MH towing Jeep - is this normal?

**Terier** · 06-18-2014, 12:48 AM

I'm curious...

While on the freeway today I was nervous being behind a motorhome that was towing a Jeep with all 4 wheels on the pavement. The Jeep and the back end of the MH was all over the lane the whole time. After I switched lane I could see the Jeep drifting side to side with the MH rear following but not so much the front of the MH. It was strange to watch.

Is this normal when towing with MH?

RSchleder · 06-18-2014, 05:21 AM

NO!!!!! Something was wrong with the tow setup. We've towed several vehicles behind our 3 diesel pushers and the TOAD was rock solid behind the coach. There should be no side to side (whipping) movement at all when you have the proper tow plate on the TOAD and a good, well designed, name brand tow bar!

BigJohnD · 06-18-2014, 05:24 AM

Very normal to see a Jeep as a toad, 4 wheels down. We towed a Honda Fit with both our motorhomes, and it tracked really well. I've seen a lot of Jeep Wranglers and such around us behind the MH's. Not sure why his rig was swaying all over the road though. Probably, driver induced, but may have had other unknown issues. Normally 4 down will track really well.

Arefbee · 06-18-2014, 06:37 AM

I see Jeep toads pretty often without issues. It could have been road induced, but the Jeep may have been the source of the issue as well if it was badly aligned or had one or two soft tires.
Was it a Class A or a Class C motorhome?

ChooChooMan74 · 06-18-2014, 06:44 AM

From my racing days (many years ago, so this is coming from the archives of what is left of my brain), if it is an alignment issue, there could not be enough caster or there is too much tow in. Caster, as the name applies, helps keep the wheel straight. Just think of a caster on a shopping cart that is working properly. It stays straight in the direction of travel. For too much tow in, it makes the vehicle dart left and right. Think of the wheels like / \ and if one wheel gets more traction (bump) over the other, it will dart in the way that wheel is turned. I had that issue with my Jeep, as the alignment went out this winter. Now that it is aligned, it tracks straight.

Now, since I know nothing about tow bars, maybe it could be a bad tow bar setup. But others will have to chime in.

**Terier** · 06-18-2014, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arefbee

I see Jeep toads pretty often without issues. It could have been road induced, but the Jeep may have been the source of the issue as well if it was badly aligned or had one or two soft tires.
Was it a Class A or a Class C motorhome?

It was a Class A motorhome.

Ford Idaho · 06-18-2014, 12:40 PM

I saw two A class rigs with a jeep behind them one was a standard the other was a four door both looked just fine, no motion side to side that I saw and both were at or over 70 MPH when they passed me.

BamaBob · 06-18-2014, 12:52 PM

Sounds like something was SERIOUSLY wrong with their TOAD setup

**Terier** · 06-18-2014, 12:52 PM

I didn't think it was normal and wouldn't want to be the driver either.

Based on my speed the MH in question was doing 65 mph. Here in SoCal the speed limit is 55 when towing. This area is a heavy traveled freeway especially with trucks. Even the semi trucks were moving out of the way.

Campin Cajun · 06-18-2014, 12:53 PM

I tow a Wrangler behind my coach. It has 35" tires with a 3" lift. No side to side. I have the rear view camera on it the whole time I am driving and I have never noticed any side to side motion.

Was the front of the motorhome going side to side also? Maybe the driver had a "few" too many.

**Terier** · 06-18-2014, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

Sounds like something was SERIOUSLY wrong with their TOAD setup

Ditto. It reminded me of dog's tail wagging.

Arefbee · 06-18-2014, 01:06 PM

I was thinking that the longer motor-coach may have been obscuring the fact that the driver was trying to reach his iPhone on the floor.

(edit) Small control changes at the front can bring dramatic results to the rear because of the longer distance from rear the wheels to the hitch.

**Terier** · 06-18-2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arefbee

I was thinking that the longer motor-coach may have been obscuring the fact that the driver was trying to reach his iPhone on the floor.

(edit) Small control changes at the front can bring dramatic results to the rear because of the longer distance from rear the wheels to the hitch.

Reaching for something could explain some of the movement but the drifting went on regularly for the 8-10 miles I was traveling aside the MH.

tlf65 · 06-24-2014, 06:30 PM

We tow a Jeep Liberty with our class C and I always have to check the rear camera to make sure it's still there because it tracks great.

VinceU · 06-24-2014, 06:42 PM

A few years back I was towing a Wrangler with a standard A frame towbar. Enroute a pin fell out on the driver side attachment to the Jeep. It performed exactly as you describe like a dog's tail. Cars passed us and never said a word but as the damage worsened I could see the Jeeptrying to pass me, in the side mirrow! I pulled over and DW got into Jeep, Bar went into storage. Pretty scary as you said. It becomes a one point tow with the toad having steering, very bad.

Phil57 · 07-17-2014, 08:06 PM

I have a friend that had his Wrangler try to pass him. He stopped and "had lost a pin". I gave him a hard time because you can't just lose a pin. You can forget to put the locking pin in it but they don't just disappear for no good reason. It got very wild before he got it stopped so as Vince said that could be the problem.

You may also like: