djevans
Tennessee
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Joined: 03/24/2002
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We backed up for as long as we wanted to with the old Saturn SL2. (a few thousand feet in one case) We haven't tried it more than 30 or 40 feet yet, with the Saturn VUE, but it seemed just as good as the SL2. If you see the steering wheel begin to turn, simply stop and pull forward a few feet. Either have the a driver jump in there, tie the wheel with a bungy (sp?) cord, or disconnect and drive it. We just back up and watch to make sure the steering wheel doesn't turn. After a "slight" turn, the wheel on the old SL2 straightened back up when the RV straightened out. It did not try to lock to one side or the other.
Don . . . near 36.171N 086.784W, TN near here
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2003 Fleetwood Revolution 40C - Saturn VUE
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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Basicly, you have two choices;
You can follow the intructions that came with the towbar or tow dolly.
Or,
You can operate under the assumption that the "no backing" instruction is a CYA for the manufacturer, and you are smarter than the engineers that designed the thing, and you can back it up with no problems.
Since I tried backing my Jeep on the towbar, by myself, and made it about 10 feet before the front wheels slammed over against the stops, I learned my lesson. Unhook, move, reconnect. Yes, it can be a pain, but it sure saves wear and tear on the equipment.
As for backing a dolly, many years ago I was very well trained by the Navy in pushing aircraft with a double swivel towbar. It was easy with an aircraft tug, excellent visibility all around. There is no way I would try it with a car on a dolly behind a motorhome. By the time you can see it in your mirrors, it is too late. With a rear vision camera it might be better, but I still wouldn't try it.
That's one of the reasons I plan to do most of my towing with a flatbed trailer.
There is no problem backing one of those as far as necessary.
Well, OK, to be honest, my skills are somewhat rusty, but with practice it will all come back.
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'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
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Tenn Stud
Northeast, TN
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Joined: 11/16/2004
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I have back several times with help from the backup camera, The trick is stay in a straight line and LOCK the steering wheel before starting. I have never damaged anything yet. It depends on what kind of a toad you are pulling. I pull a Ford Aspire or a Jeep Cherokee. The Ford can be backed easy. But the Jeep is a different story. The tow bars are not strong enough to skid the front wheels on the Jeep
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burgess001
Springfield, MO USA
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Joined: 04/08/2002
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comnthru wrote:Would seem that if you tow with a tow dolly that you could back up.??
Then you have a new set of frustrations. 4 Down is the easy way to go, but the dolly has it's advantages. I have backed 10 to 15 feet in a pretty straight line before the front wheels began to turn. DW was watching and stopped me when it began to bind. That was enough that time and I have done shorter backups since with good results...but NEVER when the toad will not back straight back.
Jerry and Katie
More than 20 great years motorhoming and still loving it...
2004 DSDP 3810 (more than I needed...less than I wanted)
2004 Trailblazer (too heavy but well worth dragging)
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YC 1
Yuba City Calif.
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Joined: 01/11/2005
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rv2go wrote:Try this if you only have to back up just a few feet....Have the copilot steer the MH, then you get in the toad and "pull" the MH in reverse. This will work if the toad has the power.
I have pulled the Journey backwards this way with the Cherokee.
That is a great idea. I hope I remember that trick.
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wgander
San Diego
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Joined: 07/30/2002
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I think you'll have the same problem trying to back up more than a few feet with a toad on a dolly. If the dolly wheels aren't fixed, they will tend to turn instead of pushing the rear of the vehicle backwards. If the dolly wheels are fixed, the platform supporting the toads front wheels will tend to turn instead of the vehicle backing up.
Even if you were on a slight down hill and the toad tended to go straight, you wouldn't be able to see it or where it's going, to be able to steer.
2000 Four Winds Five Thousand 28A (Chevy 3500), Master Tow Dolly, 2000 Chevy Venture minivan TOAD
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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jauguston wrote:You CAN back up If you have someone hold the toad steering wheel. Slow and fairly straight. The only major reason for not backing up is the steering geometry of the toad will cause the steering to go to full turn lock. If the wheel is held it can and is done safely.
It is one of those general statements that cover everyones backside.
Jim
I agree, slowly and with care, in a straight line. if they didn't put that warning in their literature some fool would try to quickly push their toad backwards, jackknife it, destroy the front end, and sue blue ox, etc. if need be, you can start the toad and have the power steering take over with somebody in it.
and the statement, "Tow bars are designed to *tow* a car, not *push* a car. Look at the system design & you'll see why. "
makes no sense at all. would some engineer here explain to me the difference in "stress" put on the tow bar between slowly backing up on the level at .5 mph for 10 ft. vs. slamming on the motorhome brakes or the constant pressure while going down from pikes peak?
bumpy
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PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
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Bumpyroad wrote:
and the statement, "Tow bars are designed to *tow* a car, not *push* a car. Look at the system design & you'll see why. "
makes no sense at all. would some engineer here explain to me the difference in "stress" put on the tow bar between slowly backing up on the level at .5 mph for 10 ft. vs. slamming on the motorhome brakes or the constant pressure while going down from pikes peak?
bumpy
If you look at the new tow bars, they slide into a tube, to make it easier to hook-up, and I agree, they don't look as if they were designed to be pushed into the tube. The older style (fixed bars) would probably work fine at pushing....but there is still the problem with the wheels.
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03Ultra
Central Massachusetts
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Joined: 07/20/2004
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1 - Where is the pivot point on a car with all 4 down, or on a tow dolly?
2 - Where is the pivot point on a traditional trailer?
The answer to number two is the hitch.
The answer to number one is debatable, but it is not the hitch. If the steering wheel is locked and the wheels are perfectly aligned, the pivot point is roughly the center of the car. Backing up in this case means that any slight variation will cause a magnified amount of stress to be put on the base plate attached to the front of the toad. Those plates are not designed to handle that type of stress, and even if you do manage to back up by pulling forward when you realize the toad is beginning to turn you have already caused stress on the plate that it is not designed to handle.
2004 Itasca 36M Workhorse
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bukhrn
Lanexa, Va
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comnthru wrote:Would seem that if you tow with a tow dolly that you could back up.?? Backing a dolly with a toad on it is a whole new expierience,when the warning label says never attempt to back up, believe it. first off it has 3, pivot points,the ball,the dolly plate, & the toad rear wheels. I have backed it for SHORT straight line distances, VERY hard to do .
I have backed 18 wheelers, many times with no problem, this mess is completely different.
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