![]() |
Back to towing a toad - Printable Version +- Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum (http://www.wanderlodgegurus.com) +-- Forum: Yahoo Groups Archive (/forumdisplay.php?fid=61) +--- Forum: WanderlodgeForum (/forumdisplay.php?fid=63) +--- Thread: Back to towing a toad (/showthread.php?tid=5830) Pages: 1 2 |
Back to towing a toad - Jon - 10-12-2007 07:39 This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator and I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop told me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the rear wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in a tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost why this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig like mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and so the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering wheel in place with the steering wheel lock. Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. Jon Rebel Bird Back to towing a toad - Pete Masterson - 10-12-2007 08:39 Only had one situation where the toad wheels did not track properly. The rest of the time, the toad has behaved as expected in both regular and tight turns. Once, when making a tight turn into a pull-through campsite, the toad wheels didn't straighten out but the ground was very loose gravel and dirt, so there was no friction for the wheels to track in. I think this was a matter of the lack of traction in the soft soil/gravel rather than a steering geometry situation. I manually straightened the wheel after we were parked. When leaving the campsite the next morning, we pulled from the site onto a paved roadway with a similar tight turn, and the toad tracked as it was supposed to. I tow a '93 Toyota Camry. Pete Masterson '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 aeonix1@... On the road at Idaho Springs CO On Oct 12, 2007, at 1:39 PM, Jon wrote: > This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator > and > I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a > close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop > told > me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the rear > wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by > being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in a > tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost why > this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig like > mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn > that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and so > the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering > wheel > in place with the steering wheel lock. > > Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > Jon > Rebel Bird > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > Back to towing a toad - Bob Lawrence - 10-12-2007 10:19 But if you did lock the steering wheel, any turn you would make would scuff the tires since they are tired straight. Wouldn't it be better to bungy cord them in a straight position? Bob Lawrence 84 PT36 Tacoma, Wa. --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" > > This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator and > I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a > close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop told > me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the rear > wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by > being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in a > tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost why > this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig like > mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn > that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and so > the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering wheel > in place with the steering wheel lock. > > Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > Jon > Rebel Bird > Back to towing a toad - Jon - 10-12-2007 10:31 --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Lawrence" > > But if you did lock the steering wheel, any turn you would make would > scuff the tires since they are tired straight. Wouldn't it be better > to bungy cord them in a straight position? > Bob Lawrence > 84 PT36 > Tacoma, Wa. > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" > > > > This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator > and > > I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a > > close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop > told > > me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the > rear > > wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by > > being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in > a > > tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost > why > > this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig > like > > mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > > around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn > > that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and > so > > the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > > wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering > wheel > > in place with the steering wheel lock. > > > > Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > > turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > > > Jon > > Rebel Bird I tried that and the steering goes around twice from one side to the other and the buggy cord comes loose. I think I will just stick to the big turns for now. Do you have any problems when it comes to making tight turn Bob? Jon > > > Back to towing a toad - Don Bradner - 10-12-2007 10:33 I have never seen a toad fail to straighten after a turn, or fail to turn correctly when cornering. Normal positive caster will always act to return the wheels to straight. Steering wheel locks are unlikely to be the answer. Even without the issue of scuffing on turns, most locks do not lock in the straight position, they lock to some amount left or right. So, you would probalby be dragging the tires just going straight. One factor that effects caster is the height of front and rear of the vehicle. Down in front negatively affects caster, up in front positively affects it. If the towbar is too low it would tend to decrease the liklihood of the wheels returning to center. Towbar high should increase return-to-center. On 10/12/2007 at 7:39 PM Jon wrote: >This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator and >I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a >close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop told >me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the rear >wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by >being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in a >tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost why >this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig like >mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track >around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn >that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and so >the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you >wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering wheel >in place with the steering wheel lock. > >Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with >turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > >Jon >Rebel Bird Back to towing a toad - Jon - 10-12-2007 10:52 --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner" > > I have never seen a toad fail to straighten after a turn, or fail to turn correctly when cornering. Normal positive caster will always act to return the wheels to straight. > > Steering wheel locks are unlikely to be the answer. Even without the issue of scuffing on turns, most locks do not lock in the straight position, they lock to some amount left or right. So, you would probably be dragging the tires just going straight. > > One factor that effects caster is the height of front and rear of the vehicle. Down in front negatively affects caster, up in front positively affects it. If the towbar is too low it would tend to decrease the liklihood of the wheels returning to center. Towbar high should increase return-to-center. Now that maybe the answer! but I'm going to test my toe rig out with my pickup truck in the near future and see what happens. Don thanks again for those beautiful seats they really set of the old barge!!! Trying to get my wife to take the old bird down to Arizona this winter but she's says well see about that in January. Jon > > On 10/12/2007 at 7:39 PM Jon wrote: > > >This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator and > >I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a > >close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop told > >me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the rear > >wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by > >being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in a > >tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost why > >this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig like > >mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > >around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn > >that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and so > >the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > >wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering wheel > >in place with the steering wheel lock. > > > >Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > >turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > > >Jon > >Rebel Bird > Back to towing a toad - Gregory OConnor - 10-12-2007 11:14 Jon, I fear your lesson will be taught with either front end damage to the Toad, Tire damage to the toad, or stress cracks on the tow bar. The toad or a trailer follows the ball , not the bus. (a good point to remember when backing up a trailer) When a RV with a major overhang butt makes a ;slow speed ;right hand ;tight radius turn, the butt of the camper goes left before it falls back in the path of the turn. The toad follows the ball on the butt thus the toad turns a little left then follows right. If the wheels of the toad are locked, the freeflow caster movement will become a 'drag and compress'. that stress may cause cracks in the towbar arms or toad mount point fasteners. GregoryO'Connor 94ptRomolandCA --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" > > This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator and > I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a > close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop told > me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the rear > wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by > being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in a > tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost why > this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig like > mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn > that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and so > the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering wheel > in place with the steering wheel lock. > > Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > Jon > Rebel Bird > Back to towing a toad - mbrund - 10-12-2007 13:46 To answer your question, No, I never have problems turning either direction slow with short or long radius turns. The only time I run into an issue is if I am crazy enough to backup with the toad, but that is rarely if ever. Michael Brundridge 1992 WB40 TOAD: 2006 Dodge Dakato 4WD w/BlueOx Aladdin Tow Bar Georgetown, TX --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" > > This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan generator and > I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut a > close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop told > me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the rear > wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels by > being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right in a > tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost why > this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig like > mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight turn > that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position and so > the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering wheel > in place with the steering wheel lock. > > Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > Jon > Rebel Bird > Back to towing a toad - Rob Robinson - 10-12-2007 13:50 Jon did you contact REMCO to ask them about your Subaru. I still believe it was a Subaru that was reported as 'un-towable' due to the steering geometry. On 12/10/2007, Jon > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > "Don Bradner" > > > > > I have never seen a toad fail to straighten after a turn, or fail > to turn correctly when cornering. Normal positive caster will always > act to return the wheels to straight. > > > > Steering wheel locks are unlikely to be the answer. Even without > the issue of scuffing on turns, most locks do not lock in the > straight position, they lock to some amount left or right. So, you > would probably be dragging the tires just going straight. > > > > One factor that effects caster is the height of front and rear of > the vehicle. Down in front negatively affects caster, up in front > positively affects it. If the towbar is too low it would tend to > decrease the liklihood of the wheels returning to center. Towbar high > should increase return-to-center. > > Now that maybe the answer! but I'm going to test my toe rig out with > my pickup truck in the near future and see what happens. Don thanks > again for those beautiful seats they really set of the old barge!!! > Trying to get my wife to take the old bird down to Arizona this > winter but she's says well see about that in January. > > Jon > > > > On 10/12/2007 at 7:39 PM Jon wrote: > > > > >This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan > generator and > > >I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut > a > > >close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair shop > told > > >me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the > rear > > >wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels > by > > >being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right > in a > > >tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost > why > > >this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig > like > > >mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > > >around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight > turn > > >that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position > and so > > >the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > > >wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering > wheel > > >in place with the steering wheel lock. > > > > > >Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > > >turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > > > > >Jon > > >Rebel Bird > > > > > -- Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson 94 WLWB [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Back to towing a toad - Bob Lawrence - 10-12-2007 15:54 Hi Jon, Never had a problem when towing the Tracker. Now we will be towing the Element only as sold the Tracker. It tracks fine also. Did you look into a steering stabilizer? Bob Lawrence 84 PT36 Tacoma, Wa. > > But if you did lock the steering wheel, any turn you would make > would > > scuff the tires since they are tired straight. Wouldn't it be > better > > to bungy cord them in a straight position? > > Bob Lawrence > > 84 PT36 > > Tacoma, Wa. > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" > > > > > > This morning I went over to get an oil filter for my Onan > generator > > and > > > I mentioned that my old Subaru would not straiten out after I cut > a > > > close corner to the right. Well the supervisor of the repair > shop > > told > > > me that allot of toad will have this problem because of where the > > rear > > > wheels of the coach are situated. By this I mean the rear wheels > by > > > being so far under the coach that most cars will not track right > in > > a > > > tight corner. He explained it to me but I'm still a little lost > > why > > > this happens. He said the best way to make most turns in a rig > > like > > > mine is to make them wide so the tire will have a chance to track > > > around the corners. Also he said if I do haft to make a tight > turn > > > that I can either tie my steering wheel in the neutral position > and > > so > > > the tires will not turn going around a tight corner. I guess you > > > wouldn't even haft to do this as you could just lock the steering > > wheel > > > in place with the steering wheel lock. > > > > > > Now do you guys that have regular toads ever have a problem with > > > turning in a tight turn at a slow speed? Just would like to know. > > > > > > Jon > > > Rebel Bird > > > I tried that and the steering goes around twice from one side to the > other and the buggy cord comes loose. I think I will just stick to > the big turns for now. Do you have any problems when it comes to > making tight turn Bob? Jon > > > > > > |