Picking up your new PC.

Thanks Ron!  That Liberty seems just about ideal unfortunately no longer made.  I did stop at the Jeep dealer last month and asked about a Jeep to tow.  He recommended the Jeep Compass but I am not sure it can be towed 4 down, despite the sales droid saying it was.

Anyway, we will get a toad eventually, just not right away.  I think we both realize that we will need it for our intended traveling.  But as always she is right, getting it NOW is not going to happen.  Still need to do some research.

Would get a Liberty again if yours died?  Or something else?

You are smart to suspect the sales droid advice.  Look at this link  http://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/  and scroll down to Jeep Compass and you'll see he was delivering tainted truth.   

Thanks to all for the great input. And yes we will be watching the weather closely, maybe just heading further south than planned on the return trip. But, BOY, if it's ready and we have to wait for better weather it may be the death of us.

A few hundred pounds of gear in the rear of a small 2WD pickup helps with dirt road traction; I know, as that's all I was given working for the USFS 30 years ago, but it did the job.

Thanks Michelle!  I really had not thought about a pickup.  Old saying where I come: "nothing is more helpless than a 2wd pickup with no weight in the back."   Grew up in farming country and learned to drive off road long before I was ever legal to drive on a real road.  So I've no problem driving places most folks would never dream of. 

Not really worried about extreme off road though.  As long it handles well on graded dirt or gravel and the occasional snow & ice I'm good.  Mostly focused on small SUV types:  Jeep Liberty, Compass, Patriot or Cherokee.  Or Honda CR-V or maybe Ford Escape.  Lightweight, 4 down towable, reasonable mileage, 4x4.

I am an advocate in buying used vehicles over a brand new one

I've done both, though our main driver has mostly always been new.  But I think for a toad, used is better for us.  I would really love to find something already set up for towing then I would not have the expense of plates, tow bars & braking system.  Which another whole confusing set of decisions to make.

Too many options are always bad.  Just got off the phone with a client looking for one of my pictures and I think I messed up the sale because instead of just saying the price I offered her options: framed? canvas? metal? gloss or matte?  No one wants to make a wrong decision and too many options seem to paralyze a sale.  I guess I am there with a toad right now.

And yes we will be watching the weather closely, maybe just heading further south than planned on the return trip. But, BOY, if it's ready and we have to wait for better weather it may be the death of us.

That is where we are at as well.  Plus we have work things to schedule around so there are only certain weeks we can take off.  If we miss that window it might be a month before we are free again.

Also worried about plane fare, if you book out far enough the rate is not too bad, but wait until the last minute and it seems like you buying part of the plane instead of just a ride.