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Tow it or Rent it
I have had a Prevost for nearly 11 years now and before that several other motorhomes. I have towed Jeeps, Exploders, Hummers and the like….I finally saw the light. 99.9 percent of the places I go I can call Enterprise (no advert there) or others and have a car delivered. No more tow bars, backing, aux brakes worry about being over length (California) and slightly better economy on the coach.
I am sure that this will start a fire fight but, to me, makes much better sense to have a rental care awaiting, especially from the few company’s that pick up up and deliver at no additional charge. First, do the math! that should answer all the questions right there. Second, why beat the daylights out of your tow, I know you can install rock guards, windshield covers or better yet throw it in a stacker!
A few years back everyone had to have a Saturn, what a miserable piece of junk! Buy a car to tow? Never drive it at home? As the old addage goes if it flies, or floats (did I leave something out) its cheaper to rent!
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59 Replies
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You did but we want talk about it!!!!!!!!!!
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Next thing you know, the Flydude will be trying to figure out how to get an R-22 apart and fit it in the bays.
Oops, never mind, I forgot he was a tin driver…
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Fly2 I think you got something here. Why keep a tow car year round (storage, Maintences, insurances and payments ) when you can possibly rent cheaper. Probably if you are traveling alot it would be cheaper to own.
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Our CC buddy Miles Circo has had that philosphy for some time. I don’t ever recall seeing him with a toad.
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Right now John is on the ragged edge. We may have to ask him to leave if he is going to start applying logic to anything relating to Prevost ownership.
It is not the toad that is the illogical part of the package, it is the damn bus.
Here’s how much sense we make out of this deal. For years we had perfectly acceptable non-slide coaches. Not the smartest things to own, but we don’t need to explore that issue. Like John we towed all manner of vehicles including our present H2 Hummer. (Talk about illogical!) To compound our lack of good sense we get a 2 slide coach. All of a sudden because of the structure in the bays we can no longer get our bicycles in the bay. In fact I left enough stuff out of the coach when we did the switch I realized we were carrying too much junk. (Another topic for a thread).
So now we have to tow the Hummer because it is needed for extra storage space to haul around the stuff that won’t fit in the bay of the bus. That makes sense, right?
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Jon,
Your starting to sound like George Carlin, appears to me like you just have too much “stuff”. Before long it will progress to the other half of the equation, wherein you have your “stuff” and others have their “s&%t” which takes up valuable space for your “stuff”. It can get very nasty when your “stuff” begins to overide, say your brides “stuff”. I would be willing to bet that you may have already vocalized about Liberty as to why they put in all this “s%&t” and now there is no room for your “stuff”!
I suspect when you replaced your earlier coach you drove your new coach up next to it and discovered that you had way more “stuff'” than you could ever imagine, in fact there may have even been a little “s&%t” mixed in with your “stuff”. Where did I get this”s&%t”, it doesn’t belong with my “stuff”!
Truth is that your tow car is now becoming another container for your “stuff”. Simplify your life and get rid of some “stuff”, sell it if you can but remember they don’t pay much for your “s&%t” because to them, their “stuff” is “stuff” and your “stuff” is “s&%t”.
Buy folding bicycles and throw them under the bed, or if you want some real fun RENT a Segway!
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Didn’t I warn you about bringing logic to Prevost ownership?
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Would someone be ….
the pot.
But I have to admit that it was a pretty good piece…. Flyu2there.
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I’ll stick with a toad, there are many times, when I’ve stopped at a Wal Mart or shopping center, unhooked, and drove somewhere else on a spur of the moment. Or, arrived somewhere late at night, such as this week, going to get the Generator repaired, got to the shop at 10 PM, wanted something to eat……..
Going to Drag races as we do, most of the tracks are far from a rental company.
I’ve had an ’09 Wrangler for a year and a half, just sold it for what I paid for it, and drove/towed it over 15,000 miles. Just bought a ’13, and will do the same with this one.
Plus, I like the thought of having back up transportation, just in case……(knock on wood) the bus lets us down.
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We have towed since the first day we bought our coach. I couldn’t imagine not have my dingy with me.
We rented three coaches before we actually bought our current coach. Not all rental company’s are located in every city. In Guernville, CA, there were no car rental company’s in the small town. Since we rented a Class-C, we just unhooked and took the coach to tour the wine country. In other locations, waiting for the car rental company to deliver and then waiting for them to bring you back is a big fat headache.
I just recently rented from Enterprise in Los Angeles. They could not pick me up as they were short staffed. Luckily, I was only 3 blocks from them staying at a hotel and walked over and rented a SUV.
When we were in Sedona, AZ, all name brand rental company’s would not rent you a car unless you flew into the airport. So, the only car rental available was a ‘second-hand’ car company. I rented a late model Mercedes ML320 that worked out just fine.
As we found out, it is not always convienent to use a car rental company. If by chance you have a break-down on the road, your tow car is your life raft.
Travel safe,
MM.
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The best solution for this problem is to tow a 30 foot stacker with a smart car in it and then you have plenty of room for your STUFF. Right ?
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Well, maybe yes, maybe no. Plenty of room in the stacker but where do you put your newly acquired “stuff” in the Smart Car, seems to me there’s room for your *** and a gallon of gas but………………….
As for the topic at hand I think its best that we agree to disagree. I have destroyed a new Ford Explorer towing it, I tore up the front end from the turning, sandblasted the paint from the nose, broke a few windshields and never drove it anywhere anyway, especially when I was at home. By the time you factor in tow bars, wiring, brakes, transmission stuff on many, maybe a drive shaft disconnect; thats not to mention broken knuckles, bleeding, asking “the wife” to back you………. and less I forget that every present opportunity to add square tires……. Cannot find a rental car, try a cab they are everywhere and you remove an additional aggrevation, parking in a strange land plus if you are at the races, the game or what ever you can enjoy a cold adult beverage without worry!
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Flyu2there,
You apparently have a whole different way of towing than most of us. It is obviously not for you. I didn’t see any cabs or rental car agency’s in Guerneville, Ca., or even in Sedona, AZ. but I’m sure they are in Sedona since they have a small airport.
I bought a front mask for our Honda that covers the whole front-end including the windshield. I even have side mirror covers. Also, I use the Honda for Costco and Sam Wholesale club runs, taking my bike to trails I want to ride, etc. I use my Land Rover (can seat 7) for a people mover when a big group wants to go to a restaurant together (happens often).
If you didn’t use your Ford for anything else but towing and you didn’t use it much then, ditch it and rent (if you can).
Travel safe.
Mr.Mark
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Good thread. I am going south for a week next month and have decided to do is sans toad and see what happens. I _will_ have a folding bike though!
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We always tow the H2, like Jon we load it up too. But we tow to have back up transportation.
We like the belt and suspender theory as well 🙂
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