Fishing for Info on my Toad. Isnt a Trailer better ?

[superpickle]

I mean, I am going to be Toading a Volvo V70. The tires an this thing can cost
$400.00 a pop.  So i was thunking a Car Hauler would be better so I could save on all that EXPENSIVE Rubber AND carry my Zippy too (ATV). 
Should i get some sort of Fareing on the trailer to protect the car ?
Or, Just cover the car in Duct Tape 
Is it Leagle to have your Mother in Law ride on the Trailer ?


Paul... 

[Ncbob]

I've seen this question come up a number of time and was, if fact, entertaining using an enclosed trailer myself at the outset of this bus conversion journey. The trailer definitely has some advantages insofar as extra storage and keeping the toad out of the elements and extraneous road gravel....but...and doesn't there always seem to be a 'but'?

It all boils down to:

What in the world am I going to do with the trailer in an RV park after I unload the toad.....

Exactly how much weight will the bus hitch or draw bar accommodate and what will all that rear weight do to the normal handling characteristics of the bus.....

Will this package put me over length for the States in which I plan to run.....

Is there a proven air/electric brake controller for the package I'm planning on using...

And, finally, how much is this dream going to cost and can I justify it?

These were the items of concern for me, Paul...and I decided against the trailer for more than two of the above reasons.

Hope this helps scratch the surface for you.

NCbob

[DrivingMissLazy]

Enclosed, or open, trailer brakes are absolutely no problem. Much easier, and cheaper than outfitting a toad with air controlled of electric brakes.

I do not recall ever seeing any trailer with a capacity of 3,000 pounds of more that did not include electric brakes. 3,000 pounds is the limit in California and many other states for mandatory brakes.

The new electric brake controllers, that mount in the tow vehicle do not even have to be mounted exactly horizontal, as the older ones did. They can be mounted at a 45 degree slant and still work properly.

Richard

[Len Silva]

Paul,

Of all the issues mentioned by NCbob, the biggest is what to do with the trailer when parked.  Most sites won't have room for it and the bus and the toad.  Many campgrounds only allow one extra vehicle.

So, when you reach your destination, you must unload the car, unhook the trailer, hook the trailer to the car and haul it to a storage location if one is available.

Backing a trailer with a bus can be a challenge so you must do all of those things before you get to your campsite.

You may find yourself in a position where you must back up to get out of a jamb.  It would be easier to unhook the toad and move it, then back up the bus and rehook.

All in all, flat towing is the simplest by far.  Even tow dollies can be a pain to deal with at your destination.

Good luck,

Len

[DrivingMissLazy]

Paul,
Backing a trailer with a bus can be a challenge so you must do all of those things before you get to your campsite.
All in all, flat towing is the simplest by far.  Even tow dollies can be a pain to deal with at your destination.
Good luck,
Len

I agree that flat towing is the easiest generally, but I have to dis-agree about backing. A trailer is a piece of cake to back up as compared to trying to back a flat towed toad or a tow dolly.

Braking on flat towed or tow dolly type vehicles is not necessarily mandatory in all states now, but it is becoming more so all the time and is now mandatory in all Canada I believe.

When I was staying at a campground, instead of Wal-Mart I always tried to find a place that had pull thrus long enough to accommodate the towed vehicle. Not possible though in many locations, especially in the north east.

Richard

[Len Silva]

I agree that flat towing is the easiest generally, but I have to dis-agree about backing. A trailer is a piece of cake to back up as compared to trying to back a flat towed toad or a tow dolly.

Richard

Well, certainly easier than backing a toad or dolly which is all but impossible, but I wouldn't call it a piece of cake.

Backing a 20 foot trailer behind a 40 foot bus can be a challenge, certainly far more difficult than a semi or even a large travel trailer behind a pickup.

On mine, the hitch is almost 8 feet behind the axle and backing a trailer, especially turning to the right is a chore.

When I have to back into a space with or without a trailer, I always try to keep it on the left side if possible.

Len

[belfert]

At a Midwest Busnuts rally last fall I ran into someone carrying a car on an aluminum flatbed car hauler.  They said they got 1 MPG better with the trailer than towing 4 down.

Two issues I see with this:  1. An aluminum flatbed car hauler is around $4,000 today.  2. A trailer hitch attached to the engine cradle or similiar can't handle the tongue weight in a lot of cases.

My current car can't be towed four down so I would need a trailer if I wanted to take a car.

[superpickle]

Thanks guys, I have done a LOt of Trailer towing and backing. No problem. I see the point on Length, State and Campsites.
I'll just have to find a Pull through or deal with it some other way.
Dont you have to take out the Drive line or something to tow 4 down ? It it is an Automatic !
And, if you Tow 4 down, how do you protect the car from Road Krapp ?
Still dont like the idea of wareing out those Expensive tires 
Not concerned with Cost of trailer either.
And, What do the folks that haul around those Sail Plain trailers do about the Length problem. Ive seen peeps towing Sail Plains with motorhomes , they must be hitting 70+ feet long

Thanks again.. Paul...

[DrivingMissLazy]

Many vehicles with automatic can be towed four down. I towed my 99 Tahoe (5500 lbs) with automatic, thousands and thousands of miles around the country with no problems. Never really noticed tire wear, but it was not appreciable as I never had to replace them. Toad tire wear is probably one of the costs you have to suffer if you are going to tow something.
Richard

[Kwajdiver]

The man I bought my bus from was a racer.  He towed a 28 foot trailer behind a MCI-9.  Total of 68ft.

Bill

[edvanland]

I tow a 24 foot enclosed trailer behind my MCI 7.  I have my Harley full dresser and my Jeep Rubicon in it.  I am 68 feet long, yes it is harder to back than with my pickup but in my opinion it is well worth the trouble to keep my Harley out of the weather as well as the Jeep, plus don't have to worry about some clown messing with the Harley or Jeep.
MY 2 cents worth
ED\
MCI 7

[superpickle]

Hadnt thought of a Closed trailer.. I think they cost WAY way to much..

I'll take a look at Ebay though.. 
Is there enough room to open a car door in one ??

[Dreamscape]

Paul, buy a convertible, no problem.

Paul

[Barn Owl]

Superpickle,

Right now we are using a Volvo 850 turbo wagon as our temp toad. It pulls very well on my fathers tow dolly. So far I haven't seen any unusual tire wear. Because of the low ground clearance at the front air dam I have to be very careful when I drive it up and down the ramps. Every thing has to be dead on straight; otherwise it will catch the plastic. I have found that the tow dolly is not as bad as I would have thought; I can move it around by hand. I have made sure that I never park where I have to back up when I am on the road. With the rear skirt on the bus and the nose of the car up high, I haven't experienced any damage yet. HTH.

Laryn

[DrivingMissLazy]

Is there enough room to open a car door in one ??

Many people cut an additional door on the driver side of the enclosed trailer, in the proper location, so that they can open the vehicle door in the trailer and be able to exit the trailer.

I personally pulled a 25 foot enclosed trailer to the desert literally hundreds of times with my coach. It was for hauling all my sand toys and sand rail. After some practice, they are relatively easy, to me, to back into a very tight space.
Richard