Community Forums

RVandbike · 07-06-2018, 06:50 PM

For the past several years my wife and I have enjoyed our travel trailer, or actually a new one every 3 or 4 years. We are considering a move to a motorhome in the 35' range. We would like to totally get away from towing anything. Are there other RV people that have the same attitude? How do you cope without a separate vehicle? Our trips to date have been regional and a week or less.

AITG · 07-06-2018, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVandbike

For the past several years my wife and I have enjoyed our travel trailer, or actually a new one every 3 or 4 years. We are considering a move to a motorhome in the 35' range. We would like to totally get away from towing anything. Are there other RV people that have the same attitude? How do you cope without a separate vehicle? Our trips to date have been regional and a week or less.

We have a 27 foot class A and just take our bikes. DW and I can be ready to roll in 12 minutes so we drive the MH where ever we want to go. The longest time we've been out is 5 weeks.

paddler1954 · 07-06-2018, 07:10 PM

I nearly always tow a vehicle. They are pretty easy to attach and detach, and it's nice not having to take the RV to a shopping center when you need to restock. However, I have heard of folks who carry bikes for short hop travel and then rent cars when they want to tour a larger area. Something to think about.

Zman1403 · 07-06-2018, 07:22 PM

We take bikes. We also use Uber. So far the most we have paid for Uber is $7.00. For us it is more cost effective since we are not full time. We are only running about 10 days a month now. Uber usually comes in under 5 minutes. Our Xterra would be an issue to tow.

momdoc · 07-06-2018, 07:24 PM

We had a 25ft. Class C and tried going without a tow vehicle. We found it did not work for us and bought a toad 4 weeks into our first trip.
Breaking camp and finding a parking spot every time we wanted to go somewhere got old very quickly.

Carefree · 07-06-2018, 07:26 PM

It all depends where you go and what you want to do. We like to stay at off the beaten path places and go hiking. Good luck finding an Uber, cab or any other mode of transportation. We ALWAYS tow our Jeep. Couldn't live without it

FormerBoater · 07-06-2018, 07:26 PM

Most will opine that they would not consider not towing.

In 9 years we have never towed.

Enterprise has always picked us up if we needed a smaller vehicle.

Set yourself free---it will work out just fine.

FIRE UP · 07-06-2018, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVandbike

For the past several years my wife and I have enjoyed our travel trailer, or actually a new one every 3 or 4 years. We are considering a move to a motorhome in the 35' range. We would like to totally get away from towing anything. Are there other RV people that have the same attitude? How do you cope without a separate vehicle? Our trips to date have been regional and a week or less.

Well,
Let me ask you a question or two. #1, When traveling with your trailer, I'm assuming you disconnected to it, when you got to your campsite/RV park, each time, unless you were leaving in the morning, correct?
#2, If you did disconnect, and had to or, wanted to, go some place for any number of reasons, go out to dinner, go get a part for the truck or trailer, did you just take the truck? What I'm getting at here is obvious. You had a "run-a-round" vehicle. You didn't have to take the trailer EVERYWHERE. You had the versatility of just the truck.

Now, if you get a motorhome and, DON'T have a run-a-round vehicle, guess what you get to do when all those same type of situations occur? Or, if your new motorhome should break down in some out of the way place, and you don't have cell service, what's next? See what I'm getting at?

While you MAY think you want to get away from the whole towing scene, it might not be the best way of thinking for many situations. Yes, some have stated they RENT a car when they need one. Well, when traveling all over the place and you find some out of the way camp spot or RV park and the nearest car rental place is many, many miles away, what's next? And, do all car rental places DELIVER?

The multiple conveniences AND the SAFETY factor of having or towing a toad FAR outweighs the inconveniences of towing, at least not only in my opinion but, if I had to guess, I'd say more than 90% of the folks with motor homes out there. One simply has to either break down or, have a desire to go some place AFTER setting up camp, for any number of reasons and NOT HAVE A TOAD, to realize, BIG MISTAKE. Of course I'll get arguments here, no doubt about it. But, we've been there, more than once and, our motorhome doesn't move an inch, without a toad. Your choice.
Scott

brentclemson · 07-06-2018, 08:49 PM

I’ve always thought a light motorcycle would be a great option. Maybe a dual sport, supermoto, electric even? Any feedback of those who do this?

Old Scout · 07-06-2018, 09:17 PM

…..I cant see being without a towed but I am sure some folks make it work.... frankly, I am reaching the age where I don't like to compromise on conveniences if I don't have to. Sure, sitting in a the park just down down the street--no biggie--but going on significant trips without a toad would be a major "compromise" for us.....I stopped thinking about motorcycles, motorscooters, or even bikes on busy streets a long time ago, after I saw a body under a tarp in the middle of the expressway in downtown Dallas ....No matter how careful you are, if some one on their cell phone hits you with a full-size vehicle, you lose. Towing a vehicle is the easy part of learning to operate a Class-A....there are no right answers here--good luck with your decision…

**TonyDi** · 07-06-2018, 09:34 PM

Like others I can't see being without a toad. We have the hook up down to about 5 minutes and same for unhooking. It's never a problem or a hassle.

While you can call for a rental car if needed it doesn't mean there is a rental agency near your and that they have a car for your needs. Having the toad is also nice that if you should encounter with the MH you don't have to sit and wait for help. JMO

windsorbill · 07-06-2018, 09:52 PM

When we first got this motorhome, we didn't tow anything. (this was before Uber and Lyft) We called Enterprise. Worked okay for a while but a couple of times we didn't reserve ahead and had to wait a couple days to get a car. Then we started going to more remote areas and rental cars were not close by.

Next chapter I had a flat bed trailer that we pulled a toyota pickup on--couldn't tow 4 down. When we got to our destination, Unload truck from trailer, unhook from coach, move coach, hookup truck to trailer, park trailer, unhook truck. Reverse that when it was time to leave. I'd almost prefer no toad at all versus that rodeo.
We got it down to a system, but that was a real pain.

Now we tow 4 down. Much easier. First a Jeep now a honda. Getting ready to go back to a jeep, however. We park the coach and go everywhere exploring in the car. This is the best program for us, hands down. Simple to hook up, disconnect and towing is simple. It's not 'one size fits all' however.

Kev8 · 07-06-2018, 09:57 PM

Scooter and or electric bicycles.

mtofell · 07-07-2018, 12:06 AM

No right or wrong answer here. It just depends on what works for you. I couldn't imagine not being able to explore from my "home". But, with Uber and whatnot these days there's never been a better time to give it a try. Hauling a toad is expensive complicated no matter how you slice it. Like every other aspect of RVing it's all trade-offs.