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08-25-2015, 08:22 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 150
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Rock guards for towing?
Do those of you that pull a TOAD feel there is an advantage to having a rock guard on your MH? We have heard pros and cons and also the suggestion that a bra on TOAD might be an alternative. Any experiences you can share are appreciated. Thanks.
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08-25-2015, 08:38 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 2,750
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I wish I had gone the bra route. I had no guard at all other than mud flaps, and my Subaru is suffering from a very bad case of road rash. All it takes is one trip through a construction zone with loose gravel.
I recommend the bra, inexpensive and you can remove it when not towing.
__________________
Burns & Diane
2005 Winnebago Aspect 26A/2012 Subaru Impreza toad
Illinois! - Where the politicians make the license plates......
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08-25-2015, 09:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,189
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I have a swinging across the back mud flap and a Blue OX rock guard that I modified the mounts to fit my Roadmaster Tow bar. As long as the sweeping mud flap does not hang to low that it picks up rocks or other debris, my toad gets by relative free of chips. Unlike others that have said they never get chips without the extra rock guard, I have had to replace my windshield when I did not have the guard, and the front of the toad has lasting paint chips from that time. However, it seems to me that the toad still gets quite dirty from the slush that comes from running in a rain and also from the diesel exhaust. I doubt there is any thing that can be done about that.I also doubt the bra method is as successful as one would hope for because of rubbing or debri caught between the Bra and the vehicle. My doubt comes from using winter covers and uncovering rubbed corners and other areas that was damaged because of the wind movement from the wind!
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Larry B, Luckiest Dreamer
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08-25-2015, 09:59 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,325
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The so called "rock guard" that is a full width flap can easily cause more damage than it prevents. Most totally remove it before heading out on an Alaska caravan where you encounter lots of gravel. We saw extensive damage caused by improperly installed guards on our caravan. If you have one, it MUST clear the ground by at least 6“ at normal ride height. Mine is 6-8" above the ground, and if it is ever damaged/bent/etc I will not pay a dime to replace it. Much more effective is the Blue Ox Kargard ...a vertical shield mounted on the tow bar right in front of the toad. I altered mine to angle apx 15 degrees toward the MH at the top to better deflect stones downward after it seemed to be deflecting stones into the back of the MH. I have seen others that the owner covered the hard surface in a soft rubber sheet to accomplish the same thing. Roadmaster makes a similar product out of a more flexible material. Perhaps the most effective shield is the "underskirt" type device that consists of a porous fabric that covers the entire area between the MH and the toad just below the tow bar. A rear exiting diesel exhaust can be the biggest problem with that system. It would have to be above the exhaust pipe.
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Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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08-25-2015, 11:29 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Palisade CO
Posts: 3,588
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I like the Blue Ox shield but it is pricey. I towed my Honda for about 75000 miles with a brush type guard installed. It also needs to be cut so it doesn't touch the ground - about 6 inches above the ground at the normal ride height as I recall.
Many people claim the brush type doesn't work well but mine did. There were a few paint chips in 75,000 miles but no windshield damage.
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Clay WA5NMR - Ex Snowbird - 1 year, Ex Full timer for 11 years - 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N Workhorse chassis. Honda Accord toad.
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08-25-2015, 12:44 PM
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#6
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,626
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We use the solid rubber UltraGuard flap with 4" clearance at the bottom, along with the Protect-A-Tow mesh shield between the MH and toad. We have never had any damage to the toad! I feel this combination gives you the very best protection possible!
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Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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08-25-2015, 01:13 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AFChap
The so called "rock guard" that is a full width flap can easily cause more damage than it prevents. Most totally remove it before heading out on an Alaska caravan where you encounter lots of gravel. We saw extensive damage caused by improperly installed guards on our caravan. If you have one, it MUST clear the ground by at least 6“ at normal ride height. Mine is 6-8" above the ground, and if it is ever damaged/bent/etc I will not pay a dime to replace it. Much more effective is the Blue Ox Kargard ...a vertical shield mounted on the tow bar right in front of the toad. I altered mine to angle apx 15 degrees toward the MH at the top to better deflect stones downward after it seemed to be deflecting stones into the back of the MH. I have seen others that the owner covered the hard surface in a soft rubber sheet to accomplish the same thing. Roadmaster makes a similar product out of a more flexible material. Perhaps the most effective shield is the "underskirt" type device that consists of a porous fabric that covers the entire area between the MH and the toad just below the tow bar. A rear exiting diesel exhaust can be the biggest problem with that system. It would have to be above the exhaust pipe.
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You are 100% correct on all accounts. My full width flap resides in Whitehorse, YK and I have no plan to replace it for the very reasons you stated. My toad stays a lot cleaner without it.
I do have a Blueox Karguard that served us well on our AK trip. I did try the fabric route but as you stated, it's a no no with a rear exhaust outlet.
The best and most effective protection is a good set of flaps behind the rear duals that are set to about four inches off the asphalt at running height.
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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08-25-2015, 02:00 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NE Oklahoma
Posts: 569
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis45
You are 100% correct on all accounts. My full width flap resides in Whitehorse, YK and I have no plan to replace it for the very reasons you stated. My toad stays a lot cleaner without it.
I do have a Blueox Karguard that served us well on our AK trip. I did try the fabric route but as you stated, it's a no no with a rear exhaust outlet.
The best and most effective protection is a good set of flaps behind the rear duals that are set to about four inches off the asphalt at running height.
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I am 100% in the dennis45 court. I am configured exactly as he is and I have no toad road rash.
Yes, my full width Newmar flap is hanging on my shop wall where it's going to stay!!
__________________
Rick and Lynda Smith
2020 JAYCO Eagle 30.5CKTS
2018 RAM 2500 4x4 Crew, 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel
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08-25-2015, 02:15 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,607
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We are presently in Alaska and this is our 6th trip up here since 2006. On all trips I have had a full width flap on the rear of the MH. If these are installed too low to the ground, they will definitely throw up lots of stones and debris and can damage your car, but if properly installed, they work great. We usually manage about 100 or more miles on gravel and dirt each trip and do not have damage to any toad we've pulled. We do use a bra on our toads made by Coast Linr RV and Offroad ( Coastline RV and Off Road - RV Products) and have had NO damage to the toad due to stones hitting the unit or dirt and grit damaging the paint under the cover. THe cover does have to be cleaned regularly but is the best insurance you can have.
We have bought 3 toad covers and 2 RV bra's from these folks. Three of the 5 were custom made by them while we waited as they did not have a pattern for our units. Give them a call.
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08-25-2015, 04:48 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigman1
We are presently in Alaska and this is our 6th trip up here since 2006. On all trips I have had a full width flap on the rear of the MH. If these are installed too low to the ground, they will definitely throw up lots of stones and debris and can damage your car, but if properly installed, they work great. We usually manage about 100 or more miles on gravel and dirt each trip and do not have damage to any toad we've pulled. We do use a bra on our toads made by Coast Linr RV and Offroad ( Coastline RV and Off Road - RV Products) and have had NO damage to the toad due to stones hitting the unit or dirt and grit damaging the paint under the cover. THe cover does have to be cleaned regularly but is the best insurance you can have.
We have bought 3 toad covers and 2 RV bra's from these folks. Three of the 5 were custom made by them while we waited as they did not have a pattern for our units. Give them a call.
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Love your Avitar......
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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08-25-2015, 05:08 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 150
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how long does it take to install the bra? Does it cover the windshield? Is a rock guard required with the bra?
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08-25-2015, 05:51 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BarbandBob
how long does it take to install the bra? Does it cover the windshield? Is a rock guard required with the bra?
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The bra sounds good but, I can tell you, we have a custom windshield cover that kept us from having a smashed windshield on our AK trip and our travel mates had a full front bra covering the front and windshield. Both of us have rub rash from these covers. Unless you are planning some rugged trip, I would forget the bra idea and just go for the Blueox Karguard (or equivalent Roadmaster Rock Guard) and a good set of rear flaps behind the duals. I have not used my windshield cover since AK.
I speak from experience. But, the choice is yours...
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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08-26-2015, 03:55 AM
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#13
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RV LIFE Support Team
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The problem we have read about the bra is that something(even little) gets under it and it wears through the paint. We ended up buying a Protect A Tow and are very happy.
__________________
Sue
2015 Winnebago Vista 36Y + Honda CRV
RV LIFE Support Team
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08-27-2015, 08:55 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 112
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Does having a clear bra on your Toad provide enough protection for a toad?
__________________
Ruddog
Winnebago Destination
Longmont Colorado
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