09-11-2023, 06:48 AM
I'll give a big SECOND to Richards comments about side to side movement. I've put many thousands of miles towing either a Silverado or Tahoe or Lexus GX470 behind my Newells and Foretravel. Never felt any movement caused by the toad. Once one of the pins broke off of the towbar arm and I only noticed it when I saw the Tahoe in my side view mirror! Never felt it but I'm sure it was swinging from side to side.
To give a different perspective I was towing the GX470 with my Roadtrek and it was a handful. I could feel and see the GX moving side to side. It was scary enough that I unhooked and Cindy drove it following me. Now I had towed the GX for almost 10,000 miles and never felt it behind the FT which is much lighter and shorter than the Newells.
So I agree that the minimal slop in the drawbar etc. is causing a violent enough movement to cause stress fatigue and failures. Especially if the toad is not built on a true frame and is only sheet metal. So think about what kind of toad is best. I'll put my money on a truck type vehicle.
To give a different perspective I was towing the GX470 with my Roadtrek and it was a handful. I could feel and see the GX moving side to side. It was scary enough that I unhooked and Cindy drove it following me. Now I had towed the GX for almost 10,000 miles and never felt it behind the FT which is much lighter and shorter than the Newells.
So I agree that the minimal slop in the drawbar etc. is causing a violent enough movement to cause stress fatigue and failures. Especially if the toad is not built on a true frame and is only sheet metal. So think about what kind of toad is best. I'll put my money on a truck type vehicle.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
PO 1999 Foretravel 36'
1998 Newell 45' #486
1993 Newell 39' #337