Community Forums

az bound · 01-21-2015, 07:34 AM

Used to do it with DW in the toad many years ago.
Had a brainstorm and decided to just use the steering lock on the toad to lock the steering in the straight position and back up. Works very well.

Old Scout · 01-21-2015, 07:51 AM

Interesting idea--my experience in 12 years and 150k miles of travel is that the most typical "backup" situation results from failure to judge minimum turning radius. In this case, the tow bar is under a significant bind, leaving few options but to "take your medicine" and un-hook the toad. As your experience grows, your judgement improves and the likelihood of a short turn diminishes.
I have rarely tried to back up the toad in a straight line but it is doable for a few feet--suspect adding a toad driver to the equation would increase the distance. I have also heard of using the toad to push a disabled coach off the hiway--dont think I'd try that, except as a last resort.
My greatest fear with tow bars and base plates is that you over stress one of the components or the toad frame during a "back-up" but the resulting stress crack[s] doesnt manifest itself until later.

RoamingGnome · 01-21-2015, 08:00 AM

Y'all have me itching to try to pull my 25klbs MH with my 148hp 2.7klbs dinghy for 50 feet or so but I have visions of needing to replace the clutch in the dinghy's manual transmission shortly afterwards.

MSHappyCampers · 01-21-2015, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elf111

The stress on the tow bar would not be the same your going from pulling a three or four thousand pound car to pulling a forty thousand pound motor home, probably more than the towbar is built for. I pull on a dolly but same deal you can't back up much a couple feet is about it before it starts to jackknife. It's not that big of a deal you just become more cautious of where you pull into knowing that you'll have to unhook if your not careful.

I agree. My ReadyBrute towbars are rated at 8000 lbs. I'm not sure what the weight would be on the towbars pulling a large MH backwards, but I don't think I would want to take a chance on it. Seems to me it would be a lot safer just to spend 5 minutes to unhook the car and back both of them up! JMHO!

BPoland · 01-21-2015, 08:47 AM

The only thing I would remind you guys is that I am talking about pulling a MH on level, hard paved ground, with the MH in neutral. I'm not trying to turn the MH into a dinghy, and I'm not trying to pull it up a hill. Maybe 15 - 25 feet.

It was just a thought. I definitely respect your opinions. That's why I posted the question. Sometimes I get myself in trouble, thinking outside the box.

Thanks again!

EricGT · 01-21-2015, 10:16 AM

I find this to be a very interesting conversation and can see what you are saying BPoland.
I have in the past pushed vehicles by hand to clean the tires by placing the gear in neutral and releasing the parking brake. To say I can tow 3500# would be a firm 'NO' but I could move it for several feet.
I too like the idea of having my wife in the dinghy and holding the steering wheel straight and have both of us back in a straight line.
I have yet to hook my tow kit up, but with a Readybrute I see unhooking two cables, two lugs, and the wire for the light kit. What would this take...30 seconds? It seems this would be no longer than slowly pulling a motorhome backwards?????

wa8yxm · 01-21-2015, 10:21 AM

I pulled the pins, Stowed the bars, Backed the towed, hiked back to the RV and baked it. Worked great.

BPoland · 01-21-2015, 10:47 AM

Again, I'm not trying to change anybody's mind. This thread was started to generate conversation.

My thought being that the strain on the tow bar probably wouldn't more than what is applied if the toad brakes are applied harder than the coach's brakes when in motion. The stresses would be the same as the toad trying to move the MH.

Level ground
paved area
NO turning involved
15 - 25 feet maximum
Aventa LX tow bar rated for 10,000 lbs

Ok, so I tend to look at things logically.

adonh · 01-21-2015, 11:03 AM

Give it a try and report back.

Solask · 01-21-2015, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adonh

Give it a try and report back.

Yea, that's the ticket!

vsheetz · 01-21-2015, 12:58 PM

I backed up just a few feet once with toad attached. Have the dented rear side panel to prove it. )-:

HicksRA · 01-21-2015, 01:37 PM

Guess I got lucky once. I overshot the turn in for an RV site once and backed straight up with the toad attached for about 5 feet with no problems.
But I agree, it's a bad idea.

UsualSuspect · 01-21-2015, 08:07 PM

I have not ever had to backup, so far I have been able to look at Google Maps and see the location and judge if I can fit or not. If I can't see it on a map, and I can't see it before I pull in, I don't.
I look at it this way, if the baseplate and towbar manufacturers all say not to do it, I will get out and disconnect it. I did read in a Jeep Wrangler manual not to do it, so I will follow what the engineers say, better safe than sorry.

camato5 · 01-22-2015, 05:38 AM

Alrighty then, I guess pulling my vehicle while it set 4 wheels on a car hauler trailer is not such a bad idea after all. I can back that thing a country mile or back into a parking lot spot.
Thanks for all the info I think I'll keep hauling it on the car hauler.