| Author |
Message |
S.M. Heath (66.82.50.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 8:40 pm: | |
I am towing a 1988 Mazda P/U with 35' Gillig D schooly. The Problem is when I make sharp turns into or out-of driveways (For Example) Or over very un-even paved(or concreet) Surfaces the "toad" (P/U) Starts to Abruptly Jerk side-to-side IE: Weaveing (Badly)... Upon My own Novis observation It seems that what happins is... When turning sharp the rear of Bus Mooves in the Opposit direction of turn for a short distance, That sets-up the front wheels of "toad" to start turn in the opposet direction of turn first, Then "Abruptly" The Buses Tow hitch pulls toad (Now witw Front Wheels pointed in opposit direction) In direction of turn, Next is when Trouble starts... Wheels are now each under apposeing Lateral Stress (Actualy almost pealing tires off of rims!)...(On both sides simotainously) the Only way to correct this that I have found so far is to pull over & Jack up one front wheel of toad. Or drive on dirt road.(Rush Hour Hwy. 101 at night in the pouring rain, Santa Rosa @ Freeway Entrance AN Expereance I Don't Want to repeat!) Anyone have similar experences? How do I Mitigate this "Osilation" problem? |
Peter E (Sdibaja) (67.117.219.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 9:09 pm: | |
I have the same problem pulling a VW Thing...
When I slow to a walking pace (5mph or less), or get the speed up to 40, the wheels calm down and I can resume again….
This never happens when I am running over 35mph, and seldom happens when I am accelerating from a stop.
It is a real pain as it occurs constantly on the city streets in Mexico.
I have found that when I let the air out of the fronts (down to 15 psi) it happens less.
Resetting the toe in, in or out, did not help.
I always assumed that since the front-end on the Thing is "raised" that that contributed to the situation, but now I am not so sure after I listen to you.
BTW, I replace the factory steering shock absorber to no effect.
Peter |
sam (69.11.142.105)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 10:24 pm: | |
had same problem with ford escord , and as it dont weigh much I would lock steering wheel and also you can back up if you need to ,when backing up don't turn to sharp
sam |
S.M. Heath (66.82.50.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 11:45 pm: | |
sam, Did you actualy tow that Ford (Escort?) With the steering wheel Locked? S.M. Heath. |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.165.143.106)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 8:17 am: | |
I have seen this with motorhomes that have a long overhang. This causes enormous sideways movement that sets the front end of the towed car oscillating.
Try increasing the caster angle of the front end of the car. This will help the wheels track better when being towed. It can also increase steering effort when being driven since it will want to straighten out while turning a corner.
Jim |
Tim (209.205.134.144)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 9:39 am: | |
Installation of a shimmy damper on the toad?
Seems as though any of the big name tow bar manufacturers would have heard about this and should be a good resource. |
S.M. Heath (66.82.50.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 10:08 am: | |
Jim, Increase Neg. Or Pos. Caster?. |
Rodger in WA (64.70.24.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 10:14 am: | |
I had a similar, though not nearly as severe as you descibe, problem when towing a Honda Accord with a sticks and staples motorhome. 11' from the rear axle to the hitch. In addition to forcing the toad's front wheels sideways on turns, the continual side to side oscillation, even on straight roads, caused rapid and uneven front tire wear on the toad.
The problem is the long overhang on the towing vehicle. With a long rear overhang, any steering input, is greatly magnified at the rear and in the opposite direction. I see no solution other than using a tow dolly. |
Bruce Finlayson (209.53.141.49)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 1:20 pm: | |
BRUCEMC2
Have had the same problem while towing a Honda Civic. Solved it completly by running 2 heavy duty bungee cords from the steering wheel spokes to the base of the drivers seat. |
Gary Carter (68.25.127.3)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 1:57 pm: | |
The above is a what they did when pulling chevettes back when. Bungee cords were part of the towing tools.
Seems that having been around the RV industry for 30 years, what goes around seems to come back. |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.142.115.80)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 4:47 pm: | |
S.M.- increase positive caster- tip the top ball joint back to put the tire contact point behind where an imaginary line through the ball joints would hit the ground.
Jim |
S.M. Heath (66.82.50.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 10:49 pm: | |
Thanks for all your recomendations. Looks like the bungies are the closest to what seems to be the safest (affordable) soulution for me to attempt. I will Give update when I get around to towing Toad again. S.M. Heath. |