Mortorhome Dinghy towing problems

We are on the road about a hundred days a year and manage to get trapped on a dead end road about once a year. Simple to disconnect. Gas stations get the critical review as I approach and will pass it up if do not like the access/egress. By keeping a minimum of a quarter tank of gas, there is usually another station down the road.

LVJ58 wrote:
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

It doesn't, at least not the time we tried it. ;) I have put someone in the Jeep, fired it up, and used both vehicles power to get unstuck, that was exciting.

With our motorhome I only had to unhitch once, took a dead end road and couldn't quite make the u-turn. I agree with what a few people already said: planning your route and looking ahead keeps the "no backing up" rule from being a problem.

427435 wrote:
We've had to unhook once (Vail, CO) on a dead end street. I have also successfully backed up a few feet after overshooting a turn. Everything was in a straight line, and I watched the toads steering wheel very carefully with the rear view camera.


I've always wondered if you could use the toad to pull the MH back a ways (in a straight line). Don't know why that couldn't be done.

Well, I've got a story.....

We were in Tea, SD, at a local RV park and it had rained a day or two before. Our site was rather muddy and on a slight incline. Everything was fine until I went out the next morning to get ready for departure.

Our steps were 3 or 4 inches above the ground when we set up camp and now almost touching the ground the next morning. I thought, uh oh.. We continued with our 'wrap-up' with the coach for our morning departure. I checked the toad and everything was fine as we had a pull-through and I didn't have to disconnect.

I started the coach and started to pull forward, we rolled about 3 ft. and the drive wheels started to spin. I rolled back and tried 2 more times..... we were spinning in the mud.

I got the bright idea to start the Honda and have my co-pilot rev the engine so that the Honda would not be a paper-weight. Well, it worked, the Honda helped push our 40,000 lb. Monaco Dynasty out of the mud hole.

So, the dingy can come in REAL handy for more than one purpose!:)

Safe travels,
MM.

We've had to unhook once (Vail, CO) on a dead end street. I have also successfully backed up a few feet after overshooting a turn. Everything was in a straight line, and I watched the toads steering wheel very carefully with the rear view camera.


I've always wondered if you could use the toad to pull the MH back a ways (in a straight line). Don't know why that couldn't be done.

LVJ58 wrote:
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...:@

I haven't ever tried it, but I read somewhere on here of people who have done so successfully. I intend to give it a shot if the need ever arises. Be advised...it will be a short shot!

I have not yet had to unhook but twice I have pulled the coach back with the toad about 8-10 feet. Slow and easy and straight back was not a problem but would rather not have to do that.

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.

No you can't back them up, but then again you can, so do as I say and not as I do, as the saying goes. We've eased back for a short distance with everything perfectly straight and DW standing back there watching closely. There's seldom a need for it and we've only had to disconnect twice that I can remember, which usually isn't a big deal unless you're holding someone up and they're of the nervous type.

I would not attempt to back up. You could damage the tow bar. We have had to unhook less than 5 times in 8 years. Always make sure you have a way in and a way out of fuel stations and parking lots. Always make sure you double check the directions to campgrounds on their website and not rely on a GPS.

Unhooked two times in the last three years. Once at an RV lane at a flying j....didn't negotiate a turn soon enough.
Also on a side road turn in northern Florida after the GPS sent me the wrong way. Tight turn and a telephone pole on corner, way to close for me....

Hmmm, lots of internet pro's here...

I unhook at every campground where I don't have a pull through site.
My blue ox Alladin towbar will jam and be very hard to release if the toad is not nicely aligned with the motorhome.
If there is tension or expansion on it
(as in an up or downhill, forget it, it ain't gonna release (I've been known to jump on the release levers., doesn't always work)

Still, 4 down towing is the best and easiest. Just takes some planning.

Once, I took the wrong road into a Kentucky state park, took the beach road instead of the campground road. Then when I realized my mistake, and was in a terribly wide spot of road, I decided to do a U-turn in the motorhome (very bad idea)
When the u turn turned into a 3 point turn and I had to reverse with the toad things went from bad to worse.
We did eventually get the towbar unjammed and the jeep unhooked, and completed our 3 point turn.

And then we found out the road we were on did a loop by the beach and went back to the main road. If I'da just kept going it woulda all been fine.

No substitute for a really good GPS....