Rich
Asshole at large
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Location
- Central PA
I don't really care about Moab, or how many times you've driven out and back. If your vehicle truly is "streetable", then by all means, go without a tow rig. Mine is not. My needs in an off-road vehicle are obviously different than yours. I cannot build a vehicle to perform how I want, and still have it be streetable.
At Dayton, on all the trips I've gone on combined, I can count on one hand the number of vehicles that drove to the trails, and back home (excluding locals, and even many of them tow). Of those who drove, ask them if they'd rather have a tow rig.
I can't believe, on a 4x4 forum, i have to explain the need/desire for a tow rig, but here goes.
1: Peace of mind. If I break the wheeling rig in a big way, I can still get home. I can also get to work the next day. I can ride the trails I want to without worrying about how to get back home.
2: Comfort. My wheeling rig has no windows, doors, A/C, etc. and most importantly, rides on beadlocks with large (as compared to car tires), bias-ply tires that are not round. It has limited storage space as well for supplies.
3: Economy. This one can be argued because of the additional cost of ownership of another vehicle (mitigated somewhat by having the tow rig as a DD), but I get 13-14mpg while towing. What would a rig on 38" bias ply's get going down the highway?
4: Safety. You mess up a part while wheeling that you don't have a spare for, how many people "limp" it home? Mine's strapped to a trailer. Not gonna kill anyone up there.
For the record..I'm not pissed, but damn... Just because I'm not in the position to drop $40k+ on a new tow rig and have it be reliable all the time does NOT mean a tow rig is a bad idea...
Drive YOUR rig to someplace like Dayton, wheel it, and back. Thrice. Let ME know how it works out.
At Dayton, on all the trips I've gone on combined, I can count on one hand the number of vehicles that drove to the trails, and back home (excluding locals, and even many of them tow). Of those who drove, ask them if they'd rather have a tow rig.
I can't believe, on a 4x4 forum, i have to explain the need/desire for a tow rig, but here goes.
1: Peace of mind. If I break the wheeling rig in a big way, I can still get home. I can also get to work the next day. I can ride the trails I want to without worrying about how to get back home.
2: Comfort. My wheeling rig has no windows, doors, A/C, etc. and most importantly, rides on beadlocks with large (as compared to car tires), bias-ply tires that are not round. It has limited storage space as well for supplies.
3: Economy. This one can be argued because of the additional cost of ownership of another vehicle (mitigated somewhat by having the tow rig as a DD), but I get 13-14mpg while towing. What would a rig on 38" bias ply's get going down the highway?
4: Safety. You mess up a part while wheeling that you don't have a spare for, how many people "limp" it home? Mine's strapped to a trailer. Not gonna kill anyone up there.
For the record..I'm not pissed, but damn... Just because I'm not in the position to drop $40k+ on a new tow rig and have it be reliable all the time does NOT mean a tow rig is a bad idea...
Drive YOUR rig to someplace like Dayton, wheel it, and back. Thrice. Let ME know how it works out.