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Topic: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Yahoo Message Number: 49579
Being the proud new owners of a previously-loved 30' I B, we are now in the process of getting the equipment necessary to hook up a 'toad'.
 A large local dealer uses Blue Ox exclusively - and while we feel that the quality is worth the price, we were wondering about the brands Roadmaster and Sterling that Camping World offers at much lower cost.  I know there has been some discussion on this web site lately about CW's switching to cheaper, lower quality merchandise.  Where something as important as a hookup between an LD and car is concerned, the potential for possible catastrophe might exist if this were the case.  Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) with the brand hitches that CW now sells?  Also, with CW's installation of them?

The salesman at the local dealer told us that a car braking system that is proportional, although more expensive, is worth the cost.  Is that true? What car braking systems can anyone here recommend?

One more question:  does a heavy flat flap behind the rear wheels offer more protection to the car than one of those fringes?

Thanks again for any help anyone can give us; this web site is the best!

 Silver Belle

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2002 30' IB
Re: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49597
Have just install SMI braking system in our Jeep CJ7. Very slick setup with proportional vacuum assisted braking. Works very well. The only hookup to the RV is the break-away wire.

Peter 02MB
Re: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49607
Quote
      Being the proud new owners of a previously-loved 30' I B, we are now in the process of getting the equipment necessary to hook up a 'toad'.
l We've had the Roadmaster Falcon towbar for four years and have towed a Jeep Wrangler behind our 2000 MB with no problems.  Roadmaster makes good products and stands behind them. It was installed by Camping World in Brunswick OH. The Tech at CW did an OK job.
 I too believe in an installed brake system for the toad. I self-installed the US Gear tow brake and it works great. The installation is a little complex and does require installing wiring and control units in both the toad and the LD. Today I would seriously look at the SMI installed unit.

Don't tow without brakes. The difference is worth the cost.

Ron in Ohio
Re: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49619
"The salesman at the local dealer told us that a car braking system that is proportional, although more expensive, is worth the cost. Is that true? What car braking systems can anyone here recommend? One more question: does a heavy flat flap behind the rear wheels offer more protection to the car than one of those fringes?"

Proportional braking is a nice option but is not needed IMO because the toad is so much lighter than the RV. If you are towing a heavy travel trailer (TT), then proportional braking becomes a necessity.
I find that I only need the toad brake to activate when braking hard.
During normal stops, the LD's E-450 brakes are more than adequate to stop things.
I installed a SMI 'Stay-in-play' 8 months ago and have been happy with the results. Everything stays
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49621
Quote
Proportional braking is a nice option but is not needed IMO because the toad is so much lighter than the RV.
I'd say not! Keep it simple.

I just lash a 200 lb block of lead to the toad brake pedal. I love looking out the side mirrors and seeing tire smoke every time I tap the brakes. (G)

PS don't try this at home, kids.

bumper

"Yonder"

Minden, NV
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
Re: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD - protecting toad
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49623
Forgot to answer this one - we got a "Protect-a-Tow" underskirt for our DP to protect our toad and the difference is amazing (our DP has one of those heavy flaps).  The first tow of the CR-V without the underskirt forced me to clay the entire front and top of the car.
Blue Ox makes a similar RV underskirt but IIRC it was more that $100 more expensive that the Protect-a-Tow.

Michelle
Re: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49675
Quote
       A large local dealer uses Blue Ox exclusively - and while we
feel that
 
Quote
the quality is worth the price, we were wondering about the brands Roadmaster and Sterling that Camping World offers at much lower cost.
Blue Ox and Roadmaster are the two most popular tow bars.  I believe that both companies make quality products that the stand behind.  The companies often go to RV rallies and do "free service" of peoples bars.

Sterling is Roadmaster's premium bar and is made of aluminum.  Blue Ox has an equivalent product.  Both companies will provide "feet" for their bars that mate with the other company's base plates.  I use a Sterling bar to tow my Jeep Cherokee which is equipped with a Blue Ox base plate.  I liked the Blue Ox base plate better than Roadmaster because of its mechanical design and its appearance when installed on the Jeep.  I have used this combination for over 2 years and 20K miles without any problems.  I would choose the base plate that best fits your toad, then select the tow bar.
 When I was setting up my toad, Camping World's prices were as high or higher than the local dealers.  At that time, CW's "list price" for the Sterling was just under $800.  I bought my bar via a web site and paid about $600, including shipping.  It came to me directly from the Roadmaster factory.  If your local dealer prices are higher than CW's, I would probably look for another supplier.

Quote
       The salesman at the local dealer told us that a car braking system that is proportional, although more expensive, is worth the cost.
Is that true?

Quote
What car braking systems can anyone here recommend?
The performance of any braking system depends heavily on the towing vehicle and the weight of the toad.  Choice of a system also depends on the willingness to make modifications and/or additions to the toad and tow vehicle.  I wanted to make no mods to my Jeep and decided on using a Brake Buddy.  It is not proportional.  After getting it properly adjusted, it works great.  You learn to control the braking of the toad by the way you drive and brake the tow vehicle.  I can install or remove the Brake Buddy from the Jeep in about 3 minutes.
If I were to tow a heavier vehicle (Jeep is about 3400 lbs.) I would probably go for a different system and be willing to modify the toad.

Doug
Re: Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49678
Just my opinion ... but the M&G brake system is a superior brake system.  Read about it and talk to knowledgeable RV chassis repair shops.

I have a Blue Ox bar on my 2004 Jeep Wrangler and a Roadmaster all- terra
 
Equipment connecting 'toad' to LD
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49589
Quote
       A large local dealer uses Blue Ox exclusively - and while we feel that the quality is worth the price, we were wondering about the brands Roadmaster and Sterling that Camping World offers at much lower cost.  I know there has been some discussion on this web site lately about CW's switching to
cheaper,
 
Quote
lower quality merchandise.  Where something as important as a hookup between an LD and car is concerned, the potential for possible catastrophe might exist if this were the case.  Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) with the brand hitches that CW now sells?

 We have no personal experience with the brands that Camping World sells; however, I think that ALL the major brands of tow bars and brakes probably do the job that they are intended to do.  So, it comes down to what YOU prefer and cost.
 I did a lot of research into this subject before we got our LD.  I looked into the brakes that sit on the floor of the toad, and realized that we wouldn't want that kind.  I'm sure they work very well, but the idea of having to take it out each time we wanted to use our car, and then put it back in and adjust it each time we hooked our car back up to the LD, just wasn't for us -- I knew we'd quickly get tired of taking it in and out, and would, eventually quit using it because it would be such a pain.
 I also didn't want a brake that tapped into the motorhome's brake lines.
 We finally decided on the Ready Brute tow bar with the integrated Ready Brake -- hook up the tow bar, and the brake is automatically hooked up, too.
http://www.readybrake.com/
 As for installation by Camping World, I know some people have had good luck with that, but I've also heard a lot of horror stories -- enough that I would be very reluctant to have Camping World to the *installation* of ANYTHING.  Before you decide to have Camping World do the installation, I would check around to get first hand experience of THAT CW's installation expertise.

Linda & Earl 2004 23.5'  Red TK From Quartzsite, AZ
Linda Hylton