TO TOW OR NOT TO TOW? (1 Viewer)

[martin2603]

I purchased the tow car with A frame already fitted, there is usually a selection in the classifieds, always
take it in the UK mainly because most sites and CL s are miles from anywhere. Takes five minutes to hook up and only loose a small amount on the consumption. Luckily it is our second car so it works well.
In Javea this year I hired for a few days but you need to book well in advance to get the best deals. That also worked out well , used Economy Rentals who give a vouchers for the local agent. Quotes can be very cheap but it is only for 3rd party Ins on the web.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

If you go to Spain for the winter why not buy a banger and run that..
I carried a CG125 bike in the back of my Transit Chausson but only used it a couple of times. However the new Hymer also has a big garage so it can carry on there from now on. A tow bar is not made off the shelf and needs to be custom built and then approved cost about £1500 so they can keep that idea. The Hymer has a Glass fibre rear garage and the whole towbar is on a huge extension and bar weighing about 60kgs they say. No towing for me then .

 

[StitchesnFluff]

New one coming will have a towbar, guess it will be useful at some point

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[Kevan]

You can if you have a-frame and a trailer, SO THERE

 

[tonyidle]

My costs:

TO TOW
CAR £5K - owned Smart car so £0
TOW BAR - came with van so £0
TRAILER - £700 SH
INSURANCE £200 (annually) depends on car
ROAD TAX - Zero rated so £0
MOT £50 (annually) yes
SERVICING - done by me so price of fluids only
REPAIRS - £20 (over 5 years & two Smart cars
DEPRECIATION - bought SH so say £500 / year
LOWER VAN MPG - by around 3mpg..
NO CAR PARKING - vast driveway
CONVENIENCE - can't put a price on it

 

[Bazzermc]

For UK only we tow a Smartcar on A-frame, best thing we ever did since leaving the tugging fraternity.
If going abroad, this doesn't work.....
Toured Scotland in April/May this year and went to great places in the car that would have been not possible in MH.
When we stopped tugging and moved to MH, we said we would hire, but never happened.....too much effort......but now we have the car the UK is our oyster......
We have 7.4m Autotrail and found shopping difficult, but now with Smartcar is a piece of cake.

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[Speve]

Deleted in wrong thread

 

[hilldweller]

SO..TO HIRE....LESS COST ...LESS HASSLE.....A NO BRAINER THEN???????

You can't use an A-Frame abroad.
Don't say you don't go abroad, that's a waste of a good MH.
A car trailer is a pain in the bum.
When aboard there are laws to comply with, like how long before the car has to be registered in the country.
There is the UK MOT problem, also with MHs of course.

So all in all, hiring has a lot going for it.

 

[Speve]

You can't use an A-Frame abroad.
Don't say you don't go abroad, that's a waste of a good MH.
A car trailer is a pain in the bum.
When aboard there are laws to comply with, like how long before the car has to be registered in the country.
There is the UK MOT problem, also with MHs of course.

So all in all, hiring has a lot going for it.

Out of interest Whats the MOT problem?

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[hilldweller]

Out of interest Whats the MOT problem?

You can't get it done outside the UK as a FUNster was weeping and wailing about recently knowing his MOT expired "over there". I can't remember if that meant he could not renew the tax as well.

 

[Speve]

You can't get it done outside the UK as a FUNster was weeping and wailing about recently knowing his MOT expired "over there". I can't remember if that meant he could not renew the tax as well.

Ah I remember that but As we did last year got the mot early so that it all dovetails nicely for when we return to uk it for what it costs it's worth it.

 

[busby]

For UK only we tow a Smartcar on A-frame, best thing we ever did since leaving the tugging fraternity.
If going abroad, this doesn't work.....
Toured Scotland in April/May this year and went to great places in the car that would have been not possible in MH.
When we stopped tugging and moved to MH, we said we would hire, but never happened.....too much effort......but now we have the car the UK is our oyster......
We have 7.4m Autotrail and found shopping difficult, but now with Smartcar is a piece of cake.

Other than height i can take my van anywhere a car can go,,thats why i bought it,,,If we run out of road then its onto the push bikes,,BUSBY,,,

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[busby]

In Portugal recently the going rate for a hire car was £4 to £5 a day.

Same at Alicante airport last winter,,,BUSBY,,

Some car hire companies Will not accept it if you have a dog in the car.

Some that allow it , will charge a premium for cleaning afterwards.

You can't blame them,,as ex dog owner i know they smell and the hairs get everywhere,,,BUSBY,,

 

[Speve]

Comes back to same old problem yes you can hire a car and it's probably cheap but there is never a car hire close when you need one and it's so convenient having your own with you to do as you please without worrying about things like insurance and whether you can take the dogs with you.

 

[John & Joan]

If you are a member of (say it quietly) the Caravan Club, there's a useful option which we have used many times.
The Club has a special arrangement with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, whereby one of their drivers picks you up from the Club site, Certificated Location or pretty much anywhere that you're staying.
He takes you to the local rental office where you complete the paperwork and drive off in your hire car. At the end of the rental period you return the car to the office and they take you back to your van.
For a car in the super-mini bracket we have always shelled out far less than £100 for a four-day rental.
Stef.

That as far as I know is standard for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. It happened to us in Cornwall without any reference to any club.

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[PeteH]

Initially, we did hire cars in the USA, But eventually we just did what everyone else does and got a Toad, (4WD Toyota pick-up, now in the possession of our middle Grandson!!) More for the convenience that anything, as it`s there when you want it AND over any "holiday" the hire price hikes and availability is none existent!, same in the UK.

Europe is a different "Kettle of Fish", as it is inadvisable to use an "A" frame, so then the only option is a Trailer, with its attendant on site storage issues, especially on "tight" pitches.

It`s the usual "Yer pays yer money!?.

Pete

 

[busby]

Only ever needed to hire a car once,,usually walk cycle or use public transport..Got all the time in the world so no rush..push bike is our favourite mode,, BUSBY,,

 

[PeteS]

Before you decide to tow or not, check your licence. Mine when I drive my camper at 4.6tonne I can only tow 750kg

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[Huwmari]

If you think you need to tow a car then I would suggest a caravan would be a far better, cheaper option for you than a motorhome.

 

[Speve]

If you think you need to tow a car then I would suggest a caravan would be a far better, cheaper option for you than a motorhome.

There's probably not a lot in it by the time you have bought a decent tow vehicle and caravan.

 

[big map]

You can't use an A-Frame abroad.
Don't say you don't go abroad, that's a waste of a good MH.
A car trailer is a pain in the bum.
When aboard there are laws to comply with, like how long before the car has to be registered in the country.
There is the UK MOT problem, also with MHs of course.

So all in all, hiring has a lot going for it.

I thought it was only in Germany and Spain that you can't use an A-Frame

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[Speve]

I thought it was only in Germany and Spain that you can't use an A-Frame

You little devil you

 

[big map]

You little devil you

 

[Speve]

View attachment 133416

Like it! like it! Could run a long time

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[hilldweller]

I thought it was only in Germany and Spain that you can't use an A-Frame

Maybe but it would be silly to define your MH future to exclude parts of Europe. Better to say say "this plan lets us roam free".

 

[big map]

Maybe but it would be silly to define your MH future to exclude parts of Europe. Better to say say "this plan lets us roam free".

So do you think Brexit might affect whether we can use an A-Frame abroad?

 

[hilldweller]

So do you think Brexit might affect whether we can use an A-Frame abroad?

I've not the faintest idea. I'm just hinting at a way forward for them that does limit them in their future travels.

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[Neil S]

Were of to Spain for the Winter and this year were leaving the Motorhome behind and taking our 4 berth Swift Caravan which is normally sited on a seasonal pitch . Reason being is the need for transport and hiring a car although an option is not always possible due to location so the Motorhome is SORNED and we're dragging the TIn Box all the way down through France

 

[Bluemooner]

Get a Fifth Wheel best of both worlds

 

[Mikeco]

I'll keep the thread going, had large motor homes, had car and caravans but now the only transport we have is a self build panel van conversion and a Citroën C1. No money left to change again so stuck with what we have and yes we trailer the C1 behind the van for our 6 months stay in Spain. Use the e bikes quite a bit but also the car is there if we wish to use it.

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