Mountain Hauler

The Tacoma has been such a reliable vehicle.  Brother named it Mountain Hauler.  It is our second Tacoma, we drove our first (Mountain Climber) from 2000 through 2015 and it had over 200,000 miles on it when we sold it.  Our current Tacoma, a four-door, 4x4 was purchased before we ever considered living in and hauling a trailer.  We did not buy it with any consideration of the towing capacity or the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).  When we purchased the Hideout we were looking for something that could be towed safely by the Tacoma (which was paid off).

Day 1: Leaving AZ

The case for a new tow vehicle:

When it comes to trailers there are many intricacies to the weight limits.  We initially thought it was a simple matter of staying under the truck's maximum pull capacity (in our case is 6,500 lbs).  However, we later learned that the truck also has maximum limits on each axle.  Because our Hideout is capable of carrying weight up to 7,500 lbs, we have to minimize the personal property, water, propane, etc to keep the weight under 6,500 lbs.  We also learned that even if the Hideout is under 6,500 lbs, we can still overload the rear axle of the truck.  Prior to leaving we sorted through our belongings and left as much as possible in storage in AZ to lighten the load and keep the rig within safe limits.  Because of our weight limitations we cannot haul much water in our fresh tank.  We cannot add a generator.  We cannot bring certain personal property (such as bicycles).

During our trip we felt the discomfort of our weight limitations.  We experienced three memorable nights in hot climates, without hook-ups, without air conditioning.  In two of those nights we listened to the generators around us and we breathed their fumes through our open windows.  Were we wishing we had a generator?  Yes.

Joshua Tree, CA

When we were in dry camping or boondocking situations we had to limit our fresh water.  It was inconvenient.  In a couple of cases we filled our tank while at a campsite and then had to haul the full tanks to a dump station when we left.  This was nerve-wracking because we knew we were over our limits and the rig handled differently with full tanks.

In a few situations we wished we had our bikes.  The most memorable was when we went to Mackinac Island and paid too much to rent bikes for two hours. If we would have had our bikes we could have ridden around longer, with less pressure and could have saved a good deal of cash.  There were also campground where kids were riding bikes and Brother and Sister could have joined them.

Hill City, SD

The case against a new tow vehicle:

We looked into it and we would probably spend between $15,000-20,000 to upgrade our truck.  An upgrade would allow us to fill the Hideout to capacity and haul a generator.  But what else could we do with $15,000-$20,000.  Well, for that money we could just pay for full-hook ups whenever the weather is too hot to boondock.  That would buy at least 500 nights of campgrounds! Taking these funds out of our investment accounts would also mean we would lose passive income from interest.

Boysen State Park, WY

One of the benefits of driving a 6-cylinder is the savings in gas.  If we had an 8-cylinder not only do we have to pay for the difference in price of the vehicle itself we also have to pay a premium every time we drive it.  When the Hideout is parked we drive the Tacoma on our adventures - every miles of those outings would cost more.  We would go from 10-12 mpg to around 8 or less when hauling the Hideout.  Also, let's be realistic, the long term price of gas is not going down...

When dealing with the water limitations we simply have to plan our moves in advance.  We have to know where we can fill and where we can dump.  We also have to know the distances between those points. When possible we have to use campground facilities and dump our water down the campground drains (to minimize water in our tanks). 

Boondocking, WY

Finally, regarding the bikes or other property that we couldn't take - when I count how many times I missed it all it seems absurd that I would even consider spending all of that money for such a minor convenience.  While on these adventures the whole point is to get out to see and explore - and explore we did.  For the vast majority of time the kids were occupied by our adventures.  They mentioned the bikes a couple of times.

Somerset Beach, MI

The question is, can we make some minor changes to the rig that will improve our experience for next time?  I think the answer is yes, certainly.  There are modifications we can make to the Hideout to make us more comfortable and we may be able to reduce the weight even further.

The Verdict? Mountain Hauler stays! The costs outweigh the benefits of a new truck.  We will use what we have for as long as possible and find ways to reduce the inconveniences.