Community Forums

VAParrothead · 03-08-2014, 09:18 AM

I'm getting ready to install a tow bar, braking system, etc. on my 31-foot Class C motor home and will soon be towing a Honda CR-V when we travel. My question: There was a learning curve, albeit short, in learning how to maneuver an RV (vs. a car). What can I expect when towing a TOAD? Anything I should know before I get out on the road? Or does the TOAD just follow the RV without presenting many significant issues?

nforus · 03-08-2014, 09:21 AM

Go a little wider on turns

Watch TOAD via side mirrors in tight campgrounds

Try to avoid backing up

richs050 · 03-08-2014, 09:24 AM

Watch all of the videos online called Drivers Confidence Course they teach you a lot of info and tricks.
go here Drivers Confidence - betterRVing! Experience better RVing.

Hope it helps
Richard

greystroke · 03-08-2014, 10:09 AM

Ditto on watching in mirrors.

Another caution from my experience. Watch your front toad tires preferably with a pressure monitoring system. Losing 1 front toad tire may cause the second to drag and ruin. It happened to me. It also can do significant damage to the front end systems. Pressure monitoring system is cheaper than this happening once.

GaryKD · 03-08-2014, 10:30 AM

Hi VAParrothead,

The toad will follow the coach without significant problems or differences. In addition to what has been posted, some things to consider are:

1. with the toad steer wheels straight, tie a bright colored shop cloth (I use yellow) to the top of the steering wheel. This will tell you (looking in the rear view camera) if the steer wheels are straight.

2. acceleration of the coach will be slower

3. hill climbing will be slower

4. depending on the distance from the drive axle to the receiver, the toad may cut a turn tighter than the drive axle. You'll need to understand this for your coach. It is different for each coach.

5. Check that the toad brake and turn signals are working at every hitching and overnight stay.

6. Lock the toad doors.

7. Get a routine (mine is a written checklist) for hitching up and unhitching the toad. If you forget something it could be a costly mistake.

bronk · 03-08-2014, 10:33 AM

I find that if I have to back up more than a couple of feet (gas pump filler, etc.), then lock the front steering wheel (making sure the front wheels of the toad are straight)to allow a few more feet of reverse movement.

Bronk

Bigd9 · 03-08-2014, 10:54 AM

Check the toad connections at every stop just before you leave. At a rest area once someone thought it would be funny to remove the "keepers" from the tow pins. We lost one pin the tow bar arm dropped onto the pavement and saw the toad wandering wildly left and right. Luckily I had spare pins and minor damage to the toad.

I lock mine now.

MSHappyCampers · 03-08-2014, 11:00 AM

What everybody else said!

lanerd · 03-08-2014, 11:52 AM

I've had two different coaches, one a 36' and the other a 42'. With both I had a 1' hitch extension (putting the toad back one foot) and have pulled three different toads (one small pickup, one large pickup and the current mid-size SUV). With both coaches and all three toads, I found that during a hard turn, the toad will track inside of the coach regardless of the severity of the turn.

Due to that, I've never worried about the toad "cutting the corner" and that it will go anywhere the coach will go.

On that note, be aware that if you turn a slow, sharp turn, say to the right, due to the tail swing of the coach, the toad will initially turn to the left. It has never made a difference with me, but it does get my attention.

Ron