Can you back up with a toad 4 down

Personal experience. First the lack of ability to back up when connected 4 down is not an issue 99% of the time. Learn to avoid fueling where the islands are perpendicular to the station or the end pump does not give access to a driveway around the back of the station. Best idea use RV friendly places like Flying J. Start looking for fuel at 1/2 tank, drive on the first half of your tank that will give you range to get to a better pump.

We have backed up the total rig maybe half a dozen times in 14 years. Mostly 1 to 6 feet with spotter. Once we backed the entire rig out of toll booth when the vehicle in front of us was unable to clear the barrier - don't even ask. Since DW is 1/2 time driver and she was at the wheel, I went back to tow'd and verified everything was very straight. I got in and started the engine to provide power steering, left tranny in neutral. Using phones to communicate, we backed a total of about 100 feet, until the front of the coach was clear to enter the adjacent lane. The coach was a '04 Southwind and the tow'd was a '05 RAV4. I state the vehicles because I have no idea how this would work in our current rig. With the phones we were prepared to stop immediately if there were a problem and try a different solution such as disconnecting the tow'd.

The biggest risks are bending the arms of the towbar or crushing the corner of the rig with the corner of the tow'd - or both! DO NOT plan on this maneuver when you enter a situation. AVOID it. But is can be done.

I have done it a few times, but one of those times I bent my hitch brackets so that I had to use a hammer to disconnect the hitch.

Dont do it!

slemnah wrote:
According to the tow bar manufacturer you should never back up with your toad connected. I had a Roadmaster employee tell me that it will bend the bars on the tow bar. Of course there are some poeple that will argue with that statement but this is coming right from the horses mouth.
Steve

years back someone quoted the horses mouth as saying that the towbar was engineered for its strength to apply in a forward motion so much for their comments. but do not back is of course the corporate CYA statement, when some dang fool slams it in reverse and wraps the toad around a gas pump, all they need to do to beat the suit is to quote the warning. sort of like don't tear the tag off your mattress.
bumpy

traveylin wrote:
SDcampowner has no problems backingup. Trouble is he is backing up a 5th wheel not a toad. Check his postings

He thinks a toad car is just the same as a four wheel trailer that has a steerable axle in the front like a wagon. Look at his original post, He thinks it's the same. He doesn't realize that in a toad car the tow bar does not turn the front wheels like the tow bar on a wagon.

Kidoo wrote:
But sometimes you have to back up? Don't you find it very unpleasant to be stuck with something you cannot back up unless you unhook?

I will check this out and think a lot before I take a decision on a toad.

Don't get yourself into a situation where you have to back up. In 12 years I've only got myself into that position three times. Tried backing it anyway only once and the wheels slammed to one side. The next two times I disconnected.

John&Joey wrote:

Sprink-Fitter wrote:

Cottontop wrote:
williamp321 has it correct

At least you understood what he typed, I didnt.

Now that's funny.

he said exactly what has been said, start the toad, put somebody in it to hold the tires straight.
bumpy

When we use to tow four down we routinely did it with a jeep grand cherokee short distances. Wheels need to be straight to start with. Watch the steering wheel. When it starts to turn stop backing. If you do have to put somebody in the toad to keep the wheel straight just start the engine in the toad. The power steering stops any "wrist breaking". Like anything else, common sense and practice.

According to the tow bar manufacturer you should never back up with your toad connected. I had a Roadmaster employee tell me that it will bend the bars on the tow bar. Of course there are some poeple that will argue with that statement but this is coming right from the horses mouth.
Steve

The answer in no, but I've done it, very, very slowly, using DW as a spotter and then not more than a few feet. If going straight back and having someone in control of the steering wheel, that's been mentioned, sounds like a good idea. One might be able to lock the steering wheel, as well, but again use a spotter and we're not talking any distance here.

As long as MH and Jeep are straight, I have backed up up to 10 feet at a pace slower than I walk.( In reverse, at idle, foot on brake) If anything is at an angle, won't even try it