Thor Forums

[Chance]

Tow bar will see much higher front-to-back forces during normal driving than it takes to roll a motorhome on fairly level pavement or concrete. That shouldn’t be an issue. When motorhome pulls toad up a 10% grade, tow bar tension loads are much higher than rolling resistance of MH at gas pump. Likewise, compression load backing up is no worse than during heavy braking without toad brakes. In any case tow bar must be designed for these loads which could exceed +/- 2,000 pounds, far more than what it takes to push or pull a MH on level hard surface.

The real “load/stress” issue is when toad front wheels want to go in one direction and motorhome hitch in another. These lateral forces should be very similar whether motorhome pushes toad back, or toad pulls motorhome backwards. I see it as a distinction without a (significant) difference.

For what it’s worth, I once saw a large motorhome push backwards a large toad while dragging front wheels turned all the way in opposite direction. Not too bright but he then pulled forward and left campground.

And as I mentioned a while back in a different thread, when I was young I often backed my flat-towed dune buggy just like it was a trailer. The front end was so light that it didn’t hurt anything to let front tires skid across pavement.

To be clear, I wouldn’t back up a car at all, particularly a front wheel drive car or SUV.