Towing a MH

[Edensob]

Although I hope to NEVER need to be towed, you never know what may happen. So with that in mind, what needs to be prepared in a MH to get towed and what should the owner be looking out for to safely get their unit towed and not have further damage occur from an aggressive tow operator? Please share any experiences good or bad. This thread will go into my information binder for reference if needed. Thanks.

[Trkyte@msn.com]

Read your owners manual,
then make sure the operator follows it.

[The Gritz Carlton]

It's basically a small commercial truck chassis. Most big towing companies are well versed on the procedures. If it's a long tow, they will need to pull the real axles through the hubs. They use a wheel/frame "stinger" whereby the lift the front with the tires or the framing/suspension...not a typical "bumper tow". It's pricey but make sure they address the needs/requirements for the rear axles.

[Bob Denman]

I think I'd just call my Dealer, trade it in over the phone, and tell him where he can find it...

[EA37TS]

Depends on the motorhome. A small motorhome may be able to be towed with the removal of the drive shaft. Others might need to hauled away on a low boy trailer.

The thing you need to do is get together the measurements required and this will include, height, weight, width, distance from front axle to front bumper, distance from rear axle to rear bumper. Then as you're waiting for a tow truck to arrive make sure everything inside is secure and if you have a TOAD put anything of value in the TOAD to prevent pilferage from the tow company and driver.

[macdaddy1111]

Originally Posted by Edensob

Although I hope to NEVER need to be towed, you never know what may happen. So with that in mind, what needs to be prepared in a MH to get towed and what should the owner be looking out for to safely get their unit towed and not have further damage occur from an aggressive tow operator? Please share any experiences good or bad. This thread will go into my information binder for reference if needed. Thanks.

Been there done that! Fastest my rig ever when was behind a tow truck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILnrt1NUvzo

[Bill in Redlands]

Originally Posted by EA37TS

.small motorhome may be able to be towed with the removal of the drive shaft

Several years ago, with our previous motorhome - a Class C - my wife was stranded along Interstate 15 near the California-Nevada stateline. I met the tow truck in Barstow, got the motorhome running, with the help of the tow truck driver bolted up the driveshaft and drove it home. I pay extra for AAA motorhome coverage and it paid the tow bill, if I remember correctly.

At my age, memory is selective. Sometime, I get to select.

[Bob Denman]

They say that the memory is the second thing to go...

I've forgotten what the first one was!

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

It's basically a small commercial truck chassis. Most big towing companies are well versed on the procedures. If it's a long tow, they will need to pull the real axles through the hubs. They use a wheel/frame "stinger" whereby the lift the front with the tires or the framing/suspension...not a typical "bumper tow". It's pricey but make sure they address the needs/requirements for the rear axles.

I actually witnessed what happens if they don't. Going down I-40, headed east. Tow truck pulling a semi. He was in the slow lane and I was in the middle. Luckily, no one was beside me. I was slowly gaining on him when there was a loud BOOM and sure enough, the center hub came flying out into the middle lane.

I was able to swerve and miss only by the grace of God, there was no one to my left so I could use part of the third lane. It seemed quite large as I passed it. Had I hit it, it would have done significant damage to the underside.

[Sweetbriar]

For my one tow, F53 chassis, the operator pick the coach front end up at the forward leaf spring shackles and disconnected the drive shaft at the differential universal joint

If you do get towed take as many pictures of your rig as possible before, during and after just in case.

[Edensob]

This is exactly what I was wondering and not necessarily what the owners manual might say. Experience is the best teacher. Thanks for all the advice.