TOAD vs. rental

[Butte64]

Has anyone done a cost analysis of using toad vs rental?
We will not be staying in one place long and the extra fuel cost and other expenses make me wonder about using rental on occasion instead

[RickO]

I've never seen a comprehensive cost comparison but I doubt one would reveal the "true value" of having a toad.

IMO, if one is planning a specific trip and can work a rental easily into the plan, it probably is a good idea. However, for someone who is full time or an extended traveler, I don't believe it makes sense to not have a toad.

Best of luck

Rick

[Butte64]

Agreed, a Toad would be essential full time. Our use will be trips without long stays

Jerry

[kalynzoo]

Even with my "VIP business card" from a major rental agency I still greatly prefer towing my Saturn. A few years ago, during a Mexico Track, it was decided to leave the toad at home and rent while in the States. Calling for a rental, a friendly helpful representative came and picked me up at the park in about an hour, only a few minutes to fill out the pre-approved paperwork, and I was off. Then I returned the car and a friendly helpful employee returned me to the RV park as soon as they were free, about a half hour. Thus, given what I consider excellent service, it still took 2 hours out of my vacation time. If we were at a location for a week or two this would be great, and probably cost effective, but for stops along the travel path it would be a pain.
Now, if traveling an suddenly we see a lovely wine tasting experience posted I would have no hesitation to finding a parking area, unhitching, and taking the toad on a sightseeing drive. I would probably not take the rig down that same gravel road without a view of the endpoint.
JMHO

[wildtoad]

Financially I would think over the long haul bringing your own would be better than renting assuming you already have a car to tow. It does take a good bit of money to outfit a car to be towed for which you can rent quite a few cars.

We mainly camp within a few hours of home so driving the car behind is not much of an inconvenience. We are planning a trip to Michigan later this summer and will desire a car for 3-4 days while there and we plan to rent one. No need to haul one there and back.

[doc]

We decided a few years ago not to take a towed to Sedona, Las and Grand Canyon. Thought it would save money and make for a faster trip to and from (we both were still working then) Figured the money saved on the lack of the tow would pay for a rental - probably went a long way in that regard, but we missed so many side trips and were not able to see things that interested us along the way. The car rental was easy, as the office for rental was inside the casino we stayed near in LV (Circus Circus) but we did not have a rental at the Grand Canyon and had to rely on the buses to get around. Bus driver was super nice and told us if we had a car and Ms C had her handicap card he could give us a pass that would allow us to drive any place in the the park including the restricted areas only the buses are allowed. \
We learned a lesson on that trip and now we will always tow.

[Butte64]

Originally Posted by wildtoad

Financially I would think over the long haul bringing your own would be better than renting assuming you already have a car to tow. It does take a good bit of money to outfit a car to be towed for which you can rent quite a few cars.

We mainly camp within a few hours of home so driving the car behind is not much of an inconvenience. We are planning a trip to Michigan later this summer and will desire a car for 3-4 days while there and we plan to rent one. No need to haul one there and back.

Thanks. Kind of what I was thinking. I don't think any of my vehicles are a good candidate for towing- Lexus hybrid, Dakota truck and Chrysler minivan. Maybe someday switch minivan for Jeep Liberty

[jtermini30]

We spent 6 days in the town we grew up in just north of Boston, MA last week and the rental was going to be $300 plus taxes. My dolly cost $1000 new a few months ago............ We towed our Toyota!

[Scarab0088]

This is an easy one...

It's a simple comparison, BUT each person would have to consider an intangible value for having the Toad at your destination (rentals not always available at some locations)...and fuel cost will not be part of it 'cuz we all return a rental full - right?

So, divide the cost of your toad set-up, by the number of days you will use it during it's lifecycle, then deduct the value of having the toad when you can't get a rental = Daily Cost of Toad

vs.

The cost of rental car, then add the value of not having the car at your destination = Rental Car Cost

For me, I already had my daily driver, so the cost of the car is $0. My Eze-tow dolly (bought used) cost $300 (I know - I got such a deal!!!). Divide $300 by the approximate number of days I will use the Toad (60 a year) during the life of the Toad (thinking 8 more years)..or $300/480 days = 62 cents a day.
For a new EZE-Tow ($1600) it's $3.30 a day.

For a rental car = We can usually get an economy car for between $29-$40 a day...but you will not always be able to get a rental everywhere so -to be fair- it's gonna be more.

OK, OK, I hear the Naysayers out there..."What about the fuel being burned by the RV from towing?" My RV has no measurable difference when towing my Toad and Dolly. Yes, I have tested that. There must be some difference...but, for me it is too small of a difference to measure.

What say you?

[1ciderdog]

Twice we left our tow car at home and rented vehicles. That may work for well some people and it did for us except adding the convenience factor or more importantly the inconvenience factor. When we rented they did not have a delivery service - I had to find a way to get to the rental business and afterward get back from the rental business. Under certain circumstances I'd do it again but I'd sure consider the inconvenience of getting the vehicle along with what might be missed along the way because you didn't want to take the RV to a particular location that you could have visited with the tow car.

[ahicks]

We move around a lot, usually not more than 2-3 days at a campsite unless we're doing something like Wash. DC.

For us, much of our experience is about the side trips, often basing destination selection on available sight seeing in the area. That trip might be for an hour, or it could be a day trip? Heck, we even drop the car when entering a campground to go scout out available campsites? For our purposes, the rental isn't even practical, let alone cost effective. The cost of taking our car with us, once converted for toad use, is negligible....

BTW, our 05 Dakota 4x4 is towable 4 down, but it's heavy. We went with the CRV for that reason.

[cappelte]

Our first year we did not tow. We went to Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone and The Badlands on the way home. We rented cars at Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone. Both had mileage restrictions. In The Badlands there were no rental cars so we had to drive our MH around to see things. We ended up on a gravel road and the dust was all over the place.

When we got home we decided to get a four down toad and tow bar. Last year we went to the east coast, D.C., NY, Boston, Niagra Falls towing our HHR. We would not go on another trip without towing. The convienence of having your own car and the ability to use it at will far outweigh any additional costs (which were minimal) that you might incur.

[Butte64]

Originally Posted by ahicks

We move around a lot, usually not more than 2-3 days at a campsite unless we're doing something like Wash. DC.

For us, much of our experience is about the side trips, often basing destination selection on available sight seeing in the area. That trip might be for an hour, or it could be a day trip? Heck, we even drop the car when entering a campground to go scout out available campsites? For our purposes, the rental isn't even practical, let alone cost effective. The cost of taking our car with us, once converted for toad use, is negligible....

BTW, our 05 Dakota 4x4 is towable 4 down, but it's heavy. We went with the CRV for that reason.

Is your Dakota automatic transmission?

[Midniteoyl]

Originally Posted by doc

We decided a few years ago not to take a towed to Sedona, Las and Grand Canyon. Thought it would save money and make for a faster trip to and from (we both were still working then) Figured the money saved on the lack of the tow would pay for a rental - probably went a long way in that regard, but we missed so many side trips and were not able to see things that interested us along the way. The car rental was easy, as the office for rental was inside the casino we stayed near in LV (Circus Circus) but we did not have a rental at the Grand Canyon and had to rely on the buses to get around. Bus driver was super nice and told us if we had a car and Ms C had her handicap card he could give us a pass that would allow us to drive any place in the the park including the restricted areas only the buses are allowed. \
We learned a lesson on that trip and now we will always tow.

Couldnt drive the rental car to the Canyon?