to car or not to car

[CricketSail]

I've been thinking of this from the get-go. Should I tow a car? I left last January without it (it's in storage) just to see how it works out. I have a Class C, 27', only 7.5 wide. My idea was that I could use the RV like a car as much as possible. To some extend, it does work. It's narrow and only takes two car spaces to park. But I'm not able to use a parking garage, for sure. The catch for me is that if I'm hooked up, it's a pain to unhook, go, come back and hook up. If I'm in a campground, it's pretty remote much of the time. I also found out that many places, even though you would fit, they don't want your rv. Retirement communities of any kind have rules about that, and it's handicapped me visiting some friends and family. Although on a few occasions it worked really well, and I've caught up with friends I haven't seen in 50 years in my travels.

On the plus side, I think my mileage has been good without towing a car. I'm getting 14 mpg. And I can really easily maneuver the rig without a tow, there is much less hassle that way.

Economy is a large part of this. Without the car I have not only cut that expense, but also the insurance for the rv because I'm not towing. I think if I can find some creative parking situations (like the visitor center in downtown Savannah) I would be much better off without the car. I like the country, but also like the city, but can manage well with public transportation if it's available. I stop at a lot of Walmarts overnight and can get everything I need there - groceries, haircut, incidentals.

I have a few more months to think about it, but once I've sold the car..that's it, so I really need to put some thought into this. - Sharon

[sharon]

We all have different needs and wants. I've towed since my first long trip...I guess because my husband towed when we went on vacation. Yeah, it can be a PITA, but I've also found almost every time I go somewhere and don't have my car I want or need it. My rig is quite a bit bigger than yours, so I don't do many parking lots except WM or a grocery and I can garantee you I wouldn't have fit in the visitor center in Savannah!

[avalen]

I've pondered it myself for when the time comes, but I like the electric bike idea (Judy) and doing a rental car on occassion.

[Acadianmom]

My motorhome is only 23' and I know what a pain it is to have to unhook to go somewhere. I try to get whatever I need while I'm on the road. I got a Honda CR-V in case I ever want to tow. I have heard that it is about $3,000 to get the equipment and installation to tow. I will have to do a lot more traveling than I do before I decide to do that.

Martha

[skeedaddle]

we tow a 2006 crv..course it's on my husbands dime and he drives...if it was just me..God forbid...i don't think id wanna tow it..it's like a train on this motorhome...but course i don't even wanna start driving this thing...
betcha you'd get the same highway mileage towing..and the convenience of buzzing around in your little hondas probably cheaper than the motorhome..but that $3000 is really the kicker..
well..i haven't helped you at all... =-O
just talkin..

[Bethers]

That's a very tough question. I went as many years not towing as I have now towing. And I occasionally leave the car somewhere for trips, like this winter to Baja. Personally, I much prefer the freedom I had not towing. But doing the workamping I do, a car became a necessity. And there are times I'm really glad I have it.

It's really a personal decision. Good luck. Oh and I'm a strong believer that most people are much happier if they tow all wheels down, with no need for a tow dolly. So if you decide to tow, keep in mind a vehicle that can do that.

[JudyJB]

I drive a 32' Class C and do not tow. I based my original decision on the fact that I could rent a car for a few days a month for what it would cost me for insurance on a tow.

I do most of my shopping and errand running between campgrounds. I am someone who does big loops around the country and seldom stays more than a week in one place. If I were to stay several months, in one place, I would get a tow. I manage to get into and out of most parking lots where places like grocery stores, hardware stores, and such are located. Almost all tourist attractions have big rig/bus parking also.

I am in Rockhound State Park for three days, and today I unhooked my water and electric, put my slides in, and headed into town to pick up a package at UPS and to Walgreens. (Took 5 minutes to get going including utility unhooking.) No problems either place parking. I also am the one with the electric bike and have used it extensively in places where I was near a town, like in Lake Havasu State Park or Napa, CA. Both places I used my bike to run errands, pick up a few things, and explore and it worked well. Saturday, I was having problems with my shoulder and found an emergency room where I could park on a side street, so that was OK.

One thing not having a tow does is make you keep things picked up so you can be run errands easily. I do not keep a toaster or coffee pot out, nor do I spread papers or other stuff out. Also, people who have tows generally set up camp first and run their errands later, as opposed to my running errands and shopping between campgrounds. It makes getting gas a lot harder with a tow behind you.

There are some areas and towns where it is harder to drive a big vehicle, but I tend to prefer country places anyway.

[CricketSail]

Well, thanks, these replies totally gave me the answer. I hadn't thought about the cost of towing equipment. $3,000? Not. That would really increase the capital investment of having the car. I put a Lot of money into the solar and energy system, but that is paying off big time and I am so much more comfortable. But the car..I have learned to get organized and do my shopping between stops. I stay at Walmart frequently, and that takes care of food and haircuts. Good point about keeping things picked up. I have been moving every few days so I can appreciate that comment. Yeah, it's a pain to unhook the rig, but come to think of it I'd add to that with hooking and unhooking the car. I have learned to maneuver the rig, and I'm good at backing up. Towing a car would handicap that.
Also good point that a lot of attractions have big parking lots.
So, I'm going to sell the car. And that will give me a little extra to have some fun next winter.

[skeedaddle]

now...you'll feel free...& have xtra..$$.

[BirdbyBird]

And the "Do I want to tow or not to tow?" question can also be asked again and again later down the line......If and when your experiences give you more information or circumstances change...... What you find convenient now or later might change. Finding a used car with a base plate already on it is also a plus!...... When I paid to put the base plate on my Honda....I did figure that it was a Honda and with some care and luck I should be able to haul it down the road forever.....

[Acadianmom]

One of the reasons I had thought about towing a car was to have a place to carry things. I have very little storage and when my sister comes on a trip her stuff has to ride on a bed during the day and at night everything has to be put in the front seats. Seems we are always moving things and climbing over things. I have looked at the rear carriers that attach to the trailer hitch but haven't gotten one yet. What I really want is another motorhome but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Martha

[retiredhappy]

Skeedaddle: You might want to reconsider learning to drive your rig. When I was workkamping I saw several instances when the husband was injured (in one case he died) and their wives couldn't drive the rig. The women on this forum drive rigs as long as 45' and they all had to learn in the beginning. The husbands of our ladies are NOT allowed to say, "I don't LET the little lady drive."

As for towing, I towed because I was workkamping and didn't want to unhook to just drive into town. It was also easier to do sightseeing without having to drive a big (30') rig and there were a lot of places like some of the mountain roads, that I sure didn't want to drive the rig on. Yes, it was a PITA sometimes but overall I was happier towing than not. And, like someone said, it gave me extra storage for stuff.

[MandysMom]

I agree with Karen on learning to drive the big rig. I always let my husband drive the 40 ft 76 GMC bus, because he wanted to, but I did take the time to have a lady bus driving friend (happened she had the same model as ours) take me around the big fairgrounds a few times and back it up into a spot, so at least I know I can. She had the awful experience of being far from home and her husband got suddenly worse with the Mesothelioma he had, and he said you need to get us home. He lay on the Sofa and gave her general directions as to what to look for on all the diesel gauges, but otherwise she gripped the big wheel in an iron death grip and got them home. He died soon after. He had built the inside of that bus exactly the way she wanted, so when he was gone, she decided by golly she was going to drive it. She drove for another 10 years I think. She also remarried, but her husband always said, it's her bus, she won't let me drive because I hit curbs. Bottom line, even if you don't like or want to drive, at least learn how in case you must.
We took a three month trip in 08 with the bus and no tow. We found it handicapped us a bit. We did rent cars in a few places, Enterprise was really good to us, but would have rented more, but found some places where we wanted a car simply did not have a car rental place! If we go on a long trip again, we will get a tow car as it does not affect bus mileage, which is horrible under any circumstances! Lol I think if we sell the bus, to make driving more convent and comfortable for me, as well as gain a little on the bus usual 5 mpg, if we buy 30 ft or under we may or may not tow, probably not. We get along fine in the 22 ft Leisure Travel Sprinter with no tow but fridge and tank capacity are way too little for 3 of us and two cats, one of which will only eat raw meat. I spent 8 days last summer with the van parked at the Kiwanis house behind UC Davis hospital and rather than unhook I made do with what I had brought in way of food because there were no nearby grocery stores but it would have been nice to have a car!
Velda

[snowball]

because I tow a 5th wheel I can't really give you any advice about a tow other than really think it through yes for someone it cost 3,000 you might be able to do it for less..so do your homework before you totally make up your mind
when my husband got sicker and we knew that he had to go back to the doctors...he was flying up I had to figure out how to get the 5th wheel back to where we started this journey out at...I'd never driven the truck towing the 5th wheel and we found out that we had not renewed our not sure what it is called but one of the programs that Good Sam has where they will get you back as well as your rv in the event of an emergency..so there we were wondering how to get it home if I'd taken the time to at least learn it would have lessen the stress a lot..a friend of ours flew from WA to AZ to Drive the trailer up to UT...I so encourage everyone to learn to drive what ever it is that you have...and yes I did learn how for those that don't know me..
sheila

[CricketSail]

Since it's just me, I did learn how to drive the rig, no way out of it. And I was someone who always let the other guy drive the Car. I've learned how to use the gps so I'm in my most comfortable driving situation, most of the time. Good conversation, I still have a couple of months before I decide about the car. But I think it will go. - Sharon