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 09-24-2021, 11:27 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 69
Smile Backing a toad while hitched

OK it's time to put this thing to rest. Can you back up a towed vehicle while it's connected to the motorhome????

The answer is YES. I do it all the time with no issues. HOW? simply lock the steering wheel in the straight position, or, use a bungy cord to keep the wheel from turning.

Now you have a single hinge not a double hinge. Back'er in anywhere you want now.

Don't forget to remove the bungy/unlock the steering when you take off.

Try it.....it's easy and works great.
Bobthegod 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 09-24-2021, 11:44 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Hpozzuoli's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 821
I don’t think people realize exactly what the issue is when doing this. You won’t cause any damage to the toad or drivetrain. In fact, the warnings pertain to the tow bar. Usually made from aluminum an inexperienced driver can bend them or snap them when trying to back up.
Hpozzuoli is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 12:19 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 59
https://www.blueox.com/can-you-back-up-with-a-tow-bar/

Blue Ox says “No”
__________________
Dave
2003 Country Coach 32’
JDaveB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 12:26 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
AlanTerry's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 759
Bobthegod please list your make/ model of your TOAD and the tow bar you use. So others will know they can use your advise.
__________________
Alan & Terry 2016 Bounder 34T
Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar, RVi brake 2system
2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid(Toad),WeBoost,Tire Minder TPMS. 1000 watts of Solar
AlanTerry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 12:43 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
kenandterry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Southern Ontario, Canada
Posts: 999
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthegod View Post
OK it's time to put this thing to rest. Can you back up a towed vehicle while it's connected to the motorhome????

The answer is YES. I do it all the time with no issues. HOW? simply lock the steering wheel in the straight position, or, use a bungy cord to keep the wheel from turning.

Now you have a single hinge not a double hinge. Back'er in anywhere you want now.

Don't forget to remove the bungy/unlock the steering when you take off.

Try it.....it's easy and works great.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

I don’t believe you’ll find any tow bar manufacturer that endorses or supports backing up.
__________________
kenandterry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD carried by a 2017 Ford E450
Bye 2010 Georgetown 330TS after 10 terrific years, as we downsize for the next phase.
kenandterry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 12:53 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,643
'Locking' the steering wheel helps keep toad front tires 'straight' when backing
Issue is front tires can still flip to one side or other IF backing is not done 'straight back'

WARNINGS are posted by the Tow BAR MFGs cause they are NOT going to repair/replace when damage ocurrs from backing up


Tow Truck drivers have been 'locking' steering wheels with straps/belts/rope etc for decades when having to tow a vehicle from the rear
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 12:56 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,389
I would like to see a video of someone actually doing this.
Backing straight up? Maybe. Backing and turning? I'm not so sure. That would put a tremendous amount of strain on the steering linkage of the towed vehicle.
Everything I have learned about the use of a tow bar tells me they aren't made to back up with.
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
LETMGROW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:01 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,389
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit View Post
'Locking' the steering wheel helps keep toad front tires 'straight' when backing
Issue is front tires can still flip to one side or other IF backing is not done 'straight back'

WARNINGS are posted by the Tow BAR MFGs cause they are NOT going to repair/replace when damage ocurrs from backing up


Tow Truck drivers have been 'locking' steering wheels with straps/belts/rope etc for decades when having to tow a vehicle from the rear
Yes but with the rear raised you have only one pivot point. By law (at least in my state) you can't tow a vehicle using only the lock provided by turning the ignition to off and relying on the steering wheel lock. We use special devices made for the job.
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
LETMGROW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:15 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
96 Wideglide's Avatar
 
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,723
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenandterry View Post
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

I don’t believe you’ll find any tow bar manufacturer that endorses or supports backing up.
Not true!

Right in the owners manual that came with my Demco Excallibar, it states the bar is rated for 'limited' backing !
__________________
Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
96 Wideglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:23 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Glenn and Kathy's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2000
Location: California Central Coast
Posts: 2,034
Bobthegod please post make and model of toad and tow bar and credit card number for those that try and fail.

Glenn
__________________
2006 Sea Breeze LX 8341 on a Workhorse W22 Chassis with 22.5 Alcoa Alum wheels,
2011 Chevy Colorado 4X4 with Ready Brake
Glenn and Kathy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:38 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,810
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobthegod View Post
OK it's time to put this thing to rest. Can you back up a towed vehicle while it's connected to the motorhome????

The answer is YES. I do it all the time with no issues. HOW? simply lock the steering wheel in the straight position, or, use a bungy cord to keep the wheel from turning.

Now you have a single hinge not a double hinge. Back'er in anywhere you want now.

Don't forget to remove the bungy/unlock the steering when you take off.

Try it.....it's easy and works great.
Can you? Yes. If you have the tow vehicle and the toad in a complete straight line, have the wheels locked so they can’t turn and you back completely straight backwards.

YOU CANNOT HOWEVER BACK AROUND A CORNER. You may be able to adjust just a little bit, but if your toad starts to angle off jus a little bit you cannot jus crank your wheels and correct (unless you toad axels are less than 1’ apart). You cannot back it up like you do a trailer.

For years we backed farm wagons into the shed by dropping a pin in the tongue so the front wheels couldn’t turn. But to make even the slightest adjustment you were basically skidding the front wheels to get it to move.

You are giving very bad advice as you make it sound so simple. Some guy will read this, lock his wheels and back his toad into the side o his coach and if he avoids that, he will twist his tow bar so bad it will break and kill someone.

The moderator should remove this post. It is not just bad advice, it’s dangerous.
__________________
2006 Winnebago Journey
39K
Cat C7
amosnandy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:55 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 303
https://youtu.be/lMiu37jAzB8?t=971
i posted this in the toad forum
jeanluc001 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:59 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 303
Quote:
Originally Posted by LETMGROW View Post
I would like to see a video of someone actually doing this.
Backing straight up? Maybe. Backing and turning? I'm not so sure. That would put a tremendous amount of strain on the steering linkage of the towed vehicle.
Everything I have learned about the use of a tow bar tells me they aren't made to back up with.
here you go
https://youtu.be/lMiu37jAzB8?t=971
jeanluc001 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 02:02 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,810
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeanluc001 View Post
https://youtu.be/lMiu37jAzB8?t=971
i posted this in the toad forum
Notice how on a 1800# smart car the front tiered Wes sliding all’s not how much pressure was on the side walls. The tire tread was just about rolled under.

I also connect 120 & 240 v wires live. I’ve been trained how to do it. But you should not.
__________________
2006 Winnebago Journey
39K
Cat C7
amosnandy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
hitch, toad



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
Leveling While Hitched Brenwol1 Travel Trailer Discussion 18 06-13-2019 12:45 PM
Acceptable "level" while hitched chaps2018 5th Wheel Discussion 13 11-18-2017 08:31 PM
Moving a tow dolly while not hitched? Afubar Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 8 09-27-2011 04:50 AM
Getting hitched, but broken wires found...? GoneFishin Monaco Owner's Forum 7 12-05-2007 04:46 PM
Getting Hitched Again GaryG Trailer Towing and Tow Vehicles Discussion 5 01-14-2005 05:20 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:16 PM.


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