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Toad Car Questions

Yahoo Message Number: 35179
Since we are recent converts from a 5th wheel to a Class A, and are new to towing a vehicle, I'm wondering what things are out there that protect the toad from rocks. I've seen the deflectors that mount on the towbar. Are they effective? Worth the cost? Is there something I can put over the windshield to protect it? We've got a new Jeep Wrangler - we have a bra on it, but I'm wondering about the windshield. Thanks!

Rod & Donna Thalimer

'08 Inspire 360 Founders Edition
#52126

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35182
Rod & Donna

We flat tow a 2000 Explorer and have 23,000 on our 06 Inspire. We had a Mountain Aire before the CC and towed it about 20,000. We have never had a problem, or any kind of damage to the Explorer, but have replaced the coach windshield. There are covers available. Not sure where.

Ned Herrmann

2006 Inspire 51677

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35184
You might try or look at Protect-A-Tow. It protects the toad and coach from bouncing rocks. We use it and.. have heard that many others have with great success. The test of driving to Alaska (not by us) where replacing windshields is a way of life, appears to have giving this type of protection a real workout with excellent results.

Russ and Jean
05 Intrigue
11883

Quote from: Attack sub sailor\[br\
]
Rod and Donna,

I saw a bra an windshield cover on a car made by this company
http://www.coastlinecover.com/index.htm and I was impressed. I am going to have them make a cover for my scooter that I carry on the rear of my coach.

Quote
John 31060

soon2bfulltimin wrote:

Since we are recent converts from a 5th wheel to a Class A, and

are new

Quote
to towing a vehicle, I'm wondering what things are out there that > protect the toad from rocks. I've seen the deflectors that mount

on the

Quote
towbar. Are they effective? Worth the cost? Is there something I

can

Quote
put over the windshield to protect it? We've got a new Jeep

Wrangler -

Quote
we have a bra on it, but I'm wondering about the windshield.

Thanks!

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35185
I tow a Saturn and use a nose cover by Coastline that is made for individual models (they have patterns for most vehicles) - it covers the entire front of the car including the windshield. You can see them on their website: http://www.coastlinecover.com/tow.htm.
John & Linda

'06 Inspire 51905
'02 Saturn

Quote from: soon2bfulltimin
> > Since we are recent converts from a 5th wheel to a Class A, and are

new

Quote
to towing a vehicle, I'm wondering what things are out there that > protect the toad from rocks. I've seen the deflectors that mount on

the

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35186
We use a full cover from Coastline on our 06 Vue and we just returned from a 9000 mile trip through Canada and Alaska and the cover works perfectly. I'm very happy with this product, easy to put on and a perfect fit. I would reccomend it.
Ron 98 Allure 30185

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35208

In planning for an Alaska trip (which had to be postponed until next year) my research led me to settle on the Protect-a-Tow as the best overall tow car protection. I was still worried about the tow car windshield because I heard that most of this damage comes from the gravel trucks that you pass rather than rocks kicked up by the coach. I didn't want a cover for the full front of the car since I'd heard that the fine dust and grit caught between the cover and the car is very hard on the paint. I looked for a long time trying to find a windshield only cover and was about to make my own when I stumbled across this one:
http://www.beverlybay.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=16219&cat=62&page=1
by Beverly Bay. I bought one and although I haven't had it out on the road yet it looks very sturdy and well made.
Bill & Kathleen Tudor
Orcas Island, WA
'05 Inspire #51395
'05 Acura MDX

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35209
It was not pretty, it was not fancy.... however, on our trip to Alaska, Yukon and BC we took our old saturn and not wanting to buy a cover for one trip, we used a furniture packing blanket and attached it with a cord sewed into a fold at the top ran it thru the inside of the car and used simple canvass clips on the bottom. Not one mark where the car was covered, however where it wasn't............

ddtuttle

(aka Billy Byte, trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35216
On our trip to Ak and Canada, any part of the front not covered looked like it went thru hell. I'm thinking that although the windshield cover is great, you should also look at the screen that goes under the tow bar.

ddtuttle

(aka Billy Byte, trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35474

Thanks everyone for your input on covers. After all the recomendations, we're going with the Coastline product.

One more question:

After hooking up the tow bar, the owners manual (08 Jeep Wrangler) says to put the key in the acc position, then disconnect the neg battery cable, so as not to drain the battery. In the course of driving 200-400 miles in a day, will leaving it connected drain the battery? Is there an easier setup for disconnect than opening the hood up? Thanks, we're learning as we go!!

Rod

08 Inspire 360 Founders Edition #52126

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35476
Years ago I had a car that would be dead after towing it did not matter how many fuses I pulled. Finally put on a battery disconnect. Made everything so much easier. Open the hood, pull the lever over and go. Easier than pulling fuses then putting them back in.

Jurhee

2005 Magna 6480


Please remove my email address - if this is forwarded. Practice good netiquette and Cut-N-Paste, as well as sending BCC.

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35477
Rod,

I've read on other forums of some people with the new JK towing for 4-6 hours and not having problems with battery drain and others towing for less time and their battery is dead. I think the only solution if you don't want to open the hood, is to hook up a trickle charger from your coach to your Jeep. I have a friend who's going to help me with this project in the near future. Easier than disconnecting your battery is to pull the IOD fuse. Open your fuse box thats in the engine compartment and it's the fuse with the white "pull" tab. Just pop it up and it cuts the power. Push it back down when you unhook your Jeep and your good to go. Another solution would be to install a knife switch on you battery cable. Enjoy your JK, they're a grest tow vehicle.

Dan & Kelly

06 Intrigue 11936

Quote from: Rod Thalimer\[br\
]
Thanks everyone for your input on covers. After all the
recomendations, we're going with the Coastline product.

Quote
>

One more question:

After hooking up the tow bar, the owners manual (08 Jeep Wrangler)
says to put the key in the acc position, then disconnect the neg battery cable, so as not to drain the battery. In the course of driving 200-400 miles in a day, will leaving it connected drain the battery? Is there an easier setup for disconnect than opening the hood up? Thanks, we're learning as we go!!

Quote
Rod

08 Inspire 360 Founders Edition
#52126
 

Re: Toad Car Questions

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35478
I have a 2005 Honda Element for sale,

20,000 miles

roadmaster base and tow bar
M&G brake system.

Gary Bettig

2002 Intrigue 11451
704-996-1993