PW as a Toad

[TheWorstKind]

I am 10 months into PW ownership, so I thought I'd give a quick update before moving on to the main topic....

Right at 17,000 miles on the PW, using it as a daily driver and a couple of road trips. Average mpg is 14. No issues, except an annoying squeak coming from the dash (I think) - will have it looked at during next oil change. Off-roading has been limited to forest service roads, usually dry, with only a couple of slightly muddy situations. No crawling yet. Did not have any real snow challenges over the winter, so I cannot speak to that. We have had, however, 40 days and 40 nights type of rain, and the stock Duratracs have done just fine. Tires are not exhibiting unusual wear (rotated twice, so far), and have become only slightly louder, but nothing to speak of, really. I am well pleased with the truck and the stock tires. So much so, I plan on keeping this truck probably all the way to the end, or at least for as long as I can get in it! I will also stick with Duratracs for the next set, but probably the 35ers when the originals wear out.

The Opti-Coat on the truck has done OK. Haven't waxed the thing, but when washing it, dirt and bugs SEEM to come off easier than on other vehicles I've owned in the past. Bird poop actually rinses off real easy. I don't know if I would put the cash out again for the coating, though.

On to the main topic. The original intent was to go on a couple of adventures a year with the PW, while working until I was in my sixties, and then settling down in a nice house with lots of property. Well, things are changing. I don't think I have the desire to work another 15 years. I may have another 5, or so, left in me (even that is questionable). Additionally, the settling down thing is becoming unattractive. What is really curling my toes (right now, at least...) is to sell out (except the PW) in 5 years, buy a diesel pusher Class A RV and tow the big, heavy PW behind it. I'm talking RVing full time, with off-road trips out west whenever I want. Money won't be unlimited, but there should be enough to get me to the finish line.

Sooooo...., does anybody have solid experience towing a PW behind an RV?

[Colibri]

I don't have an answer for you yet but I have a power wagon and a 40' diesel pusher, and similar aspirations. It seems like a fantastic way to go if it's manageable. I can give you some first hand feedback this fall.

[RustyPW]

I have a 41ft. 2009 Fleetwood Discovery 40X Class A diesel pusher with a Cummins 350HP , 800lbs of torque. Tow capacity is 10,000 lbs. I use a Blue Ox 10,000 lbs tow bar, with their Patriot Brake System. Link below. Right now, I tow my 4,500 lbs Jeep GC behind it with no problems. I planning to tow my PW with the same set-up. My PW is almost 8,000 lbs. Your tow bar should be level. You're allowed +3" up, and -3" down from level. If it's more then that. You have to use a off-set receiver hitch. So you have to do some measuring. Where the tow bar will be on the PW, and the hitch on the MH. You will have to wire the PW for tail lights. On my GC. I got one of Blue Ox's kits and ran wires from the plug back to the tail lights. Where I drilled holes in the housings and install extra bulbs that work with the MH lights only. Link below. With the Patriot brake system. You will have to run a power wire from the MH plug to the Patriot brake system. You don't want to run the system off of the toad battery. Otherwise, you could end up draining the battery in it.

My question is with my Aluminess bumper. Will it be able to handle the towing? Also I can use the holes for the shackles in the bumper. I have the Blue Ox adapter for off-road bumper. They have them in both 7/8" and 1" shackle holes. Link below.

http://www.blueoxtowbars.com/products/P ... em,BRK2012
http://www.blueoxtowbars.com/products/T ... ket,BX8869
http://www.blueoxtowbars.com/products/B ... er,BX88296

On Class A motorhomes. You get what you paid for.

[OffroadTreks]

Would seem like a Jeep would be a better fit for a toad personally. I only have the PW because I use it as the tow vehicle. We also fulltime. If I had a Class A, I'd probably convert to Jeep.

[RustyPW]

We use the '13 Jeep Grand Cherokee TrailHawk as a toad when we are traveling. But when we want to go to Rausch Creek Creek or Moab. I want to tow the PW for those events. Also thinking on getting a trailer for my Nismo for when I take it to a trackday.

[TheWorstKind]

Came real close to buying an Unlimited Rubicon. For us, though, the PW makes more sense.

[Mike-H]

I'd opt for a car hauler myself. Save the wear and tear on the tires and drivetrain of the PW. Also if you break something while wheeling you can still get it home. Around here a wood deck 18' car hauler is about $2800. A steel deck is about a grand more. Then you have the trailer for whatever you want to haul. Nothing to set up in the Toad just need a brake controller and some heavy duty car tie downs.

[RustyPW]

I'd opt for a car hauler myself. Save the wear and tear on the tires and drivetrain of the PW. Also if you break something while wheeling you can still get it home. Around here a wood deck 18' car hauler is about $2800. A steel deck is about a grand more. Then you have the trailer for whatever you want to haul. Nothing to set up in the Toad just need a brake controller and some heavy duty car tie downs.

You have to watch on how much the trailer weights, and the PW too. On my MH. I have a 10,000 lbs towing capacity. My PW weights close to 8,000 lbs. How much does these trailers weigh? 2,300lbs? That would put me over. But on the plus side. At least with a trailer, you CAN backup. With a toad. You CAN''T backup.

[Pit Slave]

I'd opt for a car hauler myself. Save the wear and tear on the tires and drivetrain of the PW. Also if you break something while wheeling you can still get it home. Around here a wood deck 18' car hauler is about $2800. A steel deck is about a grand more. Then you have the trailer for whatever you want to haul. Nothing to set up in the Toad just need a brake controller and some heavy duty car tie downs.

You have to watch on how much the trailer weights, and the PW too. On my MH. I have a 10,000 lbs towing capacity. My PW weights close to 8,000 lbs. How much does these trailers weigh? 2,300lbs? That would put me over. But on the plus side. At least with a trailer, you CAN backup. With a toad. You CAN''T backup.

Russ, go HD aluminum hauler. A lot of guys in the area have been making the switch and saving on weight and fuel bills.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[TheWorstKind]

I like the idea of a car hauler for the PW. Time to break out the "google foo" to see what is out there!

[Mike-H]

Bigtex 18 footer with wood deck is 1910lbs. The aluminum option is nice on weight, but usually more then doubles the price. But if weight is you're hold back that might be an option. Depending on the setup an 18 foot aluminum is 1200 to 1500 pounds.