Tomorrow is my first day towing a toad: Any advice?

[Damion]

Originally Posted by phays

Sat through a towing seminar at FMCA and the instructor said to check to make sure your break-away switch is activated before your safety cables fully extend. That way the toad brakes will activate if the bar breaks.

To check, pull the toad up behind the coach, attach break-away switch cable and safety cables but don't connect the toad brackets. Back the toad slowly away from the coach and verify that the break-away switch is activated before the safety cables get tight. If not, shorten the cable on the and try again.

So you are saying you want to lock the toads brakes while your safety cables are still connected and attempt to break the cables and have a run away toad? This is the opposite of anything I've learned?

[SamBLust]

Turn late, turn a lot, don't back up.

[Chiefig]

make a check list. number one, take off the emergency brake... then do the other stuff.

[Bytesponge]

Originally Posted by mvglorioso59

Get the brakes hooked up. It costs a grand but everyone should do it. In an emergency stop you will need it.

Get a dolly with surge brakes. They work great and easy on the toad.

[zzotte]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Driver

Hi,

Tomorrow will be my 1st time towing a toad.
I have driven about 10,000 miles 2 years in a 35 ft and a 38ft class A for the last year.

Toad is a 2012 4 door Wrangler.

Coach has Tire tracker Tpms and have sensors for the toad and a repeater.

Drive home from the Ready Brute dealer is 70 miles mostly on interstate.

Any advice?

Thanks

Make sure you follow the instruction they gave you, you know check all connections, have the DW check all connections, drive the coach a little short S and have someone like the DW or DH watch the toad that the wheels are turning with the coach the rest everyone already covered, have fun

Zzotte

[jimandbetty]

The only thing I would add is to find out where your fuse box is for your TOAD (brake lights, turn signals, etc.). Then keep a few spares on hand. It took me quite awhile to find mine, and the fuses were the miniature ones which I didn't have on hand. Now I do. ☺

[Tobys96]

Get a tire monitor system. If a tire goes flat you won"t know until somebody comes up alongside you and is frantically pointing to the rear.

[ArkansasRomr]

Spend a bit more time time hitching up and you won’t have to worry that it’s back there.
Happy Trails!

[NRose]

Make sure the indicators, usually an arm popping up a bit show that the tow bar is locked in place. I get in and very slowly back the car up a little to make them lock in.

When you pull up to hook up make sure you are centered to the coach to make it easier. Also, make sure you are lined up straight when you stop and are going to unhook.

After many miles of towing we have still had times when a wrong turn puts us in a situation where we have to very quickly disconnect the toad in order to back the coach up and turn around. Don't panic.

Just set the flashers and brakes and get out and do it. It is a good idea to make sure you and your co-pilot both know your jobs if this does happen.

THen...let the rest of us know about that tunnel that really is not high enough for a motor home to go through.

Second, make sure you have good mud flap coverage inside the wheel wells to keep the rocks from getting past and leaving rock chips or broken windows.

[rj82much]

Yup - Never, ever, ever think you can back up! After about 1 foot, things bend & break!

[Colorado Jim]

everyone has given you good advice, but you did not mention it your original post that you had a braking system for your Jeep. You need one!! There are many out there, just do you research. Also remember to hook up a battery charge wire from the coach to that Jeep.

[botiemad]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Driver

Hi,

Tomorrow will be my 1st time towing a toad.
Any advice?

Thanks

I learned how to pull back into the driving lane after passing vehicles by watching the shadow cast by the toad. (only works when the sun is at your 6 or 9:00 position. After a few times doing this, you'll quickly learn how much of the passed vehicle you'll need to see in your mirror before it's safe to pull back into the travel lane. If there's no traffic, I wait until I'm a good distance ahead of the passed vehicle before pulling in. Less chance of rock chips on the vehicle you passed.

[*scooter*]

Everyone has such great advice..wow! From personal experience, if someone else is assisting with the hitch connections (any towed item), always-always check their work. And when your done with your connections, double check your work and if you have locking hitch pins, confirm they are ‘locked’. Don’t be in a hurry to hitch your toad and lastly never get complacent in your hitching routine.

[Unicorn Driver]

Thanks all,

I do appreciate the replies. I do have a TPMS for both coach and toad, also have spare fuses.