kahoona
Marathon, Conch Republic
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Joined: 09/27/2007
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Hi
We are going out west again this year and we were considering leaving the toad home this time. Last year we looped the country and only used the toad twice, once when we stayed near the shore for a week and went to the beach daily and once to go to dinner while the RV was hooked up.
We usually don't hook up unless we need to fill or dump and don't usually roll out the carpet so we can take the RV to the beach etc. Towing can be a pain too particularly when we had to unhook the toad to back out of a dead end.LOL. So the question is has anyone checked the MPG difference in towing/ not towing? We have a 31' v10 gasser and a Honda Civic toad. We go to a lot of State Parks without pull throughs. We are considering renting a small car if we spend any time fully set up and otherwise depend on the bikes.
If I have the math right the difference between 10mpg and 12mpg over 10,000 mi would be 170gal gas and at probably $4 per gal by the end of summer thats $680.00 !!. We could take a taxi every time we needed one for that!! Also there is the PIA value of towing. Last year we also lost 2 days and $300.00 while repairing a botched base plate install (by a Registered Blue Ox dealer who shall remain nameless in Key Largo) that came loose on the road.
So what differences in mileage are you experiencing? Are my figures wrong?? We do a lot of local long weekends and leave the toad behind now. What do you think??
Kahoona
Kahoona
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spinners1
Washington
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Joined: 08/15/2005
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My cavalier means about 1 mpg. I get about 8 with it about 9 without it. Not enough to make a real difference. However, I might add that if you are not staying anywhere long and not do a lot of sightseeing in the area around the rv park or campsite, why take it? It reduces wear and tear on you car by leaving it home.
But if you do a lot of running around doing your tourist thing then it's probably cheaper in the long run to take it.
Ike
The Cottage
2004 Itasca Sunova 35N
New Boatbuilders Home Page
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Economical Handyman
S. California
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Joined: 02/19/2004
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Pulling the Wrangler does not cause me to lose 2 mpg, so it will go where the MH goes. Did it on one 300 mile trip and could not get a rental car, so no to leaving the toad home.
DeWayne & Judy
04 3810 Dutch Star
ISL 370
Frank's autoformer
01 Sahara Jeep-toad
F 374382
It is hard to kiss the lips at night, that has chewed your butt all day long!
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fourfurz
Memphis
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Joined: 03/23/2008
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You don't say what you've got for an MH, that could make a difference. We've got a 45'er and there is no way on earth we could take it anywhere except big box type stores and even then it's a royal pain, so the toad goes where we go.
We're going on a 6 week trip this summer and toyed with the idea of just renting a car when we needed it, but the hassle is just too much. We like the freedom of having a car whenever we need it more than saving .6 mpg.
2007 Mountain Aire 4528
2006 CRV SE
Based in Memphis area
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AspiringJAG
Palm Coast, Florida
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Joined: 04/20/2008
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we're getting ready to take our first trip with a toad... up until now we went without but after getting stranded without rental car availability twice last summer we decided its time to bring it with us...
1995 30ft FourWinns Class A w/ chevy 454
(Toad) 2000 Pontiac Montana on a 2008 tow master dolly w/brakes
wife, 3 kids (4 & 16 months, and 3 months), 7 yr old Basset Hound
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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kahoona at 31' and moving fast toadless could work for you it seems. Under 34' fits fine in shopping centers,etc that have the double end to end parking lot set up if you do not have a toad. By backing up sometimes it is hard to hang a 31' rig even in tight spaces. I do not think fuel is huge but there is the PITA toad factor as mentioned. A lot of side trips and not breaking camp for days at at time is another issue.
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Mr.Mark
California/Tennessee
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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Kahoona, the toad is going with us! I can't imagine not having an 'extra' set of wheels following us. I never thought about gas mileage without the toad but my lowest is 6.5 and the highest is 9.5... so, without the toad it was probably better.
I bought this motorhome w/toad for convenience when traveling and will always travel with it. To worry with trying to find a rental company could be a pain. I remember once when we were renting a motorhome and went to the Russian River and there were NO car rental agencies. So, we unhooked the C-class motorhome from the electric meter and toured the wine country. The motorhome made it OK but a toad or rental car would have worked better.
I really like carrying the toad because you never know how important it will be until you cannot rent a car.
MM.
Mr.Mark 
2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42ft., 4 slides, 425 hp clean-air Cummins diesel
2007 Honda CR-V EXL, AWD, w/Nav and the M&G braking system
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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Joined: 11/15/2003
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My toad goes everywhere I go. It is my SPARE. If you have ever had a breakdown and were not in cell range, you have a SPARE to get to cell range. If you have to be towed to a repair facility that can't work on your MH until Monday, you have a SPARE. When we were in Death Valley, we put about 200 miles on the SPARE seeing Death Valley while the MH stayed in camp. These things have all happened to us and I am glad we had a SPARE. You are figuring 12 MPG with a 31 ft MH with a V10? Good luck on that. The question to TOAD or not TOAD can only be answered by you, but I will not go without.
Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified brake system
Retired Fire Captain, SFD
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RayChez
Barstow, Ca. USA
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Joined: 09/13/2003
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I wouldn't go anywhere without my toad. We tried it once with our other coach and it was a pain to go to the grocery store or the doctor. It is hard to find parking areas that will accomodate a coach.
Now if you have a small motorhome like anything under 32', then it might be OK. But any larger then that? FORGET IT!
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GPWayne
Lake Stevens. WA
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Joined: 02/03/2005
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Last year we made a 10,000 mile trip with the MH @ 7-10 MPG. Used the toad for 5,000 miles @ 25-30 MPG. Will always take the toad. It only takes one or two trips through a tight store parking lot convince me.
(On a local in state trip with three rigs, my son, pulling a 5er lost a brake caliper mount bolt and stopped real fast. We drove the toad to the Ford shop, got a bolt and were on our way in less than an hour. Sure like having a 4 wheel "life raft")
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