Community Forums

Jake21 · 08-29-2018, 02:03 PM

BTW, I have the same tow bar as the OP. I was having an issue with one arm not locking easily. I washed the arms and whole tow bar with water/dish soap, dried it and applied a dry lube. WOW. Like a brand new bar.

Finance · 08-29-2018, 02:13 PM

We always back up the toad to lock the tow bar at full extension before putting the toad in neutral and installing the brake. It really matters not at all whether one or both are locked, you won't get ten feet ahead with the moho before the second arm extends and locks. No matter whether you do turns or just drive straight.

Spk64 · 08-29-2018, 02:33 PM

Definitely want the arms locked before moving forward and then applying brakes in the coach. The tow bar can be damaged as the toad will fully compress the bar and possibly shear\brake something. Have had this happen once when an arm did not lock. Drove across parking lot and hit brakes sheared a pin that limits the forward travel. With that said I think it was covered above on other pointers. Below is the procedure we use.
1. Connect Tow bar
2. Gently backup toad to lock arm(s) under power or pushing.
- My wife usually handles this part by backing up toad, but easy to do solo.
3. If one side does not lock turning wheel towards that arm will usually lock it as soon as you start moving forward with coach.

96 Wideglide · 08-29-2018, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finance

It really matters not at all whether one or both are locked, you won't get ten feet ahead with the moho before the second arm extends and locks. No matter whether you do turns or just drive straight.

Yep, I thought that as well, until one day pulling out of the tire shop, touched the brakes and the car stopped off center from the coach. Went down the next block zig zagging to get it to lock ..... didn't happen!
My Demco bar has a couple of small locking palls, that need to be taken apart and greased every couple of years, or they can get corroded in the open position

.

awol50 · 08-29-2018, 03:40 PM

I never did anything special. Just hook up and slowly drive away. One or both bars lock immediately and the other real quick with only a very slight turn at slow speed as you leave your site and out of the campground.

Jake21 · 08-29-2018, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awol50

I never did anything special. Just hook up and slowly drive away. One or both bars lock immediately and the other real quick with only a very slight turn at slow speed as you leave your site and out of the campground.

Me too until one day i looked back after about a 1/4 mile and the jeep was not towing directly behind. One bar did not lock.

awol50 · 08-29-2018, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake21

Me too until one day i looked back after about a 1/4 mile and the jeep was not towing directly behind. One bar did not lock.

I have a Roadmaster Sterling. I do things according to their operating instructions. Other tow bars may be different.

**NLOVNIT** · 08-29-2018, 07:08 PM

We're also in the camp of backing up the toad to lock the towbar. If one arm doesn't lock, I turn the toad steering wheel to the unlocked arm side & we pull out slowly until we hear the other arm snap into place. We also have the Roadmaster AT.

Lori-

Pigman1 · 08-29-2018, 07:31 PM

After all pins and wires are hooked up, backing the toad until at least one arm locks is a good idea. If both arms lock, you're in like Flynn. If only one locks, complete your tow preparations like accessories off, and trans/ trans case to neutral, then turn your steering wheel about a quarter turn toward the side of the tow bar that has not locked yet and leave it in that position. As the coach moves forward the toad will track toward the unlocked towbar side and immediately lock.