Cost Of Commercial Tow?

[Mr.Bill]

I'm planning on retiring in 2 years, and looking at going fulltime (in an Airstream that I don't own yet). One of the things that's holding me back a little is the idea of spending big bucks for a 3/4 ton truck. I'd rather drive a small car. This may be a ridiculous question, but I'm thinking that if I only moved the trailer twice a year (let's say Oregon to Arizona, and back to Oregon 6 months later) it might be less expensive to have the trailer moved back and forth by a commercial hauler, rather than buy a truck and doing it myself. Does anyone have a rough idea what it costs to have a 28' trailer professionally moved? Thanks.

[overlander63]

$3000 each way, plus any other fees and charges. This assumes 1500 miles one way, at $2/mile. Without any more specific info, all answers are going to be SWAGs.

[Splitrock]

Welcome! Maybe I'd just rent a year round site with a park model on it. Or are you thinking of living in the travel trailer year round on two different locations? Then I'd probably buy two park models and skip the move altogether. I have one friend who has a house here in Dakota and a mobile home on an owned lot in Arizona. He has a little car and drives it round trip once a year.

[tcrum]

Check out the towing posts. Also look at the pictures on the top of this page. You can tow an Airstream with a Chrysler 300, VW toureg, ford edge or even a mini van. You dont need a f250.

[Bluto]

Originally Posted by overlander63

$3000 each way, plus any other fees and charges. This assumes 1500 miles one way, at $2/mile. Without any more specific info, all answers are going to be SWAGs.

What are SWAG's?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Bluto

What are SWAG's?

SWAG= Scientific Wild-A**ed Guess.


remember, you asked...

[Phrunes]

Rent a truck one-way, It'll be cheaper.

[slowmover]

I've not seen less than $1.25/mile, zip code to zip code. Let's call it Portland to Tucson 97202 to 85703; or, 1,447-miles $1,808.00 x 2 = $3,617 annually, or, $25,000 in seven years.

The "point" to one of these all-aluminum aerodynamic trailers is not simply their permanence (or, lower order, "looks"), but their outstanding road performance qualities. As above, one is not limited to driving a truck when pulling one of these (conditions being met).

.

[Mr.Bill]

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice. I looked at a website that was claiming you could tow an Airstream with practically any vehicle, but since it was a site for someone that was selling hitches I was naturally a little skeptical. I'd be interested to know if anyone out there is towing a 28' Airstream with say, a Jeep Liberty or something that size. To fill things in a little we're currently deciding exactly what it is we want to do - live in one place in the summer and another in the winter, or spend 2 or 3 years exploring the U.S. . I'm leaning toward the later.

[fmr.capt.evi]

.....but if you own a truck you can help friends and relatives move.

[Phrunes]

Originally Posted by fmrcaptevil

.....but if you own a truck you can help friends and relatives move.

Hahahaha!!!! Too true.

[Ike T]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bill

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice. I looked at a website that was claiming you could tow an Airstream with practically any vehicle, but since it was a site for someone that was selling hitches I was naturally a little skeptical. I'd be interested to know if anyone out there is towing a 28' Airstream with say, a Jeep Liberty or something that size. To fill things in a little we're currently deciding exactly what it is we want to do - live in one place in the summer and another in the winter, or spend 2 or 3 years exploring the U.S. . I'm leaning toward the later.

The answer to your question is yes. There are days' worth of reading on this site about many different tow vehicle and trailer combinations plus comments about the experiences and comments about comments.

I don't know how to suggest that you search for those threads (articles) without being a bit blunt, so I'll just "mention" it.

If you need help with using the search function, just ask. You will receive plenty of help. Good luck with your planning and decision-making.

[slowmover]

Can Am RV in London, Ontario (Andy Thomson) is well-known for setting up "unconventional" tow vehicles. "Unconventional" in this day and age, not so much as was done 40-years ago.

The default choice of half-ton pickup and square white box trailer is probably well-matched. With an A/S one has more choices.

As in the above, read through threads on towing and tow vehicles. The more outlandish the better. See AndyT 's posts as well.

And don't knock 3/4 and 1T pickups. I would surmise you haven't driven one of the latest. It's easy to criticize them from a variety of angles, (some of which bear credence, many do not), but until one has been used (more than as a commuter) then the full range of what they are capable of is hidden.

If I may recommend taking as your starting point what is possibly state-of-the-art: a turbodiesel European SUV with fully independent suspension and disc brakes, hitched with a PRO PRIDE to an A/S (fully IS) with disc brakes. The argument you will find has to do with TV "payload capacity" as a "limit".

Here's a recent AndyT post on FE in TV's.

There is more to it than meets the eye . . . take your time.

Good luck

.

[Bluto]

Originally Posted by overlander63

SWAG= Scientific Wild-A**ed Guess.


remember, you asked...

Terry,
I'll know exactly what you mean next time.