Preventing Toad FOD

[MattC]

I'm a bit bewildered concerning how to protect the wife's car behind the bus.  I'm mortally afraid of that look I'll get if something smacks her windshield or anything on her car for that matter.

I searched (not to diligently) through the TOAD posts and didn't find any gems.

Suggestions, thoughts, advice or chides will be welcome.

=)

[cody]

Jack Conrad has the ideal toad protection , somewhere there is a pic of it here on the board but i couldn't find it, I'm sure he'll find it and post it for you.

[bobofthenorth]

We use a piece of 3 foot wide carpet runner.  I laid it soft side against the truck with the hood open and cut holes so that it hangs on the pins that support the hood.   When we are ready to go I hang it on the pins & close the hood to hold it in place. It is long enough to wrap around both sides of the grill to the end of the bumper.  It hangs down to about the bottom of the bumper.  I stretch a bungie strap around it from one wheelwell to the other to keep it from flapping.  I have a total of about 8 bux invested in it, including the bungie strap and it has lasted for 5 years now.  Best of all, when we're not using it we can fold it up and stick it in the back of the truck.  The "fuzzy" side of the carpet doesn't mark the paint on the truck and the backside of it washes up nicely with a pressure washer.

[belfert]

Jack is using the cap from his bus that he replaced.  It really wouldn't be any different than a flat sheet of plywood mounted in front of the grill area on the toad.  Nice design and Jack will hopefully post a picture.

Fred Hobe or someone might have an old cap lying around.

[cody]

I figure if my jeep is dumb enough to follow me that closely it deserves what it gets lol.

[Len Silva]

I agree with Cody  No matter what you do, flat towing is hard on a car, whether it's from debris, or beating up the steering, or transmission problems, my preference is to tow a light weight beater.

I like the older Cherokees, Wranglers are a bit too uncivilized for me.

[MattC]

My wife's car is an 07 Honda CRV at ~3250 lbs.  It gets ~ 31 highway and 26mpg combined (according to the onboard computer).  It keeps mama happy, and besides, the dog fit as well.

The Honda user manual states they can be towed with all four down with no ill effects.  Win-win for me.   Well if there is ever such a thing.  LoL

Thanks for the ideas guys! =)  Keep em coming.

[belfert]

I agree with Cody  No matter what you do, flat towing is hard on a car, whether it's from debris, or beating up the steering, or transmission problems, my preference is to tow a light weight beater.

What I really like are the people who make a big deal about the odometer not clocking up miles while towing.  I suspect there are almost no cars that rack up miles while towing these day, but how fair is this to the next owner?

If you looked at two otherwise identical used cars, would you buy the one that had been towed four down thousands of miles?  Unless the seller told you, how would you know?

[junkman42]

Correct Me if I am wrong, in order for a rock off My mci rears to hit the jeep I tow they will have to exit through the back of the coach?  I do get a grimy coat of black on the drivers side after 1k or so but no chips in about 20k.  Am I just lucky?  I have never been that lucky , maybe things have changed!  Regards, John

[MattC]

Correct Me if I am wrong, in order for a rock off My mci rears to hit the jeep I tow they will have to exit through the back of the coach?  I do get a grimy coat of black on the drivers side after 1k or so but no chips in about 20k.  Am I just lucky?  I have never been that lucky , maybe things have changed!  Regards, John

Maybe I need to rephrase my question....  Is there a need to protect your TOAD from FOD, or am I smoking krack again?  Hmmm  That could have sounded better.

[PP]

Matt,
We haven't had any problems with debris striking our toad either (Jeep Liberty), but after a long stint on the road the diesel odor accumulates inside and is hard to get out. Doesn't really bother me, but it gives the wife a headache and we know what that leads to LOL. Not as bad as smoking a plumbers butt, I wouldn't think
Of course, just to clarify, we do have a heavy rubber debris guard hanging below our bumper and another just behind the tags. They probably have helped.
Will

[RichardEntrekin]

I tow a Honda CRV also. I do not see FOD damage from towing because the coach is so low to the ground. Anything that flies up from the road has to take a bizarre angle to get up on the toad. When I towed this behind a S&S motorhome, it was pockmarked with debris even though that setup had a substantial debris flap. The difference is the height of the coach above the road.

One thing to be aware of is that the rubber from the road will get on the exhaust system of the toad. When you drive it after a long tow, you will smell burning rubber. The first time this happened I thought I was rubbing a tire on the frame. Greatly puzzled me until I figured it out.

[rusty]

Thank You Richard, I could never figure out what that burnt rubber smell was. Problem solved.

Thank You Wayne

[bobofthenorth]

On gravel you can bounce rocks up high enough to get the fog lights on a 2005 Explorer and high enough to get the headlights on a 1992 Nissan micro-truck.  I can guarantee that this is possible.  This would be why we have the highly stylish carpet runner grill guard now.

[MattC]

One thing to be aware of is that the rubber from the road will get on the exhaust system of the toad. When you drive it after a long tow, you will smell burning rubber. The first time this happened I thought I was rubbing a tire on the frame. Greatly puzzled me until I figured it out.

Now that's a priceless tidbit!   Thanks Richard......