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Route 66 · 04-02-2008, 10:49 AM

A couple were just unhooking their toad here at Cummins and it rolled backwards about 200', driver's door and rear hatch open, making a backwards left turn going around my coach and GMC, jumping the curb, and stopping just short of the large Cummins sign.

Missed me by 20'.

Moral of the story;

Thou shalt not pull the pins on the tow bar before securing thy toad.

Route 66 · 04-02-2008, 10:49 AM

A couple were just unhooking their toad here at Cummins and it rolled backwards about 200', driver's door and rear hatch open, making a backwards left turn going around my coach and GMC, jumping the curb, and stopping just short of the large Cummins sign.

Missed me by 20'.

Moral of the story;

Thou shalt not pull the pins on the tow bar before securing thy toad.

SeeTheUSA · 04-02-2008, 10:56 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Route 66:

Moral of the story;

Thou shalt not pull the pins on the tow bar before securing thy toad. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Unfortunately a lesson seemed only learned the hard way! Glad all are okay . . .

Wizard · 04-02-2008, 11:41 AM

doc · 04-02-2008, 11:44 AM

Saw a similar sight when a guy unhooked a TT on a slope near Lake Hartwell. Interesting few seconds as the trailer slowly rolled back. He managed to get it stopped when it hit level ground and nearly stopped on it's own. 150 pound man grabbing a 30 foot travel trailer and trying to hold it!

historyljc · 04-02-2008, 07:30 PM

I think the first instruction in the owner's manual is "set parking brake." Aah, who reads owner's manuals.

RV Wizard · 04-03-2008, 12:25 AM

Rule # 2, unhook safety cable last!

paz · 04-03-2008, 02:38 AM

I have forgotten to put the toad in park and set the brake once or twice. Fortunately, it was always on level ground.

I find a good reminder is if the pins are hard to pull, it means there is tension on the tow bar. That is a good time to stop and check the parking brake.

Tom N · 04-03-2008, 03:54 AM

Wouldn't the break away switch stop the vehicle???

-Tom

BZam · 04-03-2008, 10:34 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Route 66:

Moral of the story;

Thou shalt not pull the pins on the tow bar before securing thy toad. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, I have been there and done that! Several years ago we came to the old Silverton RV park in Las Vegas, which is now closed, from Green River UT.

It was a blistering hot day and I pulled in to my site and got the power on and decided to unhook the toad as it was a little out in street.

The Silverton had raised sites for the RV but the toad was on the down slope to rear. I had the old Stowmaster tow bar with tongue. In the haste of the hot summer and wanting to get it done in a hurry. I unhooked the cables and pulled the tongue off the ball, and there I was holding a 3000 pound Honda. I dug in my heels and no one was in sight anywhere. I could not let go as the car was headed straight back to a big Bluebird.

So I grunted and pulled and in what seemed like an eternity I got that sucker back on the hitch ball! I figured that was my cardiac test as I was near collapse!

So I will never disconnect those safety cables, even on perfectly level ground, until I go back and get the car emergency brake on securely!!!

cwg · 04-03-2008, 05:26 PM

I was at Tiger Run in Breckenridge last summer and watched a gentleman attempt to move his nice stacker forward to a slightly different parking area --- he used his tow vehicle and hooked up the safety chains. Upon moving forward, the chains slipped off or broke from the hitch on the tow and the stacker started a reverse course down the pavement towards major damage. I was able to grab something like a small piece of railroad tie and catch up with moving trailer and get it braced. Needless to say, he was very relieved and appreciative.

I will bet he won't try that maneuver again.

Sixpack98 · 04-03-2008, 05:47 PM

Sage advise Dirk, thank you. Kinda puts a whole new slant of being thrown under the bus.

Hillbilly2 · 04-03-2008, 05:48 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Wouldn't the break away switch stop the vehicle??? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
If they already unhooked the safety cables, they probally already unhooked the breakaway cable also, so no signal would be sent to the aux brake unit.