Stories about having to disconnect your toad

[retiredhappy]

Soos asked about having to disconnect your tow vehicle. Yes, you have to disconnect your tow, turn it around and park it. Go the the RV and after much backing and forwarding turn it around and rehook the car.

The first time I was following someone who thought I could turn in the same radius that her 22 footer could. Blocked entire street. Thought I was going to die of embarassment.

Second time was after having missed the turn in to Gouldings in Monument Valley. Again blocked entire road and gathered quite an audience of Navajo since they couldn't get around me. When I finally got everything turned around and rehooked up and started driving off, the Indians gave me a standing ovation and I gaily waved back.

The third time I turned onto a road that the map showed was fine. Just as soon as I had turned completely onto the road there was a BIG sign that said - "No RVs, road deadends." Again I tried to turn but only succeeded in blocking the road. As I was trying to disconnect my little VW bug with hippy flowers painted all over it, a car full of German tourists, all young men, stopped to help. One of them kept saying, "Just back up." I kept telling him I couldn't back up. Finally I got in the RV, backed about 6 inches which only succeeded in making the bug at a worse angle than it already was. The kid watched and said, "Oh." Finally got everything turned and I could see the kids video taping us or more likely my bug, as we drove off with Carole and I giving them the peace sign.

I've gotten pretty blase' about the whole thing now. I don't even say "SH** anymore.

OK now its your turns to tell your stories.

[snowball]

we don't have a toad so can't share a story of that nature but will enjoy the rest of your stories think Chris told one some time ago
sheila

[SeeyaGal]

We have had to disconnect 2 times, once we missed a turn and could not back up so we unhooked the Jeep and backed the motorhome up and reconnected, another time someone told us wrong directions and put us on a dead end. We were cussing that night but got everything turned around got back on track to where we were suppose to go. Luckily we were not blocking any traffic. Now we have "Garmina" our GPS and put her on truck routes so we do not get stuck anymore.

Our scarest moment was one day one of the arms dropped off the toad ( the lock came unlone!)and Dan thought someone was trying to pass him and it dawned on him that it was the Jeep!!! He coasted to a slow stop to not hit the back of the motorhome. I jumped out of the motorhome with my safety vest that is always stored right above the front door and started to flag cars away from us because we were blocking the road. There was no pull off area to safely unhitch the car. Thanks to that safety vest I got alot of respect from the waiting cars. Then when he got the Jeep disconnected I jumped in the car and followed him.
We were useing the locks on the tow bar arms instead of a cotter pin, we have gone back to useing ONLY the cotter pins now.
We were more scared than embarrassed that day! The Jeep could have hit a car coming in the opposite direction!!

[Pooker]

Traveling back east, we missed our friend's house so took the next street back, which got narrower and narrower. Drove about 2 miles before a sign said end of road! It ended at a teeny, tiny cul de sac with 4 houses. The only houses on the whole 2 miles! The rig was wall-to-wall across the cul de sac in any direction. Removed the toad and parked it in someone's driveway (because there wasn't enough room to park it on the road. We diddled back and forth for 20 minutes, turning only inches each time, but got the motorhome turned, and headed back with me driving the toad. No one came out to see what was happening! I figured either everyone in the neighborhood was at work, or they were hiding behind their curtains laughing at us!

[sharon]

Jenny, not sure I would trust Garmina to not take you in a tight spot...mine tried to take me into a housing development in Tn when I missed the turn for a CG, and it's set for trucks also. The streets looked narrow with cars parked on both sides. I passed it up and went down another 1/2 mile or so and it had me turn on a county road that took me to another county road and eventually was able to get back to where I started, but at least I didn't get in somewhere I couldn't get down the street.

The only time I've had to un-hook I was following my BIL and we were going to stop in a truck stop to fuel and eat and he turned to soon onto a narrow dead-end road with a driveway into a fast food place...and no parking or any way to get around the parking lot. I un-hooked the jeep, sis drove it and I had to back into the driveway of the fast food joint to turn around. BIL had already turned into the parking lot and how he got that 40ft 5er and dually truck turned around is still amazing to me. I'm pretty careful about where I go, but I'm sure my time is coming with more adventures in getting in and out of tight places! LOL!

[carold]

We've had to unhook a few time and actually was able to do a little backing up once that saved us from unhooking when we pulled into a "rest" area that turned out too be just a small picnic area. Once, when leaving after having our RV worked on, I noticed that our toad was way off to the side. tGM forgot to hook up one of the tow bars. Luckily we were pulling on the interstate and there was a place to pull off. Now, we have to be lined up perfectly to hook, because one bar is bent and we haven't been able to get it straight. The joys of toading . carold ps If you don't have some story, you haven't been rving long enough

[sharon]

" carold ps If you don't have some story, you haven't been rving long enough"

Ain't it the truth, sister!!!!

[cnanago]

Well after all those stories I think I'll stick to my decision not to tow a toad, I'll stick with the scooter Thank you very much, that is just too scary.

[sharon]

It's not scary Micheline, just a PITA if you get in a position where you have to back up. You get real good real quick at watching where you're turning into so you don't get in that position!!

[ali1257]

Thank you all for sharing your stories about the toads. We are going to be pulling a 16 ft flat bed trailer with our Explorer on it while on our trip. We leave Saturday evening. I will caution DH about dead ends and turning around. Hoping and praying we don't get caught in a tight squeeze with the motor home and trailer.

[sharon]

Ali, you can back up with a flat bed trailer, you can't if you're towing a car. DH once had to back up our 38ft motorhome with a 25ft trailer almost a mile, plus he had 2 curves to go around. That man could drive! Forwards and backwards. I can't back up a trailer 5 ft without jackknifing it!

[Acadianmom]

Sharon, I can't back up a trailer without jackknifing it either. I have never towed a car but use to pull a boat. I had to unhook it a couple of times to get turned around. It was only a 14' flat and my son and I could push it around enough to get turned around. I couldn't even see the dang thing unless it was jackknifed.

Martha

[sharon]

Martha, I can see my little 10ft trailer that I use to take my quad to the sand in, and even hooked up to the truck I jackknife it! Only tried to back it up once with Hope and managed to put a little dent in trailer and Hope! Never tried THAT again!!

[carold]

Backing up is HAAArd to do and I know, I know that it's true carold ps it doesn't take much to get us started

[Nasoosie]

BACKING UP????????????

AAAACCCCKKK!!!!!!!!!

Now that my ribs are healed and I can turn around in my truck seat once again without fear of stabbing pains, I truly DO need to practice backing up about 4,000 times until I get it right!

Hearing about other's similar problems makes me feel SO much better about myself!