Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Tow Equipment for a Class A


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 61
Date:
Tow Equipment for a Class A


I have a 2002 Pace Arrow 37ft motor home.  I went to Camping World to get a bid on getting a towing packaging for a toad. The quote was $5,800 !!!

 I do believe that the last owner had a toad because I see that there is a Prodigy Electronic Brake Control System mounted on the dash.  If the last owner had a toad, is it safe to assume that they already had the Hydraulic brakes installed on the coach?  How can I tell if they have already been installed?  Are there any other components to look for that could have been installed already?  

Of course I can just bring it over and have them lift it and find out what is there but I want to be intelligent before I do this so I do not get ripped off.

It would be nice to just have to get the towing pieces that are necessary for the car (toad ) that I will be pulling.  

 

 



__________________

Mike and Barb

2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2950
Date:

they could have been towing a trailer..........I use a dolly.....less money and better resale without all the throw aways in the end


__________________

 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 3722
Date:

The toad braking system will not use the brake controller, that was for a trailer. People pay $3500 to $5000 for everything, tow bar, baseplate (the permanent part on the toad), the wiring, the braking system and the labor. I don't trust Camping World to install a decal, so I would go somewhere else.

Where are you? If you are near Portland Oregon, go to Roadmaster in Vancouver WA (it is a suburb). If anywhere near eastern Nebraska, go to Blue Ox in Pender. Both will set you up correctly.

__________________

Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 199
Date:

Big Mike wrote:

I have a 2002 Pace Arrow 37ft motor home.  I went to Camping World to get a bid on getting a towing packaging for a toad. The quote was $5,800 !!!

 I do believe that the last owner had a toad because I see that there is a Prodigy Electronic Brake Control System mounted on the dash.  If the last owner had a toad, is it safe to assume that they already had the Hydraulic brakes installed on the coach?  How can I tell if they have already been installed?  Are there any other components to look for that could have been installed already?  

Of course I can just bring it over and have them lift it and find out what is there but I want to be intelligent before I do this so I do not get ripped off.

It would be nice to just have to get the towing pieces that are necessary for the car (toad ) that I will be pulling.  

 

 


 

you can get a auxillary brake system(road master invisibrake),blue ox tow bar,bracket kit,wiring kit etc  installed for like $3000K or less  



-- Edited by ticat900 on Saturday 16th of January 2016 10:10:41 AM

__________________


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 61
Date:

Well man....where...I have 3 bids and none of them are that cheap. 



__________________

Mike and Barb

2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 61
Date:

Thanks for the info. I will investigate dolly's.  Seems like a better option. 



__________________

Mike and Barb

2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 61
Date:

Chicago area. There are some trailer and hitch installation companies so I think I will try them.  There is also a small RV dealer with a good reputation and I can also try them.



__________________

Mike and Barb

2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 61
Date:

Thanks Mike I did investigate dolly's and they are much less $2800.  Question, would the Prodigy brake system already installed be used with it?  Or is it not required.



__________________

Mike and Barb

2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C with a 2008 Saturn Vue Taod



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2950
Date:

If the dolly has electric brakes it would be used with it......I paid 950 for my dolly and have been thru 2 vehicles since I got it.......seeing it would cost big money for baseplates that are not interchangable and wiring , braking systems and such.....big savings and no downtime........not to mention I could sell the dolly for what I paid for it!!!



those that normally talk dollies down worry about convenience.........they are still trying to figure out why there A/C doesnt work well on solar and why it cost so much to get into an RV park !!!!.......you pay for convenience :)


__________________

 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 199
Date:

Big Mike wrote:

Well man....where...I have 3 bids and none of them are that cheap. 


 amazon 548.00 for the tow bar 881.00 for the RM aux brake system, brackets average 399.00, wiring 60.00

I did a estimate on labour at 10 hours at 100.00  ( I did this for a living)   =  $2900.00



__________________


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 851
Date:

I think our tow package (Blue Ox towbar and baseplate, Invisibrake, all installed) came to somewhat over $3000 a couple of years ago. Work was done in central MO.

As Lucky Mike said, you pay for convenience. Each new vehicle requires and new baseplate (~$1500). For those of us with larger coaches (ours is 40') and like to camp in State and Federal campgrounds (many of which have smaller sites), not having to deal with a dolly is worth it. Other differences: you should NEVER back up while flat towing. The tow bar isn't designed for those stresses. A dolly can be backed up.

__________________

David, kb0zke

1993 Foretravel U300 40'

Build number 4371

For sale



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1509
Date:

kb0zke wrote:

.................. A dolly can be backed up.


 NOT very far.......



__________________

My Dreams...............Her Nightmares.

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 73
Date:

IMO, neither a dolly or a toad can be backed up on long distance... a trailer can be backed up easy compared to the other two.



__________________

Normand

Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada

2010 Gulfstream class A, model 8367

2009 Smart Cabriolet

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us