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Topic: Advice for towing - 1st time (Read 1480 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #25 –
Mark and Mary,  nice meeting you briefly last evening. Saw this morning FOT is hooking up your system so will try to catch you before you head out.

One other point I have not seen mentioned is I never turn off our back up camera. If changing lanes it gives me an "extra" mirror as our is wide angle.  Seems to catch a dead spot on occasion. Those "smart for 2" cars sure seem to sneak in on you. You will find towing very easy.  Lots of great suggestions here. And always someone in a hurry that after you pass a semi and leave enough room before moving over they will try to pass you on the right without signals or more than 2 feet of room....

Have fun....
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #26 –
I saw several posts here indicating that when towing a toad "DONT BACK UP".

I do not agree with this because I back up.
You must understand some things about backing up.
The front tires have a tendancy (especially on gravel or rough ground) to turn hard left or right and stay there (scweeeeling like a stuck pig). If that happens, pull ahead until they go straight and back up again.
The back of the toad is 50 or more feet from the coach driver, so use a spotter, particularly at night.
A sharp turn cannot be done while backing because wheels will turn sharp, however, it is possible to make shallow turns.
Before being forced to back up, go to a large empty parking lot and practice, I believe you will be amazed at how easy it is to do.

I meet a guy once who had a converted bus towing a Grand cherokee. He said "if I need to back up I just back up". I asked him if his front tires ever went full lock. His reply was "Oh, so, that is why a front tire pealed off the rim once.

Watch those front tires!

Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #27 –
Wyatt, I too back up with the towed/toad attached but I sure wouldn't recommend it someone just starting out. It takes lots of cool and concentration and feel that comes with experience and time. So although I have a high regard for your opinion I agree with you in principal but disagree with you on the timing on this one. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #28 –
Lots of good advise already given. Here is my $.02.

I like to hook up on a slight uphill. Once everything is connected Dori just let's the car roll back while I watch the lock-levers on the Roadmaster to be sure both arms click into place. You can also do this using reverse. Our Xterra is a manual transmission so it's easier using gravity than reverse.

We tie a white bandana to the top of the steering wheel instead of using a tennis ball. You can see it in the rear view camera and watch that it's moving when you make sharp corners. We always do a quick zig-zag back an forth with Dori walking next to the car watching that the steering wheel is following the zig-zags.

We always do a double check of each others work. Dori checks the connections on the Roadmaster and I check the parking brake is off, the bandanna is on the steering wheel, the key is in the ignition unlocked and that I can turn the steering wheel. We then do a turn signal, brake light and hazard signal check.

I to backup on occasion but I try to avoid it. I have Dori spot me and yes the front wheels will turn on ya especially in gravel so be careful!

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #29 –
Quote from: Steve & Michelle –
Don't forget, after you hook up and really any time you start out for the day without having unhooked, check the tail light operation on the toad...
Thanks Michelle - we have hand signaling procedures after years of trailer towing - not conventional but are now considering using the walki-talkies we have brought along.

Quote from: George Hatfield –
...
1.  We have locks (Master brand, I think) on all our pins just to make sure nothing comes undone either from vibration or from someone wanting the toad.
4.  I always check the Roadmaster (car side and coach side) over before using it and clean everything with CorrosionX...
George - I thought about locks last night and it turns out our roadmaster set came with 2 locks.  CorrosionX is my friend too and will use as directed.

For all those who advised of tire pressure monitoring - I purchased Tire Traker before I left home and will install tomorrow before we head out.

Thanks everyone again  - I need to pay the piper now and then take this for a test drive!
The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #30 –
The beauty of of all the advice is that your learning from others experience, once you screw up a few times, you will be an expert also, so laugh and join the crowd.  ;D

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #31 –
Here is a few things I do also. Before I hook up the toad I turn on the coach flashers so I can check the lights. I have also heard you can use one of those ladies hair clips on the steering wheel to see the movement on the camera. You know the ones that look like a claw.
 
Regards, Mark
The selected media item is not currently available.
Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #32 –
Mark, I think you will be shocked at how easy this all becomes after a few hours on the road. I'm sure everything will be fine.

We hope to meet you on the road one of these days. You noticed I didn't say "run into each other" on the road one of these days.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #33 –
I saw Mark & Mary when they came back to the parking lot after their test drive.  I can attest to the fact that their towed had all four tires and there was no apparent damage to it or the motor home.  Looks like they are at least as safe as the rest of us!!
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #34 –
He got so much advice that I'm surprised he didn't total the towed out on the test run.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #35 –
My Grandsons stock remark whenever I try to explain something to him is " Granpa, TMI", took my old Gray head a while to figure out that that was  " To Much Information".
Gary B

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #36 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
He got so much advice that I'm surprised he didn't total the towed out on the test run.

Kent and Gary - you are so right about all the info - my head was swimming in all this for the first few minutes but I finally calmed down enough to enjoy the ride.  Lucky for the others on the road that I started actually paying attention to driving instead of the towed! :P

As Carol reported we returned no worse for wear - thanks to all for all the great ideas and sage advice.
The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #37 –
Never stand between the coach and the car when the car is moving up to the coach!
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #38 –
OK, here goes. We tow an old 1996 Geo Tracker with 106,000 miles on it (got it cheap--to tow behind our gas powered class C) It weighs 1600#, is a five speed manual shift, two wheel drive. Our tow bar is an older Blue Ox, strong enough to pull a tank, with the old sliding lock collars. We don't care about the age of the Geo or the Tow bar as they work fine for what we bought them for and aren't worn out yet. (plus our stockbroker was dieing of cancer while the stock market tanked didn't help!!)

My concern here is some advice given to us yesterday from a neighbor who is/was in the tire business. He looked at our front tires and said we should rotate them before each 3,000 to 4,000 mile trip in order to reduce the flat spots created by having to back up and just because of towing. In other words, put them on the back. We have 5/32 tread left.

Anybody heard this before?? Concur??
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #39 –
Nitehawk,

Two issues here:

1.  DO you back up your coach with the toad back there? That is a big no-no with virtually all two bars and is a good way to scrub the toad's front tires and put huge loads on its front suspension.

2.  Yes, rotating tires frequently reduces uneven wear.  As to whether those current front tires are serviceable on the back-- your tire dealer would be a better judge of that.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #40 –
Nitehawk, To echo Brett....no no no no  on backing a toad, tow bars not made for that kind of stress.  As far as rotating tires, that's a good idea and can't hurt.  You might want to visit a good alignment shop and show them the height difference between the toad bumper and hitch ball, should be level but if off some the coach can be trying to pick up the front end of the toad causing tire wear.  Some of this can be corrected with alignment.  I had an old Acura that had to have the alignment adjusted as tires were wearing.
Good luck
Gary B

Re: Advice for towing - 1st time

Reply #41 –
No matter what the tire dealer says, that thumping from a flat spot would drive me nuts.  Can't stand that kind of constant thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump!!  We have a guy who goes by the stick house regularly, and I hear him coming from better than a quarter mile away and then hear him going.  Every day, day after day.  Ready to buy him a new set of tires.

And like Brett said - backing up is a big no-no.  I know, lots of people do it and claim it is perfectly safe, but it will catch up with you one day!  And then that Blue Ox will not be strong enough to pull you lawn tractor.  This is what Blue Ox engineering team leader says on the subject:

"Backing Up a Towed Vehicle
 
 By Mark Penlerick
 Engineering Team Leader
 Blue Ox Towing Products

Recently I read a letter to the editor in a magazine pertaining to how an RV couple back up their towed vehicle by having one person steer the towed vehicle while the other backs up the motorhome. I feel a word of caution is in order here. Last summer we tried backing up several towed vehicles with a motorhome. While the motorhome backed up, I was in the towed vehicle steering it. The front tires suddenly whipped off to one side and the steering wheel violently spun out of control. It happened so fast my arms crossed up and hit each other and I was lucky I didn't break my thumb or arm. I would not recommend anyone try to "steer" the towed vehicle while backing. We did however have limited success backing in a straight line using our tow bar. The problem is that inevitably all vehicles we tried had the same thing happen to the front tires all at different intervals. We also tried other manufacturers tow bars with the exact same result.

The reason this happens is not the tow bar but rather the caster angle in the front end of the towed vehicle. Caster is the forward tilt of the steering axis versus vertical. It provides steering stability, steering returnability and cornering ease. In reverse, the caster angle makes the wheels want to turn around the other direction like "casters" on your office chair or shopping cart. We all know they can't turn all the way around on a car, but they will turn off to the side as far as the steering mechanism will let them. This is virtually undetectable from the driver's seat in the motorhome making this a very scary situation. If you continue to back up, after the wheels have turned, the tires "scrub" or slide sideways causing damage to the tires. Other things caused by this are; severe stress to the steering components, suspension and towing system components.

Another good example of caster at work is a bicycle. Nearly everyone in their younger days has ridden a bike down the street without holding onto the handlebars, but how many have done it going backwards? None with any success I would expect as the front tire tries to turn around the other direction causing...well...a crash. To be on the safe side, heed the warnings; don't back up with any tow bar."
1994 U225
build #4514