Camping Without A Toad

[manholt]

Don't think you won, Joe.  Herman passed right by!  I have seen people come by and P/U stuff...coach comes back to clean site. No sewer hose, water line or chairs!  A little bit of sense goes a long ways...carry a cone and leave it at entrance to site and spend 5 minutes putting $50+ bucks in a Bay!  We used to do that all the time, back when nobody had a toad.

[mweiner]

1 hour ago, hermanmullins said:

In their catalog and in the Store Camping World has a sign on a Stake that read Occupied or something like that. Is is to hopefully to eliminate that from happening. I suspect it is used for the most part in COE, State, BLM and or Federal Parks that sometimes are if its open take it.

Herman 

Herman, 

Mike and Jennifer Wendlend have talked about this sign on their blogs...it's a very good idea...I agree.... nice, but, not actually necessary...

However, if you have actually PAID for a site for several days in advance...the camp hosts or RV park manager should know that you're staying there .. I have NEVER had any difficulty coming back to my site after going out for the day with my rig..

As for security... I've been lots of places and have never felt like we were in any jeopardy for vehicle theft... actually, if I even suspected something like this ..I would have found another place to stop...

--MARK

[hayesfamily]

1 hour ago, jleamont said:

 

Did I win the most emoji's in a post contest ?

Pretty Much. 

All of my stuff is manual. My awning is manual and Jacks are hydro but sometimes I have to put one side on wood to help them out. I AINT MOVING THIS COACH once we at the campground. If I am there for a night, I may not hook up sewer depending on the situation (I travel with Women) 

Sometimes you can get a shuttle to places but Joe will attest, Williamsburg was one of those places we HAD to have a toad or we would have been ordering pizza and looking at each other in the pool. 

[five]

20 hours ago, HayesFamily said:

    ....Massey's Landing in DE....

How was the CG at Massey's Landing?  When I was a kid my folks had a place on the water in the Oak Orchard/Riverdale area.  I'd like to go back for a visit.

[jleamont]

3 minutes ago, FIVE said:

How was the CG at Massey's Landing?  When I was a kid my folks had a place on the water in the Oak Orchard/Riverdale area.  I'd like to go back for a visit.

EXPENSIVE! Nice place but....EXPENSIVE! 

[wolfe10]

Just a suggestion, but if you want specific CG information, better to start a new thread.  Very few will see it under a "camping without a toad" thread.

[hayesfamily]

16 minutes ago, FIVE said:

How was the CG at Massey's Landing?  When I was a kid my folks had a place on the water in the Oak Orchard/Riverdale area.  I'd like to go back for a visit.

It’s new but it’s beautiful. Had a good time. If you want more detail I think Brett is right will start a new thread but it was nice.

[five]

On 2/19/2018 at 2:52 PM, HayesFamily said:

It’s new but it’s beautiful. Had a good time. If you want more detail I think Brett is right will start a new thread but it was nice.

Thanks, I'll check out the link.

[jleamont]

5 minutes ago, FIVE said:

Thanks, I'll check out the link.

You head that way let me know, we often camp in those parts.

[michealwhelan]

I have to chime in on the size. We are considering down sizing also. My top 5 choices to date  are all at 94 to 96 inches. 3 of them have slides and 2 do not. 4 of the 5 are between 9.5 and 10.2 feet high. One of our favorites is 11'4" and may be out of the running on that fact alone. (My old Class A was 11'6" and caused a few access issues). As for length I have set the limit at around 25 feet. True parking lot standards are between 20 and 22 feet in length. Width wise I can easily fit an 8 foot coach in many of the standard width. As for length my last Ford pickup was 21'6" and 94 wide. There were very few places it could not fit. There is always the option of backing into the parking spot in a area that has a tree lawn and letting the tail hang over a foot of two. Long story short (no pun intended) We have found some great Class B+ and Class C that will improve our ability to explore in more depth. As for a Towed, We ran with our Jeep for years and loved the flexibility it gave us. Some trips we left it home and still managed to get around to almost every place we wanted. As for now we are deciding if we want a Towed or not this time. We plan to run without it for a while and see. Good luck on your quest.  😃

[michealwhelan]

On 1/29/2018 at 6:08 AM, manholt said:

We all have our priorities when we are on the road traveling.  Linda and I like going off road in the mountains and high dessert, we also play golf!   Can't take a golf bag and a motor cycle, to a CC.  If your camped in a Casino RV Park, that have a CC, then yes, take the shuttle.  No shuttle to that trout stream!  Some off my reason's for a toad.

It's what your used to and what you like.  Richard has no problem with the rig down and go concept and neither do I, that's what we all did at one time! 

There is one in every crowd 😲

 

[michealwhelan]

On 2/19/2018 at 1:32 PM, hermanmullins said:

 

Not too long ago I watched a couple break camp without toad, left there stuff out, when they came back it was all cleaned up by the office, they thought they left a day early and weren't coming back  .

Funny and a bit freaky! For the last two seasons I have watched the Class B and C units break camp and leave a few items. Never saw or heard of a problem until now. I bet the office people had egg on their face! 😰 We have not taken our toad on some trips but never experienced that problem or someone commandeering out site. Our 3 month trip this year experienced the toad sitting most of the time as there was a lot of public transportation and shuttles available. We did use it to drive to the shower and camp laundry a couple of times but that was more to keep the battery charged 😀

[richard5933]

To be up to date with this thread, I guess I should update our toad status. We still don't have a toad, but we did add a pair of folding electric bikes which we carry in a bay. Give us an easy way to get to the pub or cafe down the road, pick up a few things at the store, or just to tool around. We can cruise at about 20 mph for a couple of hours before needing to charge. We used these on our last trip in the fall to the east coast and they proved to be really handy, especially when we spent a few days at a TT campground outside Lancaster PA. We were able to get into town pretty easily and spend the day seeing the sights. As long as we're healthy enough for these to fill the need we'll stick with them. After that, we'll re-evaluate and change our plans as needed.

[manholt]

Linda just bought an electric scooter that fits in my bay, I will try it, if it works for me, we will have 2.  Our thoughts are FMCA Rally's and any RV park that we would stay in for a week or longer!  Will still have the Jeep!

If I had a 25 foot, Class C?  I would still have the toad.  In the 60's, 70's & 80's, we used to take our Class A into market parking lots and go shopping!  Not as many cars or people back then.  Also, the few coaches that was out there, was less than 30 feet...exceptions? Yes, but they where conversion jobs and 35 feet.  My first toad was in 1985, a new Izuzu Trooper ll, 4x4, used a A frame hitch connected to a 2" ball on coach...brakes? None.  Cross chains?  Yes.  2 Honda Mopeds on a Hydraulic lift in front of coach!

[jleamont]

We looked at a class B at the RV show a few weeks back, my wife liked them and passed a comment about one for the future. She did mention that it would need to be able to pull a Jeep or no deal. We did the no toad long ago when we destination camped with small kids (no intention on leaving the campground). When we did need to leave for some unforeseen reason it became a real hassle to pack up and roll out, come back and set up. The outside stuff was easy, its the interior stuff to secure for the road that became the real hassle. 

 

[manholt]

Joe, can not picture you in a Sprint chassis!   Besides, I thought DW wanted a "No slide Prevost?" 

[jleamont]

41 minutes ago, manholt said:

Joe, can not picture you in a Sprint chassis!   Besides, I thought DW wanted a "No slide Prevost?" 

She had a reality check afterwards, I think she got caught up in the bling. Nice units, just doesn't suite or lifestyle.

[musashe]

On 10/18/2017 at 7:11 PM, RedLdr1 said:

We downsized to a small, 25 foot, no slide out, Class C  and dumped the TOAD...and don't miss it a bit.    For most trips we do not need a TOAD as we can visit every where we want to go in our Class C.  But then we are not "campers", we use our Class C to tour so we are generally moving on every day or two.  When we are going to be in a single spot for several days, with a lot of local or nearby attractions, I just call Enterprise and they deliver a rental car. 

Having tried both I'm happy without a TOAD.  The smaller Class C is pleasant to drive, handles well, is easy to park, and meets the 25 foot or less length requirements in some national parks.  And I have yet to have a problem parking at a museum, driving in town, shopping etc...I'm sure there are some places I would but we haven't found one yet.   And best yet my wife enjoys driving it...it's nice to get a break from driving!

If you research small Class C you'll find the number of smaller units with a decent TOAD tow rating is fairly small.  Most, but not all, M-B Sprinter based C's will be rated for around 3,500 pounds max tow weight.  Ford Transit based units like ours are rated at around 2,000 pounds so almost any car is out...  Forest River makes some E450 based 25 foot C's, like the Sunseeker GTS 2430S, that could easily pull a big TOAD.   I'm having a hitch added to our new C to allow for using our bike rack, our bicycles will work in a lot of places as well.  And a trailer with a Polaris Slingshot just may be in my future.

Try going TOAD less, the worst case scenario is you'll end up renting a car... 

 

We have a 31 ft Forest River Sunseeker and have yet to have a toad.  It is obviously not something we can park a lot of places.  I really don't want to carry one and I noticed that you mentioned you rent a car from Enterprise which was on my list to check out.  I would really prefer that versus the other.   I know they will deliver to you.  In your experience, has it ever been an issue with getting a car from Enterprise?

[rpburton100]

I have found that if I"m staying in one place for a while, we will rent a car.  Enterprize will usually del. to your campsite.  Other times we use Uber, Lyft, and public transit.  I've considered a TOAD, but don't see the convience outweighing the cost.

[wildebill308]

You guys must do a whole different type of travel than we do. I still maintain you give up 80-85% of the things you can see and do if you don't have a toad. You also give up the spontaneity of being able to just get in the toad and go. The outher storey about "I can go anywhere and park my class C on the street" Well no there are many places especially in the North East you cant fit. Case in point I was in Newport, Rhode Island for the last couple of days and there are many places My CR-V was a tight fit. 

rpburton100, Welcome to the forum. Where are you traveling? Not jumping on you but re stating my position. 

Bill

 

[manholt]

We like going into the country, be it desert or mountains, paved, sand, gravel, mud, etc.   Jeep fits the life style!  Can't imagine doing that in a rental car..the only time I was toad less, was back in 1967 to 1977.  In 1978, I found out that I could tow a 4 x 4, behind a 26 foot Landau, class A...

The only other time I went toad less, was in Malibu, Calif., it was easier to rent.  1985!  My Mom wanted to see the coach..

[jleamont]

We like going into the country, be it desert or mountains, paved, sand, gravel, mud, etc.   Jeep fits the life style!  Can't imagine doing that in a rental car..

Carl, you can do that in a rental car, take the optional insurance! 

 

[richard5933]

I think what this points out is that there are many ways to enjoy an RV, and that not all of them involve towing a vehicle behind.

We also do not have a toad, and for us the electric bikes fill most of our need for getting around. Uber, rental cars, etc. provide mobility in other situations.

If we were going to be parked in one campground for a lengthy time it would be different, but that's not the way we travel right now. That being the case, we don't feel a need to spend the money to get a toad. Could it change one day? Sure it could. Just not today.

[manholt]

"Spend the $$$ to get a toad".  You do have a car or truck already?  Unless it's an exotic sports car, Bentley or RR, it can be a tow. 

Not saying, "you have to have a toad, or scooter, MC, Ebike".  Just that it makes camping easier...like a RV, instead of tent.

[richard5933]

35 minutes ago, manholt said:

"Spend the $$$ to get a toad".  You do have a car or truck already?  Unless it's an exotic sports car, Bentley or RR, it can be a tow. 

Not saying, "you have to have a toad, or scooter, MC, Ebike".  Just that it makes camping easier...like a RV, instead of tent.

We have two cars, neither of them can be flat towed. We'd either need a trailer or a new toad. Our coach would require a custom hitch to be fabricated, as there are no off-the-shelf hitches available at all. Then there are the mods for braking, lighting, etc. And on, and on, and on. The dollars add up fast. And, we just don't want to.

More important, why the push to have others use their coaches the way you do? You assume that your priorities are everyone's. You imply that camping without a toad is the equivalent to camping in a tent. Kind of degrading to those who choose to do things differently. How about helping those who choose to travel without a toad instead of trying to convince us to do like you do?