| Towing question [message #263599] |
Mon, 06 October 2014 17:32  |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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How important is attempting to keep the tow bar and hitch assembly on the same horizontally axis? Can one end be lower than the other, or should the entire assembly be level?
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: Towing question [message #263603 is a reply to message #263599] |
Mon, 06 October 2014 18:04  |
C Boyd
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
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Hi Tom, it needs to be level specially if it is a tow bar. They make tall balls that might help. Under hard braking it could cause toad to raise and loose traction. A toad brake would help, but yes it needs to be level.
tphipps wrote on Mon, 06 October 2014 18:32How important is attempting to keep the tow bar and hitch assembly on the same horizontally axis? Can one end be lower than the other, or should the entire assembly be level?
Tom, MS II
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
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| Re: [GMCnet] Towing question [message #263605 is a reply to message #263599] |
Mon, 06 October 2014 18:21 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Tom,
The tow bar should be as nearly horizontal as feasible -- in theory.
In practice, with a tow vehicle much heavier than the toad, it doesn't
make a LOT of difference. If you think of the tow bar as a vector,
with its horizontal and vertical components, you can easily visualize
the effects: If the toad end is low, on braking the toad will tend to
make the rear of the tow vehicle rise, in proportion to how low the
toad is.
I HAVE towed a car with an unloaded pickup. With the tow bar steeply
inclined, I had to be very careful on downhill corners because the car
would lift the rear of the pickup enough to allow it to slide
sideways. :-((
The GMC's towbar swivel is about 5" above the pivot points on the CRV
-- never a problem of any kind.
Ken H.
On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 6:32 PM, Thomas Phipps wrote:
> How important is attempting to keep the tow bar and hitch assembly on the same horizontally axis? Can one end be lower than the other, or should the
> entire assembly be level?
> Tom, MS II
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Towing question [message #263612 is a reply to message #263599] |
Mon, 06 October 2014 19:48 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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I have a 'ready brake' brand towd brake. It's the mechanical surge brake system. Early versions had some problems releasing and they occasionally caused the toad brakes to drag/burn out. Current versions have been redesigned but one thing they are emphatic about is that they need to be level. If there is an angle mismatch the tubes cannot slide smoothly and if they bind, they may not engage or release correctly. I purchased a 4" drop receiver (for my low Saturn Toad) and have about 3500 miles on it with no problems.
Not 'selling' the system at all just that I understand why an angle mismatch may cause a problem with such a system.
A panic stop without a toad brake can cause the toad to try and lift the back of the coach if there is an upward angle. Not much of an issue with most the lightweight toads we haul but something to keep in mind.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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