Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie! (Read 712 times) previous topic - next topic

Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Quick question for those of you who tow a vehicle and have an Ipass or electronic toll pass.  When you set up your account, how do you account for your tow vehicle?  Do you always get charged for a tow vehicle even when you don't have one hooked up?  Or vise versa?  Any help will be appreciated!

- T. J.

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #1 –
T J

We have ours hit for both. The extra .50 is worth the bypass lane on the rare occation were not towing.
We look at toad as insurance in a rare occasion that we have an issue with our Coach.
In 78K miles only a fule pump, lub, oil, filters!
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #2 –
I  do not know how all states/toll authorities would handle this situation but in Washington state the "I Pass" toll machines will automatically count/charge for your toad based on the transponder on the coach.  When I asked the toll authority they suggested that I put the transponder for the toad on the dashboard when just driving it and when it was being towed put the transponder in the glove box.
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #3 –
The Illinois Tollway told me that anything physically connected to the coach will have it's axles counted as belonging to the coach.  They recommend removing the toads transponder and wrapping it in aluminum foil and putting it in the glove compartment.


Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #4 –
Ditto
What Keith said Ipass works multiple interstates and toll roads.
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #5 –
X2 for IL tollway. I move transponder back and forth between toad and coach as appropriate
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #6 –
In Texas it doesn't matter unless you have a TX license plate on your coach or your toad. The toll authority isn't a law enforcement agency so they're not allowed to run license plates from other states. If your toad is a motorcycle the cameras aren't able to read a motorcycle license plate so I'm told. If you have a two axle coach with a motorcycle on the back bumper you get charged the same as a car, or a motorcycle, even if you weigh 30,000 pounds, but that's only at the toll booths that have a live person in them, which is pretty rare in TX.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #7 –
Thanks for the replies guys...so just for clarification, if my coach has a tag axle, I should set the iPass up for 3 axles and not worry about my toad, correct?

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #8 –
So far in Texas, I have been charged anything they want to charge.  We have windshield tags on everything we own.  We have traveled up and down the 170 toll road, east of Austin.  We have made 3 trips, with different fees and wrong directions shown on our account each trip.  Calls and hours on the phone with the 3 different toll companies have resulted in: no, zero, nada, help, corrections, or clear answers yet, about what we should do with the toad, it's removable tag, and what will happen.  Some times we are told it is axles, sometimes we are charged like we are towing a trailer and it dinged the toad car toll tag as well.  One of the three companies, uses measurement for over all lengths, but refuses to send us a list showing what the lengths are.  We were told, short, long, and longer, not the number of true feet.

My motorcycle, truck, van and toad alone all work correctly.  It is only when we tow the toad things go wrong.  Talking to the 2 Austin companies gets us no where since we have the North Texas Toll Tag (Dallas), and Austin companies can not see our account.  Talking to the NTT gets the answer, "we post what they send us", "we don't make their rates or create the charges".

When asked what to do, about towing the toad, we have gotten multiple answers.  This is going to only grow worst as the state builds and give the roads to the toll companies.  More toll readers are being installed here in the DFW area last month.

Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #9 –
Sounds like Mexico. When towing with our Lazy Daze in Mexico we were charged more than 18 wheelers paid!

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Mebetj15 –
Thanks for the replies guys...so just for clarification, if my coach has a tag axle, I should set the iPass up for 3 axles and not worry about my toad, correct?

If traveling in states that take EZ-Pass, look at ordering a pair through New York.
1) They don't charge for them
2) more importantly, they have a special class for MotorHomes and MHs towing.
    (apparently in an attempt to encourage MH traffic.)
3) The billing from other EZ-Pass states eventually catches up (I think, not quite sure tho)

You keep the car one in its foil pouch in the glove compartment while towing.

You should probably call and talk to the folks at the EZ-Pass office to explain. Initially they sent me a 7,000lb limit device but were happy to exchange for free (including postage) when I needed to swap.

hth
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 
 

Re: Tolls and toads...sounds like a new Harry Potter movie!

Reply #11 –
Quote from: TheBrays –
If traveling in states that take EZ-Pass, look at ordering a pair through New York.
1) They don't charge for them
2) more importantly, they have a special class for MotorHomes and MHs towing.
    (apparently in an attempt to encourage MH traffic.)
3) The billing from other EZ-Pass states eventually catches up (I think, not quite sure tho)

You keep the car one in its foil pouch in the glove compartment while towing.

One really has to give NYS some credit for stuff like this.  And when I go to renew my motorhome's tag & registration, I don't feel to bad about it.
1994 U225
build #4514