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Something for the Brain trust

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Bulldog9:
Okay. I admit this is completely a first world problem...... Pardon the rant aspect of this.

As some may know, I retired this year from the Army. My wife and I have long talked about once. We are both retired traveling across the US and visiting all of the national parks, but also some of the great beautiful landscape features of our country and also pairing that with seeing a a MLB game in every stadium. We've broken the country up into four trips and will probably take 2 to 3 months for each trip.

Anyhow, in April we decided that instead of buying a trailer to tow behind my truck, we would buy a motor home. Being that my tundra has a transfer case, I assumed that there was a way to put it in neutral and we could flat tow it behind the RV which has a 15K tow capacity.

Well low and behold, there is no such capability. In fact, Toyota doesn't sell a single 4x4 with a neutral capability in their transfer cases. I fully understand it for all-wheel drive, limited duty, 4x4, etc. But in a full size truck with a full transfer case and low ratio come on man. Virtually every other truck manufacturer has this capability.

What's also ridiculous is that even the manual Tacoma cannot be flat towed due to the way that Toyota managers their transmission cooling and oiling with an internal pump driven by the engine.

I do have a moto tote and can easily carry one of my motorcycles. I did a test of this in October when I strapped the stornello to the back of the RV drove out to Texas and back unloaded it a couple times with with very little issue. The only problem with that, is if we go on a month-long trip, the lovely Mrs. Bulldog might not want to have her only means of transport to be a motorcycle, and would not want to be dependent upon me to go grocery shopping, etc. And of course going shopping with her is cruel and unhuman punishment..... But I digress...

As I've weighed out all of my options, they include:
1. Purchase a tow dolly for her car which is a front-wheel drive.
2. Purchase a car carrier to load any vehicle we have on and take it wherever we go.

The problem of course with both of these things is what do you do with a car carrier trailer or Dolly when you're not using it, especially when you have limited space.

3. Change her car to one that can be flat towed
4. Purchase a cheap used older vehicle that can be flat towed.
5. Trade in my truck for one that can be flat towed.
6. Sell the RV (aka mobile bed and breakfast) purchase a trailer as originally planned.

The problem with number three, is that the options are very limited and she is a little bit of a car snob. Plus she changes cars every 2 to 3 years so this would be an ongoing headache.

The problem with number four is that other than maybe a Fiat 500 with a manual transmission, there really aren't any little cars or fun cars that are towable that I would want, and I don't really need or want to add another vehicle to the fleet. I already have three toy cars, Don't want to sell any of them.

The problem with number six, is that this unit has everything we wanted and is well sorted. I got a heck of a deal for it. And am sufficiently in the to be able to trade it in and walk away with a trailer, but then I have to worry about installing solar, generators, etc etc. plus, I really like being able to set up 5 minutes max trailers take hours.

So that leaves me with number five, which is trading my beloved Toyota Tundra TRD pro for another truck. Being that I don't need a full size truck anymore to tow a camper, but do want the utility that truck provides, I'm looking at midsize trucks. As I said above, you can cross Toyota off that list. Not interested in any GM product, or Nissan, or Dodge so that leaves me with Ford. My brother-in-law has a ranger Raptor and I really like the truck and it would suit me perfectly, except do I really want to come 30k out of pocket? CarMax will give me 30k for my tundra and I would have to come out of pocket for the other 30k to change my truck. The problem of course with the Ford, is it's got a ton of gizmos, is a twin turbo V6, and in 10 years will probably be in worse condition than my tundra will be in 10 years even though it is already 7 years old. I bought the tundra because I wanted a lifetime truck, and it's been absolutely perfect for the most part. In fact, I like it so much that I have not had new car itch since owning it, which is a new thing for me.

Doing the math, it seems to make more sense to pick up a fun little car like the Fiat 500 or something else to flat tow behind the RV, but the idea of adding another vehicle at a time when I'm planning on selling at least three motorcycles and wanting the option in the future to pick up a project car to take 5 or 6 years to restore, you. See my dilemma. Yeah poor me.... LOL

Being that most of you here are similarly minded, and there's a wealth of experience with cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc, I figured I would throw this out to the Brain trust to see what you all think about it.

Okay rant off. Look forward to hearing any suggestions you all have and the rationales.

Clifton:
Sounds like you'll be having fun! My preferences in order.

1) I never understood adding tow miles and wear to a car pulling it around the country so I'd want to pull a car carrier with a small car. The rig should't take much more room than just towing the car itself and if anything should be easier to tow. Once at a destination unload the car when you need it then park it back on the trailer.

2) Tow a small FWD car on a car dolly.

RinkRat II:

 My vote would be for the tow dolly. You already have a vehicle designed for this and people sell them off all the time after traveling.  Look around at the retirement communities for a deal.

  My $.02
  Paul B  :boozing:

SIR REAL ED:


The tow dolly option sounds like the least problematic route.

I'd also ante up for some VR googles for Mrs. Bulldog.  Then, when she has to ride in one of your low-brow vehicles with you, she can put on the googles and be cruising the Rivera in a Ferrari with Rock Hudson at the wheel.

Plus you can wear them when you have to go shopping with her.....

Kev m:
It would be 4 or 5 for ME.

BUT these guys are right and I think it should be 1 or 2 for you.

And maybe you can consider combining that with 3 or 4 (buying a different or used small fun car to be towed or carried. Personally I would suggest a Miata.

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