We will have a 40' fifth wheel with a 550 something truck (ford or Dodge) once we start full timing we think we will be staying in one place for 2-4 weeks at a time. We keep going back and forth about the need of having a extra car(Jeep). I do see a lot of advantages to it. But wanted to see how everybody feels about it.
igotjam said
06:57 PM Jun 8, 2014
We started fulltiming just over 7 years ago with a 20,000# fiver and an F-450. After the first year we decided to try a second vehicle for a year (Focus). We still have the Focus. Crunching the numbers, we can drive both, fuel both, and insure both for what we spent on the F-450 alone in the first year. (we move often and sightsee all the time) It is way more convenient (parkades, downtown parking etc) and our fuel bill is less than getting 10mpg in the truck for daily running around. Travel days are not as nice driving 2 vehicles but we go 200 miles/day max, so its doable. Every fulltime style is different but it worked for us. If we had it to do over, we might consider a motorhome and a toad.
Terry and Jo said
08:05 PM Jun 8, 2014
In addition to Robert's (igotjam) comment, having the second vehicle would allow some other flexibility. When we travel, Jo can be behind me, watching the trailer from that vantage point. Then if needing fuel or other type of stop, she can go ahead of me to find a good fueling station or place to park so we could go elsewhere to eat. (I don't always like eating at truck stops, although I'm not a connoisseur of food by any stretch of the imagination.)
So, having her in the second vehicle lets her monitor, or scout, or if we have problems with something, the Ford F150 we have can be used to go get whatever might be needed to solve the problems.
This is all a "personal preference" situation for everyone. With both people in one vehicle, it is easier for the second person to be the navigator, whereas if both are driving different vehicles, better planning must be done. But again, the "scout" can easier turn around if that driver finds the route to be inconvenient or otherwise ill advised for taking the RV.
Terry
Nanascots said
08:14 PM Jun 8, 2014
Hubby and I will start our Fulltime adventure in the Fall of 2015...we just traded my Nissan 370Z in for a Hyundai Santa Fe sport 2.0! Even though the the Z was my 'dream' car I knew it would'nt be practical for our adventures 😥
At first my husband thought I did'nt want to ride with him in the truck...but, the more he thought of all the advantages he was all for it! We also plan not to travel more than 150-200 miles on moving days.
I really like the idea of not putting all the 'extra' miles on the truck...it needs to save all it's strength for pulling our home!
2014 Hyundai (haven't come up with a name yet! Yes, we name everything 😊) check
2015 F 450 Lariat super duty 4x4
2015 DRV Elite Suites
Watch for our blog...Dennis & Janice's...'Changin' of the Yards' Coming Spring 2015!
Sushidog said
10:13 PM Jun 8, 2014
Another option is carrying a motorcycle or two with you. Our 2 motorbikes are great for around town, speeding up to 60 MPH while returning 100 MPG. They cost less than $100/yr to insure them both (in Louisiana, the state with the highest vehicle insurance cost in the nation) too. Here's a picture of my little bikes and loading ramp in the back of my truck:
I plan on building a tall truck topper to cover these bikes when full-timing in a TT, incorporating the folding loading ramp into the tailgate. This will leave the truck bed free for other goodies too. Having secondary transportation saves wear and tear on your TV. As prices continue to rise, expensive oil and filter changes on the diesel won't get any cheaper in the future. On the other hand, each bike only takes one quart of oil, a single spark plug and a squirt of chain lube and you're good to go.
Chip
-- Edited by Sushidog on Sunday 8th of June 2014 10:15:14 PM
Dog Folks said
07:11 AM Jun 9, 2014
In eight years of full timing, the need or wish for a second vehicle has never happened.
folivier said
07:20 AM Jun 9, 2014
We do tow a truck behind our motorhome but recently took a trip without the truck. Called Enterprise whenever we needed a car and they would pick us up. Worked out pretty well.
The Bear II said
08:09 AM Jun 9, 2014
I've never had a problem using the MDT to run errands or go sight seeing. I tend to park far out in parking lots too make sure the truck doesn't get dinged or scratch. The walk from and to the truck does me good.
Due to the great turning radius of the truck, even tight parking lots aren't a problem.
The back seat in ours folds down into a bed, it has a TV and DVD player so we have from time to time take overnight trips in it away from the 5th wheel.
Selah said
08:47 AM Jun 9, 2014
It is all personal preference. Many people use two vehicles and are quite happy with that. Personally I can't imagine not having my DW and navigator next to me while traveling. For us the travel is almost as important as the destination. We have seen some spectacular scenery while driving. Sharing and talking about it with some one right there is just not the same as calling DW on a CB to say "did you see that?"
I also think it is safer and simpler to have a dedicated navigator. I enjoy driving so much more when I don't have to worry about looking at a GPS and drying to use an iPad to verify the GPS or to find alternate routes. We prefer to take state highways and scenic routes when convenient so having a navigator works very well for us.
Bobc said
09:23 AM Jun 9, 2014
we love the Idea of driving together for the most( There may be times when being apart could be a Good thing)
we do not intend to drive any more than 200 Miles at a time ( in most cases less)
I have followed Howard and linda now for awhile and they seem to have a lot of advantage with the second Vehicle
scouting out sites, site seeing, moving around small towns and citys, Etc.
I am really stuck in the middle 50/50 the wife is 60/40 for going with one ( She would rather drive together instead of looking at the back end of a trailer for 200 miles, buts likes the idea of doing erronds in a much smaller Vihicle)
NWescapee said
01:16 PM Jun 9, 2014
We started with a second vehicle with plans to trade it in for something slightly bigger that we could use for art shows. We absolutely hated it, hated driving separately, hated having long driving days with no break for either driver, etc.
So, we sold the car, bought tool boxes and a roof rack for the truck for the art show "stuff", I finally took RV Driving school and we much prefer being able to drive together. We tend to relocate every 2-3 weeks, many times with a relatively long drive between destinations so having 2 drivers for the rig and the ability for one to navigate, review Gas Buddy for fuel stops, change the music, etc. has worked out well.
Because we are both still working, we enjoy our driving time as time together. We enjoy sharing observations about funny signs we pass or a flock of birds, an interesting cloud or whatever else catches our attention. We've also come to the conclusion, that since we're both working, if we're relocating and we can make it in one day, we'd rather have one long day (400ish miles is about our limit) than 2 short days and thus spend the entire weekend traveling. This preserves one day of the weekend for fun, while one day is used for moving.
There are times I wish we had the car for errands, etc. Hated taking the big truck to an annual doctor's visit last week, we don't fit in the parking garage, but overall we still this is the best choice for us at this time. Who knows? That could change again in the future.
Bobc said
02:17 PM Jun 9, 2014
I forgot the a big plus point for having the extra car is all the additional storage space or as i say it a rolling closit for my wife. and a easy place to carry our Kayaks
But i do think we would prefer to drive together. I don't think the wife would ever on her best day want to share the driving of the big Beast. It will be hard enough to get her to Drive the Big 5500 Truck without the trailer
Mmaybe we start without and if it proves to be to much of a pain we can add one latter and for longer stays we could just rent a car, which may be cheaper than owning one and taking care of it all the time. I think Enterprise has some good weekly rates!!!
I can't believe i am have such a hard time with this decission. It shouldn't be this hard, i am sure i will change my mind 100 times before we have to pull the trigger next year. I do love to hear how everybody has handled this issue Thank you everybody.
Talensnana said
03:15 PM Jun 9, 2014
Although we personally purchased a DP so we could tow a car, my husband and I had many discussions about this topic. For us traveling together is the only option. If we ever choose to get a 5er we will get a HDT as the tow vehicle and have it modified so we could put a smart car between the cab and the 5er hitch. I have seen a few people on the forums who have this setup.
Bobc said
04:29 PM Jun 9, 2014
We have opted for a 5th, because we feel they are homier than a MH. We have owned both. But you never know , thing change
Terry and Jo said
06:31 PM Jun 9, 2014
Bobc wrote:
I forgot the a big plus point for having the extra car is all the additional storage space or as i say it a rolling closit for my wife. and a easy place to carry our Kayaks
But i do think we would prefer to drive together. I don't think the wife would ever on her best day want to share the driving of the big Beast. It will be hard enough to get her to Drive the Big 5500 Truck without the trailer
Mmaybe we start without and if it proves to be to much of a pain we can add one latter and for longer stays we could just rent a car, which may be cheaper than owning one and taking care of it all the time. I think Enterprise has some good weekly rates!!!
I can't believe i am have such a hard time with this decission. It shouldn't be this hard, i am sure i will change my mind 100 times before we have to pull the trigger next year. I do love to hear how everybody has handled this issue Thank you everybody.
Bob,
Yeppers on the extra storage space with the use of a second vehicle. The only thing is that I'd have to do some modifications to carry any kayaks.
Terry
Bobc said
06:10 AM Jun 10, 2014
Nice mobile walk-in closit Terry,
As we purge the wife may start looking at big Vans to use as her mobile closit. we are over a year away and she already has a issue with the big purge. HA,HA
One step closer every day to the dream!!!!
dianneandsteve said
08:24 AM Jun 10, 2014
This month marks 4 years of full timing for us. So far there haven't been enough times that made a second vehicle worthwhile. As stated above there is the issue of additional insurance, maintenance, and fuel plus there is the car rental option (if available in the area.) I also like sharing the journey and appreciate having a navigator on board. Everyone's needs and comfort zones are different...there is no right way.
Bobc said
08:41 AM Jun 10, 2014
That is a pretty big truck to take food shoping or even site seeing, go to the movie etc OMG, Huge moble Closit!!!!
I am all in for sharing the journey and having some one else to blame for missing a turn and getting lost!!!
The Bear II said
11:24 AM Jun 10, 2014
This company is beginning to spread through out the US to major cities. Would be an option for sightseeing around the city without the need for a second car.
I guess riding a motorbike, a scooter, a bicycle on in a golf cart, ATV or UTV is out of the question too? Or is it just small cars y'all fear? Just curious, as I've driven small cars (and ridden motorcycles, etc.) all my life.
Chip
-- Edited by Sushidog on Tuesday 10th of June 2014 01:01:21 PM
Bobc said
01:00 PM Jun 10, 2014
Just small cars on the road being shared with big trucks. Sorry just me!!!
dianneandsteve said
03:11 PM Jun 10, 2014
Bobc wrote:
That is a pretty big truck to take food shoping or even site seeing, go to the movie etc OMG, Huge moble Closit!!!!
I am all in for sharing the journey and having some one else to blame for missing a turn and getting lost!!!
The truck looks huge because it's so boxy looking. If you take a 4 door Crew Cab long box truck and line it up next to me it will come up to the front of my back tire...and I can out turn it too. Parking for the most part hasn't been an issue.
dianneandsteve said
05:36 PM Jun 10, 2014
The Junkman wrote:
I was going to buy one of those as a flat bed here.. or maybe it was a isuzu.. Insurance company said I had to insure it as a commercial truck.. wanted like 4k per year here.
How do you get past that?
Ouch!!! In BC I was able to insure it as a non commercial truck as it's strictly used for pleasure. My insurance is just over $1600.00. I did have an issue getting an exemption for the annual commercial truck inspection which was $160.00. I finally prevailed after 2 years. You will see these trucks labeled Isuzu, GMC or Chev.
dianneandsteve said
06:10 PM Jun 10, 2014
The Junkman wrote:
What was the truck used for .. originally?
Purchased new...box was custom made to my design.
Lynn and Ed said
09:01 PM Jun 10, 2014
Personal preference and weighting the pros and cons will be different for everyone.
We initially planned to have two vehicles (i.e., a tow vehicle and car/jeep); we changed our mind after attending a rally where many participants used their tow vehicle as their primary transportation. We may change our mind in the future, but since we did not want to take either of our cars with us … we thought it was smartest to wait and see. We are already happy with that decision, since we plan to share the driving when and when not towing. It also comes in handy when one of us is not feeling 100%, which has already happened – I was easily the sole driver on a day when DH was not feeling 100%.
If we had already owned a vehicle that we would have considered as a great second vehicle, our decision may have been different. Regardless, we are happy with our decision to use our tow vehicle as our everyday vehicle. Time will tell if we periodically rent a vehicle and/or purchase a second vehicle.
Lynn
Sushidog said
09:32 PM Jun 10, 2014
The Junkman wrote:
Yea..I don't do anything small that can do 60mph, in traffic.
I know too many people killed or disabled on motorcycles.. Looks like fun to me.. Just too many stupid people on the road.. Even on the back roads..Guy was just killed a couple days ago on one.. Many ride scooters here.. but slow.
And Like Bobc said.. at 60.. My truck would completely put one of those cars in a 100 pieces.. and the people in it too. There is a very nasty, nasty video on youtube of what happens to people in a accident in a smart car.. fair warning.. disgusting.. Had to shut it off.
If I was on the road by myself.. I'd drive anything and all speeds.. But your not. A friend was a police officer in NY.. Got T boned at a 4 way stop sign while on a bike.. Stupid people out there.
I guess I get it. Everyone has different levels of risk tollerance. I lost my brother to am motorcycle accident. The car ran a stop sign, but what does it matter who's right and who's wrong. He's still dead. It wasn't pretty. He had brain damage and lasted for years, so I understand the tragedy that can result. I know the risks, but it obviously hasn't stopped me -OK maybe it's slowed me down some. I used to race motorcycles - motocross, hare and hound and enduro - and drag raced a turbocharged drag bike in the 70's, so I'm no stranger to 2 wheels - or hospitals. But I inderstand when you feel the risk for something is too high to continue. That's why I stopped racing - and why I got out of the Army after only 9 years. Sometime you feel your number is up. I guess I'll go juggle some chainsaws now to help me get warmed up for a couple night skydive jumps. (Just Kidding) BTW here's an old photo of me jumping the levy in New Orleans when I was much younger and foolisher:
Chip
TRAILERKING said
12:50 AM Jun 11, 2014
The Junkman wrote:
There is a very nasty, nasty video on youtube of what happens to people in a accident in a smart car.. fair warning.. disgusting.. Had to shut it off.
I think I know the video you're referring to. There are a couple "Smart Cars" actually shown in the video involving front end collisions and they come out quite well. All the other clips showing cars completely crushed and mangled are not "Smart Cars". Just because they look small don't label them as "Smart Cars". How do I know they are not "Smart Cars" you may ask?? The Smart Car has (3)three bolt wheels not (5)five bolt like most shown in the video. The Smart Car is actually a very safe and comfortable vehicle..............I have two of them, the 2006 models which have the Turbo Diesels.
-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 12:56:13 AM
WestWardHo said
05:55 AM Jun 11, 2014
We've done both. Driven shorter days (150-200 miles) with me following in the car and leaving the car in storage and both riding together as we are doing at the moment.
There are advantages to both.
WITH SEPARATE CAR:
You can not "assist" (read annoy) the driver with your suggestions.
You can radio (strongly recommend you have good radios) ahead to driver of the rig that you just saw something flying out of the back of the truck. 😂 "There goes the rug!" "Whoops, I just saw one of the folding chairs fly out." "Whoops, there goes a wheel chock!"
Much more comfortable to explore with unless you're driving a "city truck" like Bill N.
Renting a car for a month for comfort and exploring is expensive if you're in one place for a while.
Way better mileage with the right car.
WITH DRIVING TOGETHER:
You don't have dueling GPS's telling you to go different routes.
You can hold hands when you want to.
If you don't get car sick and are in a boring area you can catch up on email, text, read the forum, research the place you just saw, find campgrounds on the fly, play 5,000 games of solitaire, etc.
You share/discuss more of the sights at the same time. However this can also be done with good radios.
We find we're getting 20 MPG in our truck not towing but driving it around the Boston area is a big game of Chicken. Of course driving anything other than a tank in the Boston area is the same.
FWIW, our preference, mostly the separate car except for hand holding.
Sherry
TRAILERKING said
09:49 AM Jun 11, 2014
Well they pull body parts out of every size and shape of vehicle.............Not just "Little" or "Smart Cars" & motorcycles. I've seen body parts come out of semi/train incidents....... So are the semi's too small?
I don't see why you shouldn't post the link. If certain people don't want to look then don't open it. It's just too bad that most people have to paint everything with the same brush when they think they seen something.
-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:03:06 AM
Bobc said
10:03 AM Jun 11, 2014
Everybodys comfort level is different.
I just don't happen to have any comfort level in a smart Car.
if it was only for city driving and did not have to deal with trucks on the highway i may think a little different.
the car i believe was design to be just a inner city car. but as all other thing it gets used for more than that just because you can
The Junkman said
10:16 AM Jun 11, 2014
TRAILERKING wrote:
Well they pull body parts out of every size and shape of vehicle.............Not just "Little" or "Smart Cars" & motorcycles. I've seen body parts come out of semi/train incidents....... So are the semi's too small?
These where just car accidents .. didn't see trains, or semi.. They may be there.. watch the video, and let me know. I had to shut it off.
And come on man, you know.. bigger heavier anything will be safer than small and light anything.
Just my opinion.. I don't like them.. They are usually in everyones way too..lol
We will have a 40' fifth wheel with a 550 something truck (ford or Dodge) once we start full timing we think we will be staying in one place for 2-4 weeks at a time. We keep going back and forth about the need of having a extra car(Jeep). I do see a lot of advantages to it. But wanted to see how everybody feels about it.
In addition to Robert's (igotjam) comment, having the second vehicle would allow some other flexibility. When we travel, Jo can be behind me, watching the trailer from that vantage point. Then if needing fuel or other type of stop, she can go ahead of me to find a good fueling station or place to park so we could go elsewhere to eat. (I don't always like eating at truck stops, although I'm not a connoisseur of food by any stretch of the imagination.)
So, having her in the second vehicle lets her monitor, or scout, or if we have problems with something, the Ford F150 we have can be used to go get whatever might be needed to solve the problems.
This is all a "personal preference" situation for everyone. With both people in one vehicle, it is easier for the second person to be the navigator, whereas if both are driving different vehicles, better planning must be done. But again, the "scout" can easier turn around if that driver finds the route to be inconvenient or otherwise ill advised for taking the RV.
Terry
At first my husband thought I did'nt want to ride with him in the truck...but, the more he thought of all the advantages he was all for it! We also plan not to travel more than 150-200 miles on moving days.
I really like the idea of not putting all the 'extra' miles on the truck...it needs to save all it's strength for pulling our home!
2014 Hyundai (haven't come up with a name yet! Yes, we name everything 😊) check
2015 F 450 Lariat super duty 4x4
2015 DRV Elite Suites
Watch for our blog...Dennis & Janice's...'Changin' of the Yards' Coming Spring 2015!
Another option is carrying a motorcycle or two with you. Our 2 motorbikes are great for around town, speeding up to 60 MPH while returning 100 MPG. They cost less than $100/yr to insure them both (in Louisiana, the state with the highest vehicle insurance cost in the nation) too. Here's a picture of my little bikes and loading ramp in the back of my truck:
I plan on building a tall truck topper to cover these bikes when full-timing in a TT, incorporating the folding loading ramp into the tailgate. This will leave the truck bed free for other goodies too. Having secondary transportation saves wear and tear on your TV. As prices continue to rise, expensive oil and filter changes on the diesel won't get any cheaper in the future. On the other hand, each bike only takes one quart of oil, a single spark plug and a squirt of chain lube and you're good to go.
Chip
-- Edited by Sushidog on Sunday 8th of June 2014 10:15:14 PM
Due to the great turning radius of the truck, even tight parking lots aren't a problem.
The back seat in ours folds down into a bed, it has a TV and DVD player so we have from time to time take overnight trips in it away from the 5th wheel.
I also think it is safer and simpler to have a dedicated navigator. I enjoy driving so much more when I don't have to worry about looking at a GPS and drying to use an iPad to verify the GPS or to find alternate routes. We prefer to take state highways and scenic routes when convenient so having a navigator works very well for us.
we do not intend to drive any more than 200 Miles at a time ( in most cases less)
I have followed Howard and linda now for awhile and they seem to have a lot of advantage with the second Vehicle
scouting out sites, site seeing, moving around small towns and citys, Etc.
I am really stuck in the middle 50/50 the wife is 60/40 for going with one ( She would rather drive together instead of looking at the back end of a trailer for 200 miles, buts likes the idea of doing erronds in a much smaller Vihicle)
So, we sold the car, bought tool boxes and a roof rack for the truck for the art show "stuff", I finally took RV Driving school and we much prefer being able to drive together. We tend to relocate every 2-3 weeks, many times with a relatively long drive between destinations so having 2 drivers for the rig and the ability for one to navigate, review Gas Buddy for fuel stops, change the music, etc. has worked out well.
Because we are both still working, we enjoy our driving time as time together. We enjoy sharing observations about funny signs we pass or a flock of birds, an interesting cloud or whatever else catches our attention. We've also come to the conclusion, that since we're both working, if we're relocating and we can make it in one day, we'd rather have one long day (400ish miles is about our limit) than 2 short days and thus spend the entire weekend traveling. This preserves one day of the weekend for fun, while one day is used for moving.
There are times I wish we had the car for errands, etc. Hated taking the big truck to an annual doctor's visit last week, we don't fit in the parking garage, but overall we still this is the best choice for us at this time. Who knows? That could change again in the future.
But i do think we would prefer to drive together. I don't think the wife would ever on her best day want to share the driving of the big Beast. It will be hard enough to get her to Drive the Big 5500 Truck without the trailer
Mmaybe we start without and if it proves to be to much of a pain we can add one latter and for longer stays we could just rent a car, which may be cheaper than owning one and taking care of it all the time. I think Enterprise has some good weekly rates!!!
I can't believe i am have such a hard time with this decission. It shouldn't be this hard, i am sure i will change my mind 100 times before we have to pull the trigger next year. I do love to hear how everybody has handled this issue Thank you everybody.
Although we personally purchased a DP so we could tow a car, my husband and I had many discussions about this topic. For us traveling together is the only option. If we ever choose to get a 5er we will get a HDT as the tow vehicle and have it modified so we could put a smart car between the cab and the 5er hitch. I have seen a few people on the forums who have this setup.
Bob,
Yeppers on the extra storage space with the use of a second vehicle. The only thing is that I'd have to do some modifications to carry any kayaks.
Terry
As we purge the wife may start looking at big Vans to use as her mobile closit. we are over a year away and she already has a issue with the big purge. HA,HA
One step closer every day to the dream!!!!
I am all in for sharing the journey and having some one else to blame for missing a turn and getting lost!!!
www.car2go.com
I guess riding a motorbike, a scooter, a bicycle on in a golf cart, ATV or UTV is out of the question too? Or is it just small cars y'all fear? Just curious, as I've driven small cars (and ridden motorcycles, etc.) all my life.
Chip
-- Edited by Sushidog on Tuesday 10th of June 2014 01:01:21 PM
The truck looks huge because it's so boxy looking. If you take a 4 door Crew Cab long box truck and line it up next to me it will come up to the front of my back tire...and I can out turn it too. Parking for the most part hasn't been an issue.
Ouch!!! In BC I was able to insure it as a non commercial truck as it's strictly used for pleasure. My insurance is just over $1600.00. I did have an issue getting an exemption for the annual commercial truck inspection which was $160.00. I finally prevailed after 2 years. You will see these trucks labeled Isuzu, GMC or Chev.
Purchased new...box was custom made to my design.
Personal preference and weighting the pros and cons will be different for everyone.
We initially planned to have two vehicles (i.e., a tow vehicle and car/jeep); we changed our mind after attending a rally where many participants used their tow vehicle as their primary transportation. We may change our mind in the future, but since we did not want to take either of our cars with us … we thought it was smartest to wait and see. We are already happy with that decision, since we plan to share the driving when and when not towing. It also comes in handy when one of us is not feeling 100%, which has already happened – I was easily the sole driver on a day when DH was not feeling 100%.
If we had already owned a vehicle that we would have considered as a great second vehicle, our decision may have been different. Regardless, we are happy with our decision to use our tow vehicle as our everyday vehicle. Time will tell if we periodically rent a vehicle and/or purchase a second vehicle.
Lynn
I guess I get it. Everyone has different levels of risk tollerance. I lost my brother to am motorcycle accident. The car ran a stop sign, but what does it matter who's right and who's wrong. He's still dead. It wasn't pretty. He had brain damage and lasted for years, so I understand the tragedy that can result. I know the risks, but it obviously hasn't stopped me -OK maybe it's slowed me down some. I used to race motorcycles - motocross, hare and hound and enduro - and drag raced a turbocharged drag bike in the 70's, so I'm no stranger to 2 wheels - or hospitals.
But I inderstand when you feel the risk for something is too high to continue. That's why I stopped racing - and why I got out of the Army after only 9 years. Sometime you feel your number is up. I guess I'll go juggle some chainsaws now to help me get warmed up for a couple night skydive jumps. (Just Kidding) BTW here's an old photo of me jumping the levy in New Orleans when I was much younger and foolisher:
Chip
I think I know the video you're referring to. There are a couple "Smart Cars" actually shown in the video involving front end collisions and they come out quite well. All the other clips showing cars completely crushed and mangled are not "Smart Cars". Just because they look small don't label them as "Smart Cars". How do I know they are not "Smart Cars" you may ask?? The Smart Car has (3)three bolt wheels not (5)five bolt like most shown in the video. The Smart Car is actually a very safe and comfortable vehicle..............I have two of them, the 2006 models which have the Turbo Diesels.
http://youtu.be/250G5MBrnzM
-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 12:56:13 AM
There are advantages to both.
WITH SEPARATE CAR:
You can not "assist" (read annoy) the driver with your suggestions.
You can radio (strongly recommend you have good radios) ahead to driver of the rig that you just saw something flying out of the back of the truck. 😂 "There goes the rug!" "Whoops, I just saw one of the folding chairs fly out." "Whoops, there goes a wheel chock!"
Much more comfortable to explore with unless you're driving a "city truck" like Bill N.
Renting a car for a month for comfort and exploring is expensive if you're in one place for a while.
Way better mileage with the right car.
WITH DRIVING TOGETHER:
You don't have dueling GPS's telling you to go different routes.
You can hold hands when you want to.
If you don't get car sick and are in a boring area you can catch up on email, text, read the forum, research the place you just saw, find campgrounds on the fly, play 5,000 games of solitaire, etc.
You share/discuss more of the sights at the same time. However this can also be done with good radios.
We find we're getting 20 MPG in our truck not towing but driving it around the Boston area is a big game of Chicken. Of course driving anything other than a tank in the Boston area is the same.
FWIW, our preference, mostly the separate car except for hand holding.
Sherry
Well they pull body parts out of every size and shape of vehicle.............Not just "Little" or "Smart Cars" & motorcycles. I've seen body parts come out of semi/train incidents....... So are the semi's too small?
I don't see why you shouldn't post the link. If certain people don't want to look then don't open it. It's just too bad that most people have to paint everything with the same brush when they think they seen something.
-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:03:06 AM
I just don't happen to have any comfort level in a smart Car.
if it was only for city driving and did not have to deal with trucks on the highway i may think a little different.
the car i believe was design to be just a inner city car. but as all other thing it gets used for more than that just because you can
These where just car accidents .. didn't see trains, or semi.. They may be there.. watch the video, and let me know. I had to shut it off.
And come on man, you know.. bigger heavier anything will be safer than small and light anything.
Just my opinion.. I don't like them.. They are usually in everyones way too..lol