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How useful is a Toad?

Wharfcat
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2013 Honda CRV that is capable of being towed 4 wheels down.
How many of you have a towed and what your thoughts are.
2019 F-350 DRW Crew Cab
2003 Lance lite 1025
2013 Honda CRV
40 REPLIES 40

F1bNorm
Explorer
Explorer
The test to see if we wanted to tow our CRV was to have my wife follow the MH to a favorite campground. We decided it was nice to have the car, so we set it up to tow. Depending on the destination or distance we now have the option to tow or not.

Towing: freedom to sight see, not have to store stuff in the camper to move, CRV has room for extra gear, mate can go off on their own (unless you don't mind sitting outside of quilt stores).

Not towing: Better gas mileage (about 1 MPG), easier to maneuver (you can't back up with a towd), no speed limit restriction for towing (CA-55MPH).

If you set-up your CRV, we are happy with the ReadyBrute system. I suggest you include a battery charge line.

Norm






A plus for towing whether a TC or small MH is that you can carry extra stuff in the towd.
F1BNorm

maddog348
Explorer
Explorer
jplante4 ~~ THANKS ~~ that is where i originally got lost. I tow behind my class A ~~ I do Not tow behind my TC.

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
Wharfcat wrote:
Mod I want to know what people with truck campers think.


Yes. I could have left it in TC, but you would only get replies like "just drop the camper and use the truck." Would that have been more useful than replies from people WHO ACTUALLY TOW A CRV?????

Nowhere in your profile or signature is the fact that you have a TC. It's customary to put your rig's description in your signature to avoid confusion and help people in answering your question.

Why didn't you name the thread "Can I Tow a CRV Behind a Truck Camper?" ?

burningman wrote:
And after all that... did you read the question, which is about pulling a toad behind a truck camper?


And exactly WHERE in the initial post does this exist? Here is the original post.

How Useful is a Toad?

I have a 2013 Honda CRV that is capable of being towed 4 wheels down.
How many of you have a towed and what your thoughts are.
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

zb39
Explorer
Explorer
I love having my toad behind the truck camper. It comes in handy for many reasons. I don't like to be without it.
2017 Host mammoth, sold
49 states, 41 National Parks, 7 Provinces
2019 2 door Rubicon 6 spd.
2019 Berkshire XLT 45B
2022 Host Cascade
2021 Ram 5500 Air ride

burningman
Explorer II
Explorer II
And after all that... did you read the question, which is about pulling a toad behind a truck camper?
2017 Northern Lite 10-2 EX CD SE
99 Ram 4x4 Dually Cummins
A whole lot more fuel, a whole lot more boost.
4.10 gears, Gear Vendors overdrive, exhaust brake
Built auto, triple disc, billet shafts.
Kelderman Air Ride, Helwig sway bar.

FIRE_UP
Explorer
Explorer
Wharfcat wrote:
I have a 2013 Honda CRV that is capable of being towed 4 wheels down.
How many of you have a towed and what your thoughts are.


Wharfcat,
Well, I'm not too sure how this thread got diverted into truck camper use but, I'm pretty sure you wanted info on towing your CRV and what maybe others TOW? Well, we've been motorhoming, towing, camping etc. for well over 35-36 years or so. We've towed a Toyota 2WD truck, an '11 Honda CRV EX-L All Wheel drive, an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 and, 9 different Jeep Wranglers.

Our coach doesn't move an inch, without one of our present toads. We've been broken down a couple of times in those 35 years and, it's no fun if you're dead in the water and no way to get around. Towing for some, make it harder than it needs to be. For others, it's so routine, that all aspects of it are done as second nature.

You never, ever know if and when, even something small can break down in and or on, your motorhome so, having mobility, at least to us, IS A MUST!! And we don't even think about all that Uber ****. We're not gonna RENT any car anywhere. Every single vehicle we've purchased in the last thirty years has had considerations for towing. There's quite a few various toads that are flat towable out there.

And, speaking of that, your '13 CRV is right up there at the top of the list for flat towable toads. I did all the setup for towing our '11 which, would be almost identical to yours. The entire front plastic is off in a matter of minutes if you know where to unfasten it. Then, the install of the base plate, no biggie. I did all my own (as I've done for decades) wiring when it comes to lights for it while being towed.

I'm not one of those that runs and hides when it comes to tying into factory wiring for lighting. I setup the CRV to utilize not only the RED tail lights and brake lights but, I also setup the AMBER turn signals too. When we towed it, people following it, when it was being towed, saw the exact same action with the tail lights, ALL OF THEM, as they would when it was being driven. I drew up an easy to follow diagram for wiring your CRV if you're interested.

Anyway, as stated earlier, we don't go ANYWHERE without one of our toads. The mobility for a zillion reasons, going out to dinner, lunch, breakfast, getting groceries, seeing attractions, visiting nearby friends, getting parts or supplies for the RV, and a whole lot more. And no, I don't worry about the miniscule amount of loss in miles per gallon in the coach. The darn thing only gets 6-7.5 anyways so, it is what it is.

Get your CRV hooked up and go have fun.
Scott
Scott and Karla
SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 4x4 Toad
2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND

Kayteg1
Explorer II
Explorer II
Wharfcat wrote:
I was at Yellowstone last summer and saw people using their Class C's to sight see . That didn't look too appealing....


Not the first time it comes to personal preferences and desire.
We are good hikers and have no problem to cover 6 miles any time, anywhere.
So when I drove 40' conversion, I never had a need for toad.
I did carry in bus basement a Honda trail bike in Mexico, so I could drive it on the beach roads to see if 16 tons beast can make it there, but when time come to take whole family to nearest city for dinner, I had no problem to drive the bus there.
Fact is that fuel at the time was 99 cents, so we did not worry about that.

SoonDockin
Explorer II
Explorer II
I drove my Solara class C 25 footer to Alaska. Really wish I had a toad. Only time it would have been a nuisance would have been the extra cost for ferry rides to Juneau.
2022 Ram Laramie 5500 60" CA New pic soon
2018 Arctic Fox 1140 Dry Bath
Sold 2019 Ford F450 King Ranch (was a very nice truck)

Wharfcat
Explorer
Explorer
work2much wrote:
You will have a great time in Alaska. We spent the summer a couple years ago in our TC. Can't wait to go back.


I have the same feeling I did as a kid waiting for Christmas.
2019 F-350 DRW Crew Cab
2003 Lance lite 1025
2013 Honda CRV

work2much
Explorer
Explorer
You will have a great time in Alaska. We spent the summer a couple years ago in our TC. Can't wait to go back.
2022 Ram 3500 Laramie CTD DRW Crew 4x4 Aisin 4:10 Air ride.

2020 Grand Design Solitude 2930RL 2520 watts solar. 600ah lithium. Magnum 4000 watt inverter.

Wharfcat
Explorer
Explorer
I was at Yellowstone last summer and saw people using their Class C's to sight see . That didn't look too appealing. I'm the size of a small Class C but at least I can unload like I've always done. I've never had a campground tell me I couldn't unload but I'm sure some prohibit it. I either camped at my usual campgrounds or on the beach. This summer will be my first long distance trip with the camper.
2019 F-350 DRW Crew Cab
2003 Lance lite 1025
2013 Honda CRV

yobie
Explorer
Explorer
We don't go anywhere without our toad. We learned fast the adventure is partially in the exploration of new town and seeing the sites. Makes it hard to do without easy access to a car.

burningman
Explorer II
Explorer II
At this point, wouldnโ€™t you be better off with a motorhome?
Putting a Stable-Lift on a camper makes it so ridiculously easy to load and unload you donโ€™t need to drag another vehicle. You literally press the buttons and drive out. (And pull the electric plug).
However, if I were to drag a toad, Iโ€™d use my car trailer. Then I could back up, and carry extra stuff if I wanted. And zero wear or mods on whatever vehicle.
2017 Northern Lite 10-2 EX CD SE
99 Ram 4x4 Dually Cummins
A whole lot more fuel, a whole lot more boost.
4.10 gears, Gear Vendors overdrive, exhaust brake
Built auto, triple disc, billet shafts.
Kelderman Air Ride, Helwig sway bar.

BradW
Explorer II
Explorer II
Wharfcat wrote:
I like the Ready Brute for the the simplicity.


That's what we are using and for the same reason. I'm very happy with the ready brute.

bradw
Wake Up America
2019 Lance 1062 and 2018 F-350 CC PSD 4X4 DRW
Tembrens, Rear Roadmaster Sway Bar, Torklift 48" Extention and 30K Superhitch
Our New Lance 1062 Truck Camper Unloading at Dealer Photos

Wharfcat
Explorer
Explorer
work2much wrote:
Wharfcat, here is a thread I started back on truck camper forum regarding setting up a hitch for towing behind a TC. It is different than a motorhome due to the need for a hitch extension in most cases. I don't think you will get much TC specific help here. Feel free to bump it with any new questions. Hopefully it won't migrate as well.

Hope this helps.
click here


Thanks the pics help a lot. I have decided to wait after my summer trip to Alaska to see if I really want to set up the Honda to tow. I'll be moving often so it doesn't make much sense to do it now. I like the Ready Brute for the the simplicity. I'll be closely looking at every flat tow set up I can find from now on though. I've towed lots of trailers but this is a whole new thing. Looks like it would be nice not to have to unload the camper if I'm staying in one place for a while but kind of a hassle not to be able to park in a regular parking space.
2019 F-350 DRW Crew Cab
2003 Lance lite 1025
2013 Honda CRV