When to unhook

The first thing about dingy towing is do not put your self in a position where you have to back up. It is not advisable to back up with a dingy, you can damage the towbar or the dingy suspension. The second thing is tow the dingy into the camp and register first before unhooking. Many state and federal camps will charge you for a second vehicle if you unhook and drive it in separately. Towing a dingy is nothing special, just observe the front dingy wheels are steering properly when making turns. Try to not make back to back sharp turns in opposite directions without driving straight for a short distance between turns. If not your wheels can slam sideways and you end up dragging the front wheels sideways. A back up camera is helpful. if you get in a spot where you have no choice but to back up, bite the bullet and just do the unhooking.

we usually unhook after we check in, seems there is always a larger area to park. DW goes ahead so she can help me get into the site, so far no trouble at gas stations. I would never try to back up with it attached. JMHO

The problem with backing up a car behind anything is the tendency of the front wheels to caster, or turn to the limit on one side or the other. If the front steering is locked straight, an experienced person should be able to back one. What actually happens is that the wheels turn hard to one side, and you can severly damage either the steering or the tow bar and brackets, or both. Most people have backed one up for a short distance, especially if taking it very slow, and generally in a straight line.
So the correct answer is anytime you want to back up! If we are going to a campground, one of us will go in and register or whatever, and the other will disconnect the toad. Its not a big thing, usually less than a minute with our Blue Ox towbar and brackets. Generally the rule is if the toad is hooked up, you don't have reverse.

If you want to back up with the dingy hooked up, y'gotta make sure the dingy is backing up STRAIGHT....any variation and the steering wheels will almost immediately turn (in either direction) and lockup. Not good.
I have been unable, sometimes to back up even 5 feet without the dingy steering wheel turning. Other time...I was able to back up almost the length of the motorhome (34 ft) and everything stayed straight.

As far as gas stations are concerned...I always have to make a snap decision just before I turn into one. Question...and ONLY question is "do I have an "escape route" to get outta there?

That question..,.I found out when my motorhome was brand new. In Florida...pulled into for gas at one of these places where the pumps are opposite the the store. NO room to turn left or right. Had to unhook the toad, wife backed it up almost to the street...I had to back up the motorhome...then we hooked it back up. Only did that once. I learned fast.

As far as campgrounds go...mostly you unhook before you back into your site...if you have a back-in site. Otherwise, with a pull-thru,you don't have to bother. However...once I pulled into a campground and they TOLD me to unhook right there in front of the office. I did. They knew their campground...

Thank you guys so much. You know, we know we made the right choice in choosing to invest in the full time RV lifestyle. As we grew older we tried boating and even bought a muscle car and tried following that lifestyle as well, Asking a question like I did would have generated all kinds of know-it-all snotty response's. I just feel comfortable asking the simplest questions to RVers. Thanks again se ya all soon Curt and Marie

In Campgrounds - check with the Camp Hosts - they can tell you the best place to unhook. There's usually a wider area by the front.

I hear that there are people that can back up a dingy. I have never seen one. Just like there are folks that can back up a set of double trailers here again I have never seen one. So with that said I would just assume your going to need to disconnect the dingy if you want to back up. Even if someone says they can back a dingy up I would have to see it to believe it.