Full timing with/without another vehicle

[jjaj823]

Hey everyone!

I've been watching a bunch of YouTube videos of different Skoolie builds and one thing dawned on me in the last day or so...very few talk about towing other vehicles. So I pose the following question(s) to the community

Do you tow a vehicle with you on your journey(s)?
If you do, what challenges have you faced?
If not, how has it changed the way you do things?
and finally, for all, if you were starting from scratch again, would you still make the same decision?

[Sehnsucht]

I think it all depends on what kind of adventures you plan to have. If you want to explore the country so plan to be on the move every few days, stocking up isn't too difficult. If you plan to hook-up or boondock for a week or more at a time, a towed car will come in handy for trips back into civilization without having to unhook and pack up camp. If you plan to stay in an area for a while and exploring the sights then a car or bikes or ATVs may all be options. It's all about what the skoolie lifestyle looks like for you.

[jjaj823]

I hadn't really thought of it as a lifestyle choice...more just out of practicality. That's something I hadn't really thought much about. Thanks for your reply!

[kazetsukai]

We have a 37' RE which is our build, a 4 window shorty meant to haul tools, my bike and tow our van (transit connect). The RE we hope not to move too much! The shorty exists to move our extra stuff and won't be moved aside from home depot runs, the van and bike are for day-to-day driving.

[jjaj823]

Originally Posted by kazetsukai

We have a 37' RE which is our build, a 4 window shorty meant to haul tools, my bike and tow our van (transit connect). The RE we hope not to move too much! The shorty exists to move our extra stuff and won't be moved aside from home depot runs, the van and bike are for day-to-day driving.

Wow! That's quite a convoy! How many people are you traveling with?

[johnbloem1974]

We tow our Jeep when traveling. Its nice to have another vehicle to tool around in.

John

[jjaj823]

That's what we are considering. How does that setup do on hills and such?

[kazetsukai]

Originally Posted by jjaj823

Wow! That's quite a convoy! How many people are you traveling with?

Two humans and two cats.

[jjaj823]

Originally Posted by kazetsukai

Two humans and two cats.

Very nice little setup you all have!

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Three things to consider -- tow vehicle's transmission setup, cooling, and whether the vehicle being towed can be 'dinghy towed' -- meaning four down, or on all four wheels. Transmission damage can result from being towed four-down when not advisable, and tow vehicle's transmission can be damaged from overheating through towing. Do your research and find out what applies.

[johnbloem1974]

Originally Posted by jjaj823

That's what we are considering. How does that setup do on hills and such?

Towing the Jeep is great. It has a transfer case that can be put in Neutral, so it disengages the transmission. My bus is setup with a 175hp DT466E. Wish I had a bit more power, but it does just fine. I have an MT643 transmission, so I have lockup torque converter in 3rd and 4th gear. I won't win any races - she is slow and steady on the uphill, and no problems downhill. On most interstate 6% grades, I'll slow to about 35-40 uphill, but I can do it all day. No issues with overheating.

John