What is the best way to tow a vehicle?

[philipswanson]

Enterprise brings the car right to your camping spot. All ready have one reserved for a trip to Vegas in September. Even get an ex-military discount.

 

[Fish]

Enterprise brings the car right to your camping spot. All ready have one reserved for a trip to Vegas in September. Even get an ex-military discount.

I'd hate to guess the rental charge for the 6 months I spend in florida.

 

[philipswanson]

For 6 months, I would drive it down or buy another car.

 

[jsuprock]

I have a C class and trying to figure out the best and safest way to tow a vehicle.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

Flat tow, or Trailer tow?
Again, A lot of people will say "what are you crazy"? Having done both, and also having pulled double trailers up to 85 feet in length I say
NO, DO NOT FLAT TOW!!!
WHY???
1. You can not back up Flat towing.
This is always a problem due to
A wrong turn
Setting up at the campsite
Maneuvering at the gas station
Didn't quite make a tight corner
Accidently on a dead end road and unable to make a sweeping U turn
And the list goes on
2. Fuel mileage is better towing a good trailer ( like maybe over 1 MPG better, and at 5 to 10 MPG * 1 MPG equals 10 % to 20% lower fuel cost)
3. You can carry extra stuff on the trailer
Bikes
Kayak
Other toys
Your mother in law
4. To those who say "well yah, but what do you do with the trailer when you get to your destination?"
1 This is rarely an issue, just park it (hooked up or unhooked beside the motorhome) on your camping site
2 Have to park it somewhere else, Park it there using the motorhome or, that Ranger, you have a hitch on it? use the Ranger to park it away from your campsite. (I have found that during the course of my average 7 month summer trip I might need to do this once or twice)

Side note on Trailering you car vs flat towing.

Flat tow set up
Tow bar and tow car parts and pieces $1,000 to $1500
Tow car Brake system $800 to $1800
Installation and electrical set up $$200 to $1,000
Total cost of flat tow system ? $2,000 to $4,300

Cost of flat bed tow trailer? $1,800 to $3,000

Value of flat tow system used? Zero to $500 on resale,
Value of flat bed tow trailer May actually go up in value!!!!

So as you can see, towing car, truck, other stuff on trailer can be much more cost effective.

Johnnie

 

[philipswanson]

Flat tow, or Trailer tow?
Again, A lot of people will say "what are you crazy"? Having done both, and also having pulled double trailers up to 85 feet in length I say
NO, DO NOT FLAT TOW!!!
WHY???
1. You can not back up Flat towing.
This is always a problem due to
A wrong turn
Setting up at the campsite
Maneuvering at the gas station
Didn't quite make a tight corner
Accidently on a dead end road and unable to make a sweeping U turn
And the list goes on
2. Fuel mileage is better towing a good trailer ( like maybe over 1 MPG better, and at 5 to 10 MPG * 1 MPG equals 10 % to 20% lower fuel cost)
3. You can carry extra stuff on the trailer
Bikes
Kayak
Other toys
Your mother in law
4. To those who say "well yah, but what do you do with the trailer when you get to your destination?"
1 This is rarely an issue, just park it (hooked up or unhooked beside the motorhome) on your camping site
2 Have to park it somewhere else, Park it there using the motorhome or, that Ranger, you have a hitch on it? use the Ranger to park it away from your campsite. (I have found that during the course of my average 7 month summer trip I might need to do this once or twice)

Side note on Trailering you car vs flat towing.

Flat tow set up
Tow bar and tow car parts and pieces $1,000 to $1500
Tow car Brake system $800 to $1800
Installation and electrical set up $$200 to $1,000
Total cost of flat tow system ? $2,000 to $4,300

Cost of flat bed tow trailer? $1,800 to $3,000

Value of flat tow system used? Zero to $500 on resale,
Value of flat bed tow trailer May actually go up in value!!!!

So as you can see, towing car, truck, other stuff on trailer can be much more cost effective.

Johnnie

Best to not tow at all. Get a motorcycle or rent a car from Enterprise. Just not worth the expense and hassle. I sold my toad and never looked back. Enterprise even delivers my car to the campsite.

 

[jsuprock]

Best to not tow at all. Get a motorcycle or rent a car from Enterprise. Just not worth the expense and hassle. I sold my toad and never looked back. Enterprise even delivers my car to the campsite.

OK, well that will work for some people. I like having my own ride with me, but if you like to rent, ok.

 

[philipswanson]

OK, well that will work for some people. I like having my own ride with me, but if you like to rent, ok.

View attachment 8161

I like your toad. I have a 40 Ford Woodie and a '63 Split Window Corvette. I have a car trailer but they don't go camping. I drive them.

 

[jsuprock]

Oh,
Well mine is much more dependable than a corvette. And at 25 to 35 MPH I get to see much more of the local scenery

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

OK, well that will work for some people. I like having my own ride with me, but if you like to rent, ok.

View attachment 8161

Love it!

This is why a trailer is great - flexibility for any vehicle.

 

[DKRITTER]

To be bluntly honest, I don't have a clue.

You said you had a class C but nothing more. Details please Year, Make and Model at least

What do you want to tow???????? Again Year, Make and Model

Can it be flat towed? Is it front, rear or 4x4? Do you have a tow bar, and on and on and on.

In-order to help when you (anyone) asks a question the more details the better.

 

[Holland]

I have a C class and trying to figure out the best and safest way to tow a vehicle.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

New to the rv world and towing with a tow dolly. My wife's car could not be towed four down so went with tow dolly. Only draw back is going under the front end to hook up safety chains. Not difficult but you have to lay down to do it and if it's raining it could get messy. Haven't done it in the rain but eventually my luck will run out. I did put a trailer hitch on the wife's car in case I have to move the dolly to a remote storage lot. First thing is find out if you can tow four down. Check your owners manual.

 

[Alex&Teresa]

So I am in the same boat. We were considering purchasing a new Bronco Sport which could not be flat towed or dolly towed so I planned to buy a full trailer to tow it. When we couldn't find a Bronco Sport in stock with the color and options we wanted and ordering one would not arrive until late October we opted for Plan B and purchased a Chevy Colorado 4x4 that could be flat towed or dolly towed. Due to the cost of out fitting the Colorado to flat tow (quoted between $5-$6,000) we have decided to dolly tow it. The dolly cost is less than $2000 and they take up little space. I see no more hassle hooking up a dolly and securing a vehicle to it than attaching a flat tow rig and setting up the brake system and I don't have to modify my vehicle that could affect trade-in value down the road.