Toad Advice

[kwood]

I am looking for advice on toad options.  We would need a large toad as we have four kids.  Here is what I have to work with:

MCI9 with 8v71 with heavy duty trailer hitch attached forward to the frame
A 2001 1-ton 15 passenger Chevy van rwd
A 2007 Chrysler Pacifica (6 seats!) rear wheel drive only
Access to a tow dolly
A 22 foot enclosed trailer (that the Pacifica would fit in, but would probably cause space issues in campgrounds)

Would anything work here?  What would be the best for any of the vehicles?  Tow wheels down with pump?  Use a dolly or trailer?  What about vehicle size, are either too large to tow with a bus?

Really appreciate the thoughts as my wife and I are trying to make the decision as to what direction to go.

Regards,

Kevin

[redbus]

Kevin

Call Remco Towing. They will tell you what needs to be done to each to tow them.

[Eagle Andy]

Well Kevin  We tow a 2002 Tahoe  and it comes in about 5400 #  We drive an Eagle with a 8 92 If there was one thing I would like to do is add some sort of  additional braking . I did have a driveline disconnect when I towed our full size pickup because it was two wheel drive . anyway that what we did . Good luck Andy

[Chuck Newman]

Kevin,

Lube pumps are for front wheel drive vehicles only (but not necessary for many with manual trans).  Your options with the van and Chrysler are:

1. Remco drive shaft disconnect.

2. Trailer.  Most camp grounds will not have room for three vehicles in camp.

You cannot tow either of the above vehicles with the rear wheels on the ground, unless you disconnect the drive shaft.  Of course, if you do that, you won't need a dolly as you can now tow them "4 down".  Towing with the front wheels down has many problems and limitations.

We tow a full size Ford van using the Remco drive shaft disconnect.  Works fine.  A tip: Have a professional drive shaft alignment shop do the install.  They have the skill and equipment to make sure everything is balanced and you have no vibration. 

Also I recommend the M&G supplemental braking system.  I used it in a 5400 lb Bronco and 6000 lb van.  Works great.  And all you have to do to tow the vehicle is (beside tow bar and safety cables) quick connect a single air line from the coach to the towd.  No boxes to install, align, adjust, add power, check fuses, watch lights, etc., etc. 

Chuck

[tomhamrick]

We have a 2004 Honda Pilot that we have used since it was new. You should have seen my wife's face when she came out to the garage and saw the whole front end off of her new car when I was installing the towing brackets!      It is made to tow four down and has the directions in the owners manual. Has 3 seating rows and handles 8 people. We usually lay the rear seats flat and load up with stuff for the trip as well. I think it weighs around 4000#.

Tom Hamrick

[BG6]

Lube pumps are for front wheel drive vehicles only

Uh . . .no.

Lube pumps are for any auto-trans vehicle which will be towed with the driven wheels on the ground.

[BG6]

I am looking for advice on toad options.  We would need a large toad as we have four kids. 

You don't say if you're fulltiming, how far you are going and staying, etc.  Each of these factors comes into play.

If you are either weekending or fulltiming while staying in one place for a week or more, forget towing and just have your second driver bring the vehicle that you will get the most use from.  Get ham radio licenses (easy enough that an 8-year-old can do it!) and you can communicate over longer distances, even when the cell phones aren't working, so your second driver can go ahead to scout, or stay behind to finish cleaning up.

The other advantage of this idea is that the second vehicle can tow a toy hauler, if desired.

If you are fulltiming and making the Great Tour, putting in miles every day or two, I would suggest getting a tow dolly and a minivan.

Either way, the least amount of weight you hang on the back, the better.

[bevans6]

I like this map for a quick reference of when you need a brake system inside your towed vehicle.  http://dbrake.com/towing-laws.php

My own feeling about size is that if the hitch is adequate, then the weight of the combination (bus and towed vehicle combined) should probably be about equal to or less than the GVWR of the bus.  My thinking is that it was designed to have power to go up and down hills with a full load of passengers, the weight of which is probably more than the weight added back from a conversion and a towed vehicle.  My own bus has a gvwr of close to 32K and an actual of 26K, so I figure I'm not getting serious until I have a trailer of over 6k lbs.  And since I have the same 8V-71 and spicer that a lot of MC8's and MC9's have, my hill climbing ability will remain pretty good.  I hope I'm right!


Brian

[prevost82]

Those toads are kinda big for a 8v71. If you running on the flat all the time it won't be bad but it will be painfull on any grade. But thats just MHO

[bobofthenorth]

I have a good friend who tows his wife's Expedition 4 down by disconnecting the drive shaft.  He says it raises a few eyebrows at the campground gate when he puts on his coveralls and slides under the SUV but he has it down to under 15 minutes total including the tow bar which is likely as fast as I can do mine.  They tend to go to one place and spend a long time there so that helps too.  He built a U-shaped loop to hang the driveshaft on once it is disconnected so all he has to do is pull 4 bolts and hang the driveshaft to be ready to go.  It might not be ideal but it certainly is an option for any RWD vehicle.

[JLL]

I tow a 95 jeep grand cherokee 4 down  with a 4106 with 8-71 engine.  V 730 trans,  The jeep weighs 4400 lbs,  I'm not sure of the differential.  I get along fine on flat highways but soon as I hit a hill 5% or more I drop down to 18 MPH. some times I wonder if I will make.  In 1st some times I can't keep it at 1500 RPMs That's not very good on  the 8-71.  So my advice would not tow any towd any heavier.

[zubzub]

I tow a 95 jeep grand cherokee 4 down  with a 4106 with 8-71 engine.  V 730 trans,  The jeep weighs 4400 lbs,  I'm not sure of the differential.  I get along fine on flat highways but soon as I hit a hill 5% or more I drop down to 18 MPH. some times I wonder if I will make.  In 1st some times I can't keep it at 1500 RPMs That's not very good on  the 8-71.  So my advice would not tow any towd any heavier.

wow 1st on 5% grades!  Worst I got was 2nd and that was with a 6-71 and a lousy run into the hill 'cause of traffic.  I was towing a 92 eurovan 4 down, did not notice it otherwise.  can't find it's weight but it is a mid sized van like a safari.

[kwood]

Thanks, everyone!  Lots of food for thought.  Still not sure which direction we will go but I have been looking at the Remco products.  They have some useful information on their website.

Kevin

[PP]

I tow a Jeep Liberty cause it was what I found that could be towed 4-down without any mods at the time. I got lucky on this choice LOL because it works great and don't even know it's back there. For that reason alone, I do keep an eye on it with the backup camera LOL
Good luck with whichever way you go, Will