Community Forums

wookiee · 02-23-2014, 11:41 AM

Hello Fellow RVrs; Have any of you out there had the experience of not towing a vehicle rather purchasing one in the state where you plan on staying for a couple of months and then selling it before leaving to another state in order not to have to tow?
Just thinking if this might be a better way to go.
Looking forward to your opinions.

336muffin · 02-23-2014, 11:50 AM

We've been towing (flat) for over 18 years. Wouldn't do it any other way. Considering the sales tax, tags, insurance for a couple of months plus the hassel I wouldn't even consider it. It might be cheaper and easier to rent versus buying. JMHO

homeless · 02-23-2014, 11:54 AM

Towing your old car only cost you a gal a mile. Its the only way to go!

**TonyDi** · 02-23-2014, 12:34 PM

Towing a vehicle, if it's set up correctly, is very easy to do. I would not want the hassle of buying, registering, inspecting etc. Then turn around and sell it. You may not even have a buyer when you go to sell and you could wind up with a considerable loss. If you don't want to tow, as previously suggested, rent a car.

PushedAround · 02-23-2014, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeless

Towing your old car only cost you a gal a mile. Its the only way to go!

I actually felt no mileage penalty at all because the brick that we tow (Honda Element) seems to improve the aerodynamics of our coach. Two 2800 mile trips down to Key West (one with and one without) showed no difference in mileage. That's my story & I'm sticking to it.

StevieG · 02-23-2014, 12:46 PM

Hi Wookiee... Welcome to IRV2! If you do a search you will find this question was discussed a couple of months ago... My opinion is tow. Buying, paying sales tax and registration, insurance and then selling is much more of an effort and cost, than towing. You may want to consider a scooter and scooter carrier on your hitch if you'd rather not tow. Good luck!

AGP · 02-23-2014, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeless

Towing your old car only cost you a gal a mile. Its the only way to go!

What's a gal a mile?

Crasher · 02-23-2014, 12:58 PM

I think it depends on how long you are going to stay. Towing a car eliminates being able to take other "Toys". We stay in AZ for six months. That's too long for either of us to live in our MH, so we bought a Double wide home in our RV park. We also bought a car and pick-up that stays here when we go home. We like to play off-road, so I haul a modified Jeep and RZR back and forth to WI. The home, car, and pick-up were not new and cost about the same as the first year depreciation on our MH. For us, it was a great way to go. Your situation will be different, but we started doing this seven years ago when we were only down here for three months.

Cat320 · 02-23-2014, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wookiee

...Have any of you out there had the experience of not towing a vehicle rather purchasing one in the state where you plan on staying for a couple of months and then selling it before leaving to another state in order not to have to tow?
....

Sounds like that would be a royal PITA...paperwork, taxes, residency requirements, tag, title, insurance and more.

336muffin · 02-23-2014, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeless

Towing your old car only cost you a gal a mile. Its the only way to go!

What year is your Sherman Tank that you flat tow? Just kidding about the gallon per mile!

336muffin · 02-23-2014, 02:00 PM

And welcome to the Forum Wookiee, I missed that.

Barbara S. · 02-23-2014, 02:21 PM

I have traveled without a toad and rented a car, hauled a scooter, and for the past 6 years towed a car behind my motorhome. Renting a car is ok, but expensive and you don't have a vehicle when you first arrive or the day you get ready to leave (just in case you forgot something). The scooter was great fun but it doesn't carry many groceries and it's bad when you get caught in the rain. I found towing a vehicle of 3000 - 3500 lbs. doesn't seem to change my mileage.
One year ago when I bought my current motorhome and car (package deal) it took 4 times to the courthouse to get the titles transferred. I sold my Explorer and even made another trip to the courthouse with the new owner and she called me 2 weeks ago because the license plate expires this month and she still doesn't have the car in her name. I did fill out paperwork saying I sold the car so I did not get the renewal form. Title work is a big hassle!
Towing your own car is the easiest and cheapest way to go in my opinion.

elbeau54 · 02-23-2014, 02:36 PM

I checked on renting a car at the Marathon airport, way more than i want to spend. I can buy a lot of fuel for what they wanted.

bandmbrown · 02-23-2014, 02:53 PM

Go down and lease the cheapest jeep wrangler....when you tow with transfer case in neutral the odometer doesn't add miles and its easy to stay within the lease mileage.