backing up your toad

[SDcampowneroper]

MHs with a towed are in a position that they need to back up a little to make a corner. Many do not know, have been told they cannot back up. Sure they can, a 4 down toad is no different than a short trailer behind a tow, a tow on a dolly a bit trickier.
A spotter or steering wheel turner to keep the toweds front wheels in line with the coach.
Backing a towed on a dolly very far requires finesse. Expertise of a Teamster. With the 2 short pivot points reverse turning in the coach is opposite of single tow.
In any situation, for those that do not know, you can back up your towed.

[dieharder]

Yes, to my knowledge SDcamp and Westernrvpark are not the same. I don't recall seeing anything from SDcamp that would lead me to believe I wouldn't want to try his camp, but Westernrvpark however....

[Old-Biscuit]

et2 wrote:
SDcampowneroperator

I thought they banned you at this forum? I've asked you many times in the past what they name of your campground was. I can't ever imagine staying there

Thought that was 'Westernrvpark' or something like that.

Think OP is off in his assessment of toad backing but he isn't 'Westernrvpark'

[Bob_AnnaMarie]

I am just stunned that the moderators allow this thread to continue. I seriously hope no newbie reads this******and tries to back up with their toad attached. I have looked at this topic three times believing that sanity would prevail. I will tune out now.

[Two_Jayhawks]

et2 wrote:
Ok, so the OP started a thread like he's a expert on 4 down towing behind a MH. But after further investigation it shows he owns a Cameo fiver with a pickup. Just curious where all his tow bar experience came from? :h

Teamster expertise.

[Mr_Mark1]

Executive wrote:
IMHO..this is an irresponsible post by someone who should know better.....we watched a Class A pull into a pull thru spot and try to back up just a "bit". Heard a loud bang and saw both front wheels going in opposite directions....:S

Can it be done,:h sure, under perfect circumstances, is it stupid to do so,:h.. without a doubt......Dennis

x1000

I had to erase my previous post as the OP sounded purely like a troll and seemed to be missing a couple of marbles. Can't rationalize with a person like that.

MM.

[Executive45]

IMHO..this is an irresponsible post by someone who should know better.....we watched a Class A pull into a pull thru spot and try to back up just a "bit". Heard a loud bang and saw both front wheels going in opposite directions....:S

Can it be done,:h sure, under perfect circumstances, is it stupid to do so,:h.. without a doubt......Dennis

[dcbrewer]

This must have come out of a Common Core text book!!! Don't do it unless you have a spare tow bar.

[et2]

Ok, so the OP started a thread like he's a expert on 4 down towing behind a MH. But after further investigation it shows he owns a Cameo fiver with a pickup. Just curious where all his tow bar experience came from? :h

[xctraveler]

We were towing a RAV 4 4 down behind a Southwind. We pulled into an E-Z Pass Lane and the idiot ahead of us did not have a functional pass and the attendant didn't know how you raise the gate. After several minutes I decided to back my rig out of the toll booth. I got in the Tow'd and started the engine. Had dw on the phone and she very slowly backed us out of the lane. I was able to hold the wheel straight without too much effort. Dw drives half of all miles we travel, she is very comfortable at the wheel. We both agreed that we had made a mistake and should have disconnected the tow'd even though it worked out okay.

[JimM68]

Yikes.
Not read al this, but.....
A 4 down towbar is not meant to back up. If you try, in something other than a straight line, the wheels in the toad will steer the wrong way and everything will bind up.

Just don't do it. unhook while you have the choice. Been there donethat, it is a BEECH to unhook a boundup towbar.

[Tom_Barb]

The best tow rig we have owned was a sand rail, that we lifted the front onto the ball hitch on the truck camper. WE could parallel park the rig.
I drove a re-fuel truck on base for many years, there was a sign over the dispatch shack door that said, " any damage caused when backing will be taken out of your pay". Reverse gear never wore out in any of our trucks 🙂

[msmith1199]

Nomadac wrote:

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
the myth is evident in these replys. Its why I raised the subject.
A driver can do anything backwards. Its just the reverse of forward. Professional Drivers (teamsters) do it every day. Watch and learn from them.
These manufacturers of tow hitches protect their liability with disclaimers . Backing a 4 wheel down towed behind a MH is no different than backing a trailer behind a truck.
See through the smoke and mirrors, disclaimers , realize what you can do. Be that professional driver.

Let me suggest you try backing a kids wagon with the handle connected over a trailer ball on the back of a lawn tractor. That is the same as a dinghy attached to a MH. If you can do that for a distance of 10 feet, you might be considered qualified as a driver. 😉

But it is not the same thing. That handle on the wagon is attached to the wheels and will turn the wheels. A tow bar is not attached to the wheels. The wheels (on many vehicles) will attempt to track with the vehicle. If the vehicle is being pushed backwards the wheels will likely attempt to turn backwards. And even if they don't try and turn to the rear, they most certainly will not track with the way the vehicle is being pushed by the motorhome.

[Nomadac]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
the myth is evident in these replys. Its why I raised the subject.
A driver can do anything backwards. Its just the reverse of forward. Professional Drivers (teamsters) do it every day. Watch and learn from them.
These manufacturers of tow hitches protect their liability with disclaimers . Backing a 4 wheel down towed behind a MH is no different than backing a trailer behind a truck.
See through the smoke and mirrors, disclaimers , realize what you can do. Be that professional driver.

Let me suggest you try backing a kids wagon with the handle connected over a trailer ball on the back of a lawn tractor. That is the same as a dinghy attached to a MH. If you can do that for a distance of 10 feet, you might be considered qualified as a driver. 😉

[jdevans22]

I have backed up a farm wagon with a tractor. Can,t see doing it with motorhome. It is hard to do with a short wheel tractor let alone a long wheelbase rv.