trkrhelp
On The Road
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Joined: 06/20/2003
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Here's a word of caution for all, but especially if you have any bumper stickers on your car that people may not like.
Friday we hooked up and pulled out of the campground. As I always do I checked the mirrors on the first turn out of the campsite to be sure the wheels were turning on the toad. All was well, and we pulled out of the campground. As we got to the highway my computer shut down, forgot to plug it in and since I use it to navigate I pulled into a pull out to get it started up again. There was another car in the pull out, but I didn't pay much attention to him. I busied myself with getting the computer running again and then pulled out onto the highway. At 40mph we heard a strange noise and I immediately started looking for a place to pull of and investigate. We'd gone a 1/2 mile to a mile before I found a place to get off the road.
As I walked around I could see the black skid marks on the highway behind us. Apparently either the car just decided to shift itself into gear or the guy in the pullout decided to play with my toad - either way, 40mph in 1st gear over revved the engine badly. Didn't realize it was damaged until we stopped and it wouldn't start. Goes to the shop tomorrow - probably for an expensive rebuild.
So the lesson learned - I always do a walk around when I stop, check the bike tie-downs, shake the tow bar to be sure all's well. From now on that will include being sure the toad is still in neutral and the brake is off.
John Ewing
2007 Allegro Bus 42QRP ("TisIt")
2005 Sportster/HydraLift ("Dinky")
2002 Miata toad ("Mellow Yellow")
www.jandse.com
FMCA 104106
What goes around comes around - always treat others the way you'd like them to treat you.
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Economical Handyman
S. California
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Joined: 02/19/2004
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Your bumper sticker was ???????? I always lock the doors on the toad. Hope your engine is okay!
DeWayne & Judy
04 3810 Dutch Star
ISL 370
Frank's autoformer
01 Sahara Jeep-toad
F 374382
It is hard to kiss the lips at night, that has chewed your butt all day long!
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GoneCamping
Chesapeake, Virginia
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Joined: 02/20/2002
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Not a bad idea, but also helps to lock the door with a spare key! My electric won't work with the keys in the ignition, and using a spare key ensures I don't get locked out anyway. I NEVER tow with the Jeep unlocked!!
*Cliff*
Chaos reigns within. Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
2004 Trail Cruiser XP C-23B
1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1989 Thomas Diesel Pusher (Cat 3208/Freightliner)
Chesapeake, Virginia
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trkrhelp
On The Road
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I'm trying to find out how to disable my alarm - when you lock the door the alarm sets. I'm sure there's a way to disable it I just never pursued it since the idea of someone vandalizing the car while it was in tow didn't occur to me.
I have a couple bumper stickers in my back window -
Support the troops - bring them home
Bush flipping the finger? Says "Bush to democracy"
and one that says "Dissent is Patriotic"
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woodstick
Home base, Edmonton, AB
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Joined: 03/25/2006
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Wow, sorry to hear that trkrhelp, sure hope your toad is not badly damaged.
Woodstick and Queen of the North
Woody and Patsy and our Furkids-Oreo, a black lab and Cookie, mix of Shihtzu, Bichon, Lhasa Apso
38' Sportsmen Sportster Toy Hauler
Pulled by 2003 3500 Dodge Diesel 6 speed
Rolling Castle Blog
Patsy does all the posting.
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Scrib
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 05/31/2007
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I waver back-and-forth over the locked vs. unlocked thing. I like leaving it unlocked, because ever time we stop I'll run the toad through the gears to keep the transmission lubed - but I do worry a bit about sabotage.
The Family Camping Blog
Camping tips for the family, camping gear that makes backcountry camping more enjoyable and general camping-related news that might be of interest to the family camper.
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The Texan
Summer: A Cool Climate Winter: A Warm Climate
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Joined: 01/16/2004
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This is just one of a couple of such acts on a toad. Several people have reported their tow bar pins being removed at both rest areas and fuel stops, so I now do a walk around each and every time I stop for any period of time, plus my toad is always locked.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 
FMCA #F203528
'05 HR Endeavor, 40PRQ w/400 Cummins - With -'05 GMC Sierra LT, CC Z-71, the pusher
'07 Arctic Cat 500A & Wilderness Kayak, riding in the pusher -
Our Current Location
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rockhillmanor
On the Road
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Joined: 12/06/2003
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woodstick wrote:Wow, sorry to hear that trkrhelp, sure hope your toad is not badly damaged.
Ditto. Those cars are pretty well made, hopefully the repair won't be so bad if one is needed at all. We will cross our fingers for ya.
New at this and I never thought of locking the toad while on the road either. I know I will now add that to my list along with your previous advice you gave of getting the locking pins.
Sorry for your situation but thanks for the added advice.
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 BlueOx Aventa LX
We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
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Not a Clue
Southern Ca
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Joined: 07/01/2007
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We always lock the toad with a spare key.
Linda B.
2006 31' Fleetwood, TiogaSL - The Big Bus
2008 Saturn Vue (Toad)with US Gear UBS
& Demco baseplate and tow bar.
Traveling with Robin(friend),Liz(cockapoo)&Buddee(cavalier)
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aslakson
Fulltiming in the Lower 48
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Joined: 12/16/2005
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Our PT Cruiser uses a "smart" key with come kind of embedded microchip. We had a "dumb" dupe key made at a hardware store, which will not start the car - but will let the steering lock disengage and the tranny go into neutral. So, nobody's gonna get the car very far if they do manage to get it unhooked. We also keep the car locked when it's hooked up - the remote won't lock it, but the inside electric locks will. We'd heard stories about folks climbing into the car for a ride. We keep the side door to the coach locked while moving for the same reason. Too many nuts out there.
al
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