Hi, I’m from the UK and there are very few toads being used over here. Over the years the industry has been dominated by cars towing caravans, so there was never a need. But things are changing!
Our rig is very untypical because 1) our bus is unique and not commercially available and has a big rear overhang compared to most rigs 2) our toad is a 4x4 and I think is the only one of its type set up for flat towing in the country.
Anyway. . .
When we do sharp turns, left or right, sometimes the toad wheels turn the opposite lock and then as the manoeuvre continues we are then dragging the toad and its wheels don’t follow the tow vehicle.
I have done a good search of this forum and seen a number of people give the splendidly logical explanation that, with a large rear overhang, on a sharp turn, the back of the towing vehicle will initially swing the ‘wrong way’ before it follows the direction of the turn. The toad, therefore, thinks it is going one way before it is suddenly pulled the ‘right way’ but the wheels are pointing the wrong way. . . thus the problem.
While every set up is different I get the principal.
In an ideal world, the caster of the toad should get the wheels pointing back to where the pull direction is coming from, but in reality, if they have gone too far the ‘wrong’ way then it just can’t.
So. What I am asking of you far more experienced RVers, who experience this issue, is what do you do to compensate for this? I’d really love to hear your stories.
For clarity, I have heard;
- you can do a tight turn without this happening as long as you are already moving - the issue is mostly from a standing start.
- If it is a standing start, leave some distance to drive straight for some feet before you turn - plan ahead!
- put a marker on your steering wheel and view it in the rear camera to see how the steering wheel is moving.
- check the steering geometry and especially the caster settings
-
Any more ideas?
Cheers
Steve
Linear Mode
