Community Forums

Mike and Cha · 10-05-2014, 04:41 PM

I know this is probably more personal choice than anything, but when you didn't have a Toad, did you ever have your other half follow you in your car so you had something to drive around sightseeing. We have a Toyota Camry Hybrid which averages about 44 mpg so the extra gas is not an issue and will be less than $175 total including our sightseeing miles. The biggest thing for me is it takes away a little of the fun driving together in the MH. Are we crazy for doing it this way. Our Toad is the next project. Thanks for any advice.

sdennislee · 10-05-2014, 04:44 PM

Our trips were too long to allow the DW to follow me so we used Enterprise rental cars. Enterprise will come to the campground and pick you up, take you to their office to complete the paperwork.

When returning the rental stop at their office pay up and they take you back to the campground.

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-05-2014, 04:44 PM

My advice would be to move up that " next project ". We never were toadless and can't imagine Rving without the two of us in the same vehicle. Another alternative is to rent a car in locations you visit.

tedgard01 · 10-05-2014, 04:49 PM

I personally chose to have both of us in the RV. We would not want to both drive, so we pull our toad. If you camp more than drive (i.e.: stay in one spot for weeks or months at a time) then it may make sense to drive both. We only camp for short stays and drive 3 or 4K miles during the summer months, therefore, pulling the toad works better for us.

Ted

Mike and Cha · 10-05-2014, 04:50 PM

We are leaving tomorrow so I can't speed up the Toad purchase, I have been lagging on that though because we just can't decide what to buy and which car we already have to get rid of as neither can be towed 4 down. The rental method may work depending on where we are...Thanks

Firebug5 · 10-05-2014, 04:51 PM

Our friends traveled from Albuquerque to Colorado this summer with a pickup and 5er. His DW will not drive the pickup once camp has been set up, so she followed him all the way in her car. I am with you, we enjoy the ride together waaaay to much to sacrifice like that. We did take a 4,000 mile trip this spring, and had to leave our Jeep behind due to a mechanical issue. We had no problem renting cars when one was needed, just google for rental cars once you know where you will be staying. Once you get a toad, you will never do it any other way.

Bruce

tedgard01 · 10-05-2014, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike and Cha

... we just can't decide what to buy and which car we already have to get rid of as neither can be towed 4 down...

When I started out, our car could not be flat towed, so I used a dolly. It worked fine until I upgraded to a tow bar with base plate. Another option would be a trailer. My Dad used one for his Outback and it was light and easy to use.

You don't need a car that can be flat towed in order to pull a toad.

Ted

Mike and Cha · 10-05-2014, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the replies, our trips so far have either been close 200-300 miles staying for 3-4 days, or visiting family destinations of about three weeks but they always had a car we could use. This trip will be about 1000 miles round trip, with 4 major stops and driving about 250 miles a day at the most.

Cspringsrv · 10-05-2014, 05:18 PM

We brought bicycles with us, borrowed cars, or rented for our first year.
Spent weeks searching Craigslist for our CRV, but very happy.
Had to check out a bunch of lemons before finding the right one. Excellent condition sure means different things to different people.
Not cheap, but well worth doing the TOAD

Mizzly · 10-05-2014, 05:47 PM

Rent a uhaul tow dolly.

TomandGloria · 10-05-2014, 06:42 PM

We used Enterprise but we found on a few occasions they would pick us up but not deliver us back to campground. I would take a cab back to campground when this occurred.

MonkeyClaw · 10-06-2014, 10:54 AM

My wife followed me on our latest trip since we haven't finished setting up the FJ for towing (drive shaft w/ disconnect should arrive this week). We're in Durango (370 miles) for 3 weeks so we needed a vehicle to drive around. It's not ideal, but it's better than not having a vehicle to drive around to explore, get groceries, etc. We've also done a couple of weekends like this but they were nearby destinations primarily to shake down the new MH.

jeryan59 · 10-08-2014, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdennislee

Our trips were too long to allow the DW to follow me so we used Enterprise rental cars. Enterprise will come to the campground and pick you up, take you to their office to complete the paperwork.

When returning the rental stop at their office pay up and they take you back to the campground.

I also used Enterprise many times, I have also used Public Transportation, depends on where I am going.

If you can justify a toad, I would recommend it just for the convenience.

MRUSA14 · 10-08-2014, 01:26 PM

When I didn't have a toad, I went and bought one, pronto. I would not enjoy RVing with no toad. Takes away the freedom that was the reason I got the motorhome in the first place.