Leaving toad attached overnight

[kappy1168]

Anyone have an opinion on leaving my toad attached to the towbar on an overnight stop? It seems it shouldn't be a problem but we're new to towing and just like hearing others opinions/experience.

[cyberdude]

Originally Posted by kappy1168

Anyone have an opinion on leaving my toad attached to the towbar on an overnight stop? It seems it shouldn't be a problem but we're new to towing and just like hearing others opinions/experience.

We leave our 2013 CRV attached overnight with no problem. I do go through the shift sequence in the morning to circulate the tranny fluid prior to leaving just in good faith, it can't hurt.

[JamieGeek]

No issue; if you have to leave the ignition on to tow I'd turn it off overnight (put in park)--just don't forget that step prior to departing in the morning!

We tow on a dolly and leave everything setup overnight (even if we stop at a campground and have to level, but are leaving in the morning--car stays on dolly hitched up).

[TurnerFam]

no prob, your tow bar has plenty of play for any movement or settling or leveling that you do...just pull in, park, pull the coach brake, level, send out the slides and awning, and enjoy!

newly listed Palazzo 33.3 ! spread the word...

https://www.rvt.com/rvdetail.php?id=8180893&preview=1

[bandorr2000]

We pull in for just a night we leave our Equinox attached. I do run the car for at least 15 minutes, as we have the ignition switch in the ACC position while underway. Also run for about 15 minutes in the morning before getting underway.

[Gary A]

Originally Posted by cyberdude

We leave our 2013 CRV attached overnight with no problem. I do go through the shift sequence in the morning to circulate the tranny fluid prior to leaving just in good faith, it can't hurt.

Ditto with our 2006 CRV. However I unplug the power cord and stow it.

[gmc]

Not a problem at all... whether tow bar or dolly, I would only disconnect if I needed to.
I tow ignition off, battery disconnected - so nothing to do at night or in morning - just go... but definitely want to remember to 'redo' anything you 'undo' for the night.

Only issue I've heard was one a friend of mine encountered a few years back...

After one trip told us how they stopped in a (Walmart I think) parking lot for the night, and she couldn't sleep because this car was parked right up behind them all night.
Of course in morning - realized it was their own toad still connected!

(Pete knows exactly who I mean... )

Enjoy!

[Lt Keefer]

We leave our CR-V attached. Run motor for a few minutes, turn it off and lock it up.

[tenbear]

When we tow our car it uses a small amount of battery power when braking, and maybe at other times. I like to take it for a drive after a couple of days of towing. Never had a problem.

[schreinertms]

keep locks on the tow bar setup especially if you are at a boondocking site like a WalMart where folks come and go.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by schreinertms

keep locks on the tow bar setup especially if you are at a boondocking site like a WalMart where folks come and go.

I agree... How far could they get; if they're dragging you along for the joy ride?

[bruce1946]

We've left ours hooked up for overnights.

One thing i do in the morning is check that everything is as it should be. On another forum there was a topic with several posters telling of pins removed, power cords cut or missing etc.etc.

[scrubjaysnest]

We always leave ours hooked up over. Just lock the doors. Check everything over before pulling out the next day. Simple with a JK, no ignition, starting and gears to run through.

[Laco]

Like others, when we towed a lot, left it connected many times overnight. You just need to find a pull-in that is long enough and has utilities where you can get to them. As far as the toad battery, your motorhome should trickle charge while you are underway. In eleven years of a lot of towing, I never once had even a low battery on the toad.

[dianizon]

When travelling thru for overnite stay we always leave the car hooked on. No reason to detach if we aren't going to use it and ask for a pull thru you should have no problem.

[SuperD]

If you have to have ignition unlocked to tow be sure to turn it off when parked to prevent battery drain. If your key has a “chip” get an extra made without one, you can unlock the steering but the key can’t be used to start the vehicle.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by SuperD

If your key has a “chip” get an extra made without one, you can unlock the steering but the key can’t be used to start the vehicle.

That's a great idea! A "Dummy" key has all sorts of good uses...
We make them up for our Spyders all of the time...

[Jim Jacobs]

We regularly leave our towed (Scion xB, manual trans) overnight with no problems. However, we do remove the key so the accessories are not drawing current, and then in the morning, before leaving, we run the Scion for a few minutes (i.e. turn the engine on) to let it recharge the battery.