storage won't be as easy with a bigger trailer so it depends on what you top I guess.

To each his own. This works for us. The car is a lot of fun too.

Nice setup, did you have the trailer build for the car?

[JaBob]

I towed for 10 years. Only once did I unhook which was caused by a detour. Majority tow a down, it's plain easier.

Bob

[John___Angela]

We have done it both ways and like both ways for different reasons. But towing on the trailer is our preffered method of towing. We like to be able to back up, the wear and tear is on an inexpensive trailer and tires.

It takes us 10 minutes to hook up vice 5 but it stores well under the rear of the motorhome so its not a bother. Storage won't be as easy with a bigger trailer so it depends on what you top I guess.

To each his own. This works for us. The car is a lot of fun too.