Dingy Suspension Problem

[Gadget Man]

Wondering if anybody knows the answer to this question: can towing a vehicle behind a motorhome eventually wear out or damage the dingy’s front suspension?

I tow a 2007 Toyota Tacoma with 77k miles on the odometer. The truck doesn’t handle well anymore. The front end seems to drift and wander at highway speeds. I’ve replaced all four shocks, aligned the front end and had the truck inspected by two reputable mechanics. Neither one can find anything wrong with the suspension. The last mechanic suggested I swap my Michelin street tread tires for a set of BF Goodrich all terrains, but I hate to keep throwing good money after bad.

Anyone else experience this with their dingy?

[Waiter21]

can towing a vehicle behind a motorhome eventually wear out or damage the dingy’s front suspension?

I'd say it contributes to the wear and tear. Tires, bearings, shocks, etc don't know if the vehicle is being towed or under its own power. In my maintenance log for my Saturn Vue, I make entries for miles towed

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by Gadget Man

Wondering if anybody knows the answer to this question: can towing a vehicle behind a motorhome eventually wear out or damage the dingy’s front suspension?

I tow a 2007 Toyota Tacoma with 77k miles on the odometer. The truck doesn’t handle well anymore. The front end seems to drift and wander at highway speeds. I’ve replaced all four shocks, aligned the front end and had the truck inspected by two reputable mechanics. Neither one can find anything wrong with the suspension. The last mechanic suggested I swap my Michelin street tread tires for a set of BF Goodrich all terrains, but I hate to keep throwing good money after bad.

Anyone else experience this with their dingy?

Gadget man,
As has been stated, ANY VEHICLE that travels down a road, or a thousand roads for that matter, whether being driven or towed, is gonna wear certain parts, it's a given. But, there will be considerably less wear on most of the front end geometry parts when towing as opposed to driving it do the fact that you are "working" that front end, when driving it. But, when towing it, it simply follows where it's been pulled with almost no stress on those parts.

While you may have taken your Toyota to "reputable" mechanics, if they weren't TOYOTA specific techs, they might not know some of the quirks about specific vehicles. This is not to say they're not good, not at all. I'm saying that if a Toyota front end tech, looks at your truck and gives it the dominos - dominos (the cross-sign) that it's in prime shape, then there's nothing else to do to it.

We've been towing different vehicles (9 different Jeeps, a Honda CRV, and an '11 GMC Sierra 4x4 extended Cab) for well over 35+ years and don't recall any front end ever wearing out due to towing.
Scott

[MSHappyCampers]

I'm just guessing, but I would think the wear on the toad would be about the same, whether being towed or running under it's own power. JMHO

[Gary RVRoamer]

As long as the toad is towing straight and true, the only effect would be the extra miles on the suspension parts, tires and brakes. If the front end wobbles a bit or is otherwise not following inline, then "maybe".