Toads - My Head Hurts

[StevL]

We are three months into this RV thing, the last hurdle for now.

Flat tow or dolly?

Pros & Cons??

We recently sold my wife's Lexus to get a vehicle that she likes and we can tow (must be 4x4), we ended up with a Jeep Cherokee Overland.

Now the problem; DW loves this vehicle and now doesn't know if she wants all the tow stuff added to it if she drives it daily...

So I've started thinking about a dolly, seems easy, not a bunch of stuff on the jeep, etc. but how much more effort do they take setting up, removing the car, storing the dolly, etc.

Or I can buy another car, which I don't want to really do.

Then I was offered a Jeep Wrangler with 77k miles ready to tow, has base plate, wired lights, break away switch (no brake included) for under $8,000. But... it has a salvage title, not sure how this really affects the little use it will get compared to a daily driven vehicle and how much can you loose, 7k? (BTW; this jeep looks great)

My head hurts....

Steve

[garyswann]

A lot of the vehicles that have salvage titles are from floods and been passed through several states to hide the cause. With all the computers in the car, it may show up later.

[vsheetz]

Salvage title can be a bad thing, or not. Depends on what the problem or damage was. How well it was repaired. Etc. There may get done risk, but you are getting a reduced price as well.

[Jim T.]

Originally Posted by StevL

We are three months into this RV thing, the last hurdle for now.



Flat tow or dolly?



Pros & Cons??



We recently sold my wife's Lexus to get a vehicle that she likes and we can tow (must be 4x4), we ended up with a Jeep Cherokee Overland.



Now the problem; DW loves this vehicle and now doesn't know if she wants all the tow stuff added to it if she drives it daily...



So I've started thinking about a dolly, seems easy, not a bunch of stuff on the jeep, etc. but how much more effort do they take setting up, removing the car, storing the dolly, etc.



Or I can buy another car, which I don't want to really do.



Then I was offered a Jeep Wrangler with 77k miles ready to tow, has base plate, wired lights, break away switch (no brake included) for under $8,000. But... it has a salvage title, not sure how this really affects the little use it will get compared to a daily driven vehicle and how much can you loose, 7k? (BTW; this jeep looks great)



My head hurts....



Steve

Here's what happened to an acquaintance when he tried to load his toad on his dolly. When he got back to his S&B, he sold his dolly & his car & bought a 4-wheel down toad, set it up for towing & never looked back:




Jim & Shirley & Abbie (Scottish Terrier)
2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan - Braun Accessibility Modified Toad
Remco Lube Pump
5 Star Tune
Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C
Coach Net Emergency Road Service
FMCA 378968

[SarahW]

The base plate and stuff will barely be noticeable if installed on the new Cherokee. Our Jeep toad is my hubby's daily driver.

[69Stang]

Originally Posted by Jim T.

Here's what happened to an acquaintance when he tried to load his toad on his dolly. When he got back to his S&B, he sold his dolly & his car & bought a 4-wheel down toad, set it up for towing & never looked back:

Attachment 132920Attachment 132921


Jim & Shirley & Abbie (Scottish Terrier)
2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan - Braun Accessibility Modified Toad
Remco Lube Pump
5 Star Tune
Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C
Coach Net Emergency Road Service
FMCA 378968

WOW!

[96 Wideglide]

Not sure what 'stuff' your talking about.

Our toad has two little rectangular covers, that hide everything when the car isn't being towed. They look like two foglight covers. Thats it!

[StevL]

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

Not sure what 'stuff' your talking about.

Our toad has two little rectangular covers, that hide everything when the car isn't being towed. They look like two foglight covers. Thats it!

The two attachment points, the brake away switch, and the 6 pin lighting connector.

Just wish we saw a 14 - 16 Cherokee set up for towing in person. Passed one going the opposite way on the interstate, for a brief moment I thought about hitting the median and chasing him down, then common sense set in.


Steve

[damdannyboy]

I have two toads, both have Blue ox Baseplates with removable tabs and SMI stay and play under the drivers seats and you wouldn't know it if I didn't tell you! What stuff?4 down is the way!

Damdannyboy

[Algonquin]

Paint any of the bits that aren't already black with black paint and you'll hardly notice them.

[FIRE UP]

StevL,
Well Sir, with absolutely no offence to your wife, she's overthinking and, over worried about what this "extra stuff" might entail. The companies that have designed and built these modern day base plates, have taken into account, that many of these toads, as in your case, a Grand Cherokee Overland, (We've had two Overland Cherokees), are really nice looking cars/SUVs and more, so they've done their best on concealing all the components needed for them to be a toad.

If your Grand is authorized by the manufacturer to be flat towed, then you already have one and you certainly don't need to mess with another Jeep with a JUNK title. I personally wouldn't touch a salvage title if you paid me to. Anyway, I've done many base plate installs and, with proper care and technique, in the end, you can have that GRAND Overland, looking as good after that base plate install, as it did prior.

I used to use the Ready Brake system as an auxiliary braking system. Ready brake instructs one to PERMANENTLY attach the cable to the brake pedal. Well, if that isn't the most hideous thing I've ever seen or, heard being suggested. So, I set ours up so it was hidden, until it came time to tow. Then, when hookup time came, the wife pulled the cable from under the floor mat and, clipped it onto the brake arm, DONE!

The front part, near the grill, was also hidden until it came time for hookup, then it came out and was hooked up.

The point is, yes all that "Stuff" can be installed correctly and, indiscreetly. And, that includes the light wiring too. If you take a look at the pics of one of our present toads, an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Extended Cab, you'll see that you need to almost "look for" the tow components, in the front end. They are not obnoxious at all.
Scott

P.S. Keep in mind, this is just an example of what your Grand could look like. You can only HIDE those components so much. They must be functional and strong too. In the last picture, you see the pig tail female plug on the right and, the Ready Brake cable tip, in the center. If I was really anal about hiding them, I should have painted both a flat black. Then you REALLY would have a hard time seeing them.

[StevL]

Thx for the replies and the great large photos!

We spent our evening after dinner riding through a local rv park checking out the flat tow setups.

I think my DW may be coming around.....maybe.

Steve

[Slice]

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

Not sure what 'stuff' your talking about.

Our toad has two little rectangular covers, that hide everything when the car isn't being towed. They look like two foglight covers. Thats it!

Mine too. Can't even tell. But can't beat a jeep 4 down. Salvage title can mean a lot of things. Some good some bad.

[Shaky]

Our Jeep Wrangler is the ideal TOAD in my book. 4 down, light weight and fun to drive off the road. Avoid a salvaged vehicle. You're never quite sure what you're getting into. JHMO