I just had the opportunity to suggest to a fellow RVer that he should make sure is telescopic arms be fully extend and locked before he departs.I learned the hard way, by wasting a couple of front tires on the toad, we run the risk of the departing toad front wheels turning full left or full right before it all settles down. At first I thought my toad tire wear problem was about tight turning while accessing service stations.

After I hook up I always turn left, then right, then left, then right again just to make sure. I can see the towbar lock in my rearview camera. If anyone was watching they would think I had too much to drink.

I always pull up and have DW watch and make sure they lock in place

I back up my Jeep to lock the tow bar then put it in neutral. That way I know it's locked and I can do it myself easily.

dkreuzen wrote:I back up my Jeep to lock the tow bar then put it in neutral. That way I know it's locked and I can do it myself easily.X2. The only difference is our Jeep goes in Park. It only takes a second. You're in the toad to set the shift lever and put the transfer case in neutral anyway.

dkreuzen wrote:I back up my Jeep to lock the tow bar then put it in neutral. That way I know it's locked and I can do it myself easily.I do the same thing but then when taking off in the MH I turn left and right a couple of times to make sure both sides are locked. Usually when I back the Jeep up only one side will lock unless I am perfectly straight.

Roadmaster Telescopic Tow Bar vs Toad Tires Gotcha

427435
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
I too back up my toad to lock the tow bar arms. I've learned that if the arms need to be extended differently, to turn my front wheels so they both lock at about the same time.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jan 15, 2014
I've never had a problem regardless of the hookup angle. For almost all vehicles the caster on the front tires will cause it to turn in the direction of travel. That is just like the front wheels on a shopping cart.
teddyu
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
mowermech wrote:
Just another reason why I like my fixed=arm towbar.
I never have to worry about the arms not locking properly.
Or unlocking, for that matter!
Simple is often rather nice.

X2
tropical36
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
stuckinthesand wrote:
Sometimes, when i'm in a tight spot hooking up, I set the Jeep parking break and pull fwd to get the arms to lock.

Easing the toad backwards will usually lock one or both bars as well and depending on how inline the two vehicles are.
stuckinthesand
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Sometimes, when i'm in a tight spot hooking up, I set the Jeep parking break and pull fwd to get the arms to lock.
kmross33
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
I am towing a 2012 Ford Focus with a Blue Ox extendable tow bar. I think I am having tire cupping problems now. Question, is their one fix or do I live with it.
mowermech
Explorer
Oct 17, 2013
Just another reason why I like my fixed=arm towbar.
I never have to worry about the arms not locking properly.
Or unlocking, for that matter!
Simple is often rather nice.
Harvard
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013
wny_pat wrote:
Harvard wrote:
I learned the hard way, by wasting a couple of front tires on the toad, we run the risk of the departing toad front wheels turning full left or full right before it all settles down.
I think you have a different problem. What kind of Toad are you pulling. Some have that type of problem because of the steering system set up. I note that you are towing with a 2004 Triple E Regency C28XL riding on the Ford E450 Chassis, but you don't state your toad.

This was about 10 years ago and at the time the toad was a 90 Honda Accord. Another important detail about my experience, I was very careless about how unaligned I might be, I would get it just close enough to connect both arms and drive away. The tires would end up with flat patches, it did not always happen but when it did it destroyed the tires, it had nothing to do with mileage wear.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013
JnJnKatiebug wrote:
After I hook up I always turn left, then right, then left, then right again just to make sure. I can see the towbar lock in my rearview camera. If anyone was watching they would think I had too much to drink.
That is what the Blue Ox manual says to do. Don't know about the others.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013
Harvard wrote:
I learned the hard way, by wasting a couple of front tires on the toad, we run the risk of the departing toad front wheels turning full left or full right before it all settles down.
I think you have a different problem. What kind of Toad are you pulling. Some have that type of problem because of the steering system set up. I note that you are towing with a 2004 Triple E Regency C28XL riding on the Ford E450 Chassis, but you don't state your toad.