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12-05-2019, 09:21 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Tibuton 24RW
State: Missouri
Posts: 26
THOR #14227
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flat towing
Long time bumper pull and 5-W camping, but new to motor coach and flat towing. Question...how much can I back up when towing if necessary? NOT at all, 3 or 4 feet...? Thanks in advance.
JG
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12-05-2019, 09:28 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozark Traveler
Long time bumper pull and 5-W camping, but new to motor coach and flat towing. Question...how much can I back up when towing if necessary? NOT at all, 3 or 4 feet...? Thanks in advance.
JG
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General rule of thumb is not at all unless you have money to burn replacing damaged tow equipment.
Others will tell you different, but bottom line, you can do whatever your wallet can afford.
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Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
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12-05-2019, 09:44 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,129
THOR #7035
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If in a straight line? 3 to 4 feet at the most not touching the steering wheel. Otherwise, see thew post above.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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12-05-2019, 11:50 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
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My advice is don’t try. I overshot a gas pump once and backed up about a foot but that’s about it. It takes some effort to avoid back up situations. Choose big truck stops on interstate highways for gas and be especially careful when stopping for meals to avoid tight parking lots. Easy though to unhook and re connect as needed.
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12-06-2019, 12:46 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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I've backed up plenty of times when needed, at least 10-20 ft or more, if the wheels stay aligned. If you are trying to back up with anything other than straight, it could quickly jack-knife the vehicle. If you try to back up while the toad's wheels are already anything other than already straight, the vehicle will begin to make that turn as you are backing.
You tow equipment is not at risk, you are not backing up at 65mph, but at 1 1/2 mph, and your toad is in neutral.
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the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
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12-06-2019, 12:50 AM
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#6
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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It's okay to back-up until JUST before metal and plastic start getting re-arranged.
In my case: that's about three inches!
Your mileage may vary...
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12-06-2019, 02:03 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 34J
State: Washington
Posts: 122
THOR #14595
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I tow a Chevrolet Equinox with a Demco Commander and don't seem to have any problems backing up a few feet when needed. What parts of the two set-up are people breaking? Have I just been whistling past the graveyard on this?
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12-06-2019, 07:17 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Tibuton 24RW
State: Missouri
Posts: 26
THOR #14227
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Thanks for the replies. I've always tried not to pull into a fuel stop that doesn't seem to have a way out without backing up. I try to google new fuel stops a day or so ahead of time. Thanks, JG
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12-11-2019, 07:06 PM
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#9
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 41
THOR #14304
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Ready to start towing 4 down for the first time, so I was interested in these comments. I have the Blue ox system (Ascent), so I asked the Blue ox folks. Their answer was never never never reverse at all. Highlighted in bold. Never. So, I'm pretty sure I'll be unhooking if I ever need to.
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12-11-2019, 07:16 PM
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#10
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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With a little bit of forethought: it's not a big deal...
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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12-14-2019, 08:09 PM
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#11
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: California
Posts: 96
THOR #5882
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If nothing is binding up and your toad isn't twisting at a horrible angle, just back up slow. If you are in a bind, try to straighten and have someone steer the toad to help you keep them on a line that can continue to move.
But yah if they get twisted up which they almost immediately tend to do when backing up flat towing, stop right away or something is going to go boom.
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12-14-2019, 08:17 PM
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#12
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Having a calm set of eyeballs that are watching the hitch connection, and has a direct line of communication to you: is always the best possible situation.
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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12-15-2019, 12:17 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Texas
Posts: 23
THOR #794
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The never, never, never is the correct answer in my book. I use Google maps to help me find gas stations that have good entrances and exits when I can.
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12-15-2019, 12:20 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
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So could you do it with DW in the toad holding the steering wheel straight?
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12-15-2019, 01:51 AM
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#15
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
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We did three things this year that make life a lot easier for me when it comes to towing. All three come together in one neat package.
1. Bought the Jeep Grand Cherokee so it can be flat towed and sold our Master Tow tow dolly.
2. Had the RoadMaster InvsiBrake installed in the Jeep as part of the tow package. I do not have to remove or setup a braking system whenever we tow. I can have the Jeep hooked up in under three minutes and disconnected in under 2.
3. Traded the Challenger in on the Accolade which is a Super C on a Freightliner chassis. Use the truck lanes for fueling and with 100 gallons I estimate fueling every other day.
Three individual actions that weren't planned to work together but come together in a nice cohesive package.
My wallet could not afford a stupid mistake like the damage done from backing a TOAD but it could afford the three changes we made this year.
Happy towing and I am in the never, never, never camp. I inadvertently, in a moment of stupidity, caused an issue with my tow dolly backing about one or two feet. When I heard the metal strain I knew I made a mistake. Luckily pulling forward and a couple of tight turns got the rotating table to re-seat on the dolly. Now you know the reason why I am in the never, never, never group.
But like I always say, you can do whatever your wallet can afford. Remember the red necks famous last words "Hold my beer, watch this".
Safe travels and happy towing.
__________________
Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
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12-15-2019, 04:28 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Washington
Posts: 1,112
THOR #6433
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It’s really not worth the possible cost of backing up. It’s sucks to unhook sometimes but I would rather lose 30 mins then some money. The best way to avoid the backing up is just experience you will learn what you can get into and what you can’t. You will develop new curse words when someone sneaks in and takes the gas pump at the end that you were waiting for. It’s just part of it
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2017 Freedom Elite 30fe 2013 Wrangler Unlimited toad.
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12-15-2019, 01:34 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: four winds 31W
State: Virginia
Posts: 21
THOR #9584
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Don't back up
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete'sMH
My advice is don’t try. I overshot a gas pump once and backed up about a foot but that’s about it. It takes some effort to avoid back up situations. Choose big truck stops on interstate highways for gas and be especially careful when stopping for meals to avoid tight parking lots. Easy though to unhook and re connect as needed.
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I couldn't agree more. No backing up. I recently got hung up at Pilot station and couldn't back up to get out of situation so just pulled forward, disconnected the TOAD, got gas, then reconnected. Not worth damage you can do to you rig.
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12-17-2019, 07:31 PM
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#18
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Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Newmar Ventana LE
State: Tennessee
Posts: 77
THOR #16834
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I am in the NEVER, NEVER, NEVER camp, but for one exception in which I was very, very, very careful. I was parked with the toad on a slight incline (front was uphill) near a fast food place on an access road near the interstate. Their parking lot did not look like it was "safe". I waited for the DW to come back with lunch. For some reason, I don't recall, I needed to back up a few feet. Aware of the physics involved, I just put the MH in neutral and let the toad roll straight back, as it was in neutral and the wheels were straight. Letting weight of the toad keep the tension on the towbar was the key here. It seemed as safe as having the toad disconnected and letting it roll back in neutral. I did not and have not and will not ever attempt a powered back up of the MH with the toad attached. I do not want to take a chance of damaging the towbar or the baseplate.
Two or three of times, we have had to disconnect the toad and maneuver and reconnect. Since then, if I am not planning to stop at a "truck stop" for the next fill up, I always use Google maps to check out the access in and out of the stations.
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12-17-2019, 07:48 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,129
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Goodbar
I am in the NEVER, NEVER, NEVER camp, but for one exception in which I was very, very, very careful. I was parked with the toad on a slight incline (front was uphill) near a fast food place on an access road near the interstate. Their parking lot did not look like it was "safe". I waited for the DW to come back with lunch. For some reason, I don't recall, I needed to back up a few feet. Aware of the physics involved, I just put the MH in neutral and let the toad roll straight back, as it was in neutral and the wheels were straight. Letting weight of the toad keep the tension on the towbar was the key here. It seemed as safe as having the toad disconnected and letting it roll back in neutral. I did not and have not and will not ever attempt a powered back up of the MH with the toad attached. I do not want to take a chance of damaging the towbar or the baseplate.
Two or three of times, we have had to disconnect the toad and maneuver and reconnect. Since then, if I am not planning to stop at a "truck stop" for the next fill up, I always use Google maps to check out the access in and out of the stations.
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It didn't occur to you that with both vehicles in neutral that gravity was pulling both vehicles backward and there may or may not have been any tension on the tow bar?
If tension on the tow bar was a requirement for straight tracking what would happen when the MH downshifted or applied brakes more strongly than the toad?
Tension or compression make not difference on the toad's steering while backing; it's how far out of a straight roll that matters and causes the caster to crank the toad's wheels against the roll.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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12-17-2019, 09:52 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
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Wold it work to ask DW to sit in the toad and hold the wheels straight? Could she do it? Or would the forces be so strong that she couldn’t without the power assist?
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