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Old 02-24-2016, 10:11 PM   #1
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Doing the math on using a TOAD

My back of the envelope math on using a TOAD assuming I have a towable car:
  • 4000 miles per year, extra gallon of gas for towing every 100 miles 40*$2.50= $100
  • 4000 miles per year, car wear and tear for towing $0.10 per mile 4000*0.10 = $400
  • Assume 7 year life of Tow Dolly and Brake Buddy ($1100+1000)/7= $300

My yearly coast of towing a car is $800 which is about 10 days of rental ($80/day)

My thought is as long as I only go for 3-6 weeks a year, and don't stay in one spot a TOAD make no sense.

Has anyone else done the math and come up with a different decision?
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Old 02-24-2016, 10:25 PM   #2
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You know if I did the math I probably wouldn't own a RV.


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Old 02-24-2016, 10:30 PM   #3
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I can only say that many places we have gone renting a car would of been hard to do.

Just having the piece of mine that if I break down I have a backup plan is worth the tow vehicle.

Russell
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Old 02-24-2016, 10:46 PM   #4
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I don't leave home without my Toad. Of course I full time so I'm always home! I would hate to have to mess with a rental car anytime we moved. What a hassle. The hassle should have some value.



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Old 02-24-2016, 11:03 PM   #5
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What price do you put on "convenience?"

Having to rent a car, and either leaving your MH at the rental place or having Enterprise deliver, sounds like a hassle.

One reason I don't own a MH.
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Old 02-25-2016, 08:58 AM   #6
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A few years ago we rented a car for a few days in the Florida keys. We had to drive the class c to the rental office. They saw our small Poodle in the MH and promptly stamped NO PETS IN VEHICLE on the rental contract.
We were not happy about that.


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Old 02-25-2016, 09:10 AM   #7
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Plus insurance, registration, and maintenance (tires, etc.) on tow dolly. But I still WANT a mh and toad.
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Old 02-25-2016, 09:37 AM   #8
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Over the past 20+ years we have towed a toadof one kind or another about 300k miles.

When we bought the class C we decided we are *NOT* towing anymore.

So far we have put on almost 5k miles since Dec when we took delivery and have spent 15 nights out without a toad and we are loving the freedom. We can now back up any time we want, no more tow bars broken, no worries about being 65' long (40+ MH and toad) etc.

It really, for us, is cheaper to rent a car. If we can't easily get a car, our 30' class C will fit almost anyplace and we can use it to get around.

Definitely not for everyone, but it is right for us.

Paul
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Old 02-25-2016, 09:58 AM   #9
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Every time we consider renting a car instead of bringing the toad this is what we find:
1. The town we are going to never has a rental car facility close.
2. The advertised rate of $10.00/day soon turns into $69.00/day as soon as you add all the fees, taxes, restrictions, etc.
3. Even at the higher rate, they don't have any available so your rate goes up even more when you take what they have available.
4. The hassle of picking the rental up and dropping it off always takes time away from our overall time in that town.
After considering all that, we usually end up bringing the TOAD!
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Old 02-25-2016, 11:06 AM   #10
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Toad X2
Wouldnt leave home without it.
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Old 02-25-2016, 01:11 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoviBill View Post
My back of the envelope math on using a TOAD assuming I have a towable car.
My yearly coast of towing a car is $800 which is about 10 days of rental ($80/day)
In my case, I'd have to: 1) buy a car 2) pay taxes on it 3) insure it.
I'm thinking rental is looking more appealing.
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Old 02-25-2016, 01:21 PM   #12
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Went to Alaska and back with our 42'MH in 2013 without a TOAD, took the RV everywhere except once we got to Alaska where we rented. It all worked out great, just a little hassle driving the RV through the middle of Anchorage to the rental facility for pick up and drop off.
Went to California and back last summer with the TOAD, pretty much got the same fuel mileage, and I couldn't tell it was back there. Got caught on too sharp of a turn in a town and had to quickly jump out and disconnect. That was a quick job and the only problem I had all along. We got to see a lot more; DW took the kids to the Alamo in TX while I drove the bypass and met her west of town, in Vegas she took the kids downtown while I got the oil changed. Bringing a TOAD makes everything more convenient and easy, but we had a great trip either way.
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Old 02-25-2016, 02:57 PM   #13
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Let me tell you our story of trying to rent a car because we didn't have a TOAD. Planned a trip to the Grand Canyon last March, stayed in Williams, AZ. Did the Google search, only one place that rented, and I could have driven our regular car there and back for less than the rates they wanted. Widened the search, found rentals at the Flagstaff Muni Airport, booked a nice SUV.
Meanwhile, I ordered the front and rear sway braces for our Class C, and they arrived about 10 days before planned trip. Day before trip DH decides we should get those sway bars installed. Got the rear one on, but not the front. The morning of departure, my DH and son install the front. Everything's good, but we got started later than planned. Drive 311 miles to Flagstaff, arrive at airport at 5:15. Rental company closed at 5:00. The Hertz rental was still open, so DH rents the only available vehicle, a micro economy 2 door. Riding with two teens between Williams and the GC was not something I want to do again soon.
Took almost a month to get Budget to refund our money, and I'm not sure you could convince me to rent at destination again.
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Old 02-25-2016, 03:29 PM   #14
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We have a toad now and take it with us everywhere except Fort Wilderness, where we bring the golf cart. When we first started traveling several years ago, we did the rental thing as our trips were never longer than two weeks total. Now we make at least two six week trips per year, since retired, and the toad made all the sense. Of course, we're towing a Jeep, so no tow dolly to hassle with, which makes things really nice. The convenience is definitely a big plus, though. Also, for flat towing, I would say your wear and tear figures are probably a bit high.
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Old 02-25-2016, 05:25 PM   #15
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We tow a Miata, fun to drive especially in the mountains. Going from the Sunseeker to the "go kart" just adds to the enjoyment of the trip.
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Old 02-25-2016, 10:58 PM   #16
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We tow a Smart Car convertible.
Like sheetshaker, normally we tow and when we get where are going we set up.
Then hop in the go-kart and away we go.
NOW, last summer we took our trip out to North and South Dakota, looping through Sturgis a couple of weeks ahead of the craziness. We were looking at a tight budget for the trip and the numbers on fuel mileage and fuel cost were not favorable. So, we took the Smart go-kart and stayed in hotels. Honestly, I prefer my own bed in the Sunseeker. Just my 2 cents.
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Old 02-27-2016, 06:52 PM   #17
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Pulling a Toad

I guess it boils down to what your toad is. Whether you don't care what you drive. (See profile)
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Old 02-27-2016, 07:26 PM   #18
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Danged if you do and danged if you don't! We just moved up to the MoHo side of life.

We are going to set up our 2015 Fusion Hybrid as a toad. It won't get taken on every trip, but where it comes in handy is when my bride meets me along the way, we can hook the car up and ride together in the MoHo. We both travel for a living, I work industrial construction and she is a Sr. Flight Attendant. Our schedules don't always mesh. As far as the mileage... I haven't a clue. If'n I was worried about mileage I wouldn't have bought an RV.

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Old 02-29-2016, 12:54 PM   #19
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Danged if you do and danged if you don't! We just moved up to the MoHo side of life.

... If'n I was worried about mileage I wouldn't have bought an RV.

Aaron
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Old 02-29-2016, 02:14 PM   #20
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Mileage and rv's don't go together. If you are concerned about mileage you have the wrong hobby. When my diesel needs more I just put more in the tank. Now don't get me wrong I buy the cheapest diesel I can but I'm not going out of my way to save a penny


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