toad brakes?!

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by samcrimm

Oh an when i tow the toad with my chev. I really know it and it a good thing it has the brake system.

not a chevy/gmc/dodge vs ford issue bashing comment -

when i tow the JK wrangler (4200 lbs) behind our f350 it tows lighter than our 18 foot, 2 axle, (2200 lb) open utility/car trailer.

[38Chevy454]

Originally Posted by petrel

Just learned that although my F350 will tow four down with no driveline disconnect, it has a towing speed restriction of 55mph!

On my Ford Edge awd that I tow four down, Ford says 65 max and supposed to run the engine every 4 hours. Well, I certainly go faster than 65 and no problems (shit, now I just jinxed myself ). I do run the engine first thing in the morning before leaving for about 5-10 minutes, and when I stop and it's convenient, sometimes around the 4 hour mark. Plus run it at end of the day, even if no disconnect. I figure that running through R-N-D and then back to N helps circulate the fluid. Have done 800+ miles in a day.

In your case, the only thing you have moving around is the transfer case (assume your F-350 is 4x4?), which tend to be self-lubricating. Which is why most 4x4 can be towed four down easily. Manual trans are dependent on trans design. Generally in neutral the output shaft does not turn the countershaft, which does the lube slinging. The input shaft does turn the countershaft, so it lubes when engine is running. Some trans will sling enough lube with the output shaft turning and not the input shaft, such as when towing. The differentials and driveshaft don't have issues, they lube themselves. It is good to unlock front hubs if you can, no need to turn the extra front driveshaft and axle parts.

Oh yeah, I use a jump starter pack to hook up the brake system, rather than the car's battery.

[Speeno]

Hi Guys, its Speeno the newbie. Its obvious that a trailer would solve all these issues, so why is a toad so much more desirable? This is for my benefit not argueing against toads.

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by Speeno

Hi Guys, its Speeno the newbie. Its obvious that a trailer would solve all these issues, so why is a toad so much more desirable? This is for my benefit not argueing against toads.

a trailer has its own set of problems some of which include:

• most campground don't have slots large enough to accommodate a coach, trailer & car
• storage issues / cost (at home & while camping) most campground DON'T have storage.
• less maneuverability / added length
• additional weight (lower mpg / added fuel cost).
• connect, disconnect, loading & unloading time

It's gonna take a pretty big / heavy trailer to haul an 8k lb f350.

Personally i don't see a TOAD (assuming its a good one) as a problem, especially with our type of coaches, the supplemental brakes aren't (technically) required (since its not a trailer and were it not a liability issue i wouldn't even bother with 'em

[petrel]

^this

My utility trailer is only rated for 10k lbs. The trailer weighs 2500lbs, so I can't haul my trucks until I upgrade to a 12 or 14k trailer. Still, I can only take the trailer to certain sites, where I know there will be room.

[bushpilot]

Petrel -

that was my problem too, 7k utility / car trailer w/ a trailer weight of 1.8k

I would add to the LIST of considerations of a trailer:

• TRAILER tires (notorious for blow outs and tearing stuff up)

[Speeno]

OK, thanks for the info.

[samcrimm]

Time to throw a wrench in here, i want to carry more stuff with me, like we are staying warm in florida and by lake okeechobee. my flat bottom boat and motor, the harley, some not many tools, all this fishing a freezer would be nice. I am sure i missed something. i thought i would tow my 8' trailer behind toad with my stuff... cant do that in fla. You can in tenn and ga. And then you limited to where you can tow all that, no more cheap diesel, only truck stops..

Sam

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by samcrimm

Time to throw a wrench in here, i want to carry more stuff with me, like we are staying warm in florida and by lake okeechobee. my flat bottom boat and motor, the harley, some not many tools, all this fishing a freezer would be nice. I am sure i missed something. i thought i would tow my 8' trailer behind toad with my stuff... cant do that in fla. You can in tenn and ga. And then you limited to where you can tow all that, no more cheap diesel, only truck stops..

Sam

visions of this -





you need something like this -

[Speeno]

Don't forget the wood shed for campfires.

[samcrimm]

Love the red ford, going to trade my liberty in for one of them! The rack is just right for the boat!

Thanks don.....lol

[petrel]

If maneuvering and campground space weren't an issue, I'd have a 26' stacker with my truck snug inside, the boat on the lift, and the nose area crammed with stuff I don't need

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by samcrimm

Love the red ford, going to trade my liberty in for one of them! The rack is just right for the boat!

Thanks don.....lol

i spotted the red ford in september 2008 (after hurricane Ike wacked us good)....
i was south bound outta dallas (on my way back from a houston/dallas day trip), when i spotted this guy (going south, when everyone else was going north).

There were NO generators to be had in houston so i ran up to fort worth at 3am one morning to a northern tool store and grabbed a 10kw "portable" (my ass).

that generator, all 620cc V-Twin of it, sustained us for part of the 13.5 days we were w/out power!

[bushpilot]

John (aka THUNDERUSONE) on this forum tows double a fair amount.

He's in Tennessee and frequents florida. I don't think he's been bothered much (would have said never but he just got stopped over xmas).

[petrel]

Gonna derail my own thread here and really show my noob-ness: How the heck do you navigate secondary roads with a boat hitched up like that?! Can you really turn right from a two way two lane to a two way two lane?

I had grand plans to tow my boat with my TC until I went on a test ride with a 31' stacker in tow. That thing really could not turn in the scenario above unless the other lane was clear or the folks at the light or stop sign backed up to make room.

What is the trick to that? My boat/trailer is 41' from tongue to lower unit, with the trailer axles waaay back like thunderous. I'd love to use the TC to tow it, but I haven't figured out how to do it. Maybe I need to go to CDL School.

[bushpilot]

John should be along momentarily to reply
and as i recall he may have owned a stacker at one point or another.

[THUNDERUSONE]

Double towing is no problem and my Motorhome is 47' long. Got pulled over in Ft Myers for doubling by a state trooper. He wrote the ticket out wrong with the wrong fine and told me it was a moving violation. Drove 15 miles down the road and hooked back up. We left after new years and drove back and passed 20 state troopers in every possible situation and never got a second look. Called Florida to pay the fine and it was only a $100.00 & it was not a moving violation (does not effect insurance ). I also drove all through KY and TN on that same trip....no issues. As for pulling the boat, it's not for everyone. You have to plan ahead. Be prepared to use your horn and lights to clear a path when turning.

[THUNDERUSONE]

The boat is way more complicated than a stacker due to axle placement.

[petrel]

Ok, that is what I figured. So my concerns are not unwarranted.

Do you have someone with a light truck standing by to launch for you, or do you use a lift to put the boat in the water?

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by THUNDERUSONE

....Be prepared to use your horn and lights to clear a path when turning.

hell i do that when i drive my Jeep Wrangler