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09-11-2018, 05:33 AM
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#113
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 249
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrcris
No worries, you know what works for you.
For the OP though, being on the fence, some additional points to consider; Is money a concern? Do you have a car that would be the toad? Can you haul four down or will you need a dolly? Is it worth the $$ to you if you
Having an additional 15-20 feet hanging off the back all the time might be a PIA depending on where you want to stay; campgrounds, state parks etc. This might be the difference between having to unhook to get into a back in space and while not a deal breaker, just might detract from your fun (again, if you're four down, not a huge problem, just another thing to have to think about).
Having that additional length all of the time you're traveling though, will make you have to think about where you stop on the way; most gas stations will be OK, but there are still a lot of little ones or even the bigger ones, i.e grocery stores that have tight turn radius' that are not optimized for 50 feet +/- of motorhome. What about places you might want to stop while you're on the move? Can you fit all that length in to some of the parks, national monuments etc., you might want to stop at?
Just to me, there's more cons than pros to a toad if you're not sure it's going to get used at least on a semi-regular basis.
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To quote Wallowitz "The second biggest Vespa . . . "
__________________
Patti and Jack, our GSD "Gunner the Wonder Dog," and our various cats.
Rookies Plus Three Years. 1998 6330 National Tropi-Cal 460 Ford, full Banks kit, Trans-Command, full internal and external makeover and lots of suspension upgrades.
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09-27-2018, 01:55 PM
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#114
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
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Trail a couple of motorbikes
I have a garden trailer with mounts for a couple of motorbikes and since when I am at home, I ride rather than drive a car, it feels natural to just get on the bike when I get to my destination. I could not imagine being without independent transport of some sort but don't want the fuel consumption hit and complication of a toad.
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09-28-2018, 04:09 PM
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#115
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 634
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For myself a toad is needed as I am disabled. Parking a coach at the end of a parking lot to be out of the way to get groceries or to go to Wally World would be much easier in my little Highlander in a Handicapped parking spot.
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09-28-2018, 05:12 PM
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#116
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,817
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We're at a state park right now and there's an older couple in a Class A without a toad, it's not stopping them.
So far they've gone out in the morning and evening. Based on the time they were gone I'd guess breakfast and dinner. They just hit a button, bring in the slides, unplug, and off they go.
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09-28-2018, 10:41 PM
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#117
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 47
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My DW have decided not having a toad is getting to be a bigger deal than we first thought. Last trip we figured we would use Uber or lyft...no such luck.
Fortunately we had bicycles and pedaled our way into town, it’s fine since we’re only weekenders in our mid forty’s, but as I get older, well, I just don’t know.
So we’re thinking hard about selling our class A and going with a 5th wheel. That option will give us roughly the same interior size and provide us with transportation once onsite. Yes, I could purchase a small car to tow, but I already have a nearly new 3/4 pickup and adding another vehicle to our “fleet” is out of the question due to space constraints at home.
We have a beautiful 2006 MONACO LaPalma PCT that we’ve worked very hard on over the last year and I’ll hate to see it go, but we also think it’s a bit too much coach for a weekender.
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09-30-2018, 07:05 PM
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#118
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Newport, NC
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Mike
My DW have decided not having a toad is getting to be a bigger deal than we first thought. Last trip we figured we would use Uber or lyft...no such luck.
Fortunately we had bicycles and pedaled our way into town, it’s fine since we’re only weekenders in our mid forty’s, but as I get older, well, I just don’t know.
So we’re thinking hard about selling our class A and going with a 5th wheel. That option will give us roughly the same interior size and provide us with transportation once onsite. Yes, I could purchase a small car to tow, but I already have a nearly new 3/4 pickup and adding another vehicle to our “fleet” is out of the question due to space constraints at home.
We have a beautiful 2006 MONACO LaPalma PCT that we’ve worked very hard on over the last year and I’ll hate to see it go, but we also think it’s a bit too much coach for a weekender.
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Been there done that. We're in our 70s now and have used a pull behind, 5th wheel and class A. We much prefer the class A with a Toad. We use a tow dolly behind our 2015 Winnie Visa 30. I would suggest getting a used sub compact to tow. We had a 5 th wheel prior to the class A and I will never ever tow another 5th wheel. Many drawbacks with them. 1. Heavy 2. They don't back well. 3. They are more work to hitch and un hitch. 4. They don't back sharply and potentially you can ding up you cab. 5. Basically you hitch to your frame over the truck axle with the king pin. Therefore any dips and roughness is transmitted directly to your truck. Finally we had a blow out and I thought it was going to turn our truck over before we could shut down. That incident was the final straw so we got a class A and have had it for 3 years. Love it. If you feel you must go to a trailer then go to a pull behind such as an Airstream. The 5th wheel is work and as you age you don't need that.
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John Thompson
2015 Winnebago Vista 30
Coastal NC
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10-01-2018, 05:12 AM
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#119
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Blairsville, GA & WPB, FL
Posts: 3,993
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I get a good chuckle every time I see a small motorhome pulling a toad half its size or larger behind… So much for not needing a toad with a small motorhome.
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10-02-2018, 07:35 AM
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#120
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Junior Member
Oklahoma Boomers Club Gulf Streamers Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 18
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No toad, yet
I have taken 2 4-5 day trips in my 37' Gulfstream Sun Voyager Bus without a toad: 1. to St Louis from OKC then back down Rt66 to OKC and 2. Royal Gorge. Didn't miss the toad on the St. Louis trip, could go most anywhere and the purpose was to see Rt.66. I did miss having something on the Colorado trip. Would have greed me up for more sight seeing in the area. Will be getting a dolly soon.
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10-02-2018, 10:15 AM
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#121
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: UT
Posts: 1,245
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Dolly vs flat
I have thought about getting a tow dolly but then I wonder what I would do with it at camp in some of the tight RV spots Ive been in over the years. What do you do with your dolly trailer when you get to the one RV park that has an empty spot and it is just the length of your RV or nearly the same?? Is it a pain to disconnect and move it around? Do RV parks allow that? Shared Experiences would be appreciated.
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Ed
2023 Geneva 28VA
Solar and LiFePO4, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Toad
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10-02-2018, 10:25 AM
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#122
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Western Montana
Posts: 972
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iluvuk
I have thought about getting a tow dolly but then I wonder what I would do with it at camp in some of the tight RV spots Ive been in over the years. What do you do with your dolly trailer when you get to the one RV park that has an empty spot and it is just the length of your RV or nearly the same?? Is it a pain to disconnect and move it around? Do RV parks allow that? Shared Experiences would be appreciated.
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The ACME EZE Tow dolly is light enough to be moved by hand, especially if the ramps are removed from the tongue. Most of it also fits under the motor home.
__________________
Mike & JoAnne
Montana Summer / Arizona Winter
'16 Prism 24G / '02 HitchHiker 38 LKTG
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10-02-2018, 10:31 AM
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#123
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: UT
Posts: 1,245
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AudiDudi
The ACME EZE Tow dolly is light enough to be moved by hand, especially if the ramps are removed from the tongue. Most of it also fits under the motor home.
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Ok, so I know nothing about Dollies other than they look very scary to me with the straps holding the car on there at 70mph! Anyone have any trouble with straps breaking or coming off? Also, can you back up with a dolly like a trailer or do the rear car wheels cause problems?
__________________
Ed
2023 Geneva 28VA
Solar and LiFePO4, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Toad
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10-02-2018, 11:11 AM
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#124
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 399
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We fall into the "what you've never had you never miss" category. Are extended timers right now and boondock 90%+ of the time we are on the road. Had our 37ft A class RV for 14 years, travelled most states, provinces and major cities with no toad. We typically don't go to a CG just to sit, so we stop and start as we journey down the road - hubby loves fishing and we just pull in as and when and he has everything at his finger tips from his basement set up. We stop at many small towns, waterfalls, hiking, coastal areas lakes and so on. Being Diabetic the walking we do has been so good for me and I know we'd never get the same amount of exercise if we had a toad (evidenced when we are back at base home with auto)
When in Vegas, San Fran' we used Uber a couple of times into and out of the areas from our base, but also walked tons in-between = very affordable. NYC was easy with public transportation, and in all the years - we've rented a car for a few days on 3 occasions = LA, LV once to explore outside locations, FL once. Sadly a recent 17 day trip to Mainland BC, when hitting Vancouver and suburbs area they don't have Uber/Lyft etc, so we found that a little more restrictive, but nonetheless managed to explore most everywhere by parking on streets, casinos, malls etc and using our two feet/bikes.
So we are toadless and intend to stay that way as long as possible, mainly because we don't ever feel its been an inconvenience to us, and the exercise it forces us to do walking wise. No doubt I'm sure "if" we ever do get a toad, it'll be one of those things we say "wouldn't be without", but right now we are in that "what we've never had, we've never missed" camp.
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10-02-2018, 11:13 AM
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#125
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Western Montana
Posts: 972
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iluvuk
Ok, so I know nothing about Dollies other than they look very scary to me with the straps holding the car on there at 70mph! Anyone have any trouble with straps breaking or coming off? Also, can you back up with a dolly like a trailer or do the rear car wheels cause problems?
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Here's a link and a video that might give you some more information.
https://cartowdolly.com/
I forgot to mention in my previous post that you can store this on standing up.
With surge brakes on the dolly, you need to prevent them from activating when backing up - there is an attachment you can use or I just use a C clamp. I have backed mine many times - while not the easiest thing to do , it is possible. I am not sure if you can back up a model that has swivel plates.
I have personally never broken a strap or had one come loose - inspect them for fraying before using. I've had no issues in about 7000 miles of towing. They will loosen a bit when first driving so I always stop after a few miles and re-tighten - also check at every fuel stop.
Most will say that 4 down towing is much easier. Advantages to a dolly are typically less upfront cost and you can tow any front wheel drive vehicle (within weight limits of tow vehicle and dolly) so if you own a couple cars that are FWD, you don't have to install all the hardware on each.
__________________
Mike & JoAnne
Montana Summer / Arizona Winter
'16 Prism 24G / '02 HitchHiker 38 LKTG
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10-02-2018, 11:57 AM
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#126
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Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 83
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The toad makes a great kayak and bike trailer. How else can yo get to remote launches or mountain bike trails? We often carry a small motorcycle in addition to the toad so we can tackle one way trails and rivers.
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