Tow vehicle smells after towing

Thunder Mountain wrote:
I've got a question and a comment on this subject. First, the question... Do toads stink after being towed by gassers or is it just a diesel think? Just wondered since I only have DP experience and both (Jeep) toads stunk after being towed.

Now, for my personal observation. Our previous diesel was a 2007 HR Endeavor with the Cummins ISL. Since it was built in '06, it didn't have the additional pollution equipment required in '07. It was a smoker and would leave a soot film on the Jeep after a full day's towing. Our new '16 Winnebago doesn't smoke, doesn't stink and doesn't leave a film on the Jeep. After my first, all day tow I jumped into the Jeep and noticed there was only a slight stink. The wife and I talked about it and her overly sensitive nose agreed. After multiple days of towing and then driving the Jeep, we still haven't burning smell like we did with the '07. I wonder if, it has something to do with the advanced pollution controls.

Your comments...

Thundermountain,

There's a few thousand variables here. Some diesels burn a bit cleaner than others, some are equipped with more pollution control devices, chemicals, afterburn systems and a lot more. But, in all reality, ALMOST none of that makes any difference if a toad will "smell" right after its been towed for any given distance. I can't believe this thread had gone as far as it has.

It's been explained more than a few times. When a car/truck/vehicle is being driven down the road, almost all the operating components, especially the drive train, get warm. Some if it, as in the total exhaust system, GETS SERIOUSLY HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, when any form of debris, dust, water, mud, grease, oil, antifreeze, tire dust, plastic bags, saw dust, bush/tree components, branches, and anything and everything else, comes in contact with the exhaust system, it's immediately burned off.

The operator NEVER even knows that all this is going on, due to the fact that they're INSIDE the vehicle and, the vehicle is moving forward (most of the time) and, the instantaneous burning of anything that comes in contact with that exhaust, never really gets a chance to emit any odors.

But, when a car/truck/etc. is being used as a toad, any one or more of the aforementioned potential debris, CAN and WILL come in contact with that exhaust and, since that exhaust is COLD, that stuff will, in effect, stick to it. The more **** you drive through/over/on/ etc. i.e. dirt roads, fresh pavement, oiled roads, dusty conditions, and more, the more is deposited onto that exhaust system.

The exhaust DOES NOT BURN IT OFF, BECAUSE IT'S COLD!!!!!!!!!! But, when the toad is started and ran, especially at any speed or, conditions where the exhaust temps can rise even without speed, i.e. city/campgrounds/RV parks/low speed county roads/ and much more, then, whatever has been deposited onto that exhaust system will begin to burn off. And, again, if speeds in the toad are slow, that smell will begin to infiltrate into the inside of the vehicle.

Now, towing with a DP, no matter what DP, in all reality, will make no difference what so ever, in a situation like what's explained above. Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT and, it deposits absolutely ZERO soot, diesel dust, oil, ANYTHING on our toad(s). And, the blow-by tube has been extended to the very rear of the coach. We've towed with four different motor homes. Two were Class C gassers, one Dodge and one Ford. And, we've towed with one Class A gasser, a V-10 Ford. As stated, we now tow with a diesel coach.

We've towed Jeep wranglers for years and years and, with each and every one of those coaches. Each and EVERY SINGLE TIME we disconnect from any one of those coaches, the toads (Jeeps) SMELL due to the aforementioned deposited items/debris/dust/rain/mud and a whole lot more that has coated the Jeeps exhaust. It takes usually no more than about 2-4 minutes of running the Jeep at a given speed and operating temp, to burn off any deposited material on its exhaust system.

From that point on, it's "smell-less".
Scott