SemperFiCop
USA
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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Rasmi wrote:Jamesrpm wrote:SemperFiCop wrote:hohenwald48 wrote:Here we go with the "to toad brake or not to toad brake" unending debate again.
No Debate,
Safety
ALWAYS
Comes First... 
Why post to a year old beat to death thread ? Let sleeping dogs lie.
It is Always Nice to See
Someone get Useful Information...
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kalynzoo
Los Angeles , California
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Joined: 12/30/2005
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It happens, it happened to me with a custom welded baseplate. Many if not most of us use safety chains that attach securely to the baseplate of the toad. When the baseplate goes, so do the safety chains, and the brake pin. The safety items stay with the MH and the toad goes off on its merry way. Hope your friends are ok, as least no one was hurt. Happy and safe traveling to all.
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daveB110
British Columbia, Canada
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Joined: 04/19/2004
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Why rely on baseplates to do all the work. If you cannot find places to chain down your hitch to the frame, get a vehicle that will allow it. I am referring to a set of chains or perhaps cables, that will anchor the towbar base to the towed vehicle, as daveinet has done. This was my approach as well, and I feel much better that the little car will always follow along behind.
Installing a brake sysytem I agree is the responsible next step, but should come AFTER chaining your baseplate.
While in a park this spring couldn't help but notice a nice new MH with a complete hitch bundled up behind, even sporting all that remained of his new Explorer, a few twisted remnants of its frame still attached to it. The hitch had completely pulled away from the frame of the vehicle as he rounded a corner, and had ended up, totalled, at the bottom of a mountainside. He said it utilized a braking system that was in good working order.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I agree, hooking safety cables direct to the frame is best for safety
Regular inspection of the base plate is a good idea too.
In fact regular inspection of the entire towing system is a good idea.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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tropical36
Southwest Florida_USA
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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Always good to check and re-check everything, but something doesn't smell right here. The problem seems to point towards the original installation, rather than a rare failure of the equipment itself.
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal, with a tag axle and one slide, on a 1997 P32 Chevy chassis....7.4 Vortec Engine
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pfunk
Shelby Township, MI
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Joined: 08/12/2008
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Welding of hitch components isnt a good idea unless they pass through (most crossmembers and hitches are bolted to the frame to allow for flex (they become loose and dont fall off right away,,, a weld doesnt come loose)
2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor
300 Cat 6spd Ally
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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EIther the original installation or the follow up inspections yes.
As I said the original install on my baseplate was proper.. However routine inspeciton found loose bolts about a year later.. I re-tightened them and continue to re-inspect
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ns911
VA
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Joined: 03/19/2007
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Sorry about the problem.
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texasrvr
Texas
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Joined: 02/04/2008
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Many years ago (too many) I used to work on aircraft engines and we wired everything possible with safety wire to prevent nuts from vibrating loose. I guess Loctite is a lot easier to work with but safety wire, cotterpins, and things like that are difficult and tedious to install, but are still a lot better then LOctite. Just my opinion......
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desholar
Mississippi
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Joined: 05/20/2008
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checked mine just the other day...found one bolt missing and the plate was loose....took to shop and was told it looked like that one bolt was never installed....another lesson for me about a rv dealer that charged me but didn't do what i paid for...i spent alot of money at one rv dealer only to find out (later) that everything they did was either done wrong or not done at all....and that is frome the toilet seal(installed with the cardboard still taped over the sealing surface) to the slide out rams that he charged me for and never installed...(when i went somewhere else to check why leaking found out the orginal rams were still on the coach...serial numbers and all)
2002 Winnebago Cheiftian
2004 F-150 Crew Cab Toad
2 Cats
1 DW
LIVE WELL...LOVE MUCH....LAUGH OFTEN
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