Tow Car Protection December 22, 2010, 10:15:51 am Yahoo Message Number: 119168We're setting up our 07 CRV to tow and want to protect it from damage. What do you use between the LD and car for protection? We wanted to use an UltraGuard but the factory does not recommend and my installer is saying that the height of the LD is so low that it may catch when we're backing up. So, if any of you could offer advice I'd really appreciate it.Thanks in advance.Julie and Sue in wet, wet, wet, Southern California
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #1 – December 22, 2010, 11:27:30 am Yahoo Message Number: 119169Quote "We're setting up our 07 CRV to tow and want to protect it from damage... could offer advice I'd really appreciate it."Julie and Sue Julie & Sue I've towed a '02 Civic and now an '08 CRV for thousands of miles with no protection at all. Haven't found a ding yet!Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #2 – December 22, 2010, 11:47:16 am Yahoo Message Number: 119171Julie and Sue, My experience is the same as Steve. We tow an 08 CRV with no damage to it in thousands of miles. Hook her up and have fun! Steve
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #3 – December 22, 2010, 03:01:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119174Have you gone to Alaska towing it?Denise
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #4 – December 22, 2010, 04:07:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119175Quote Have you gone to Alaska towing it?Denise Hmmmm, funny you should ask that question! As it happens I am planning that trip for this coming summer. How about you? Towed a '94 30' AlumaLite TT up and back the last time I went. No particular problems then.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #5 – December 22, 2010, 04:34:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119176-Quote "I've towed a '02 Civic and now an '08 CRV for thousands of miles with no protection at all. Haven't found a ding yet!"Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs I'd say you are just plain lucky! Considering what is put on the roads for snow mitigation here in Colorado, I can't take that chance.Chris
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #6 – December 22, 2010, 04:40:31 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119177For those making RV trips to Anchorage and wanting to park and stay in the area for the summer, I believe there's no charge, electric and water supplied.In an effort to decrease vandalism and other criminal activity at schools during the summer, the Anchorage School District invites citizens with RVs to camp on school grounds. For more information about this program, please contact Melody Haakenson at 907-348-5170 or .Neal[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #7 – December 22, 2010, 04:47:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119178We have towed our 06 CR-V for 30,000 miles including a trip last year to Alaska and back. No protection and no nicks or dings.You will love Alaska.Mark "Daisy" 2006 26.5 RK
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #8 – December 22, 2010, 05:48:40 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119179Quote"I'd say you are just plain lucky!" Well Chris, I guess that up to this point the odds are in my favor. Sure better than Vegas. "Considering what is put on the roads for snow mitigation here in Colorado, I can't take that chance."Okay, but it is you who has to drive in it... I have options!Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #9 – December 22, 2010, 07:50:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119181Quote "I've towed a '02 Civic and now an '08 CRV for thousands of miles with no protection at all. Haven't found a ding yet!" If you tow on dry paved roads no protection is needed. I towed for a few years using a hula skirt to deflect debris and thought it was doing a good job because I had no dings on my 05 CRV, Then I had to travel over about 300 miles of snow covered road where some sections had been sanded (or a combination of sand and other stuff). When I got to my destination and unhooked the CRV I discovered the radiator was filled with sand and small rocks and the car was really dirty. It took me a long time to get all the gunk cleaned out of it. After that, I bought a Protect-a-Tow. A subsequent drive over slushy Colorado roads showed that the car still got really dirty from road spray but it appeared that nothing was thrown into the radiator. If you expect to tow where the wheels will be throwing stuff at the car some sort of protection is a good idea and I recommend the Protect-a-Tow. Their Web site is http://protectatow.tripod.com/MontiMonument, CO
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #10 – December 22, 2010, 09:24:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119183We are going mid May of 2013 for the summer. We have an 02 23ft LD and a Jeep Wrangler. Do you have a journal or blog from your previous Alaskan trip? And are you going alone this time or with a group? And do you have a route planned out? Um.. and how long will you be 'up' there? Enquiring minds... and all that.Denise and Garth in soggy SLO, California
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #11 – December 22, 2010, 09:48:47 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119185Quote We are going mid May of 2013 for the summer. We have an 02 23ft LD and a Jeep Wrangler. Do you have a journal or blog from your previous Alaskan trip? And are you going alone this time or with a group? And do you have a route planned out? Um.. and how long will you be 'up' there? Enquiring minds... and all that.Denise and Garth Denise I have two photo albums from the last trip (35mm camera back then) but no journal. In my humble estimation "mid May" is a might early. Weather can be dicey and roads not firm enough. I'll be in the company of a great overland navigator, my Boston Terrier 'Jiggs'. He's always got his eye on the road and never gives me any lip. My late wife was co-pilot on the previous trip and maybe I can talk my daughter into going if she can find the time. No route, no itinerary, no schedule. Last time we spent 3 months, going and coming. I may vary the heading somewhat and poke around in places I missed last time, depends on which way the wind blows.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #12 – December 22, 2010, 10:38:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119187Steve, when would be a good time to head north? End of May? We will be retired by then so can go whenever we feel like it. We can spend some time in Oregon and Washington first. Or we could go through Yellowstone and go across the boarder in Montana. Actually we have no route or schedule planned. Garth likes to fish so we'll stop at any likely fishing hole until we feel like moving on. I guess I'll be the co-pilot since our dog's retired and prefers napping most of the time. If the weather's bad, we'll stop until it's nice again, and if we see wild life, we'll pull over and hang out and take pictures and watch until we feel like going again. We've seen just enough of Alaska to want to see a whole lot more. The winter before that will be spent traveling down through New Mexico, Texas, along the gulf, and maybe to Florida. I made the mistake, or maybe it wasn't a mistake, of forwarding and reading the binocular thread to Garth. So now we have two very nice binoculars coming to our home soon. Picked both of them up on ebay. He was waiting for a good excuse to get a really good pair. Now we'll have one for each of us. 'NIKON 10x42 Monarch ATB Binoculars' and 'Canon 10x30 IS Image Stabilizer Binoculars' What fun! Before, did you mostly use campgrounds or did you find places to boondock? We hope to mostly do the boondocking with campgrounds now and then. Also, back to the tow car protection subject. Will you be getting tow car protection when you go to Alaska?Denise
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #13 – December 22, 2010, 11:16:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119189"Denise Morrison" wrote: when would be a good time to head north? End of May? --- Mike and Terri Church's "Alaskan Camping" is an *essential reference* to plan your trip; the new edition (November 2010) is available on Amazon:http://tinyurl.com/22uojxq Reader-supplied corrections, additions, and updates to each guide are available on the Church website:www.rollinghomes.com They suggest that an Alaskan trip be of *at least* 60 days' length, and that the trip be made between May 15 and September 15. Of course, the length, timing, routes, and "stops" are a matter of personal choices, but Mike and Terri are *very* knowledgeable and experienced, and their suggestions and advice reflect their expertise. I'm sure that you will get plenty of suggestions and ideas; there are several people on this board who have made the trip!Joan
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #14 – December 23, 2010, 11:06:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 119194Joan, I do have that book of Mike and Terri Church's, and I was amazed at how much info it has in it. I will probably order the latest edition right before we go, along with the Milepost and maybe a couple more. Now I just saw ~RVing Alaska and Canada: A "How to" and "Why not" Book~ and it sounds interesting too. Denise
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #15 – December 23, 2010, 11:33:27 am Yahoo Message Number: 119195Quote "Steve, when would be a good time to head north? End of May?" Yes, from then into early June. Last time I spent the 4th of July holiday in Wasilla."We can spend some time in Oregon and Washington first."Okay, a slow approach may be a good idea."Or we could go through Yellowstone and go across the boarder in Montana."Oh Ho! Now that's an idea I like... If you were to go north on U.S. 89 (east side of Glacier, out of Browning, MT and cross the border at Carway, Alberta you would be headed for Fort MacLeod. It is there that you must visit "Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump". It's a World Heritage Site and a 'Do Not Miss' if you're in that area. That would position you for a run up to Banff and Lake Louise and Jasper. From there it's a small jump to the Alcan."Before, did you mostly use campgrounds or did you find places to boondock? We hope to mostly do the boondocking with campgrounds now and then." My wife was not too much into boondocking. In many cases our choice of an RV park was whether or not they had a pressure washer... take lots of quarters or Tunies. Then there are always the Fred Myer Stores (think WalMart) where you can spend the night.Quote "Also, back to the tow car protection subject. Will you be getting tow car protection when you go to Alaska?" No, probably not. Last trip whenever we got stuck at a construction area we'd be the first ones out when the road opened. Right behind the 'Water Wagon'. And that was why we looked for pressure washes, there is no lack of mud up there.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Was: Tow Car Protection Now: Alaska travel Reply #16 – December 23, 2010, 03:26:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119199"Denise Morrison" wrote:Quote Joan, I do have that book of Mike and Terri Church's, and I was amazed at how much info it has in it. I will probably order the latest edition right before we go, along with the Milepost and maybe a couple more. Now I just saw ~RVing Alaska and Canada: A "How to" and "Why not" Book~ and it sounds interesting too. --- I think that the "Alaska how to" book that you referred to is by Charlie Minshall? It's a fun read for general background and reports of her experiences, but the information is dated; the last edition was published in 2002. If you want a *printed* "we went to Alaska" travel report that's a little more current, you might look at this one from Joe and Vicki Kieva: http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=1214&m=2Or, try the guides from the Founds; they apparently make the trip every year, but I think the date of their current map and guide booklet is 2009: http://www.karo-ent.com/plyn.htmThere's also the Lonely Planet guide found here: http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/usa/alaska-travel-guide-9Rather than buying the whole book, which contains a lot of stuff that's not necessarily relevant to RV travel, one can buy PDFs of chapters that reflect your specific routes and/or interests; interesting idea! Of course, there are PLENTY of "travel Alaska" blogs, posting threads, and websites, "official" and not so much; a few searches will bring up plenty of material! One of the best is the official "Travel Alaska" site: http://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Regions.aspxAnd, the current information found on these Canada border crossing sites is essential to know: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/noncan-eng.htmlhttp://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/index.html And, I know that Linda Hylton has recommended this "TourSaver package" several times in the past, so this is just a reminder:http://www.toursaver.com/ IMO, the two travel planning essentials are "The Milepost" and the latest edition of "the Church book". One can pre-order the 2011 "Milepost" (out March 1)from: http://shop.themilepost.com/index.php?p=product&id=16I'd also use AAA's road maps for Alaska, but I'm still looking for a good map of *northern* BC; every map and every road atlas of BC that I've ever seen cuts the province off around Ft. St. John.Have fun planning!Joan
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #17 – December 23, 2010, 05:11:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119201You might want to check out Coastlinecover.com the make custom covers to fit all cars and also can order on line. They are near Riverside CA Dean Ansley
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #18 – December 24, 2010, 05:32:03 am Yahoo Message Number: 119205Quote(Monti quoting): "I've towed a '02 Civic and now an '08 CRV for thousands of miles with no protection at all. Haven't found a ding yet!" (Monti replying): "If you tow on dry paved roads no protection is needed."I disagree, based on painful personal experience. I-5 in Oregon is dry (in summer) and paved, but you are playing Russian Roulette without tow protection. Reason: no salt used on roads anywhere in Oregon )state law) and poor removal in summer of substituted winter gravel. Ted
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #19 – December 24, 2010, 08:24:29 am Yahoo Message Number: 119206Thank you all for your great information. For now, we'll forgo protection since we'll be on regular roads for now.Jules and Sue
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #20 – December 24, 2010, 08:48:25 am Yahoo Message Number: 119207Quote Thank you all for your great information. For now, we'll forgo protection since we'll be on regular roads for now.Jules and Sue Good luck - you'll need it.Chris
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #21 – December 24, 2010, 09:30:19 am Yahoo Message Number: 119208Get a used car and don't sweat the chips in the paint. Plus no need to mess with setting up whatever type of protection. Trying to keep a toad looking good is pretty much futile. I think the person that started this thread was going to tow a CRV. Heck, those suckers will last as long as an LD, so buy a used one, wash it twice a year and spend what is saved on amber colored beverages. Life is too damn short as it is to mess with such.Cheers, Don
Re: Tow Car Protection Reply #22 – December 24, 2010, 09:51:43 am Yahoo Message Number: 119209Thanks Don....I wanted to say about the SAME thing. Keep you "thought about" tow car as a second car for home to do your shopping etc. I would love to have a CRV as a "home" car. I have a Geo Tracker which is a tow car. Its a 1996, auto, cruise, tilt, 4 cyl, conv and YES AUTO, with an axle disconnect. You pull a lever under drivers seat (very easy) and have a long tow bar (pretty common tow car but usually stick shift). Geo ONLY has liability insurance and you could probably get one for about $3500-$4000. Everybody I see wants to buy mine and I tell them $3,500 and they say "good deal" but never show up with the $$$$$!!!!! Don, I don't drink a lot of beer, but when I do I ask for "Dos Equis" - care to join me for one??? Merry X-mas fellow RV'ersDennis W - Ft Mohave, AZ__
Alaska Reply #23 – December 24, 2010, 01:28:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119211Denise and Garth (and Steve), We took our LD, Wrangler in tow, to Alaska in 2009. We departed home in mid-April and returned home in early October. Great trip and I definitely think you are right to make an entire summer of it if you can. I made a Web site of the trip. Here is a link. http://web.me.com/burnes/Alaska_Summer/Home.htmlI haven't done any maintenance on that site in a long time so it may have some problems, I don't really know. It's a long read because I basically strung together a bunch of trip reports. But it should give you and idea of what a summer in Alaska would be like.Terry2003 26.5'RB Gardnerville, NV
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