roamingrob
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2010
- Posts
- 78
Hi Gang,
I am towing a Mazda Miata four wheels down with a Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar behind my 31 foot Class C and it has been problem-free. When my dealer installed it and the base plate for me, I was given a lesson in how to hook it up etc. And, I was told that I could never back up under any circumstances.
I'm sure everyone else who's towing four wheels down knows how carefully you must plan your gas station and parking lot stops so that you never find yourself in the position where you have to reverse, since you cannot. What you must do if you find yourself in such a situation, of course, is to unhook the toad, maneuver out of trouble, and rehook, which registers on the fun meter about the same as changing a flat on an inside rear tire.
I have had some very close calls, but (knock on wood) have never had to unhook to get out of trouble. HOWEVER . . . .
Is it really risky to back-up two inches? A foot? I imagine the problem is that it would be very easy to jackknife and significant damage could result. BUT if the toad is aligned fairly parallel to the RV, and I watch in my rear-view camera, and back-up v-e-r-y slowly an inch at a time, watching that the rig does not come close to jackknifing, am I taking a risk? There are situations where a few inches can make the difference. The other day pulling out of a gas station I did back-up perhaps a foot, and no harm was done.
So, I am wondering, is a completely "zero tolerance " policy required? Or, as long as the toad isn't at a sharp angle, may I reverse a small amount to extricate myself from a situation where the only alternative is to do the dreaded unhook- rehook?
AND BY THE WAY, the issue of whether you should tow a Miata four wheels down against the manufacturer's recommendation has been as issue on this board, so I want to let everyone know that after 5,000 miles, the Miata is fine and there have been no transmission problems.
I am towing a Mazda Miata four wheels down with a Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar behind my 31 foot Class C and it has been problem-free. When my dealer installed it and the base plate for me, I was given a lesson in how to hook it up etc. And, I was told that I could never back up under any circumstances.
I'm sure everyone else who's towing four wheels down knows how carefully you must plan your gas station and parking lot stops so that you never find yourself in the position where you have to reverse, since you cannot. What you must do if you find yourself in such a situation, of course, is to unhook the toad, maneuver out of trouble, and rehook, which registers on the fun meter about the same as changing a flat on an inside rear tire.
I have had some very close calls, but (knock on wood) have never had to unhook to get out of trouble. HOWEVER . . . .
Is it really risky to back-up two inches? A foot? I imagine the problem is that it would be very easy to jackknife and significant damage could result. BUT if the toad is aligned fairly parallel to the RV, and I watch in my rear-view camera, and back-up v-e-r-y slowly an inch at a time, watching that the rig does not come close to jackknifing, am I taking a risk? There are situations where a few inches can make the difference. The other day pulling out of a gas station I did back-up perhaps a foot, and no harm was done.
So, I am wondering, is a completely "zero tolerance " policy required? Or, as long as the toad isn't at a sharp angle, may I reverse a small amount to extricate myself from a situation where the only alternative is to do the dreaded unhook- rehook?
AND BY THE WAY, the issue of whether you should tow a Miata four wheels down against the manufacturer's recommendation has been as issue on this board, so I want to let everyone know that after 5,000 miles, the Miata is fine and there have been no transmission problems.