Toad or Trailer – That is the Question

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Old Runt,

You can't back it up unless your tongue is pressed in your left cheek?  Does it work in your right cheek or does it matter if you are backing up and turning left or right? 

[kyle4501]

I wanted to use a trailer so I could use any car for a toad. Then I started looking at what to do with the trailer at campgrounds. Around here, most of the places I have camped haven't had space available for a trailer at the campsite. There may have been space somewhere else, but I would have been worried if it would remain where I left it.
Palmetto cove is the only campground I've been to that having a trailer wouldn't be a problem.  

I bought a 4x4 pickup truck that is factory approved for flat towing with no need to worry about lubrication issues. All I need to do is install an M&G brake system & the connection to the coach will be even easier!

Looks like there are options to fit almost any need.

[chessie4905]

Or do it this way..
https://www.google.com/search?q=prevost+hauling+a+smart+car&oq=prevost+hauling+a+smart+car&aqs=chrome..69i57.13455j0j4&client=tablet-android-verizon&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#q=prevost+carrying+a+smart+car&imgrc=4od6lxA3b0LmZM%3A

[sledhead]

Jack

on my first 2 flat tow trucks all I had to do to just tow them with out any starting the trucks was re and re the transmission and rear end oil to synthetic oil . worked for years . but I like the way the trailer tows now with the truck on it
dave 

[Oonrahnjay]

...  though I do have to stop every 100 miles or so to deal with lubrication issues with this particular toad.  Jack 

     VW, Jack?

[oltrunt]

Nope.  Geo Tracker 4x4 under a Morris Minor woody wagon.









Oops!  That's Wifey's car.

This is the toad.

[Stormcloud]

I tow 4-down. Usually a Geo Tracker 4wd, but for a few years we towed a Chev Trailblazer.

Once, the receiver hitch on the bus started to tear at a weld......I noticed the change in the back-up/rearview monitor. It seemed there was less bumper visible at the bottom of the monitor, so it was worth a look. I just about crapped when I saw the receiver had torn from the crossbar and was held on by very little metal.  A visit from a mobile welder and about 40 minutes of work, plus 1 extra 2x2 square tube as 'insurance' and we were on the way. It could have been way worse. I do have and use the air cylinder style toad brake, and it is also equipped with a breakaway device. If this had been a trailer, with a bunch of tongue weight, I doubt that I would have noticed the problem in time.

Also, after refueling the coach at a busy truck stop a couple of years ago, the bus refused to re-start. I had the wife unit jump in the toad and pull the bus back out of the fuel island, then push it behind the station into a vacant area. Seems a starter solenoid wire connector had pulled apart ( courtesy of a rogue tumbleweed ). A quick repair and we were on the way.

You can't do that with a car on a dolly.

[dtcerrato]

We have towed both ways, trailer and toad. We prefer toad on the ground and also prefer 4X4. We have been places with our 4104 that most people wouldn't take such a vehicle. The toad on the ground has come in handy for getting us up or out of a tight, including being stuck. That would be hard if it were on a trailer. Our favorite was a 77 CJ-5 Golden Eagle jeep with a HP V-8. We were stopped by a Texas Highway Patrol while pushing the out of fuel bus down the interstate @ 4o mph in 4 wheel drive. The officer was citing us for towing a vehicle with a passenger in the toad. When I told him that she was pushing me to a fuel station he laid his hand on his pistol. I told him to feel the heat from the engines and tell me what he thought. When he realized we were telling the truth, he escorted us. Yes we like our 4X4 toad on it's four tires. That's one of the reasons, there's a lot more... :-)

[DoubleEagle]

Now that is quite an event, it's a shame there was no video. If you went more than eleven miles you broke Clifford's record. I feel inadequate, my Land Rover only pushed me a quarter mile, but then I was doing all the driving of both vehicles. The trooper must have thought you were a wise guy and toyed with the idea of putting you out of action. What a rough state.

[Lin]

Our first experience with a toad was 4 down.  It worked okay.  At one point though, both of our cars could not be pulled that way.  No problem-- I bought a dolly.  I found it to be a nuisance compared to what I was used to.  We even got into one situation that, in retrospect, was comical but was not so at the time.  The bus could not make a grade on a dirt road pulling the weight.  It was easy to get the car off the dolly and for my wife to back it down the hill.  The dolly was not so easy.  I had to unhook it, and guide it down the hill by hand by zigzagging into the berm on each side of the road to slow it down.  After that, no more dolly.

There are lots of Jeep Cherokees around that tow 4 down without any restrictions.  Ours is a '99.  I recently bought an '02 Grand Cherokee to upgrade the comfort factor but can't bring myself to get rid of it the Cherokee.  It's set up to be towed, so I'll just continue to use it for that. 

[dtcerrato]

The CJ Jeep is long gone, we now tow an 05 Sierra Quadrasteer 4X4. Its a little heavy at 6000+# but a nice ride when we venture away from the coach, including over nighting in it. Got a camper shell on it. After 1000s of miles with out a wash, you can't tell it's white but it gets a great lube job! 

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

One distinct advantage of having a trailer vs. a Toad is that you put less mileage on your car thereby not causing extra depreciation.  Has anyone ever considered this issue or don't we have any bean counters driving buses. :-)

[chessie4905]

With electronic speedos, you might just be able to disconnect the battery.

[kyle4501]

With the ign switch in the unlocked - off position, the electronic speedometers don't add mileage to the odometer.

From the numbers I looked at, the depreciation wasn't much different than the cost of a decent trailer.

[gumpy]

One distinct advantage of having a trailer vs. a Toad is that you put less mileage on your car thereby not causing extra depreciation.  Has anyone ever considered this issue or don't we have any bean counters driving buses. :-)

There is no depreciation because there is no mileage increase. At least not with modern toads.

You do have to factor the extra mileage into maintenance on the toad. We just put a new set of tires on the Ranger. I had 59K on them according
to the speedometer, but figure I had at least another 12K on them from towing.