Towing Problem - Steering Pulling

[jday1952]

I have a Jayco Melbourne with a Falcon 2 tow bar and tow a Chevy HHR. I've been using the Falcon 2 for 6 years and towing the HHR for the past 5 years without any issues. Today, after not towing for the past year (due to spinal surgery) I hooked up the HHR and started on a short drive. I noticed immediately that the steering pulled hard left. In fact, I had to keep the steering wheel turned about 30 degrees to keep the RV straight.

The wheel alignment on both the Jayco and the HHR are good and both drive perfectly straight on their own. The "pulling" only happens when towing. Because of this, I assume this must be a tow bar problem, but a visual inspection of the tow bar and the mounting doesn't show anything. Does this make sense to anyone and can anyone suggest how I might fix this? Thanks.

[jday1952]

The good news is that the tires on the HHR were the original tires (since 2010) and had 40,000+ miles on them. I was planning on getting new tires before our first real trip. The other day when I noticed the problem was just a local run checking everything out. Yesterday, I had new tires put on the HHR. Ready to head out this next week.

[RJsfishin]

I would think that even after a short drive you would have felt feathering on the front tires of the toad from them being drug sideways. But one thing for sure, you would have found the problem on a long drive when the 1st of both front tires blowed out 🙂

[Corkey05]

jday1952, we all have those moments, but I'm glad you took a time-out to post the problem before you burned the tires off your car. 🙂

Happy to hear your spinal surgery is behind you & you can return to enjoying your coach.

[j-d]

Phew!

This really sounded bad at the start. Good thing it was so easy to fix. And that it was fixed before serious tight maneuvering tore something up back there.

[jday1952]

Corkey05 thanks! I really feel stupid. I hadn't used the RV in a year because of spinal surgery, but during that year there was a recall on the HHR for a problem with the ignition switch. Before that I couldn't turn the key to the off position and remove it while the car was I neutral. Now I can. So without thinking that is what I did. It tows fine and straight now that you reminded me to leave it in the acc position and key in. Thanks again.

[Corkey05]

Does your ignition key need to be in the acc position to free the steering wheel lock?

If your steering locks even at a small angle it'll cause the pull you're experiencing.

[donn0128]

To bar not pulling the car straight down the road. Get someone to follow you to confirm that the car is crawling to one side.