Tow or drive the dinghy to the mountains?

[Ponderosa]

So, I am going to take my annual trip to the midwest and on the way stop at my property in the AZ mountains which is at about 7000 feet elevation. I am traveling from Phoenix which is at about 900 feet. My question is is it better to have my copilot drive the toad up the hills or drag it up there with the RV? I figure gas is cheaper towing it, but the strain on the engine/tranny etc and the slow down on the grades may make it better to just take the two separately over the first leg here.

[tragusa3]

We unhook and drive separate for the steepest passes. We don't need to, but we do. A typical trip for us is about 5k miles. We drive 100 miles of it not towing. No big deal and makes us feel better.

[BarabooBob]

People make fun of driving through Iowa but it is deceiving. I once rode my bicycle on the Coors Classic bike trip from Golden Colorado,up to Estes Park, rode through Rocky Mountain NP to Granby and back to Golden. We crossed the Rockies twice. Another year I rode from the western edge of Iowa to the eastern edge. The Iowa trip climbed twice as many vertical feet as the Colorado trip. It just did it 200 feet at a time. Hill after hill after hill after rolling hill.
The difference with driving a rig across Iowa nothing has time to get hot on the short climbs. When riding bike, 200 feet will definitely heat you up.

[whemme]

Well I have climbed twice up to 11,158 ft on I-70 west of Denver to go thru the Eisenhower Tunnel with my Born Free pulling a 3,200 lb toad. The highest elevation in Iowa is about 1550 ft. I really don’t think those steep overpasses in Iowa will tax your Class-C.

[dodge_guy]

whemme wrote:
I happen to be a website administrator for our Born Free RV Club and I live in Iowa. Years ago I had a member who lived in Florida contact me that he was planning on driving his Born Free up to Winnipeg, Canada via passing thru western Iowa on I-29. He wanted to know if I thought his Born Free could handle the mountains in western Iowa. True story if you can believe it!

If it’s anything like NW IL with its huge 200ft rolling hills then I can believe it.

BTW, those IA overpasses can really be a strain on the OD when you hit them!

[whemme]

I happen to be a website administrator for our Born Free RV Club and I live in Iowa. Years ago I had a member who lived in Florida contact me that he was planning on driving his Born Free up to Winnipeg, Canada via passing thru western Iowa on I-29. He wanted to know if I thought his Born Free could handle the mountains in western Iowa. True story if you can believe it!

[Ponderosa]

Thanks everyone! I ended up going with the consensus and towing it. It all went fine.

[Grit_dog]

This kana question you can answer yourself. It's only a couple/3 hours to most places in the mountains. You don't have to decide now. Why not tow it and if you don't like how the rv is performing, atop and unhook the toad.

[wildtoad]

I agree - tow the toad. If it’s an F53 make good use of tow haul and get some ear plugs.

[Lwiddis]

On the beautiful California Central Coast, Two Hands, who couldn’t get along with their spouse? lol

[Two_Hands]

Even though we have been married for over 53 years we still enjoy each other’s company.

[enblethen]

I would tow the toad.
Just remember that your combination will last longer if you don't try to climb hills and race down the road trying to keep up with others.
I am guessing that your MH has a V-10, but your toad is an unknown.

[Lwiddis]

Provided your toad is within the towing limits of your MH, there is no “strain.” Stay in the right lane so people can pass and enjoy the trip.