Reversing the Toad

[AlanF1]

For the short distance you can reverse with a Toad, has anyone looked into or uses a reversing camera on their Toad. I have been looking at the Auto Vox TW1 wireless camera and would welcome any experience you have with this, any other camera system or perhaps no camera at all - thanks

 

[L' Hobo]

Personally I would just use the rear camera to make certain nothing is approaching from the rear and that includes obstacles.
Use your side mirrors as cameras came distort vision!

PS I did drive & reverse artic off an on for 50yrs?

 

[pappajohn]

I would see just how far you can reverse before spending money on a camera.
Even if you have electric braking you still have the problem of steering geometry.....if over run brakes chances are the brakes will apply as you begin to push ....that's if you have the brakes adjusted correctly.
That's why braked trailers and caravans have special brakes.

 

[Reallyretired]

Regardless of braking, the castor effect on steering doesnt work in reverse so unless in a straight line the front wheels will scrub. Best policy if more than a few feet is unhitch it.

 

[AlanF1]

I would see just how far you can reverse before spending money on a camera.
Even if you have electric braking you still have the problem of steering geometry.....if over run brakes chances are the brakes will apply as you begin to push ....that's if you have the brakes adjusted correctly.
That's why braked trailers and caravans have special brakes.

Thanks for your repky. Makes sense of course, car is being converted by Towbars-2-Towcars in Grimsby who have a video of reversing a Toad on an A frame. Appreciate I have not experienced myself as yet but was only thinking of a short distance in a straight line in the event of meeting another vehicle for whatever reason. Again, appreciate anticipation of such situations is key but it is probably easier than having to unhitch.

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[Larrynwin]

On the rare occasion I have reversed in a straight line with car on a frame to get out of a tight situation.
In the event that toad wheels turn, a little forward to straighten them and then reverse again, easy.
I have RVi brake system and camera on rear of motorhome.

 

[pappajohn]

The steering problem......
Going forward the steering will self centralise and go in a straight line until it's told to turn by steering input.
This is achieved by the castor geometry of the steering.

Going backwards has the opposite effect....the wheels will turn to one lock or the other again due to the castor geometry and to continue backwards in a straight line the front wheels will scrub causing the overrun brakes to apply.

Electric brakes .....the only difference is the brakes won't apply.

 

[Littlewheels]

I have vast experience of towing and reversing but and it’s a big bit, it’s easier to reverse and Artic “small tow vehicle (Cab) large Trailer (Body) than Reversing the other way round large vehicle/small trailer.

l am 9m MH with BJ Trailer and l can reverse but it is so delicate to steer as the smallest movement of the Steering Wheel causes a good amount of movement of the Trailer. You need to practice and get confident because when you do have to reverse you will face serious pressure.

Incidentally,one of the reasons people like the Aframe is so they can unhitch quickly and drive it,you cannot do this with a Trailer, never seen anyone with a Aframe reverse, why? Generally because they cannot.

Practice,Practice,Practice.

 

[62272]

Believe me, unless you were to practice to the nth degree, you will not be able to reverse a toad other than about 2 metres in a straight line! I‘ve had a toad for the past 4 years (Fiat 500) and it very quickly goes off when reversed and goes to a jack-knife situation. Ive even tried it by steering the toad while my wife reverses the moho, still rubbish!

To be fair we have the decoupling off pat now and can do it (even in driving rain) in seconds, and simply drive the car with the A frame on (folded towards the bonnet) when we need to get out of a tight situation like a wrong turning, where we have to turn around.

 

[L' Hobo]

I had assumed, probably wrongly, that as using an A-Frame is a grey area in the UK and illegal in other countries, the Toad was on a trailer.

Now if you really want to hone your reversing skills, try an old tractor, without power steering and a 4wheeled, front steer, trailer and reversing it through a Farm gateway!

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[AlanF1]

I had assumed, probably wrongly, that as using an A-Frame is a grey area in the UK and illegal in other countries, the Toad was on a trailer.

Now if you really want to hone your reversing skills, try an old tractor, without power steering and a 4wheeled, front steer, trailer and reversing it through a Farm gateway!

Yep, it is an A frame. Like the suggestion re: tractor but I will stick with the motorhome and the VW Up on the back if it's all the same

 

[Larrynwin]

Like this ?

 

[Itsmcb]

I had assumed, probably wrongly, that as using an A-Frame is a grey area in the UK and illegal in other countries, the Toad was on a trailer.

Now if you really want to hone your reversing skills, try an old tractor, without power steering and a 4wheeled, front steer, trailer and reversing it through a Farm gateway!

Remember, keep your thumbs on the outside of the steering wheel !!

 

[pappajohn]

I had assumed, probably wrongly, that as using an A-Frame is a grey area in the UK and illegal in other countries, the Toad was on a trailer.

Now if you really want to hone your reversing skills, try an old tractor, without power steering and a 4wheeled, front steer, trailer and reversing it through a Farm gateway!

Done that and got stuck......going forwards through the gateway.
I was only 10 or 11 at the time though.

 

[triky]

WELL,!! you all have not read my info' on reversing with an "A" Frame !!
Done this MANY times with my Smart on A frame behind the Mo-Ho straight OR round corners .When needing to reverse,
Place a pair of 'BungyCord' / expanders around the spokes of the steering wheel hooked under the seat wheels straight This holds the steering firm.You can then reverse just as a caravan or trailer/boat in ANY directiion using your mirrors ,with a camera helps .After towing through France & Spain & on occasions HAVING to reverse on site ,NO problem. TRY it and see !!

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[Larrynwin]

WELL,!! you all have not read my info' on reversing with an "A" Frame !!
Done this MANY times with my Smart on A frame behind the Mo-Ho straight OR round corners .When needing to reverse,
Place a pair of 'BungyCord' / expanders around the spokes of the steering wheel hooked under the seat wheels straight This holds the steering firm.You can then reverse just as a caravan or trailer/boat in ANY directiion using your mirrors ,with a camera helps .After towing through France & Spain & on occasions HAVING to reverse on site ,NO problem. TRY it and see !!

I often wondered whether to try it but have rarely needed to reverse other than a little shuffle , glad to see it works.

 

[cargom]

Thanks for your repky. Makes sense of course, car is being converted by Towbars-2-Towcars in Grimsby who have a video of reversing a Toad on an A frame. Appreciate I have not experienced myself as yet but was only thinking of a short distance in a straight line in the event of meeting another vehicle for whatever reason. Again, appreciate anticipation of such situations is key but it is probably easier than having to unhitch.

 

[cargom]

i spoke to that company with the video and questioned them about the reversing, and he admitted that the driver was extrememly experienced and that, in normal circumstances it cannot be done

 

[pappajohn]

WELL,!! you all have not read my info' on reversing with an "A" Frame !!
Done this MANY times with my Smart on A frame behind the Mo-Ho straight OR round corners .When needing to reverse,
Place a pair of 'BungyCord' / expanders around the spokes of the steering wheel hooked under the seat wheels straight This holds the steering firm.You can then reverse just as a caravan or trailer/boat in ANY directiion using your mirrors ,with a camera helps .After towing through France & Spain & on occasions HAVING to reverse on site ,NO problem. TRY it and see !!

That I would pay money to see.

 

[cargom]

That I would pay money to see.

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[cargom]

WELL,!! you all have not read my info' on reversing with an "A" Frame !!
Done this MANY times with my Smart on A frame behind the Mo-Ho straight OR round corners .When needing to reverse,
Place a pair of 'BungyCord' / expanders around the spokes of the steering wheel hooked under the seat wheels straight This holds the steering firm.You can then reverse just as a caravan or trailer/boat in ANY directiion using your mirrors ,with a camera helps .After towing through France & Spain & on occasions HAVING to reverse on site ,NO problem. TRY it and see !!

so this would be the same as taking the key out and putting the steering lock on ??

 

[AlanF1]

WELL,!! you all have not read my info' on reversing with an "A" Frame !!
Done this MANY times with my Smart on A frame behind the Mo-Ho straight OR round corners .When needing to reverse,
Place a pair of 'BungyCord' / expanders around the spokes of the steering wheel hooked under the seat wheels straight This holds the steering firm.You can then reverse just as a caravan or trailer/boat in ANY directiion using your mirrors ,with a camera helps .After towing through France & Spain & on occasions HAVING to reverse on site ,NO problem. TRY it and see !!

WELL,!! you all have not read my info' on reversing with an "A" Frame !!
Done this MANY times with my Smart on A frame behind the Mo-Ho straight OR round corners .When needing to reverse,
Place a pair of 'BungyCord' / expanders around the spokes of the steering wheel hooked under the seat wheels straight This holds the steering firm.You can then reverse just as a caravan or trailer/boat in ANY directiion using your mirrors ,with a camera helps .After towing through France & Spain & on occasions HAVING to reverse on site ,NO problem. TRY it and see !!

Like it! - will give that a try

 

[triky]

so this would be the same as taking the key out and putting the steering lock on ??

NO !! Because the steering may lock to an angle !!

 

[Larrynwin]

I guess a bungy depending on tension would hold wheel straight and flex if pressure either way is applied.

 

[TonyEmm]

Like this ?
View attachment 615404

This is mine!

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[L' Hobo]

This is mine!

Too easy, I said a front steer 4 wheel trailer but its a start I suppose?

PS. Please all, stop getting at the 'Bungy' man. I really fancy having a go but only have an old pair of braces and no Toad!

 

[TonyEmm]

That I would pay money to see.

Reversing a TOAD is nothing like reversing trailer.
Single/centre axle trailers are (relatively) simple.
Trailers with a wheel in each corner are either turntable steered or Ackerman steered. Either way, the degree of caster on the front wheels is controlled by the angle of the drawbar. They ARE reversible but take practice.
The caster angle on a TOAD has no relation whatsoever to the angle of the a-frame/drawbar, you are not in control of it, it will go where it wants unless you’re going to just force it round and risk damaging steering arms, linkages, wheels/tyres, etc.

Just unhook it and drive them separately!

Check this ‘professional’ demonstrating it…

 

[TonyEmm]

Too easy, I said a front steer 4 wheel trailer but its a start I suppose?

PS. Please all, stop getting at the 'Bungy' man. I really fancy having a go but only have an old pair of braces and no Toad!

The baler was what I was using at the time! Rather more than the 60% overhang allowed on MoHo!

 

[eddie]

Easy, start the engine to “pull the camper”

 

[pappajohn]

Check this ‘professional’ demonstrating it…

Note which way the wheels are turned....the opposite to the direction they should be and just scrubbing.
Regular reversing like this will do your tyres no good at all.
Anyone who says they can counteract this is an outright liar.

I won't start on the illegal A frame