Towing... what is the cost????

[mgfiest]

I read about some disadvantage with towing but they don't really go into the cost of this disadvantage.

So what disadvantage I would like to know is the fuel consumption lost. Either gas or diesel. If you can go 600 miles on a tank without a toad... will you only get 300 miles on a tank with a toad. If you use a toad, do you need to upgrade your transmission to accommodate, if so then that is an added cost. Then there is the brake system.. I assume that is an added cost.

So I am thinking there is a major add on.. if you do tow a vehicle.

If it gets that much... it maybe better to rent a car, when you get to your destination.

[Rick_Jay]

We have the rig in our signature. Fully loaded the rig weighs about 21,000-21,500 lbs. and our Honda Odyssey weighs in at just under 4,500 lbs.

Roughly speaking, we probably see a 0.5 mpg decrease in fuel efficiency, and we average about 7.0 mpg-8.5 mpg depending upon generator/AC use, terrain and speed.

We use a brake system and don't notice any difference in stopping ability. However, I can tell feel the Odyssey back there when trying to accelerate. The RV is feels peppier (if you can use that word with a motorhome) when the Odyssey is not connected. But as I said, with the Silent Partner Braking System, I really don't notice any difference in stopping ability when towing.

The cost while travelling is probably a non-issue. The major expense is the initial set-up. If you're handy and can do that on your own, then you can save some $$$.

~Rick

[bluwtr49]

I set up our Jeep for ~1,200 including a Ready Brake but buying a used tow bar assy.

The cost of towing over a 4,000 mile trip is an extra 10 to 20 gallons of fuel or there-a-bouts. Insignificant in the overall picture. On level ground the rolling resistance of a toad is hardly noticeable and it's tucked in so closely to the MH that wind drag is minimal.

IMHO, cost of towing is a non-issue.

[Trackrig]

I had forgotten about this thread.

Heavy toad clicky

Bill

[JackMS]

When I started towing my Chevrolet 2500, which weighs close to 6000lbs, my mileage went up about 1/2 mpg. Why? Because when I am towing I slow down from about 72 to 65. So as others have said, there are much bigger factors in fuel mileage than the toad. Although I would recommend something less than 6000 lbs as it pushed my little motorhome around a bit.

As for cost, it looks like most of the estimates given are to have it done. You could save a good bit if you can do some of the install yourself

[topflite51]

Fuel cost differential of towing a toad or not, I believe is insignificant. Can't say that that is the case with setup costs to tow.

[MSHappyCampers]

I don't think my MH even knows the toad is back there! I've never checked the fuel mileage with and without the toad, but I don't think it could be making much difference.

We went with the ReadyBrute towbars with built-in ReadyBrake and saved hundreds of dollars over other products I looked at.

My total cost to get set up for towing was $2032. That included the tow bars, supplemental braking, base plate, toad wiring kit, and complete installation.

I would definitely recommend getting set up for towing instead of renting a car. If you do much traveling the cost of car rental would soon pay for the towing setup and I would NOT want to have the hassle of car rental!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless! :B

[fourmat]

Your expense will be getting the toad set up or buying a dolly Once that is spent the cost while towing is pretty insignificant.Renting at destination can be a pain and expensive as well, depending on your destination and duration

[rk911]

mgfiest wrote:
I read about some disadvantage with towing but they don't really go into the cost of this disadvantage.

So what disadvantage I would like to know is the fuel consumption lost. Either gas or diesel. If you can go 600 miles on a tank without a toad... will you only get 300 miles on a tank with a toad. If you use a toad, do you need to upgrade your transmission to accommodate, if so then that is an added cost. Then there is the brake system.. I assume that is an added cost.

So I am thinking there is a major add on.. if you do tow a vehicle.

If it gets that much... it maybe better to rent a car, when you get to your destination.

whoever is telling you that you'll suffer a 50% decrease in MPG if you tow is flat out wrong. we tow either a 2003 jeep wrangler or a 2010 jeep liberty and the decrease in overall MPG is significantly less than 1-mpg. how do I know? I keep precise records.

we tow with a Blue Ox towbar and baseplate and the Unified Tow Brake from US Gear. we had everything installed so the cost was higher than if I had done it myself but I wanted it done right.

the advantages of having a toad far, far outweigh the disadvantages. and about the only disadvantage I can think of is the cost of the towbar, baseplate and aux. braking system.

[Effy]

Towing a car behind ours has no noticeable impact to mpg. Your only real cost impact is the initial purchase to set it up to tow. After that, it's really nominal. Conversely it saves you from renting a car, you have a dinghy in case your rig would break down, you can load a few items in it, and it offers complete freedom and self sufficiency. I wouldn't be without it.

[michelb]

I haven't towed enough with our gasser to really tell the affect on mileage but my initial observation was that we lost a good 0.5 to 1 mpg when we were pulling a toad in our 98 PA 36B with a Chev 454.

[mgfiest]

Thanks for the all the feedback... guess I will do some research on all the addons before I purchased a used one and I better see about a smaller toad... lol.

[wny_pat1]

I was able to purchase everything I needed, new baseplate (including installation), new BlueOx towbar, used Readybrake, and wiring pigtail for under $1000.00. Was very thrifty about where I purchased the equipment. There are RV stores which sell on Ebay and that is were I purchased the new baseplate and new towbar. The ReadyBrake I found on a RV forum classified page. I wired my own pigtail for lights and brakes. My neighbor owns a body shop and installed the baseplate for a great price.

Started towing with my first Class A, 454 gas engine on a P32 chassis. Did not notice any extra gas consumption when towing. 7 to 8 mpg overall.

I currently tow with a 1994 Diesel Pusher powered by a little Cummins 5.9 and a Allison 4 speed. Get a solid 10+ mpg average overall when towing. Have never gone on a trip without the toad!

[beave]

The impact of towing a car is probably far less than other variables such as wind or grades.

Judging from what I have observed, you could probably tow a car without any wheels and hardly notice the drag if you have a diesel. Last year we came across a toad that had blown both front tires and ground the brake disks to the axle and part of the front cross member. The driver never noticed, but the highway patrol officer sure did.

[chuckftboy]

I really see no difference in mileage if I tow or not. Maybe 1/2 MPG loss in the worst case. Poor mileage is just part of Class A life.