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10-15-2016, 11:47 PM
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#1
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Member
Ford Super Duty Owner Rexhall Owners Group
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 89
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Runaway Toad
A word of caution. A week ago, I was on a level RV site and went to unhook the Jeep Toad. As usual, I left the tranfer case in neutral, which allows me to push or pull to detach from the trailer hitch ball. I unhooked the electrical umbilical and safety cables.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize that I was parked on a slight incline that proceeded to steepen. Once the Toad towbar was disconnected, I relalized that I could not let go of the tow bar because the Toad started to roll backwards. I could not pull it forward to rehitch to the MH ball either.
Meanwhile, the toad started to roll, dragging me with it. I tried to steer it with the towbar to no avail as it gathered speed and ran into a tree, damaging the RR quarter.
Moral of the story. Set chocks fore and aft a short distance from the wheels. Don't disconnect safety cables before disconnecting towbar.
If this helps others, I will feel better about the damage to the Jeep, AND grateful that the only damage was to a tree and the Jeep.
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10-15-2016, 11:49 PM
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#2
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Community Administrator
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Marquette, Michigan "Da UP" & Lehigh Acres Florida
Posts: 21,822
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Thank you for the strong words of wisdom.
__________________
John & Cathy R.
06 Pace Arrow 38L Workhorse W24
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10-16-2016, 01:00 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
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Things happen!!
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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10-16-2016, 05:27 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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Good points. I'll change my process to hook the safety cables first and unhook them last..
tnks
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10-16-2016, 05:34 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Western NC
Posts: 590
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When I started towing our CRV, I thought of that possibility. I made it a habit to open the car door and put the shifter stick back into Park before I started disconnecting. There was always enough slop in the transmission to allow for wiggling the steering wheel and letting the car move a smidgen.
__________________
Seeing this country from ground level.
2016 Allegro Bus 40AP
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10-16-2016, 05:38 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Polk City, FL
Posts: 3,368
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Ouch. I have thought about this before but I am also guilty of doing what you did. I guess I better rethink that....
__________________
Dave & Debbie
2021 Newmar DutchStar 4369
2016 Ford Edge&2019 Ford F-150 toads
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10-16-2016, 05:45 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,308
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When un hooking my Jeep JK, I always push down on the arm release's, put the Jeep in gear , and move it forward a couple of inches and then put it in park and finish un hooking it.......
Same hooking up, I leave it in park till the tow bar is hooked up.......then pick up on the arm release's to lock them.........then back up very slowly, to set them into the lock position, then into neutral for towing.
That would of been a bad experience being dragged trying to stop your toad!!!!!!!
__________________
2012 Essex 4544 2011 Jeep JK, M&G Braking, 2014 MTI 27' Hog Hauler, Wireless brake control, 2006 Ultra & 1989 Springer, 2003 Harley-Davidson
FLHR Road King Anniversary
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10-16-2016, 06:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Delaware
Posts: 171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajpaero
A word of caution. A week ago, I was on a level RV site and went to unhook the Jeep Toad. As usual, I left the tranfer case in neutral, which allows me to push or pull to detach from the trailer hitch ball. I unhooked the electrical umbilical and safety cables.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize that I was parked on a slight incline that proceeded to steepen. Once the Toad towbar was disconnected, I relalized that I could not let go of the tow bar because the Toad started to roll backwards. I could not pull it forward to rehitch to the MH ball either.
Meanwhile, the toad started to roll, dragging me with it. I tried to steer it with the towbar to no avail as it gathered speed and ran into a tree, damaging the RR quarter.
Moral of the story. Set chocks fore and aft a short distance from the wheels. Don't disconnect safety cables before disconnecting towbar.
If this helps others, I will feel better about the damage to the Jeep, AND grateful that the only damage was to a tree and the Jeep.
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Sounds like a good point well taken
Thanks for the share
__________________
Joe
2017 Dynamax DX3 37 BH
Tow: 2020 Ford F-150
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10-16-2016, 07:33 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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I use a process as described above by others to preclude this from occuring. However, I have on occation not followed process and had some rolling of the jeep toad. I like adding the chocks to the process as a backup. I have a small plastic yellow pair seldom used I can task. Thanks for the post
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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10-17-2016, 09:51 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,209
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I solved this problem years ago. It is called "the wife". We disconnect/set up as a team and we both have our responsibilities. For the toad disconnect, she gets in the toad, starts it up in neutral and depending on alignment of the toad to the rv, may have to turn the steering wheel left or right to release tension on tow bar arms. After disconnect she parks the car where we want it and she goes back in the rv and does her chores and I do my chores of autoleveling, slides, utility hookups and of course the most important one (and last one): lawn chairs out under a shaded awning, cold beer in hand.
Has worked without a hitch so far.
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10-17-2016, 10:19 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,387
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Almost been there. Saved by safety cable...
Thanks for the reminder.
__________________
Larry and Prissy Sharp
2006 Allegro Bay 37DB
2012 Toyota Yaris
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10-17-2016, 10:26 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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be glad it went THAT way and not toward u - things can be fixed
I've found fixing me takes more and more work every morning !
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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10-17-2016, 11:33 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Phoenix, Oregon
Posts: 2,207
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I subscribe to the chock idea. That allows a little movement to disconnect without anything getting out of control. I can attest to a somewhat higher than normal heart rate when the toad starts dragging you backwards. Luckily I had enough room to open the door and pull the emergency brake before it went too far. It is indeed a learning experience that lingers. Thanks for sharing!
Steve
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10-17-2016, 12:04 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Freightliner Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Dallas, Ga.
Posts: 618
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nctox
When I started towing our CRV, I thought of that possibility. I made it a habit to open the car door and put the shifter stick back into Park before I started disconnecting. There was always enough slop in the transmission to allow for wiggling the steering wheel and letting the car move a smidgen.
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I do the same. Depending on what we are towing. The Explorer goes into park the Scion goes into first gear.
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