Community Forums

CptBill · 03-14-2023, 06:15 AM

Thanks all! We are not going to get rid of the dolly but we do go to a lot of places that we can use alternate transportation. Traveling with out dragging something behind you makes for an easier drive and a little better mpg. So this upcoming trip no toad.

Isaac-1 · 03-18-2023, 03:39 PM

Maybe you are dragging the wrong thing around behind you, I know in our case when we tow my wife's 4300 pound Jeep Cherokee around I KNOW its back there and it cuts about 7-10 mph off my max comfortable driving speed. Whereas when we tow out 2300 pound Toyota Yaris I have to keep the rearview camera on to know it is still back there. I am not saying that the Toyota Yaris has no effect on the motorhome handling, but I will say pavement condition, cross winds, etc. have a much great effect.

FIRE UP · 03-19-2023, 11:26 AM

Well,
You can *Plan* things out to the nth degree but, if one thing goes south, like a $10 part in the motorhome causes it to shut down and you're in the middle of nowhere, and it could be quite a bit of time not only to get it fixed but even getting the part(s). We've been stranded a time or two and it's no fun. WE won't depend on ANYONE (including uber) for our ability to go anywhere or do anything outside of our camp spot. The coach get's the same 6.5 - 7.0 mpg towing as it does without towing. Hooking up and unhooking is so second nature that we both can do it blind folded and takes us around 1 or so minutes for either operation.

This is a choice thing. We've been stranded without a toad, NEVER AGAIN!
Scott

troberts23 · 03-19-2023, 04:08 PM

We stayed there last April coming home from Sun Valley, ID. The park is nice (adequate) but I would not plan on public transportation. No groceries near by. Uber is your best bet for getting around... It's about 20 minutes to the strip or downtown. Once you are there in the park, you don't really need a car if you are Uber(able)..

jimnlo1949 · 03-19-2023, 04:42 PM

We did the Western swing tour to Yellowstone and looped around to AZ, NV, UT, NM and spent a month with no TOAD in our 38ft DP. Never suffered a hardship, only a mild inconvenience every now and again. Rented cars in several spots where we spent some time, always Enterprise. We had a grand time and would do it that way again. Also have an E-bike that is very useful for retrieving a few supplies - my bike bag is big enough for a handle of Titos. One memorable spot was an RV park in Rawlins WY that will let you use their Suburban for running errands, etc. We used it for a trip to WM and topped off the fuel before returning it.

Lakeman1 · 03-19-2023, 05:30 PM

No toad, no way!

DRM901 · 03-19-2023, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptBill

Thanks for the replies. We don't much care for the strip so I think the other stuff(like the mob museum)is all walking distance. Getting to and from the Grand Canyon would be the only questionable thing if we choose to venture there form Vegas. One other thing that bothers me at all is being stranded in the middle of no where but then again we wouldn't leave the motorhome just sitting by the road and self protection is always at hand.

That is what cell phones are for. Just hope the MH doesn't die in an area you don't have cell coverage. For that, you need the newest Apple phone which has emergency satellite messaging.

RVGoatLocker · 03-19-2023, 06:22 PM

As a retired military guy, there's an axiom: It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. What if there's an emergency of any sort?

Bob.B · 03-19-2023, 06:31 PM

There is so little downside to pulling a toad why would you risk needing it and not having it on that long of trip? My MPG difference with and without is pretty miniscule and I'm much more comfortable with the redundancy of not only having the toad (but also a motorcycle carried on the back of the toad). Do we use it at every stop? No. But we did have one trip where we had a minor issue with the motorhome and thanks to UPS not living up to an overnight part delivery we had two unexpected nights in Los Cruces. We used the toad and went to two state parks while waiting and had a wonderful time. The peace of mind by having the toad is priceless in my experience. Especially when I've read posts of the horror stories of people being stuck on the shoulder of a interstate for 8 hours waiting for their roadside assistance plan to get a service or tow truck to them.

Isaac-1 · 03-19-2023, 06:42 PM

The flip side of this is it is a lot easier to make spur of the moment stops on travel days without a TOAD, particularly with a smaller motorhome

dbircky · 03-19-2023, 07:01 PM

Had the AC compressor seize and break the serpentine belt (only 1 belt on engine). Pulled over, unhooked Jeep, drove to NAPA, bought a shorter belt to bypass compressor (had extra replacement belt with me), installed it, and was back on the road in under an hour total. This was on a Sunday. Doubtful road service would have had the correct belt with them and been able to get me moving again in under an hour for just the $68 price of the belt.

If I can fit in a parking lot without the toad, I can fit in with it. The Jeep tracks inside of my tag axle, so if I can get the MH around a turn, the Jeep will make it too.

In my experience, those that travel without a toad have smaller MHs and less capacity and power; making dragging a toad more of a hassle. I can't even tell the Jeep is behind, but it's less than 10% of the weight of the MH.

Gman1206 · 03-19-2023, 08:28 PM

We store our RV in LV and start and stop all of our trips from there, and I really don't get the advantage of not having a toad. We like exploring the area outside LV, which is not really Uber friendly. FYI for business I spent a lot of time in LV, and find the experience to be a lot less than it used to be. Just Sayen, and have fun no matter what!

Gman1206 · 03-19-2023, 08:34 PM

That is my mantra about everything! Love hearing it from someone else!

VanK · 03-20-2023, 03:43 AM

We have a 40' coach and have never had a toad. I can get around just about anywhere a car can go and parking has never been a problem. We did get a Uber once to get to the San Diego Zoo from our campground and back. I can parallel park and never have problems finding and parking at a campground, Walmart, or Lowes Lumberyard. Home is in Charleston, SC and this year is a 20,000 mile trip to the Artic Circle in Alaska. We typically travel four or five months a year (15,000 miles) but this year we'll be traveling about seven months. In addition to the hassle to hook and unhook a toad there is also the consideration for backing up and lower gas mileage. Sorry this has gotten too long.

Van 40' 2008 Newmar Ventana
No Toad