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Dinghy towing

Yahoo Message Number: 4497
Hi - I'm new to your group and new to full time RV'ing. I've just survived winter in New Jersey with a new coach. Thank God I had the good fortune to chose CC. I've had some annoying problems but nothing deadly yet. I've enjoyed reviewing your comments and helpful hints.

I'm hopeful one of you good people can provide some insight on the following. I'm in the process of trying to buy a new vehicle as a toad. My first choice would be a full sized domestic 4X4 manual transmission pickup trunk. Is anyone out there using one of those as a toad. I've spoken to Ford about the F150 they tell the truck is towable if they cap off two vacuum lines to the diaphragm that controls the 4X4 mode. You just reconnect the vacuum lines when you want to use the 4X4 feature. A Chevy Silverado 1500 is another possibility. I got an e-mail from Chevy that says the Silverado is towable but could not tell me if a locking differential would create a problem. The Chevy dealer I was working with didn't sound to credible. He told me that only the 2500 Silverado series is towable and it just happens he's got one on the lot (Hummmm). The Ford dealer I am working with tells me a locking or limited slip differential is not a problem for my application. Both Chevy and Ford have locking or a limited slip differential. I'm currently investigating a Dodge Dakota. According to Toyota's web site the Tundra is not towable however one their dealers said it was. If anyone has any experience with this please let me know. Thanks Jose' 2003 CC Allure

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4500
Only one question...why spend the winter in NJ when you're fulltiming???? (First rule of fulltiming is North in the SUMMER, South in the WINTER!)

We drive a Jeep as a toad...so no help with a pickup truck...other than to say we use our Jeep as an "attic" so are happy to have the extra "closed-in space"...also have to drive the "grands" around periodically, so it's nice to have passenger room. Easy to tow...no modifications...just hookup and go for the most part.
Welcome to "the amorphous neighborhood that moves." It's a great way to live and see our wonderful country.
Jan McNeill, Fulltimer
2001 Intrigue 11320

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4501
Jose',

I don't know anything about the toads that you are looking at.... I tow a Jeep Cherokee.

I do know that whichever you decide on make sure that it's towability is IN WRITTING. Either in the manual, from the manufacturer or from the dealer who claims it is towable and that they will stand behind any failures that you rely on. I say this because my brother had his dealer replace his toad because they were wrong about his car. He had it in writting and suffered no loss except the stress of the experience.

Good luck.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438

Quote from: Jose Ferrer
Hi - I'm new to your group and new to full time RV'ing. I've just > survived winter in New Jersey with a new coach. Thank God I had

the

Quote
good fortune to chose CC. I've had some annoying problems but

nothing

Quote
deadly yet. I've enjoyed reviewing your comments and helpful hints.

I'm hopeful one of you good people can provide some insight on the > following. I'm in the process of trying to buy a new vehicle as a > toad. My first choice would be a full sized domestic 4X4 manual > transmission pickup trunk. Is anyone out there using one of those

as

Quote
a toad. I've spoken to Ford about the F150 they tell the truck is > towable if they cap off two vacuum lines to the diaphragm that > controls the 4X4 mode. You just reconnect the vacuum lines when

you

Quote
want to use the 4X4 feature. A Chevy Silverado 1500 is another > possibility. I got an e-mail from Chevy that says the Silverado is > towable but could not tell me if a locking differential would

create

Quote
a problem. The Chevy dealer I was working with didn't sound to > credible. He told me that only the 2500 Silverado series is

towable

Quote
and it just happens he's got one on the lot (Hummmm). The Ford

dealer

Quote
I am working with tells me a locking or limited slip differential

is

Quote
not a problem for my application. Both Chevy and Ford have locking

or

Quote
a limited slip differential. I'm currently investigating a Dodge > Dakota. According to Toyota's web site the Tundra is not towable > however one their dealers said it was. If anyone has any

experience
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4505
Jan - How I envy those of you have the good fortune to be able to migrate. My wife is still tied to her work and can't retire for another few years. So we are stuck in New Jersey till then. But once we retire the North will not see me until spring. Thanks Jose'

Quote from: janmcneill
Only one question...why spend the winter in NJ when you're > fulltiming???? (First rule of fulltiming is North in the

SUMMER,

Quote
South in the WINTER!)

We drive a Jeep as a toad...so no help with a pickup truck...other > than to say we use our Jeep as an "attic" so are happy to have the > extra "closed-in space"...also have to drive the "grands" around > periodically, so it's nice to have passenger room. Easy to tow...no > modifications...just hookup and go for the most part.
Welcome to "the amorphous neighborhood that moves." It's a great

way

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4506
Dick - Thanks for the suggestions. I had similar concerns so as part of the deal I've requested that the dealer certify in writting that the vehicle I get is toawable with all four wheels down including how far it can be towed at what speeds. Jose' 2003 CC Allure

Quote from: dickmay_2000
>

Jose',
> I don't know anything about the toads that you are looking at.... I > tow a Jeep Cherokee.

I do know that whichever you decide on make sure that it's > towability is IN WRITTING. Either in the manual, from the > manufacturer or from the dealer who claims it is towable and that > they will stand behind any failures that you rely on. I say this > because my brother had his dealer replace his toad because they

were

Quote
wrong about his car. He had it in writting and suffered no loss > except the stress of the experience.

Good luck.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438

[quote author=Jose Ferrer"

> Hi - I'm new to your group and new to full time RV'ing. I've just > > survived winter in New Jersey with a new coach. Thank God I had > the

> good fortune to chose CC. I've had some annoying problems but > nothing

> deadly yet. I've enjoyed reviewing your comments and helpful

hints.

Quote

> I'm hopeful one of you good people can provide some insight on

the

Quote
following. I'm in the process of trying to buy a new vehicle as a > > toad. My first choice would be a full sized domestic 4X4 manual > > transmission pickup trunk. Is anyone out there using one of those > as

> a toad. I've spoken to Ford about the F150 they tell the truck is > > towable if they cap off two vacuum lines to the diaphragm that > > controls the 4X4 mode. You just reconnect the vacuum lines when > you

> want to use the 4X4 feature. A Chevy Silverado 1500 is another > > possibility. I got an e-mail from Chevy that says the Silverado

is

Quote
towable but could not tell me if a locking differential would > create

> a problem. The Chevy dealer I was working with didn't sound to > > credible. He told me that only the 2500 Silverado series is > towable

> and it just happens he's got one on the lot (Hummmm). The Ford > dealer

> I am working with tells me a locking or limited slip differential > is

> not a problem for my application. Both Chevy and Ford have

locking

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4508
Jose, I can't speak to the Ford but a friend has a GMC and tows it. I have a Dodge, it's a Durango but the drive train on the truck is the same and the owners manual gives proceedures for towing with four wheels down. Basically steps to put the transmission and other systems in neutral. Takes about 2 mins. I would go with the GMC if money is not a concern but Dodge does offer better warranty.

tks
jb
--

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4514
Jose,

I flat tow a 2002 GMC 1500HD Seria, 4x4, auto, with limit slip rear end. No problem. I also use a "Brake Buddy" for braking.

Jim C. of Rougemont, NC
2000 MADP

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4518
Jan,

Thanks for the great info. As it happens the Chevy dealer I've been working with has faxed me the documentation on dinghy towing a Silverado.

I also want to thank all of you who contributed with your comments.
Thanks Jose'

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4527
Jose

The only thing I can tell you is to get the dealer to show you it can be towed in the owners manual. We tow a Jeep GC and the owners manual contains all the instructions. Never believe a salesman or a factory engineer unless you see it in writing. We met many sales people who said they knew but they were wrong. We even went to an auto show and talked with factory engineers and they didn't know. Towing a vehicle is a small nitch market which most companies don't pay attention to.

When we were looking for our Jeep we said we would buy from the first sales person who could show us in writing the vehicle could be towed. We went to 6 dealerships before we found that person.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4530
I am presently using a Chevy Duramax 2500 series 4 wheel drive ext. cab pickup with Allison auto tranny as a toad behind our Prevost Country Coach. Works fine. Used to use a GMC Denali 4x4 and it too was fine. Before that I had a 4 wd Chevy Tahoe and also fine. You have to make sure that the transfer case, whether manual shift model (less expensive) on the floor, has aneutral position. The Gen Motors models full-size mostly have buttons on the dash to control shifting from 2 wheel drive to 4 w-drive (high and low mode) and a NEUTRAL position which is accessed by pressing 2 buttons at the same time and waiting for a light to show to indicate NEUTRAL position of the transfer case. Pulling the toad has no real affect on the positraction or whatever the others call theirs. NOTE: there are one or 2 fuses that shold be pulled when you hookup and pull for more than a day otherwise you can drain the battery on the toad. Why? You have to leave the steering wheel in the last "ON" position prior to the "RUN" position and that leaves the dash transmission indicator "ON" and maybe some other items. Simple to do. GM full- size 4 wheel drive vehicles are easy to pull as a toad and easy to put into NEUTRAL on the transfer case. Good luck. But don't forget that you should use a braking system and a safety brake-away system also.

Bill-PA-Country coach Prevost 40' XL 1998

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4533
Hi Jose'

We have a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 that we tow. It tows like a dream. It has electronic 4x4 and so you just push a button. We are very happy with towing it. It is heavy though. Plan on around #5200. Yes, that's 5200. We have weighed it several times in Oregon where it's free. Also, we got the coating for the bed which added a lot of extra weight.
Joe and Patti

Re: Dinghy towing

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4534
Jose,

` If you are buying a new vehicle, be certain the manufacturer says it is towable. If the manufacturer (not the dealer) does not say it is towable, you may find dealers will not honor the warranty when you have problems.
When I looked for a new toad about 15 months ago, Ford, Toyota, and some other manufacturers said that their vehicles were not towable. I called the manufacturers when I found that some dealers "didn't know for sure". I towed a Chevy Blazer for three years because it had Trac-lock (spelling ?).
My GMC Sierra pickup has the same "Auto 4WD" system. Most important is that the manual that comes with it tells you what buttons to push and hold for 10 seconds to disengage the transmission for towing. It also tells you to pull a specific fuse. I have had warranty work done on both vehicles without any questions or comments from the dealers. It is the "Trac-lock" or "Auto 4WD" system that is important and it is only available on certain models of Chevy or GMC trucks, not the cheapest. I think the Trailblazer and GMC equivalent also have it. Dealers and mechanics might be able to tell you how to rig a new vehicle to tow it, but if the manufacturer does not tell you how in writing, they might not warranty any problem they can relate to towing it.
I use M and G Engineering (Athens, TX 800-817-7698) braking system and breakaway system because nothing goes inside the cab. It all goes under the hood and the brakes work off the air brakes of your coach.

Gene 2000 Allure

Re: Dinghy towing-GMC fuse pulling

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4535
Gene, if you are towing a newer model, you may not have to pull the fuses.

I was tipped off to this by Robt Heaps (mssg # 4314) and have not pulled the fuse since. Just got back from a trip to Arizona, 5,000 miles, no problem, no battery drain at all.
Bill Harris
03 Allure
30912

03 GMC Envoy Toad

Quote from: Martha and Gene
Merryman"
man"]
...... It also tells you to pull

Quote
a specific fuse. I have had warranty work done on both vehicles

without any

Quote
questions or comments from the dealers. It is the "Trac-lock"
or "Auto 4WD"

Quote
system that is important and it is only available on certain
models of Chevy

Quote
or GMC trucks, not the cheapest. I think the Trailblazer and GMC

equivalent

Re: Dinghy towing-GMC fuse pulling

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4537
So what fuse(s) is/are pulled in what model year? I have a 1999 (early production model mfg Jan 1998) Tahoe that I am about to tow.
The book says nothing about any fuses and Chevy Technical folks I talked to haven't a clue.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: wmhar48116

Re: Dinghy towing-GMC fuse pulling

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4538
Jim, I am talking about the ignition "A" & "B" fuses on the 03 Envoy. They are located under the hood in a fuse box.
As explained to me, on the older models, after you put the trans in freewheeling, you still had to leave the ingition key "on" so the steering would not lock. The fuses were pulled so the battery would not run down. On the new models, when you put the trans in freewheeling, you can take the key out of the ignition, and the steering is not locked. So, no need to pull and fuses.
I think I got that right!
Bill Harris
03 Allure
30912

Quote from: Jim Hughes
So what fuse(s) is/are pulled in what model year? I have a 1999 > (early production model mfg Jan 1998) Tahoe that I am about to

tow.

Re: Dinghy towing-GMC fuse pulling

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4539
Thanks Bill....I have the same fuse box under hood on driver's side with an 'A' & 'B' fuse and I have to leave the key in to unlock steering wheel. Even though there is no power on or drain on battery with key turned to first position to unlock steering wheel, I guess I should pull the fuses you mentioned just in case.

What a great forum!

Thanks

Jim Hughes

Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: wmhar48116
Jim, I am talking about the ignition "A" & "B" fuses on the 03
Envoy. They are located under the hood in a fuse box.
As explained to me, on the older models, after you put the trans in > freewheeling, you still had to leave the ingition key "on" so the > steering would not lock. The fuses were pulled so the battery

would

Re: Dinghy towing-GMC fuse pulling

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4544
I did not pull the fuse for one short trip and found that without pulling the fuse the odometer runs up the miles that the truck is being towed. I have driven the truck just over 17,000 miles and towed it over 20K. The odometer shows 17,000+ miles. I don't want the towing mileage to show when I trade it in 5 to 6 years. My GMC Sierra is a 2002 and you have to turn the key one click to unlock the steering wheel for towing. Pulling the fuse stops the battery drain when the key is turned a click.

Gene

Re: Dinghy towing-GMC fuse pulling

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4547
Gene, I forgot to set the ignition key in the correct positions once and drove 60+ miles before a front tire exploded and my toad started on fire (after dragging the toad for maybe a couple of miles).
I now have the steering wheel lock removed. Not having to pull fuses would be another benefit as I don't have to keep the ignition on.
We tyically travel during vacations, and remove the toad almost every day, thus toad hookup/disconnect convenience is very important to us.
It might not be as important if one travelled from place to place on a weekly or monthly basis though.

To also make the toad braking convenient, we use the M&G airbrake system, just connecting an airhose between the coach and the toad. No installing some buddy box every day.

I like the no-brain approach (for obvious reasons :-)

Quote from: Martha and Gene\[br\
Merryman"] > I did not pull the fuse for one short trip and found that without > pulling the fuse the odometer runs up the miles that the truck is being > towed. I have driven the truck just over 17,000 miles and towed it over > 20K. The odometer shows 17,000+ miles. I don't want the towing

mileage to

Quote
show when I trade it in 5 to 6 years. My GMC Sierra is a 2002 and

you have

Quote
to turn the key one click to unlock the steering wheel for towing.

Pulling

Re: Dinghy towing-GMC fuse pulling

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 4548
I have a 2002 GMC Serria that I have installed a switch under the dash instead of pulling the fuse.

Jim C. of Rougemont, NC
2000 MADP