Mortorhome Dinghy towing problems

Only once for us.

Keep in mind when you're backing up and have another person steering the toad...IF/WHEN the steering wants to go, most likely you'll be enroute to the emergency room with a couple broken arms. I've seen the steering go as a guy was backing with a Wrangler in tow. He was backing slowly as he overshot his pull thru. The Wrangler's steering whipped to one side and there's no way anyone could have held it in place. His tow bar crumpled too. We saw a mobile tech out there later but never found out what damage was done to the coach/toad. Both front wheels went in different directions though...IMO, it's much easier to unhook the toad...Dennis

I have had to disconnect about four or five times in 10 years. I have found I can back up without disconnecting if I do not turn the wheel on the motorhome and keep it in the same position before backing up several feet.

Its happened to me a couple of times....no biggie - it takes me about 60 seconds to disconnect the toad.

in one place i got blocked in (virginia tech rv dump tank)....the wife jumped in the toad and steered it / kept it from jackknifing so i could back up 10 or 15 feet and get clear of the island enough to turn & pull out !

Once in five years. Wrong turn looking for the camp ground and had to make a K turn. Not easy to do where everything isn't in a level, straight line.

I've only had to unhook my toad one time. That was at a gas station with a very low roof over the pumps. Had to unhook and back up about ten feet.

Bill

Gamecock7483 wrote:
I am planning to purchase a first time Class A Motorhome. I have been told that you cannot back up while flat towing a vehicle. My concern is how often does this really become a problem? I assume if you get into a position you need to back you would have to unhitch. Any information appreciated. Thanks.

In the 8.5 yrs. that we have been RVing regularly, we've only had to unhook four times.

1) I accidentally turned down a dead-end road taking our coach in for service in Mississippi. The road was wide enough for cars turn around but not enough for our 60+ feet to 'u-it'.

2) Pulled into a parking lot to turn around near Hot Springs, AR, and then I saw that there was a low hanging telephone wire.

3) We were directed down a two lane road trying to find a RV park in Texas by the RV park clerk. They gave me the wrong directions so we had to unhook in a regular trailer park to get turned around.

4) We came up to a low bridge in Pennsylvania and the only way to turn around was to unhook.

So, in 77,000 miles of RVing, just 4 times.

MM.

In our 20 years of RV'ing we've only had to disconnect once.

I've often wondered how it would work if someone were in the towed vehicle to control steering while coach was backing up so as not to place the towed vehicle in a sharp bind.:h

Might need a 2 way radio for communication between driver of coach & driver in towed vehicle.

Just a thought...:@

Gamecock7483 wrote:
I am planning to purchase a first time Class A Motorhome. I have been told that you cannot back up while flat towing a vehicle. My concern is how often does this really become a problem? I assume if you get into a position you need to back you would have to unhitch. Any information appreciated. Thanks.

Gamecock,
I'm sure you realize the logistics and physical issues of having multiple pivot points while backing. Since you have no way of controlling the steering in the toad, it will do what it wants when you attempt to back up. And, when that happens, there's some serious binding on all those components back there. Some serious damage can result. Ultra-short distances, i.e. 1-2 feet, IF NECESSARY, are possible but, not advised.

As has been stated, good planning on approaching gas stations, parking lots, camp site approach, RV parking approach, and any other situation where there's a potential need for backing up could occur, is really a must. Good luck.
Scott

Many thanks for the info.

Not a big deal,, just takes Planning. Looking for gas stations big enough has been about my only problem, especially away from interstates. Their have been a few time that I go gas up in the morning before hooking up. Dont worry about it.