BlackNBlue
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I recently learned toad as a cute term for a vehicle towed by an RV. With the 7-10mpg my stepvan gets, and the generally unpleasant driving experience, I really like the idea of carrying something for general transportation, in addition to a bike that is. I have two other vehicles, am thinking of a third, and have no specific experience with a toad. Anyone who's dealt with one, can you weigh in on these three options?
The van's a 1973 Ford P400. GVW 10k pounds, empty weight 5720+/-20. I can only make a rough guess as to the final weight of the van once construction is finished (about 1/3 of the way there). Engine is a 4.9 Ford L6 making about 110hp and 220ft-lb. On the 500-mile drive to get it home, it got 7.3mpg at 60mph (at which it topped out), 10.5 at 51, according to the escort car's speedometer.
Option 1 is a BMW E34 wagon. It weighs something like 3800lb empty. It seats 4.5 and a lot of stuff (it once hauled a dryer), is nice to drive and sit in, and over the last two years has averaged 21.5mpg in normal use. Also, it exists, built (not bought) years ago, and is my 97%-sorted daily driver.
Option 2 is an old Toyota truck, a solid-axle 4x4 longbed with a shell. It weighs about 3300lb empty, seats 2 in the front and even more stuff, is ok to drive and sit in, and averages something like 17mpg. It tops out at perhaps 75 and takes a long time to get there. Like the wagon, it too exists and is 97% sorted out, currently used as storage.
Option 3 is a Mazda 121, better known as the Ford Festiva, or a Suzuki Cultus, better known as a Geo Metro. I prefer the former car. They both weigh about 1800lb empty and get 35-45mpg. They don't yet exist, and would probably take $2k to buy and fix up.
Having some general towing experience, my sense is that towing an 1800# small car with this rig is a reasonable proposition. I'm not sure about the heavier first two options, though. Thoughts?
The van's a 1973 Ford P400. GVW 10k pounds, empty weight 5720+/-20. I can only make a rough guess as to the final weight of the van once construction is finished (about 1/3 of the way there). Engine is a 4.9 Ford L6 making about 110hp and 220ft-lb. On the 500-mile drive to get it home, it got 7.3mpg at 60mph (at which it topped out), 10.5 at 51, according to the escort car's speedometer.
Option 1 is a BMW E34 wagon. It weighs something like 3800lb empty. It seats 4.5 and a lot of stuff (it once hauled a dryer), is nice to drive and sit in, and over the last two years has averaged 21.5mpg in normal use. Also, it exists, built (not bought) years ago, and is my 97%-sorted daily driver.
Option 2 is an old Toyota truck, a solid-axle 4x4 longbed with a shell. It weighs about 3300lb empty, seats 2 in the front and even more stuff, is ok to drive and sit in, and averages something like 17mpg. It tops out at perhaps 75 and takes a long time to get there. Like the wagon, it too exists and is 97% sorted out, currently used as storage.
Option 3 is a Mazda 121, better known as the Ford Festiva, or a Suzuki Cultus, better known as a Geo Metro. I prefer the former car. They both weigh about 1800lb empty and get 35-45mpg. They don't yet exist, and would probably take $2k to buy and fix up.
Having some general towing experience, my sense is that towing an 1800# small car with this rig is a reasonable proposition. I'm not sure about the heavier first two options, though. Thoughts?
