Rent or Buy to tow?

Seriously considering taking a STS Miata to the SCCA Solo Nationals next year in Lincoln, Nebraska. Distance from our HQ in the shadows of our nation's capital is roughly 1250 miles each way. There is no guarantee that we'll make a habit of towing cars around on a regular basis so let's think of this as a one-time thing. Here are our options:

Drive Miata and support vehicle separately. Cheapest option but could be bad on many levels (Miata has stiff suspension and no A/C, probably will wear its hardtop as well, so there's another ding against the fun factor).

or

Tow the thing with the support vehicle, 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3L V6/auto FWD, 31,000 miles. Wagon does not have the towing package, which allegedly limits its tow rating to 2000 pounds. So we can either chance it with a trailer (which we do not own) or tow dolly (ditto).

Now we've someone locally tow a C4 Vette with a Chrysler minivan, which can't possibly be rated to tow that tank around, but it works.

So the thought is to perhaps buy an open trailer and have the Santa Fe fitted with the tow hitch and wiring.

or (wife's idea)

Trade the Santa Fe in for a new one with the towing package, which will then be rated to tow 3500 pounds. Not a big fan of this idea, though, since the existing wagon is still 'new' in my eyes.

or

Rent a SUV and trailer, assuming such a combo is possible to put together. This is probably the most pricey option save for getting a new wagon. But it makes the most sense to me.

or

Buy $2500 El Camino and Craigslist trailer. I always wanted an Elk since I learned to drive in one. But I am already pushing it as far as parking here so another permanent addition to the fleet is probably not the smart idea. Plus, can you really depend on a semi-clapped-out 25 year old GM product to make a 2500-mile round trip without drama?

If you go "trailer", I would suggest that you get a flat-bed utility trailer that the Miata will fit on. That opens up a whole lot of options that a dedicated car trailer can't do.

I've got a 5'x10' tilt-bed, steel deck with stake pockets that I use to tote the Mini around. Pop and I built wooden sides for it so we can haul "stuff" with it, too.

you'd be amazed at what a caravan can tow when properly equipped.
Rent a truck is my suggestion.

Renting would probably be as expensive as buying. If you buy something new to tow with, you can always sell it when you're done using it. If you're lucky, you won't have to put too much money into it for repairs or making it tow-worthy.

You don't have to pay registration taxes, insurance and deferred maintenance if you rent a Uhaul or Budget.

You can tow anything with anything, but it takes an educated and sympathetic driver to have your transmission arrive home with you.

amg_rx7 wrote: You don't have to pay registration taxes, insurance and deferred maintenance if you rent a Uhaul or Budget.

You'll change your mind once you see how much they charge per mile. Near $1/mile in some cases. Plus fuel, the nominal rental fee, the optional insurance, taxes, more rental fees for the trailer, it all adds up. It's like throwing money down the toilet, especially on some miserable Uhaul shibox that is probably no more tow-worthy than a $2500 el camino...

Sorry I was thnking of renting a uhaul truck there. If you rent an SUV and can get a deal on unlimited mileage, that might be a good way to go.

Find a co-driver with a truck and trailer.

RoosterSauce wrote:

amg_rx7 wrote: You don't have to pay registration taxes, insurance and deferred maintenance if you rent a Uhaul or Budget.

You'll change your mind once you see how much they charge per mile. Near $1/mile in some cases. Plus fuel, the nominal rental fee, the optional insurance, taxes, more rental fees for the trailer, it all adds up. It's like throwing money down the toilet, especially on some miserable Uhaul shibox that is probably no more tow-worthy than a $2500 el camino... Sorry I was thnking of renting a uhaul truck there. If you rent an SUV and can get a deal on unlimited mileage, that might be a good way to go.

I've done it. Worked for me twice. Cheaper than a $2,500 El Camino + registration + taxes at reg + insurance. If it breaks, they come out with another one. Had that happen once too.

For $2,500 you can get an old Ford truck or van. More tow worthy and better brakes when loaded than the El Camino.

"10 or 11 day 14-foot rental for a truck traveling across the country and holding the contents of a one or two bedroom home can cost $1,800 -$2,000." stolen from Cost Helper

This kinda puts buying a junker and going Uhaul neck and neck.

In reply to DILYSI Dave:

completely agree. If he was down here in Texas we wouldn't even be having this kind of conversation. I got a GMC and a 10 x 6 utlilty trailer!

I haven't completely ruled out begging/borrowing/stealing from someone locally, but I hate asking for favors.

Uhaul/Penske/Ryder,etc will be close to will cost toward $2k, agreed.
What I really want to point out is please do not think that you can just rent a Hertz/Avis/Enterprise SUV or pickup truck with unlimited mileage for $60 per day. Those rental contract strictly forbid towing with the vehicle. Sure, many people have, but... If you wreck the truck your insurance company will not help you because you engaged in a forbidden practice. Plan to pay for all repairs out of pocket for truck repair, trailer AND MIATA because again no help from your insurance co.

Enterprise does have a commercial rental side which you can tow with but more expensive. You must rent in the name of a business. http://www.enterprisetrucks.com/
Check but it may only be slightly cheaper than Uhaul.

What makes a Santa Fe tow rated? Find that out and make upgrades to your current ride. I bet it is mostly trans cooler and maybe bigger front disk brakes.

Everyone has a friend with a pickup truck... All you have to do is rent the trailer.

Also, if your santa fe is anything like my RX300, the "tow package" will consist of a hitch receiver, trailer light wiring, and a transmission cooler. Most of the small SUVs don't get bigger brakes or any real suspension upgrades when equipped to tow.

I towed a Mercury Zephyr from NC to PA with our 2005 Sante Fe and a tow dolly. We had a hitch installed when it was purchased and no larger cooler. It handled it fine with absolutely no issues. A part of the trip was through some pretty hilly country. Two years and many miles later, absolutely no problems with the trans. I would think installing a hitch, adding a cooler and using a small utility trailer would work fine. I would also add that I have towed with many different combinations over the past 35 years and have learned to be very midful of not overstressing the tow vehicle with agressive driving while towing. Your trip does include some long grades, but if you watch your speed and temp it will not be an issue. Plus one on servicing the trans with fresh filter and fluid, although with 31k miles it's probably not necessary.

This topic is of interest to me as well. What about the option of a professional shipper/hauler? Fly out and pick up your car.

I haven't crunched the numbers but every option has a cost associated with it.

Claff wrote: I haven't completely ruled out begging/borrowing/stealing from someone locally, but I hate asking for favors.

That's why I suggest a co-driver. It's not an uncommon arrangement for one person to provide the racecar and the other to provide the transportation. And it's not a favor - both people are getting something they need.

Yep. Find somebody like me: Dodge Cummins tow vehicle, Nationals dreams, and no realistic auto-x car. I would happily rent/buy/borrow a trailer and tow the car out there if it netted me a free co-drive. Unfortunately, my auto-x dreams for 2011 are already DOA...

What about flat towing? there's a guy around here who flat tows a spec 944 with a honda Element. Goes to laguna seca yearly with no problems (1000+ miles and at least some mountains). it only requires some brackets on the towed car for a hitch - clever installation would make it invisible on the racecar. Your Santa Fe would flat tow with no problem.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

Claff wrote: I haven't completely ruled out begging/borrowing/stealing from someone locally, but I hate asking for favors.

That's why I suggest a co-driver. It's not an uncommon arrangement for one person to provide the racecar and the other to provide the transportation. And it's not a favor - both people are getting something they need.

Agreed. Also driving the Miata and a support vehicle is fine on the way out, what if you wad up the Miata?

Can't drive it back. BTDT iceracing.

Dan

lizard wrote: Add trans cooler (or increase size of existing if so equipped), hitch, & wiring to existing vehicle. Buy used trailer (or borrow from friend, coworker, relative) and have at.

I agree with Lizard. According to post #4 in this discussion (Santa Fe towing discussion) the towing package adds a trans cooler, a larger radiator with upgraded fans and pre-wiring. There are no suspension, engine or transmission internal changes (at least, none are mentioned in the sales brochure - who knows how true that is). If you add the trans cooler and keep an eye on your water temps, you should be just as capable as a Santa Fe with the tow package on everything but the longest climbs.

Also, are the towing capacities rated for a trailer with a brake or without? In Australia, from my brief googling, it looks like they provide specs for towing trailers with and without. Without a trailer brake, the tow spec is 750kg (about 1750lb), but with a brake it jumps to 2000kb (4500lb).

Bob

Just drive the Miata towing a tire trailer on the back. You might break something at the autocross but you aren't going to total the thing.

Tom Heath with GRM drove his turbo Miata out and back using the same setup.

Just outfit the santa-fe for towing.

You already have it, like you said, its still practically new, and its not like you are trying to severely exceed its limits by towing a yacht or anything. Just a miata.

Holy hell! $2000 to rent a U-haul? I had my trailer built the way I wanted it, with electric brakes and tie-downs for all four wheels for ~$1500. Granted, that was about six years ago, but still.....