How many travel with an additional car?

[tinksquared]

Hubby and I were discussing the possibility of full timing. Our TV is a 2008 Ford F450... not so great for running around in.

If we did full-time, I doubt we'd move more often than twice a month, possibly we might stay put for several months if we loved an area.

I'm not keen on the thought of driving a separate vehicle when we do travel, but on the other hand our Jeep would be so much better to run around in.

Thoughts?

[sandollars]

With a 30 foot Classic, why don't you just downsize your TV to a F-250? Avoid the hassle of 2 vehicles.

Oh, and to answer your question: not me!

[tinksquared]

Because new trucks are so expensive. Ours is paid for.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

It's pretty uncommon to bring along a second car. There are a number of people who bring along thing like 4x4 ATV's, motorcycles, and scooters in the bed of the TV. A Class A + towed Jeep is a very common combo.

Bob

[dkottum]

We have traveled at least six months a year for the past 10 years. We see it all the time, too big of a tow vehicle for a daily driver so they have a second car tailing along wherever they go. Very common with the fifth wheel half and full timers, F250/350 parked alongside the Honda Civic.

A good tow vehicle serves many functions. If your F450 is paid for, wise to stick with it and bring the Jeep along and see how it goes. If it doesn't go well, you have an Airstream, easily towable by many vehicles. A late model Ford Expedition with the EcoBoost engine and very stable full independent suspension is a good one. The shorter wheelbase version is a decent daily driver.

[AstroBruce]

My wife an I live in PA for 6 months in the summer. We take weekend and week long trips with the trailer and Ram 2500. Don't need another vehicle. We spend the winter fulltiming in FL. My wife follows me down in her Subaru Outback. Going places, visiting friends, eating out, and just everyday chores are so much more civilized using the Outback. Sometimes we need to go in different directions. We wouldn't have it any other way.

Bruce

[FCStreamer]

Well, you certainly won't be able to tow it, but if you want to drive it, sure! Why not?

[Mollysdad]

I'd say it depends on how many miles you plan to travel in a day.
If it's 200 miles, then, yes a car is practical. If it's 600 miles, then it's a forced march (like I do) and being separated can be annoying. ("I gotta pee!") I think I'd rather have a decent sized scooter. Think extra gas, however it could also be handy. I'd have a CB radio so you can communicate on an unused channel (If there is such a thing). Frankly, it sounds more like moving.

[tinksquared]

Thanks for the responses. We're just thinking about it right now.

We couldn't do an SUV... we travel with a German Shepherd and a cat, that wouldn't leave room for stuff like the grill, generator, etc.

I can't drive more than about 4 hours in a day anyway

[StrmyWeather]

Originally Posted by dkottum

A good tow vehicle serves many functions. If your F450 is paid for, wise to stick with it and bring the Jeep along and see how it goes. If it doesn't go well, you have an Airstream, easily towable by many vehicles. A late model Ford Expedition with the EcoBoost engine and very stable full independent suspension is a good one. The shorter wheelbase version is a decent daily driver.

You've already voiced your desire to stay with what's paid for and if you don't want to use the 450 for a daily driver, I agree with DKottum to try following with the Jeep and see how you like it. We've seen lots of that in our travels. Otherwise your options are pretty limited and straightforward if you want to keep your 450: 1) use it for your daily and sell the Jeep, 2) follow with the Jeep.

Of course you could always downsize your AS and tow it with the Jeep!

[tinksquared]

Lol there is NO AIrstream that a 2 door jeep wrangler can tow [emoji38]

[Mike1997]

Why not tow a Jeep with your Airstream??!!

Works for me everywhere I go.....its the big Grand Cherokee Limited diesel too so usually get discounts for diesel for both. Love it....can pack all sorts of stuff in it going down the road.

However, I do have relatives who own a Bluebird Wonderlodge and they prefer to have Enterprize deliver a car to them once they are off the road.

Mike

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by tinksquared

Lol there is NO AIrstream that a 2 door jeep wrangler can tow [emoji38]

You would be surprised as many are when the rig is set up by the experts, I've seen a few up to a Safari 25. Set up by Can-Am Airstream, they had been using the four-door Wrangler for several years. Andrew T. posted a picture of it here in recent years.

Airstreams tow easily and well.

[tevake]

Sometimes it makes sense, if going somewhere for a while.
Doubly so if there are fun roads in the area.

Best destinations with the toad so far, Colo, the PNW.

Not worth it if traveling a lot with short stops.

Cheers Richard

PS. I know it's not exactly what you were asking about but indulge me. I love showing off my rig.

[FreshAirStmr]

We started full-timing 17 months ago. We tow with a 2500 Chevy Silverado diesel truck with bed topper. Before we left, I sold my Miata (my 3rd since 1990). Within a few months of setting off, boy, did I regret selling my car. Here we were in so many beautiful places with great driving roads or great scenic roads and all we had to drive was a big old beast of a pickup truck. My car was the ONE thing I had given up for full-timing that I really missed.

So even though my husband was not sold on the idea and didn't like the thought of towing by himself (he liked the extra pair of eyes), I shopped on Craigslist and found an almost identical Miata (2012 power hardtop with 11,000 miles) and took a plane to Houston to get it. My thinking was that our actual travel time was insignificant in the scheme of things. We typically travel about 2 hours at a time and then stay a week. Or we'll travel longer days for a few days, and then stay a month or two (for winter).

It has turned out to be a great decision.

First, it's been a blast to have that car to run around in and see the sights. It's our "motorcycle." Second, it can easily go where the truck can't so easily go. For example, we spent December in San Diego and parking is so competitive and limited, we never drove the truck.

There have been many times especially on overnights that we don't unhitch, yet we still have a vehicle to grocery shop, etc.

I appreciate having my own wheels. My husband searches out gyms wherever we go and when he's working out, I have my independence. I have my own car to run my own errands. I don't have to drive the truck and he doesn't have to drive me around.

When we're on the move, I drive behind him because he needs to set the pace, not me in the little sports car. We communicate via walkie-talkies -- phones are not a good idea. I can go ahead of him if we need to scout out a situation, and from behind I can help him out too. He's completely on board now. Since I can't navigate on the road as I once did, we both examine the route on the computer before we leave and then we both have the routes on Google Maps on our phones mounted on our dashes.

The expense of driving a second car from place to place is offset a little by not driving the truck so much but obviously it's more expensive, especially counting insurance, than only one vehicle would be. (I just turned over 28,000 miles, so that's 17,000 miles on the Miata in 11 months!) And some places such as state parks (at least in California, Oregon, and Washington) charge $7-10 dollar a day for having an extra vehicle. The San Diego park charged $100/month. So yeah, expensive. But worth it IMO for us as fulltimers.

Also, many sites do not have the room for two vehicles, so often you have to park one vehicle in an overflow parking area. When we have to do that, we'll park the Miata in front of the Airstream since we use it the most. And not a day goes by that someone asks us if we really tow that Airstream with that little car.

Joanne

[tinksquared]

Originally Posted by dkottum

You would be surprised as many are when the rig is set up by the experts, I've seen a few up to a Safari 25. Set up by Can-Am Airstream, they had been using the four-door Wrangler for several years. Andrew T. posted a picture of it here in recent years.

Airstreams tow easily and well.

We have a 2 door Jeep. It's MAX tow capacity is 2000lbs. It can't even tow a flat bed with a couple of ATV's

[tinksquared]

I totally get your Miata love! I traded mine in for a Jeep Wrangler when we brought home our German Shepherd pup. Somehow, I just knew he wasn't going to fit in there

I think if we decided to full time in a few years this makes sense. We love exploring and the Jeep is great for it.

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

Originally Posted by FreshAirStmr

We started full-timing 17 months ago. We tow with a 2500 Chevy Silverado diesel truck with bed topper. Before we left, I sold my Miata (my 3rd since 1990). Within a few months of setting off, boy, did I regret selling my car. Here we were in so many beautiful places with great driving roads or great scenic roads and all we had to drive was a big old beast of a pickup truck. My car was the ONE thing I had given up for full-timing that I really missed.

So even though my husband was not sold on the idea and didn't like the thought of towing by himself (he liked the extra pair of eyes), I shopped on Craigslist and found an almost identical Miata (2012 power hardtop with 11,000 miles) and took a plane to Houston to get it. My thinking was that our actual travel time was insignificant in the scheme of things. We typically travel about 2 hours at a time and then stay a week. Or we'll travel longer days for a few days, and then stay a month or two (for winter).

It has turned out to be a great decision.

First, it's been a blast to have that car to run around in and see the sights. It's our "motorcycle." Second, it can easily go where the truck can't so easily go. For example, we spent December in San Diego and parking is so competitive and limited, we never drove the truck.

There have been many times especially on overnights that we don't unhitch, yet we still have a vehicle to grocery shop, etc.

I appreciate having my own wheels. My husband searches out gyms wherever we go and when he's working out, I have my independence. I have my own car to run my own errands. I don't have to drive the truck and he doesn't have to drive me around.

When we're on the move, I drive behind him because he needs to set the pace, not me in the little sports car. We communicate via walkie-talkies -- phones are not a good idea. I can go ahead of him if we need to scout out a situation, and from behind I can help him out too. He's completely on board now. Since I can't navigate on the road as I once did, we both examine the route on the computer before we leave and then we both have the routes on Google Maps on our phones mounted on our dashes.

The expense of driving a second car from place to place is offset a little by not driving the truck so much but obviously it's more expensive, especially counting insurance, than only one vehicle would be. (I just turned over 28,000 miles, so that's 17,000 miles on the Miata in 11 months!) And some places such as state parks (at least in California, Oregon, and Washington) charge $7-10 dollar a day for having an extra vehicle. The San Diego park charged $100/month. So yeah, expensive. But worth it IMO for us as fulltimers.

Also, many sites do not have the room for two vehicles, so often you have to park one vehicle in an overflow parking area. When we have to do that, we'll park the Miata in front of the Airstream since we use it the most. And not a day goes by that someone asks us if we really tow that Airstream with that little car.

Joanne

[BASE729]

Originally Posted by FreshAirStmr

When we're on the move, I drive behind him because he needs to set the pace, not me in the little sports car. We communicate via walkie-talkies -- phones are not a good idea. I can go ahead of him if we need to scout out a situation, and from behind I can help him out too.

I'm pretty sure that's the plot to Smokey and the Bandit movies... sports car running interference for the big rig.

[AnnArborBob]

We also faced this dilemma with our crew cab, extended bed F-250. We got the big truck to tow obviously, but also to carry four bicycles and the usual gear. We were getting tired of using the 23 foot long, sixty foot turning radius truck as our daily driver. We seriously considered getting as Jeep Wrangler as a tag along vehicle but hesitated for a couple of reasons. First, Jeep is redesigning the Wrangler for 2018 and I suspect the new model will have a number of improvements to both drive-ability on roads as well as quality. But with any Fiat/Chrysler product, you want to give them a year or so to work out the kinks so that means we wouldn't get it until late in 2018 or early 2019. Second, a lot of the places where we camp (state and national CGs) will charge $7 to $10a day for the second vehicle which is bad enough in the downtown of some mid-sized city, but highway robbery in the middle of nowhere! Plus, a lot of the campsites we use are very small and couldn't accommodate the Airstream, tow vehicle and tag along vehicle.

As we've been traveling nearly full time for the past four years, we've basically given up the bike riding and hike or walk instead so the big truck wasn't really needed anymore. So, we are switching to a F-150 with a 3.5 liter Ecoboost, a crew cab and a short 5 1/2' foot bed. We will "lose" about four feet in overall length, three feet in wheelbase and about fifteen plus feet in turning radius. We'll try this for a year or so and if we still have a desire for the Wrangler, we will get it and just deal with the parking fees and tight campsites in the places we love so much.

For what it's worth, we do not see many couples traveling full time with a TT and with a second vehicle (unless it's towed behind a motorhome.) There are some of course, but it's just not that common. I'm not sure if it's a dollar or logistical issue that keeps more people from doing this.

[EarlM]

Oh NO towing Airstreams with Tonka Toys Don't do it.

Just my 2 cents all these vehicles toing big trailers with small vehicles usually require frame modifications which if you read your owners manual is not recommended.

Earl