Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Toads and Motorhome Related Towing
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-29-2009, 07:59 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
NCTom's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: South Carolina, Aiken
Posts: 170
Baseplate tow bar brackets uneven

I recently traded toads and had Roadmaster baseplate installed on my new Saturn. Didn't notice till I got home but it appears the newly installed baseplate brackets are uneven making the crossbar not parallel to the front of the vehicle. I had to look at it from just the correct angle to notice but I'm sure the one bracket is about 1 to 1.5 inches longer than the other.
My concern and question is this. Is the fact that the crossbar is uneven a problem/danger? Will towing the toad with uneven baseplate bracket cause unnsafe or dangerous situation, cause non dangerous problems like premature tire wear, or is it a moot point and doesn't really make a difference?
I'd appreciate some expert advise. thanks
__________________
Tom and Ellen
2016 Fleetwood Bounder 35K 30th Anniversary Edition
2015 GMAC Acadia
NCTom is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 11-29-2009, 08:36 PM   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
I can't think of any legitimate reason for them to be uneven. Not sure what the effect, if any, would be when towing but I would want it installed correctly. A phone call to Roadmaster Tech Support might get you some support for insisting the installer correct it.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2009, 08:45 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 799
If by longer you mean one sticks out futher than the other, then your toad will not track straight behind the motorhome. I think the toad's front tires will wear out quickly. I would return to the installer and demand they install it correctly.
Norm4015 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2009, 08:40 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
chasfm11's Avatar
 
Texas Boomers Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: DFW Area, TX
Posts: 2,040
I'm with Gary. I'd start with Roadmaster. I installed my own baseplate on our 05' Vue and had a couple of situations while lining it up that I didn't like I ended up sending them pictures. I had several information exchanges before I was satisfied.

I'd do that before I went back to the installer. Roadmaster should be able help you determine if you do or do not have a problem. You might not get that figured out easily by talking to the installer.
__________________
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36' DP
2018 Equinox toad
KF5-NJY
chasfm11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2009, 06:01 AM   #5
Administrator in Memoriam
 
Route 66's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
I agree with Norm.

It will lead to excessive tire wear and may over stress the towbar/baseplate.
__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP

Route 66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2009, 10:16 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
RVDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,339
Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Roamer [Gary] View Post
I can't think of any legitimate reason for them to be uneven. Not sure what the effect, if any, would be when towing but I would want it installed correctly. A phone call to Roadmaster Tech Support might get you some support for insisting the installer correct it.
RV Roamer has exactly the right and complete response... Technically, no worries... Appearance wise, well, I can not think of any reason for them to be off either, which might imply an installation gaffe.

So, call Roadmaster, but here's the engineering and why those tow-bars are triangular in design with point/ball attachment points.....

Because we are talking free moving "point" attachments and not fixed/rigid connections and - here's the key point - a single pulling point (on the RV), the toad can never be pulled or dragged off parallel (i.e. dragged side to side scuffing tires) no matter what is going on with the baseplates.

Further, toad attach points not "in line" or parallel on the toad simply means the tow bar "triangle" will shift from directly on the center line of the rv/toad to slightly off. However, the pulling force will STILL be directly parallel to the toad and the toad will track dead "straight" BUT the toad will ride slightly off center to the RV. Hence, there is no tire wear issue. Aren't triangles and point attachments a wonderful thing?

Do make absolutely certain that the height from the road of the basplates and your RV hitch (at running height) are the same +/- 2". This is the key specification (beside weight ratings).


Warning - Engineering freebody top-view diagrams 101 follow.

unequal baseplates
(note how toad has shifted/rides to the right)
(in order to maintain equal tow bar lengths but is still pulled "straight")

..................toad
======X=============
================X===




========X========
.............RV

will pull as "straight" to the road as
(equal "length" baseplates)

.............toad
===X==========X===





========X=========
.............RV

So, no worries on tire wear or any other handling issues or any meaningful difference in baseplate forces (RoadMaster would have to be the final judge on that though).
__________________
2007 and 7/8ths Newmar Essex 4502
RVDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2009, 12:09 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Jim Stewart's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne & Marathon, Florida
Posts: 1,537
I ordered and was going to have a dealer install my Roadmaster Brackets on my new Ford Flex. When they arrived, they could not mount as the holes did not line up. They tried every which way and it would not work. When I looked at the brackets I realized that one of the brackets had been welded to the crossbar upside down. The Dealer called Roadmaster and they said that the Dealer could not take it off and have a welder put it on correctly and that all of the ones they made were probably wrong.

I called Roadmaster Tech Support and they were no help and actually rude to me. They could have cared less that they screwed up and they had no intention of doing anything about it. The quality control on their products in my opinion sucks! They are not worthy of our business!

I had the Dealer take it to his welder, cut off the upside down bracket, weld it back on correctly right side up, repaint the whole thing and install it. It cost me about $150.00 extra. It cost Roadmaster any future sales from me and a lifetime of me telling everyone that will listen that Roadmaster sucks!

Just so no one is confused, I think Roadmaster SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!



There Roadmaster, what do you think of them apples!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________
2005 Safari Cheetah 38PDQ - 2009 Ford Flex
Me (Gatogonow), The Boss (DW), Honey Bunny, Maggie May and Mollie Kay (The Gatos)!
Jim Stewart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2009, 12:28 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
dajudge's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SOUTH LOUISIANA(GOD'S COUNTRY)
Posts: 645
The best solution to this problem is go to BLUE OX. I just installed a BLUE OX on my third toad and am truly satisfied. I had a problem, I called them and they were very courteous and helpful.
__________________
07 PHAETON, FREIGHTLINER, CAT, FOUR SLIDES, JEEP WRANGLER TOAD
dajudge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2009, 05:19 PM   #9
Administrator in Memoriam
 
Route 66's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
Tom,

Let us know what Roadmaster says.
__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP

Route 66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2009, 07:25 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Wizard's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Home on the hill in Georgia
Posts: 2,742
Is there a way to e-mail a thread like this to a manufacturer?

Wouldn'd that be great.
__________________
Jerry Potter, Taz
1999 Coachman Catalina Sport
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Wizard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2009, 08:47 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Jim Stewart's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne & Marathon, Florida
Posts: 1,537
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wizard View Post
Is there a way to e-mail a thread like this to a manufacturer?

Wouldn'd that be great.

In Roadmaster's case, it would make no difference, their arrogant and could care less!
__________________
2005 Safari Cheetah 38PDQ - 2009 Ford Flex
Me (Gatogonow), The Boss (DW), Honey Bunny, Maggie May and Mollie Kay (The Gatos)!
Jim Stewart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2009, 11:42 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
RVDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,339
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wizard View Post
Is there a way to e-mail a thread like this...
I'll stick to the question/topic asked...

Yes, if you have a pdf printer on your PC use it OR use a free webpage to pdf utility like

Convert Web/HTML to PDF Free Online — PDF Download by Nitro PDF Software

and then email the pdf to whomever...

I've attached that pdf output of this thread for your use...
__________________
2007 and 7/8ths Newmar Essex 4502
RVDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
P32 anti-sway bar broken brackets MikeCoke MH-General Discussions & Problems 4 03-18-2008 04:04 PM
The Blue Ox Tow bar failed last night! SargeW Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 26 09-14-2007 06:40 PM
Problem with tow bar and drop hitch BigRedLancer Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 6 08-24-2006 07:06 PM
Tow Bar Brackets slabman Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 3 06-08-2006 04:18 AM
The Superior Alexus Tow Bar DriVer Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 1 12-14-2005 03:38 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:55 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.