weight of your dinghy

[wanderingaimles]

Those towing, we have two vehicles, both capable of being towed 4 down.
one is a 2006 Chevy Cobalt with right at 100k miles, and the other is a 2007 Jeep GC with a little under 100k.
I am buying a motorhome and will be planning an Ak trip for the spring as well as extended other trips in the future. The Chevy and jeep are both in good shape, with no outstanding problems. The Jeep weighs in at 4500+ lbs, the little chevy 1400 lbs less. We are not looking to do hard overland running, which would you outfit to tow for the Ak trip?
My only prior motorhome experience was a class c, 20 years ago, a few trips back and forth between Va, and Fl. No mountain runs, and it had a 460.

[Grit_dog]

Jeep ftw. But you’ll be able to take side trips like to McCarthy or the Denali highway in the cobalt, no problem.
Take whichever one is more comfortable for your wife to ride in

[travisc]

I’d do the Jeep lots of places there you’ll appreciate the extra ground clearance. It allows you to go down some roads you wouldn’t take a care, we towed a Jeep Cherokee up in 2010 and put several hundred miles on it that trip.

[dodge_guy]

My personal recommendation is to go with the Jeep. It will have a higher clearance to clear debris on the road, especially when going to AK. Maybe set them both up to be towed. One for a trip like you have planned for AK. And the other for regular highway use to paved areas with no off-road (gravel,dirt roads) in sight!

[rk911]

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
I dont have the MH yet, have already received $18K from Coast Guard in owed back pay, have another $30k coming on 1 sep from VA, will be buying a 2012-2015 model from that, working out the bugs through the winter, and going come April-May after the new Grandson is born.
I know i will be getting a gasser, preferable would be a 26-30 Class A, but with this year being so screwed up????????
I worry she will have a hard time with a Ford C getting her legs over the hump, so limited to a Chevy C or an A.
How much she will be able to get out and see from the toad is a toss up.

at a minimum you'll need a MH that is equipped with a Class III hitch (rated at a 5000-lb weight limit) and a tow bar capable of pulling 5000-lbs. and pay close attention to the GVWR and GCWR ratings as you'll need a minimum of a 5000-ln difference between the two. the good news is that most class a gassers in that time period will meet or exceed those specs. do not take the sales critter's or owner's word on any of the above. check the specs for yourself.

[enblethen]

I am not talking 4WDoff road trips. A vehicle with more ground clearance on some of the access roads in Canada and Alaska is beneficial. Some roads are gravel. Cobalt may get some damage.

[wanderingaimles]

I dont have the MH yet, have already received $18K from Coast Guard in owed back pay, have another $30k coming on 1 sep from VA, will be buying a 2012-2015 model from that, working out the bugs through the winter, and going come April-May after the new Grandson is born.
I know i will be getting a gasser, preferable would be a 26-30 Class A, but with this year being so screwed up????????
I worry she will have a hard time with a Ford C getting her legs over the hump, so limited to a Chevy C or an A.
How much she will be able to get out and see from the toad is a toss up.

[pigman1]

I couldn't figure out what you are pulling it with, but we have made 9 trips to Alaska from the east coast pulling the Sliverado toad. We fish up there for the entire season and are about 7400 pounds going up and about 8100 pounds coming down. (17 cu ft chest freezer full of shrimp, halibut and salmon plus a basement freezer and the house refer/freezer). The Bus has a 450HP Cummins and handles the hills fine, although not at max speed.

[K_Charles]

Our ranger pickup is just less then 4000 lb, our 2 door elantra is just less then 3000 lb. We tow the one we want with us for that trip because we can pull either one and get the same MPG.

[Lwiddis]

I’d favor the Jeep. You don’t need to go off road, but you could.

[wanderingaimles]

enblethen wrote:
My first choice would be the Jeep. We travel some area where the Jeep is better suited. I do not see where you are traveling from. Long distance, you may want the Cobalt to save fuel.

South Boston Va. Mid atlantic, east coast. I love driving the jeep, but this is a bucket list trip for my DW. I dont see her being up to any real 4WD side trips. but dont want her to miss much. Bouncing hits her hard, just want to make this one easy.

[enblethen]

My first choice would be the Jeep. We travel some area where the Jeep is better suited. I do not see where you are traveling from. Long distance, you may want the Cobalt to save fuel.

[haste_maker]

Tow which ever one you like to drive the best...just remember the less weight you tow the better MPG you will get & the less work your RV will have to do pulling.