Best Way To Protect Toad

[Kaz]

We recently purchased a new toad to pull behind our motor home. The last one we had, which we towed without anything to protect it from rocks and dirt, got pretty dinged up, as you'd expect. I'm researching how best to prevent that from happening again. The options seem to be:

• An extended mud guard;
• The Blue Ox KarGard or something similar (like the Protect-A-Tow);
• Something like the Roadmaster Guardian;
• A "bra" for the front of the vehicle;
• Something like the "film" products placed on new cars for transport;
• And a variety of jury-rigged systems (like using bungee cords to hold camping mats to the front of the toad).

I'm sure there are other options I'm missing.

We'd like something that's effective (the threshold consideration) and relatively easy to use. (Although I'm aware of the inverse relationship between those two considerations.) I've found several threads on the topic but they are older and don't seem to cover the full gamut of possibilities. We're using a Blue Ox tow bar, if that matters. Anyway, we'd appreciate hearing your experience with various options.

Thanks,
Skip

[johnsonbert]

We are towing a Challenger part time and using the Roadmaster Tow Defender for that, like the PAT. I modified things so that it runs under the towbar like the PAT and catches the car at the middle of the spoiler exposing no grill or paint. It has worked out well for us. I have never had a clean toad after riding in a rainstorm, no matter what I was using for a shield. Hope this may help, Happy Trails bert

[Dutch_12078]

Thunder Mountain wrote:

jojolou wrote:
Another vote for the Protect A Tow, it works!

Works great as long as you have a side exhaust. Used one for years until we bought our Winnebago back exhaust. Didn't work. Melted the sucker.

I've seen a couple of PAT's now on rear exhaust diesels. Both had some sort of metal heat shield attached in the exhaust area, possibly just aluminum flashing. Both DP's were in motion at the time, so I couldn't get more details. A call to PAT in Canada might get some suggestions though.

[2gypsies1]

We full-timed 8 years in our motorhome with only mud flaps behind the tires - no full rear flap. We traveled constantly, boondocked a lot on gravel roads and spent the summer in Alaska. We had absolutely no damage to our Jeep from towing.

We were in Whitehorse in the Yukon and a couple RVers were removing their full rear stiff flap. They showed us a layer of 1/2" rocks laying at the base of their windshield on their cars. We had just traveled the same construction area with no damage.

Since then others have mentioned that the full flap is worthless.

Later while coming through Salt Lake City in a heavy rainstorm I made it a point to watch opposing traffic and motorhomes. Those with the full flap had an arc spray of water aimed high at their hoods. Those without the full flap had the water at tire level. That convinced us.

[Thunder_Mountai]

jojolou wrote:
Another vote for the Protect A Tow, it works!

Works great as long as you have a side exhaust. Used one for years until we bought our Winnebago back exhaust. Didn't work. Melted the sucker.

[missnmountains]

We really messed our Jeep up this last trip to Alaska without any protection and our new motorhome. It has been repainted, new lights, new fenders, new bumper, new mirror, etc. We just purchased the Blue Ox Kargard and are using it the first time on this trip. It seems to be working fine, but it adds a little bit of additional time disconnecting and reconnecting.

Ken

[msmith1199]

I have a 2006 Dodge Dakota truck that I have been towing since 2006. I have stock mud flaps on my motorhome. I have zero damage on the front of the truck from anything kicked up by the motorhome, at least none that I've ever seen. The only problem I have is in the rain the truck will get completely covered in mud and/or dirt, but I'm not sure any of the rock guard things even stop that do they?

[Dick_B]

As I recall the Kieva's made a plywood `bra' to protect their toad during a trip to Alaska. Don't remember how they attached it but it would certainly be better than a vinyl bra.

[jojolou]

Another vote for the Protect A Tow, it works!

[J-Rooster]

I just use the stock mud flaps that came on my Winnebago. I've never had any problems with dings out of the ordinary!

[dtucker3usa]

We use the Roadmaster Guardian and it has worked out really well. Easy to set up and remove and it protects the toad really well.

[ferndaleflyer]

Feather light enclosed trailer.

[Dutch_12078]

We've used a Protect-A-Tow for toad protection since 2008 and have been very pleased with it. The PAT not only protects our toad, it also protects the tow bar and attached cables from road debris. It only takes a minute or less to hook up.

[big_jim_2]

When we had a Wrangler I made a bracket and attachment for a simple piece of plywood to keep the rocks from hitting the vehicle on out trip to Alaska. Worked perfect no damage to tow but had to have my motorhome rear as the rocks bounced off and hit the motorhome. After I purchased a protect a tow that really kept my tow clean and no damage would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.