Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Topic: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards (Read 693 times) previous topic - next topic

Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

October 21, 2017, 09:10:08 pm

Getting rigged up to pull a toad 4 down. I've heard that the front will get beat with rocks and debris from the coach. Looking at these 2 guards, looking for info on which one works better and/or if it is really necessary ... gonna be protecting the front of a 2015 Jeep Wrangler.

Thanks
Keith

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #1 – October 21, 2017, 09:30:41 pm

The mud flap will kick up small gravel. Our 98 Wrangler got plenty of rocks on it mostly windshield hits. We have a 2014 Cherokee now. I am looking at the horizontal one as being more effective. When if gets worn out replacing the screen seems easier.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #2 – October 21, 2017, 09:55:55 pm

We use the the Protect-A-Tow. We've been using it for 4 years now with great success.
John M.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgxqespexqg

Protect-a-Tow

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #3 – October 21, 2017, 10:56:34 pm

I use a wholemade protect a tow. I copied the planes from a forum member who posted all the materials needed to make it.
For the life of me I can't remember his name right now. I think it is Rick something! It works great when I used it for the 06 Acura but haven't made the mods for the 2016 Colorado we tow now.
Rick did make the post and it was 6 years ago and Michell posted the material list.
If I knew how to post his post, I would.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #4 – October 21, 2017, 11:16:42 pm

I use the vertical Roadmaster Guardian Rock Guard. It is easy to take on and off, I store when not used on the rear of the FT with Roadmaster's bracket. I believe their horizontal Defender will do a better job as it protects against more matter flying up to hit the paint and windshield. I will be looking at adding the Defender in the future to the Guardian. Roadmaster Inc. - Tow Bars, Braking Systems & RV Accessories

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #5 – October 22, 2017, 12:27:08 am

DW & I made a horizontal one utilizing the "petproof" screen fabric from the Big box hardware store and 1/4" diameter bungee cord.
Works great, keeps rocks off towed, and folds up nicely when not in use. The bungee cord stretches when going around corners and slides in the pockets the DW sewed along the sides. The corners are open so we can fasten the stone guard between the coach & car. 2-5 minutes to put on and less to remove.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #6 – October 22, 2017, 12:28:46 am

Those look good but my owners manual states not to block the flow of air to the front of the grill. Causes overheating and will void the warranty.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #7 – October 22, 2017, 12:32:36 am

For clarification you do mean the vertical stone guard mounted on the towed, correct?

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #8 – October 22, 2017, 06:31:06 pm

We use Protect-A-Tow also and have been using one for 8 years. Ours eventually (~3 years) get holes in them when the bottom of the tow bar drags on dips, but we have had a replacement made at an upholstery shop for ~$75 (we supplied the bungee cord.) The spreader bar that supports the middle is just plastic electrical conduit with clip ends and a bungee cord in the middle. Never had any stone chipping on the toad.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #9 – October 22, 2017, 06:47:36 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – October 22, 2017, 12:27:08 am

DW & I made a horizontal one utilizing the "petproof" screen fabric from the Big box hardware store and 1/4" diameter bungee cord.
Works great, keeps rocks off towed, and folds up nicely when not in use. The bungee cord stretches when going around corners and slides in the pockets the DW sewed along the sides. The corners are open so we can fasten the stone guard between the coach & car. 2-5 minutes to put on and less to remove.

Would love to see some detailed photos of that. Sure would help visualize it

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #10 – October 22, 2017, 07:35:01 pm

D-I-Y Protect-a-Tow, courtesy of @Rick

What did you do to your coach today. Tow skirt

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #11 – October 22, 2017, 08:54:50 pm

Weather permitting I will get ours out and take pictures. First one end on coach and then the other end on our Vue. I don't want to take the coach off the ramps & jacks yet. And the back end is too close to the fence to get the Vue behind the coach. So---

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #12 – October 22, 2017, 09:30:13 pm

Nite hawk, yes, that's exactly what I mean, the vertical one.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #13 – October 22, 2017, 10:38:48 pm

We made a vinyl windshield cover held in place with bungie cables to eliminate sand blasted windshield on our new auto.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #14 – October 23, 2017, 02:08:26 am

If you tow long enough without a shield you will get rock damage to lights and windshield. The windshield will also get sand blasted even if you don't get pits from rocks. Personal experience. I think the mud flap may even stir up sand or fine gravel that hits the toad. I bought a Coastline cover for the new toad. So far no pits or rock damage, but only have used it for about 6K miles. Takes about 5 minutes to put on and remove. There is a fuzzy side that contacts the car. You should keep it clean and not put it on a dirty vehicle as then it will damage the paint. The part that covers the windshield can be folded down for unhooking and hooking up the toad, Only a short slow speed drive is possible with the cover on. It cost about $400 a year ago.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #15 – October 23, 2017, 04:11:46 pm

Here are pictures of what the DW and I made to fit between our 1989 GV and our 2006 Saturn Vue. The Vue end attaches to the base plate bar and the coach end has eyebolts on the bottom edge of the bumper, except for the center one. That one holds the fabric above the Readybrake lever.
Takes less than a minute to remove. Bungee cord slides around the outside edge pockets.
Sorry I couldn't take pictures with the Vue attached but I wasn't willing to take the coach off the jacks and ramps and the Vue wouldn't fit between the back end of the coach and the fence. So I improvised using a "Camper Cart" I designed about 10 years ago.
The fabric is rated to stop a St Bernard from going thru so I think it will stop stones bouncing up and yet allow air flow. The guard is not stretched out fully, but just mounted to show the principle of the thing.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #16 – October 23, 2017, 04:58:39 pm

Like others we use the flexible mesh screen that stretches between the coach and towed. We used the RoadMaster TowDefender setup.

Love it. No nicks, chips, or cracks in towed paint or windshield. Wouldn't travel without one.

The only issue is that when it is mounted to the tow bar on the coach, it makes opening the coach's engine bay door more difficult.

Chris

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #17 – October 23, 2017, 11:45:01 pm

We use the @rick method. I also had the jeep sprayed with LineX. Front wheel fenders, 12" back on the hood, bumpers front and back and up to the trim line on the doors. It looks sharp and I've gotten a lot of complements. It is also EXTREMELY easy to clean. If I had it to do again, I'd just spray all the way up to the windows all the way around. Even with the @rick tow shield, I still get little rock chips on the sides of my doors all the way to the windows.

Rich

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #18 – October 29, 2017, 04:13:48 pm

After our Alaska Motorcade this summer towing our 2003 Honda Accord with a Roadmaster Guardian rock guard and generic windshield cover, most of the paint was blasted off the bottom 6 inches of the front bumper. The car had small rock chips on the hood, roof, trunk lid, and roadside below the windows. I touched up all of them with a repair kit. Bottom line-any toad is going to get chipped. That's why we left our normal toad-our Cadillac SRX at home and took the old car.

Re: Looking for Opinions on toad rock guards

Reply #19 – October 29, 2017, 05:24:39 pm

Brett,

Yep, noticed the same, low and blasting on my Carolla. And I did see a home-made or ready made skirt on the forum last week that looked as though it might attach low enough with bungee cords and eye hooks on the car to stop that problem. Always something better.
Jim

2002U320

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