Considering Four Down Need Input

  Curious as to anyone who goes without a toad and has a 2552 or larger M/H.....

We have never pulled a toad. We have a 2552 (28') now and our previous RV was 28'. We have been fine with it
 for our 12 years of RVn but it just depends on your style/wants.

Plusses: No need to hook/unhook, you can backup whenever you want/need to, shorter length makes parking easier.

Minusses: Difficult touring cities,  top national parks are getting tough to do in an RV, more miles on the RV

Options: avoid the problem areas or rent a car
             

Gandalf,   Thank you.  I think we will try our next big trip without and see how it goes. On this last trip there were places like pigeon forge Tennesse where we needed a car, so in those cases I’ll try renting . Renting isn’t  necessarily cheap and it’s not about saving money by towing in my case.   

I'd go toadless in a heartbeat if renting wasn't such a hassle.  We rented to drive into Detroit for the Ford museum a couple of years ago.  Enterprise wouldn't deliver (as advertised) and the nearest rental place was 30 miles from our campground.

I hate towing, but at least the Smart car doesn't impact our fuel mileage, and it only adds about $4K and $200/yr to the absurdity of our most expensive vehicle being the one I only drive a couple of times a year.  At least I don't have to drive a Smart car more than a couple of times a year!  And if someone runs into it (like the first time I towed my pristine Ranger 4X4), it won't be so painful to contemplate.  In fact, when I have to pay for the damage because the illegal driver who hits me doesn't have insurance, I can probably just pick up a new plastic body panel on Ebay.

By the way, there's a reason to tow that everybody forgets. You can leave your dog in air-conditioned comfort at the campground, while you visit a place that takes all day to see, like the Ford museum.

Ron, can’t really speak to the Jeep or Honda specifically, but we used to tow a 2006 Saturn Vue AWD behind a 2006 2551, and then our current 2014 2552. Used the Invisibrake system, which worked well enough, but somewhere along the way it stopped trickle charging the battery in the Vue. The Vue started to nickel and dime us, so we replaced it with a 2018 Chevy Sonic (1.4L turbocharged 6-speed manual). Considered moving the Invisibrake to the Sonic, but the cost was going to be as much as a new Stay-n-play system. That’s what we went with along with a battery cut-off switch. We use a Falcon All-Terrain tow bar - the only thing there is the baseplate was a little difficult to install, and they had to cut 2 holes in the front fascia for the brackets. We’ve towed the Sonic about 4-5K miles and no problems other than a bad vacuum check valve. Set up to tow is a snap (the co-pilot thinks it’s easier than the Vue was 😊). And I don’t even notice that it’s back there.

George

Blueblaze, I get it but I still want to get down to less vehicles. Also owning a smart car I do know if you get in an accident it’s going to be totaled. They are made to protect the occupants and crumple I guess. I’ve seen one that was rear ended. It really didn’t look bad at all but totaled. Could be due to they are so inexpensive to begin with?

The other option of course is finding one vehicle that I can use as a toad and for everyday use. I just have yet to find one that I like. To add to that there aren’t all that many options out there.

I hear you Joseph!  But towing a Smart car seems little less dumb than the typical solution around here in the great state of Texas -- an $80,000 pickup with dualies that gets 10mpg, 50 weeks a year -- except for the two weeks when it's lucky to make 7mpg towing a 30' trailer.  Of course, the trade-off is I have to look like a weenie in a clown car for two weeks every year, instead of big, burly (and broke) stud every day.

We really looked hard at the idea of a scooter mounted on the tow hitch, but I finally had to admit we're just too old and fat for a scooter.  We also tried electric bikes, but for us, even bicycles capable of 25 mph were too scary to drive on busy streets. 

The Smart car was my final admission of defeat.  At least you didn't waste thousands like I did, trying everything else to avoid it! 

Blue, oooo it’s not just Texas. Remember when the humve was all the rage. Orange County Ca, laguna mission viejo etc had more humvees per capital then any other place in the US. Of course those speed bumps at the Nordstrom parking lots required nothing less. LOL.  Anyway, I get your drift. I’ve never considered the smart car a clown car, assumed it was too big I guess. It is easy to tow and for sight seeing and finding parking, it’s tough to beat in many circumstances. Especially when you consider how cheap they are to buy. I’ve had mine over 4 years now and honestly it really doesn’t owe me anything already compared to what other vehicles have cost me over the same period.  I guess I need to rethink how long I may need a toad and consider keeping it a year or two longer before I go down to one vehicle. 

Thanks for the perspective


Joseph

If we didn't like to "explore" on primitive roads with Irene's Jeep Liberty 4x4, we would have kept our tiny MR2 Spyder tow vehicle.  I imagine a Smart Car would make a great tow vehicle as well.  I also hear the tiny Chevy Spark makes a friendly tow.  MR2, Smart, Spark, or other small car, they surely beat bicycles or scooters for the protection from the elements and the comfort that a car with a heater and a/c provides.

We went on one trip out west without a tow vehicle.  We had no trouble driving our PC 2350 everywhere, but we missed the convenience of a tow vehicle.  For us, the inconvenience of towing it does not compare to the convenience in using it daily.

Ron, I see your point. It really wasn't about any issues with towing, just trying to get by with less. I’m of the less is more type. That being said I think I’d miss not having it so for the time being I’ll continue to tow.

I will add there have been several times I wish I had something like a wrangler as a toad. Not really into rough off road but there have been hikes we wanted to go on that we couldn’t get to the trail head due to roads too rough for our car. Another would be when there are trips where Id like to have had  kayaks along. Let’s face it, a kayak-strapped on a  smart car would fit right along side the flying Nun.

I hear you Joseph and relate to much of what you say.

Our "last straw moment" with our 2000 MR2 Spyder was in Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument.  We were determined to get to a trail head down a many-mile long road that was limited to 4x4s.  Our thinking was....."Let's go as far as possible and maybe walk the rest of the way to the trail head".  We carefully straddled the highs of road-ruts and drove along the edges laying down tall grasses and weeds.  We also drove into and out of two deep dry river washes.  Needless to say we were determined to take that hike.  At the trail head were around 8 Wranglers, just Wranglers.  The looks we got were priceless.  That was the day we decided to get a 4x4.  It was to be Irene's around-town vehicle as well as our tow vehicle.  She loved the look of a Wrangler, but after test driving one, she opted for a tamed Liberty.  That was back in 2009.  We hope to keep the Liberty a whole lot longer yet.

I keep changing my mind.  I wanted a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk.  Now Thinking about a dolly with our Ford Escape fwd. On our last trip we went down a road trail with the Escape.  It did well.  We did skip the heavy sand route though, no guts or just too smart! Not sure we are cut out for remote trails even with a 4x4.

I will keep pondering it.  Don’t really want a dolly but to buy a new vehicle to pull four down just doesn’t seem prudent to me.  They do have a $6000 rebate on the Jeep Cherokee!

Ron S

Ron, been there, took us forever to o get down a road jeeps and trucks went down in 30 mins.   

Maybe a lift kit for the smart.....jk

Sara, I’ve never used a dolly so my first hand knowledge is zilch but I’ve read mixed reviews from people who claim to have used them. Before going that route see if you can talk to some people first hand and get some real life experiences from those that have. Just a thought

Didn’t know Jeep Wrangler was a problem too. Another reason I am hesitant to buy new.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/chrysler/2019/08/10/jeep-death-wobble-fix/1969368001/


Ron S

Sara, I’ve read where they have that issue fixed, not just a publicity thing so maybe it’s good to go. New wranglers are way overpriced, imo , due to trend fads. The other issue for me is they are owned by fiat. Fiat isn’t known for reliability, never has been and considering a wrangler easily goes I need the 40k range it best be bullet proof.

I am interested to see the new ford Bronco. I guess it’s built on the ford ranger frame. I have no idea on specifics. I HATE buying new so that’s a problem being they have yet to be released.