|
09-25-2009, 11:38 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: North East Texas
Posts: 4,946
|
toad and front wheels the wrong way
We have been idle at a very nice location the last few weeks
i have watched countless rvs of all types come and go
our sites are a thick new gravel base of about 4" , some sites are packed down while others are still fresh.
twice now i have watched mh pull out with their toads, only to watch the front wheels skew the wrong the direction and dig trenches until the mh drivers stops.
one actually took off dragging the toad like this about 60 feet, then stopped, BACKED up followed by a loud pop and snap sound.
as mechanical type i am perplexed to this toad behavior. Is the driver turning to sharp at low speeds or is it the nature of the beast in gravel?
__________________
USN Retired, Life time member of the DAV.
Enjoying the 2008 Damon Tuscany 4056, #3998 no your eyes are fine, there are really 6 slides
2022 F150 King Ranch or 2012 Edge toads
|
|
|
|
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!
|
09-25-2009, 12:45 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 460
|
I think it is the "Nature of the Beast." The front end alignment is all that makes the front tires trail properly, something like on the Shopping Cart! Once they get sideways they will just keep going that way till they break something. The only safe way to exit that problem is to drive the Toad out on its own.
__________________
2005 Monaco Knight, 3 Slide, 38' PST, Cummins 330 ISC, 34,000 miles on this one!
VMSpc, PressurePro, BrakeSwitch, DeLorme SA2010
2005 Honda CRV, Blue Ox, SMI Brake, TomTom Go 720
|
|
|
09-25-2009, 01:01 PM
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
|
Agree with Flagelpater - the toad front wheels are free to turn on their own and the gravel (or soft sand) tends to rut and keep them in that track as the motorhome turns. If they aren't too far out they will track back when they hit a harder surface (the caster effect designed into the steering), but if they are far askew they will likely stay that way and get dragged sideways.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
|
|
|
11-15-2009, 09:13 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,152
|
Could be those dollies don't have the swivel plate. I have an old U-haul dolly with no plate and it tends to turn the front wheels when towing the Tracker backwards on soft materials.
Just need a rubber bungy cord on the steering wheel and go slow on very soft stuff.
|
|
|
11-15-2009, 09:39 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Monroe, Ga USA
Posts: 708
|
Like one has said, it's the nature of the beast. I can remember back in the 60's drag racing and pulling with Tow Bar, we had the same problem. Even the "expensive Tow Bars of today" are no different, just slide rod's which doesn't eliminate the gravel problems. This is why I use a good Dolly with a swivel plate, just hook and go, I don't have to look to see if it's behind me, as well there is no tire wear on the Toad, JMHO.
David G.
__________________
_____________________________________________
USAF 1959-1963/ JFK Innaguration parade 1961,
1997 Fleetwood Southwind 37Y, 460 ENGINE on FORD chassis, Power Platform with Tag Axle.
|
|
|
11-16-2009, 05:58 PM
|
#6
|
Moderator Emeritus
Jayco Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poinciana FL
Posts: 7,781
|
The problem can be exacerbated by a long overhang behind the rear axle. As you make a very hard right turn, as example, anything behind the rear axle is actually going 'left'. If it's a particularily sharp turn the toad's wheels will follow to the left and can get cranked quite aways over 'locking' in that direction, too far over to re-center. Proper caster setting can help, but 20' of overhang and a short wheel base toad...
__________________
Jay and Peggy Monroe
"Can't take it with you, not leaving any behind"
2024 Jayco White Hawk 26FK
2024 Ford Expedition
|
|
|
11-16-2009, 08:45 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: st.charles mo.
Posts: 1,482
|
Not enough caster in the front end. Thats why Demco tow dolleys have so much caster in them.
|
|
|
11-17-2009, 06:39 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northwestern Montana
Posts: 3,512
|
Not enough friction on the front wheels of the toad in soft gravel or loose dirt/sand for the caster to kick in. Don't have an answer, just have to watch U turns and sharp turns on soft surfaces while towing four down.
Dieselclacker
|
|
|
11-17-2009, 08:14 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
|
With the toad front wheels straight, I tie a bright orange shop cloth to the top of the toad's steering wheel. A quick look in the backup camera, after making any sharp turn, I can easily see the shop cloth come back around to the top. If it doesn't, I stop.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
|
|
|
11-17-2009, 08:30 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northwestern Montana
Posts: 3,512
|
Good idea Gary, don't know if my backup camera has enough resolution for that, I will give it a try my next time out. Thanks
Dieselclacker
|
|
|
11-17-2009, 10:09 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
|
There are a few things.. ONE: alignment.. Most folks do not understand alignment,, A properly aligned car if rolling down a hill that is flat, side to side, will go straight down the hill... if the hill is slanted to the right or left it will turn in the direction of DOWN.. If you tow this car the wheels will tend to point toward the tow vehicle (Forward or turning) and all is well.
If the car is improperly aligned (I think it's Castor, but please do not quote me on that as I have not checked the manual) then ... anything is possible
Page 2:
The instruction manual for my tow bar says to turn the wheels so they face FORWARD before towing.. .. Now I use an Axle lock, So normally I turn the wheels hard right to lock/unlock the axle.. and if I forget to put 'em back straight (Actually I point 'em a bit in the direction they will need to go when I take off,,,, if that is it's not straight) then.. Well.. You've seen what happens. So far I've not done that but one time and that was not my fault (I pointed them right.. Hitch broke)
__________________
Home is where I park it!
|
|
|
11-17-2009, 05:32 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
|
Hi Dieselclacker,
The shop towel should be about the size of a kitchen dish towel. Tie a single knot with the surplus towel hanging on each side of the knot. In the backup camera it looks like hound dog ears. The ears will flip and flop when making a turn. If they are long enough they will return to the dog ear position when going straight.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|