Backing up rig using toad

[RV Pirate]

Ottosails, thanks for the video. Pretty interesting and might be a solution for backing up a little. [emoji109]

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Ottosails

Check this out - Roadmaster claims to have a steering stabilizer for the towed vehicle that will allow backing up... (Exact Center Steering Stabilizer)

I have no experience with it but it sure looks like it works in the video.

Go to 1:08 where they back up a Jeep wrangler around a corner.

Originally Posted by Roadmaster

Makes careful, limited backing possible with some towed vehicles

That statement is already true. All this does is help the reverse caster problem; it does not eliminate tire scrubbing or lateral forces when backing not in a straight line and likely increases tire scrubbing and wear in normal forward motion towing by limiting the front tire's natural ability to track behind the towing vehicle around corners.

Nomadic Fanatic does the same thing with a bungee cord on the steering wheel of his Smart Car.

[Jimbo56]

My reason for using a trailer

[Nethers]

[there no way the equipment is designed to handle pulling the weight of a motor home, I doubt the tow rating of your toad is anywhere near enough to pull the MH either (unless your toad is a 3500 diesel)
I have released the pins on the arm (to allow them to go smaller) and pushed my toad back, 6ft or so, a couple of times without any problem. Although it does say do not reverse with the arm connected, I thought that may be because of the pins though.





QUOTE=RV Pirate;345808]Has anyone ever tried this? Might make life a lot easier at the gas pumps if you could use the toad to back up 15 or 20 feet..

Yeah , yeah I know, plan your stops. We all know that feces occurs and it's nice to have a "B plan".

Just wondering what y'all think [emoji848]

Thanks[emoji3517][/QUOTE]

[Logcabiny]

If I ever run into the situation of needing to back up with toad attached; now that I have read this thread; I will know exactly what I will do without hesitation - Disconnect, move, reconnect. EasyPeasy

[ducksface]

I'll fire up the towed and move the rv back a few feet on flat-ish ground.
Because I'm able to. I'm able to do it maybe with just five wraps of duct tape let alone the attached tow bar.

I'm really not thinking the towed will gvw explode if it towed an RV backwards...the rv two bigger than average guys could push as far.
We're speaking of gas station stalls and rv parks not Lomabard Street.

Tell me how three average age guys of average size and average ability couldn't move the average Thor rv six feet on an average gas station pad.


Some here are WAY over/underthinking this situation.

Some here need to stop needlessly scaring folks about this.
If towing NEEDS done, it can BE done.
There is no way to counter.

[GTM41261]

Here's a thought. Need more power going up hill fire up the TOAD to give that extra push

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by GTM41261

Here's a thought. Need more power going up hill fire up the TOAD to give that extra push

Some of us boat guys do this all the time on a slippery ramp.
Other boat guys sit there spinning.
400hp boat with the prop in the water, stupid dually truck or Chrysler Pacifica spinning 85psi tires..and they're stymied.
So yez, I've pushed with a tow bar/trailer tongue many times. I'll say 50ish times.

My checking the frame mounts on my towed to see if I think it could handle such with regard to the crumple zone would be the determinator on a towed.
I'm sure not going to not consider such if the circumstance calls for the possibility.

[GTM41261]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Some of us boat guys do this all the time on a slippery ramp.
Other boat guys sit there spinning.
400hp boat with the prop in the water, stupid dually truck spinning 85psi tires..and they're stymied.

Yup do that all the time

[Vernongrandolph]

If you don't have surge brakes backing up a few feet it's not a problem
I tow a 2019 dodge caravan and have had no problems. However I used to drive double bottom dump trucks years ago, so I'm sure that helps.

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by Vernongrandolph

If you don't have surge brakes backing up a few feet it's not a problem
I tow a 2019 dodge caravan and have had no problems. However I used to drive double bottom dump trucks years ago, so I'm sure that helps.

Skill is king.
But
Skills are acquired.
Some people just won't.

Yesterday I followed a guy in a personal, nonrented motor home as he proudly did 48mph in a 65 zone one lane each way az64(the road from williams to the Grand Canyon)for 9 miles before I turned off.

Same guy would purposefully take out a gas pump before he'd back up. You can bet on it.

It might be ok to not try something you can't do.
But some think others are just as incapable as they and insist on trying at negating our ability by using odd logics.

[Vernongrandolph]

You are totally correct
Some people just can't figure it out but are sure they have

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Vernongrandolph

If you don't have surge brakes backing up a few feet it's not a problem
I tow a 2019 dodge caravan and have had no problems. However I used to drive double bottom dump trucks years ago, so I'm sure that helps.

On a dolly I assume? This discussion is about flat towing and backing up. Dolly towing/backing is a different dynamic.

[71_340]

I have been in a pinch before. My solution was to disconnect the toad, move the RV and then reconnect. I used a Blue Ox tow bar and the instructions clearly stated not to back up to prevent damage to the tow bar. Maybe it was unnecessary, but I surely didn't want to spend a Grand on another tow bar.

[Landyacht]

I've had the best luck backing a toad by backing it like a trailer. My wife holds the toad steering wheel so the tires are pointed straight ahead & the motorhome will slide the front of the toad out of a parking space without a problem.

[Chateau_Nomad]

There's an old saying that goes something like "Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD".

Knowledge of engineering principles...
Experience with mechanical devices...
Knowing how to pick up dog poop without getting it on your hands...

The world is chock full of "differently skilled" folks...

I'll just call it "Do you feel lucky today?"