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

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

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.

I had forgotten about this thread.

Heavy toad clicky

Bill

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.