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Old 03-28-2011, 09:11 AM   #1
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What 'process' do you follow in hooking up your toad?

1) park MH
2) pull up toad behind MH

...then what? how close do you get? I have a roadmaster sterling and i know what has to be done but how do you get close enough to MH ?

does everyone rely on two people or can this be done easily with just one person?
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Old 03-28-2011, 09:22 AM   #2
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Hi fkloster,
I'm not sure how long you have had your coach, but with time you will know how far back and sideways to back into a site. My positioning process is to do a walk around before backing into the site. Next is to back in and set the brake. I will then do a walk around to determine if I need to make any adjustments. Only after the coach is where I want it does the toad get moved onto the site.
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Old 03-28-2011, 09:26 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryKD View Post
Hi fkloster,
I'm not sure how long you have had your coach, but with time you will know how far back and sideways to back into a site. My positioning process is to do a walk around before backing into the site. Next is to back in and set the brake. I will then do a walk around to determine if I need to make any adjustments. Only after the coach is where I want it does the toad get moved onto the site.
Hmmm thanks for help Gary! What i mean is..... latching the tow bar onto jeep..... does it adjust enough or do I have to drive forward for it to latch?
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Old 03-28-2011, 09:46 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fkloster View Post
1) park MH
2) pull up toad behind MH

...then what? how close do you get? I have a roadmaster sterling and i know what has to be done but how do you get close enough to MH ?

does everyone rely on two people or can this be done easily with just one person?
I too have a Roadmaster Sterling. There's quite a bit of latitude in just where the Jeep must be positioned to hook up. I do it myself while DW is taking care of interior stuff.

After pulling up to the rear of the MH in the Jeep I get out and look to make sure that the tow bar arms will reach and that the Jeep is not too close. Then I set the Jeep hand-brake and go through the shift into neutral process. Following that I connect the tow bar arms to the Jeep fixture.

The Sterling and those of similar design will self adjust to the proper length as soon as you pull away. Don't forget to release the hand-brake.

DW walks along side the Jeep as the MH is initially moved to make sure the Jeep front wheels actually steer and that the steering wheel follows. After a thumbs up from DW I stop, she hops aboard, and we're off!

FWIW
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Old 03-28-2011, 10:04 AM   #5
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The best thing to do is figure out the steps need to hook up. The next step is to not allow anyone to distract you during that process. It's really easy to miss something when you're trying to hook up and talk to someone at the same time
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Old 03-28-2011, 10:42 AM   #6
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Hi fkloster,
My brain must have been on another planet when I made that post. My bad, sorry.

My process for hooking up the toad is:

1. Everyone knows not to talk to me when I'm connecting the toad.
2. The tow bar mechanical connections come first.
3. I then back the toad to fully extend the tow bar, until the arms latch into place.
4. Next is to put the toad in neutral. This process is printed and taped to the toad dash.
5. Next is the electrical connections for lights, supplemental brake, etc.
6. Next is to start the coach (wife does this) and check turn signal and brake lights. The wife also checks for the correct lights on the supplemental brake console.
7. I tie a yellow shop rag to the top of the toad steering wheel. I can see the rag in the rear view camera. This tells me the toad wheels are straight.
8. Lock the toad door with the button on the toad door, not the remote. Using the remote engages the security system. The motion of the toad will set off the security system during travel. Locking the toad doors with the button on the driver's door just locks the doors, no security system.

I hope this makes up for my earlier post.
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Old 03-28-2011, 10:45 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryKD View Post
Hi fkloster,
My brain must have been on another planet when I made that post. My bad, sorry.

My process for hooking up the toad is:

1. Everyone knows not to talk to me when I'm connecting the toad.
2. The tow bar mechanical connections come first.
3. I then back the toad to fully extend the tow bar, until the arms latch into place.
4. Next is to put the toad in neutral. This process is printed and taped to the toad dash.
5. Next is the electrical connections for lights, supplemental brake, etc.
6. Next is to start the coach (wife does this) and check turn signal and brake lights. The wife also checks for the correct lights on the supplemental brake console.
7. I tie a yellow shop rag to the top of the toad steering wheel. I can see the rag in the rear view camera. This tells me the toad wheels are straight.
8. Lock the toad door with the button on the toad door, not the remote. Using the remote engages the security system. The motion of the toad will set off the security system during travel. Locking the toad doors with the button on the driver's door just locks the doors, no security system.

I hope this makes up for my earlier post.
Ok perfect. This is what i was after. Thanks! Do you have to disconnect the toad battery like Jeep says to do?
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Old 03-28-2011, 10:53 AM   #8
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I find that we do not exactly center the tow car so step 3 does not always work for us so between step 7 & 8 I or my wife will drive the motorhome while I or she watches the tow bar. We drive about four or more feet forward which seems to securly latch both sides of the tow bar.
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Old 03-28-2011, 11:15 AM   #9
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I use a Blue Ox Aladdin but I think the procedure should be about the same. Most of the time the wife drives the toad as I try to line the connection as close as possible. I hook up the tow bar to the toad and then have the wife back up slowly to lock one or both of the arms. She then goes thru the procedure for the toad while I complete the rest of the connections. After checking the lights, I turn on the camera and then move slowly and watch for the other arm to lock.

I have hooked it up by myself but it takes a little trial and error to get the tow car in the right spot to start the process of hooking it all up.
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Old 03-28-2011, 02:20 PM   #10
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Hi fkloster,
I pull no fuses. My 4 down toad is an 05 GMC ENVOY. There is no steering wheel lock and the USGEAR Braking System charges the ENVOY battery while driving. When towing there is no key in the ignition switch of the ENVOY and the switch is in the off position.
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Old 03-28-2011, 09:01 PM   #11
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This just came to mind and I'm going to do it the next time I position the TOAD.

How to get to a spot where you can hook the bars:

For the first time, with the arms of the bars UP in the air, position the TOAD the right distance. This will take a few times to check the bars and reposition, but get it excatly where you want it. Now, from inside the TOAD, have DW or friend place the finger on the top of the bars and start to move the finger downward. When the finger get just to the edge of where you can see the hood of the TOAD and the finger yell for her to hold that position. Get out and spray paint the finger and the bars at the height she held her finger at. Now the next time you drive in you just have to watch the edge of the hood until the spray paint matches up and stop the TOAD. You should be in perfect position.

Be careful. If the DW's finger has the finger nail pointing out you are gong to be in more trouble than just spray painting the finger print side of the finger. You know you are going to be in trouble, but it's going to be fun doing it.

Edited: p.s., have a big piece of cardboard behind the bars to keep the paint off of the RV. I think I'll use a colored tape, like red or yellow.
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Old 03-28-2011, 11:55 PM   #12
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Here's my procedure: pull the toad up to the rear of the mh, centering it and getting close enough to hook things up. It doesn't take long to figure out about where you need to be. Then I put the car in N and turn off the engine. Get out and go to the front of the car. Align the Blue Ox bar with the connectors on the car - if the car is too far away I grab the connectors and pull it towards me; if it's too close I push it away. Connect the bar to the car and then push the car away so the arms lock. Then connect the safety cables and umbilical. Then go back to the driver's seat and connect the bungee cords to the steering wheel to prevent steering oscillation and I'm done. Never takes more than a minute or two!
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Old 03-29-2011, 01:50 PM   #13
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My DW helps by driving the Jeep up to where I position the bars, I'm guiding her to line the Jeep up. I then connect the tow bars to the base plate. Then I go into the Jeep, have her watch the tow bars and I slowly back the Jeep to get the Blue Ox bars to "lock". Once that is done I turn off the Jeep, shift the transfer case into neutral and then restart the Jeep. I shift the trans into reverse and rev to make sure the transfer case is in neutral. Then shut off the engine and put trans into Park and check the steering wheel to make sure it's unlocked. Then I complete the hook up with safety cables, electric and air umbilicals. This way I eliminate the need for a parking brake which I really don't want to forget and leave it on. I then put the Brakemaster in the Jeep. I start up the motorhome and have Lynda check the brake lights and turn signals and we are ready to roll.
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Old 03-29-2011, 03:36 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn View Post
Here's my procedure: pull the toad up to the rear of the mh, centering it and getting close enough to hook things up. It doesn't take long to figure out about where you need to be. Then I put the car in N and turn off the engine. Get out and go to the front of the car. Align the Blue Ox bar with the connectors on the car - if the car is too far away I grab the connectors and pull it towards me; if it's too close I push it away. Connect the bar to the car and then push the car away so the arms lock. Then connect the safety cables and umbilical. Then go back to the driver's seat and connect the bungee cords to the steering wheel to prevent steering oscillation and I'm done. Never takes more than a minute or two!
Alan, you're kidding, right? ....leaving it in Neutral and push/pull to hook up?

Without mentioning who (me) I know someone that disconnected the TOAD after towing, but before putting the transfer case in 2HI and Park...looked pretty funny trying to jump in and stop it from rolling backwards!!

That is even after I went to the trouble of printing and laminating a 2 sided checklist for TOAD hookup/unhook.
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