A Skidding We Will Go...

[Kevin Means]

We just got home from a trip to Bisbee, AZ, and when I went to disconnect the Jeep, I noticed that the ignition key was still in the Off position. When our '06 Rubicon is being towed, the key is supposed to be in the Run position, so the front wheels are free to turn when we go around corners. Luckily, the majority of that 500+ mile trip was freeway.

I looked it over and drove it, and I didn't see, or feel any problems with the steering. I also didn't see any unusual tire wear, but there may be some. They're meaty 35" off-road tires and it's kind of hard to tell. I guess I got lucky. The funny thing is, I wasn't even in a hurry when I was hooking up... just hua I guess.

Kev

 

[Alpena Jeff]

Well Kev, I haven't done anything stupid all day today. It's been awhile since I've been able to say that!
?

 

[HappyWanderer]

I got into the habit of having the DW watch the Jeep while I move the motorhome forward, then swing the back end enough to get the Jeep's front wheels to pivot.

Maybe overkill, but I've always worried about becoming the unwitting star of a YouTube video.

 

[8Muddypaws]

We always check each other?s work when setting up the Honda to tow.

But even at that we?ve done stupid things a couple of times.  One of them was an expensive stupid thing.

 

[Lou Schneider]

When my father died, I flew from Seattle to the SF Bay Area and Cindy and her Uncle Tom followed in the motorhome towing my Nissan Sentra.  With the key removed so the steering column was locked the whole way.

Fortunately, the wheels were straight ahead when they removed the key and everything was fine until they made the final sharp turn into the campground.  That's when the extension lock on one arm of the Roadmaster towbar broke, letting it collapse and sending the car forward and skewing off to one side.

There wasn't any damage to the car or tires, just the towbar.  I had to buy an new one, then Roadmaster fixed the latch on the broken towbar later that winter in Quartzsite, so I had two.

I got into the habit of having the DW watch the Jeep while I move the motorhome forward, then swing the back end enough to get the Jeep's front wheels to pivot.

Maybe overkill, but I've always worried about becoming the unwitting star of a YouTube video.

I don't have a DW anymore, so as a solo I make an S maneuver as I pull out after hitching up.  If I'm pulling out of an angled campsite I overshoot on the the turn and then steer back the other way.  Or just a slight S move if I'm pulling out straight.  This ensures both tow bar arms are fully extended and locked as the rear of the motorhome swings back and forth.  I usually hear a "clunk" as one arm or the other extends and locks into place. 

Once the toad moves to a slight angle to the motorhome I can see it's steering wheel and front wheels in the drivers side mirror, to verify the toad's steering is unlocked and the steering wheel is free to turn.

 

[Old_Crow]

I towed my TJ about 40 miles with the steering locked.  The last, sharp turn into the RV shop busted the locking tab in the column.  I disassembled the column, took the broken pieces of the locking tab out and threw them away.  Found out a new locking solenoid was like $50, so I just reassembled the column.  Now I don't have to leave the keys in the Jeep while we're towing.

 

[Dragginourbedaround]

A couple of years ago while camped in Q a friend (solo) was camped about a 100 yards to my right. When he was pulling out to leave I could see he forgot to lower his Winegard Trav-ler. I jumped out and waving like crazy got his attention and told him about the antenna. I went back in to my coach and watched as he lowered his antenna. As he is taking off for the second time I could see his toad leaving skid marks in the desert. Again I jump out waving frantically and told him about his toad problem. He had left it in park with the emergency brake on! I asked if he used a checklist and his answer was no, but I will starting today!

 

[Back2PA]

I always (well... apparently almost always : ) double check, plus would make a couple S turns watching the toad and looking for the wheels to caster. Nevertheless I managed to tow it about 5 miles, and during a sharp turn at an intersection was horrified to look in the mirror and see the toad tires scrubbing through the turn. The forces have to be substantial, but no apparent damage (and fortunately no one was watching  )

 

[jackiemac]

Lots of oops  moments for us, this year we got trailer out of storage in Boulder City and drove to the RV park in Vegas with only the tow ball and chains, no bars. Steve had forgotten and unusually I hadn't checked the set up, not that I would have noticed probably.

 

[SargeW]

I did that once with previous Jeep that had a locking column. I only got about a block before I could "feel" the MH pulling kind of odd.  The wheels were not completely straight so the Jeep was crabbing to the right.

The 2018 Jeep column has no lock so that is not an issue, but it is an auto trans, so I have to insure that the shifter locks into park before I turn the ignition off.

 

[UTTransplant]

Kevin, do you have a TPMS on the Jeep that you can read from the coach? I always thought/hoped the toad tire temp would rise enough to be noticeable if we did this.

 

[SargeW]

Since Kev's wheels on the Jeep were pretty straight, most of the time there would not be much of a difference. If they were slightly turned a bit and doing more  sliding than rolling, the temps would have went up considerably.

 

[Kevin Means]

Kevin, do you have a TPMS on the Jeep that you can read from the coach? I always thought/hoped the toad tire temp would rise enough to be noticeable if we did this.

Yup. Didn't register any higher temps at all - at least none that were noticeable by me or the TPMS.

Kev