Which should I do?

[ttpadilla]

I'm really torn on this issue...

The logistics of towing my car behind this Class A, are really eating at me (I'll skip the details, but they are many). On top of the difficulty getting the car towed, there's my very low comfort level towing a car behind this gigantic Class A that I have no experience driving. Also, it will reduce my gas mileage (which already sucks) on the RV. Also, insurance for the car is more than $450/6 months, meaning that when I have insurance due again it will be more than $715 for the two vehicles. And worse, a new noise has started in the car, meaning additional repair costs are coming up, and I've already had it in for brakes twice (4 hour visits each time), problems with "disappearing oil" required two trips to mechanics, and the electrical problems are numerous.

I've been thinking that I should sell it right before I leave and put the cash in the bank, save the towing expense and logistics, save the extra drain on mileage, get some money back on the insurance I've already paid, and NOT have to take it in for more repairs.

But. I'm worried about not having a car for trips to town, and I don't think a motorcycle will work for me, buying groceries, refilling propane tanks, and traveling up to Sacramento and down to San Diego from my Workamping site. That would leave me with my only choice being to drive the motor home everywhere, which could get fuel expensive, but would it be as much as all the other car related expenses? Or, maybe I could buy a little car once I'm down there?

Anyone else have a Class A and no backup vehicle?

I've never posted a poll before, so I'm not sure how this will work.

 

[msbarth]

My motorhome is the same size as yours.. I do not have a car to tow so I plan it where I can do all my errands at the same, then I unhook the motorhome and go. It works for me but I am not a full timer.

 

[ttpadilla]

That's a pretty good plan. And I just realized that with my dog, I should take the motorhome with me when I visit people, so she has a place to sleep. And I wouldn't really want to leave it behind with all my belongings in it for a weekend anyway.

 

[Almost There]

Tammi, sometimes keeping the car just doesn't make sense when all you're doing is pouring money into it. My car is so bad it's not being sold it's going to the wrecking yard...

Sell the car for as much as you can get. Bank the money. Once you've gotten some workamping under your belt and a few paychecks in the bank you can start looking for a small car to drive if you find that you really need one.

If you stop to think about the cost of keeping the car with insurance, tags, gas and maintenance, that cost will far outweigh any gas cost you pay extra if you have to use the RV to go shopping because you'll become very adept at large shopping lists and not forgetting a thing. You have a big RV so you have lots of places to store extra dry goods. If you need meal suggestions for good healthy stuff that comes out of cans and boxes, I'm sure we can all help.

I spent several years with a 35' Class A on the road with no toad. I had a cargo van with all the show gear in it instead. Unlike you who will be parked, I was on the road all the time going from show to show. I used a directory that showed what was at exit ramps to find places that had both grocery shopping and laundry facilities at the same place. Sometime I had to haul the laundry from the big parking lot but it was always doable. End point is that I could make it work.

You may very well find that one of the other workampers will be willing to take you with them when they go to town for groceries and laundry if there's no machines in the campground.

Oh, and towing something behind you isn't that big a deal. The only deal comes when you try to back something up....   and unlike me with a trailer, you can always unhitch a car... Get some practice driving the RV and then you'll have the confidence to add a toad if you decide you want to.

Relax girl, it will all work out....

 

[ttpadilla]

Tammi, sometimes keeping the car just doesn't make sense when all you're doing is pouring money into it. My car is so bad it's not being sold it's going to the wrecking yard...

Sell the car for as much as you can get. Bank the money. Once you've gotten some workamping under your belt and a few paychecks in the bank you can start looking for a small car to drive if you find that you really need one.

If you stop to think about the cost of keeping the car with insurance, tags, gas and maintenance, that cost will far outweigh any gas cost you pay extra if you have to use the RV to go shopping because you'll become very adept at large shopping lists and not forgetting a thing. You have a big RV so you have lots of places to store extra dry goods. If you need meal suggestions for good healthy stuff that comes out of cans and boxes, I'm sure we can all help.

I spent several years with a 35' Class A on the road with no toad. I had a cargo van with all the show gear in it instead. Unlike you who will be parked, I was on the road all the time going from show to show. I used a directory that showed what was at exit ramps to find places that had both grocery shopping and laundry facilities at the same place. Sometime I had to haul the laundry from the big parking lot but it was always doable. End point is that I could make it work.

You may very well find that one of the other workampers will be willing to take you with them when they go to town for groceries and laundry if there's no machines in the campground.

Oh, and towing something behind you isn't that big a deal. The only deal comes when you try to back something up....   and unlike me with a trailer, you can always unhitch a car... Get some practice driving the RV and then you'll have the confidence to add a toad if you decide you want to.

Relax girl, it will all work out....

Thank you, thank you, thank you... Breathing... :heart:

 

[highdesertranger]

so I am assuming the class A is gas powered. is that correct? what type of car? first thing I would do is to get some drive time on that class A. do you know how tall it is? this is very important, you must know the height so you don't pull into a gas station and run into their canopy, or worse yet a low bridge. I will vote later when I have some more info. sorry but this is a very tuff question to answer. highdesertranger

 

[cyndi]

Doesn't CLM require you to have a vehicle besides your motorhome?

 

[mockturtle]

Having had experience towing a toad with another motorhome, I can assure you that you will not notice any difference in handling and any difference in fuel mileage is negligible. The only caveat is not being able to back up, so you do need to plan ahead.

 

[ttpadilla]

Yes, gas powered, 28' long, and about 11'6" high with the AC unit. The car is a Chevy Classic (used to be called Malibu Classic).

 

[ttpadilla]

Doesn't CLM require you to have a vehicle besides your motorhome?

I have no idea. They haven't sent me any useful paperwork.

 

[compassrose]

I tow a Jeep 4 down. Towed it with a 22 ft Class C. Tow it with a 40 ft bus. No difference in fuel consumption with either. Perhaps a cheap chinese scooter is what you need. The one I have (150cc) can hold at least a normal plastic bag of groceries in the seat where the helmet is stored and slightly more in the little "trunk" on the back of the seat. Got it used and it looks a lot like this one http://www.scooterdepot.us/150cc-2014-model-gas-motor-scooter-half-assembled.html

If you get one used, make sure it has already been tagged/titled and taxes paid on it. Please don't ask me how I know this. I hate the NM MVD/DMV!

So far, the last three towns I have lived in has had public transportation (they do stop at the stores and I saw people, mostly in Corpus Christi, with those pull along wheeled carts full of groceries or laundry, using the bus). And another town I lived in, you had to call and they would come get you as they did not run a regular route.

 

[akrvbob]

A couple of thoughts

1) I'm pretty sure CLM requires a toad for people in the big campgrounds.

2) You're going to be up in the mountains and the steep, winding roads are going to be a real pain to take regularly in a Class A. You'll get tired of it and it will be very hard on the RV. There is a reason they require toads and it's that hosts found out how hard it was to drive the RV in and out of the mountains and started pestering other people for rides and favors resulting in friction.

3) I tried to load up my rig with everything I could carry in the first time and drive out of the mountains the absolute minimum number of times.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

ok after reading everybody responses I am leaning towards keeping the car. what kind of noise are you getting? highdesertranger

 

[ttpadilla]

I tow a Jeep 4 down. Towed it with a 22 ft Class C. Tow it with a 40 ft bus. No difference in fuel consumption with either. Perhaps a cheap chinese scooter is what you need. The one I have (150cc) can hold at least a normal plastic bag of groceries in the seat where the helmet is stored and slightly more in the little "trunk" on the back of the seat. Got it used and it looks a lot like this one http://www.scooterdepot.us/150cc-2014-model-gas-motor-scooter-half-assembled.html

If you get one used, make sure it has already been tagged/titled and taxes paid on it. Please don't ask me how I know this. I hate the NM MVD/DMV!

So far, the last three towns I have lived in has had public transportation (they do stop at the stores and I saw people, mostly in Corpus Christi, with those pull along wheeled carts full of groceries or laundry, using the bus). And another town I lived in, you had to call and they would come get you as they did not run a regular route.

That's a real cute scooter! I'd love to have one of those.

 

[ttpadilla]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I do not have a trailer with which to tow the car, nor the money to buy one at this time, so I'm having a real hard time wrapping my head around the "renting a tow-dolly" portion of taking this stupid car along with me everywhere. Not only does it mean that the car is costing me even more money than it already does, but the rental restricts all of my movements, requires multiple trips into town and back just to pick up and drop off the dolly, and requires me to travel on someone else's time table (4 day max on rental) which eliminates all of my plans for the next 3 weeks. I have emailed my area manager. It is possible that since my campground is smallish, and the only one I'm (currently) responsible for, they may not have the vehicle requirement. But, my employment agreement could change to include other areas, so I guess I'll have to see what they say. Thanks again!

 

[Almost There]

I don't know if it's even possible when you consider where you are now and where you're going but have you thought of doing it in 2 drives.

Take some of the 3 weeks with just the RV and do your travelling. Then take a bus back and pick up the car and drive it straight through.

Logistics may make it impossible and it might be a crazy idea but sometimes crazy works....

I did it once from Florida to central Kentucky. My parents had given me the van that they had in FL when they had to sell their place down there. I had a 35' RV with cargo trailer. I took it north, caught a greyhound bus back south and then drove the van north.

Needless to say it was a once only trip but if you can do it, it might be cheaper than renting a tow dolly (add up gas for 2 plus the bus fare), eliminates the time frame for the rental and lets you get some RV only driving under your belt. It also gets you some paychecks in the bank before you have to buy a dolly if you decide to keep the car.

The other possibility is having someone else drive the car down for you...NO, you can't get someone to drive the RV Tammi... and then put them on the bus to go back home. Got a niece or a nephew you can talk into it?

Time to get creative!!

 

[mconlonx]

Sell the car. Get a decent folding bicycle. If you need a car once you get to your destination, buy another one out there.

 

[mockturtle]

I believe a Chevy Malibu can be towed four down. But you would still require a towbar and bracket. This would be a good investment if you intend to keep both the MH and the car.

 

[LeeRevell]

A small scooter on a Hitch Haul carrier, with proceeds from selling the car.

 

[ttpadilla]

I've been trying to determine whether my car is a candidate for towing 4 down. That would take care of the dolly rental issue. I'd love to sell it and get a scooter. That would be lovely. And then at 3 this morning I woke up with the consideration that if I want to explore more of the national forest with Bella, it would be a little difficult on a scooter. So. Still thinking. I have a mechanic coming out to change oil and inspect the rv. If a bunch of repairs are necessary the car gets sold to pay for it.