A frame towing
Submitted: Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 08:55
ThreadID:
98321
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2113
Replies:
5
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Les H3
Hi this is my first visit to this
forum,we have just start the dream of life on the road,We are having problems with our toad which is a Nissan Patrol coil cab.What is happening is in town turning at intersections or some roundabouts the steer of the patrol wants to go opposite direction to towing vehicle,ATM I put my wife in toad and get her to steer thru towns which is not quite legal and a little stressfull for her but not as stressfull for me on the open road it is fine,I would certainly like any clues as to this cause of this problem
Cheers Les
Reply By: Trev&Ness B - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:17
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:17
so if i read this corectly you are towing a nissan using an a frame conected to the rear of winabago or such. Do you mean towed or is toad a name you have given your patrol.
Im sure someone will be able to help you so you can get on with enjoying yourselves.
If you let people know what area you are in they may be able to help you find someone local to help if the problem if it cant be fixed here.
AnswerID:
495919
Reply By: pop2jocem - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:20
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:20
Les,
It sounds like there might not be enough castor angle on the front wheels. Toe in/toe out can also be a problem. Have you tried taking the ute to an alignment
shop and asked them to have a look.
Might be an idea to find someone in your area that knows about 4WD's.
Cheers
Pop
AnswerID:
495921
Follow Up By: Member - DingoBlue(WA) - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 11:58
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 11:58
Interesting.........toe in on the towed Toad!
FollowupID:
771535
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:22
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:22
Talk to the manufacturer of the A frame first.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID:
495922
Reply By: Les H3 - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:33
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:33
Thanks for promt reply,the Patrol is booked in for offset camber bearings Tuesday in Penrith,I have towed the car before without any problems so it raised its ugly head the day we left
home in Rubyvale CQ (great start),it definately has issues with pulling to the left which is a common problem with these vehicles,so fingers crossed these offsets may fix it,I have already had offset caster bushes done.The only differnce since I towed it last is that I dont have the boat on top so weight distribution is more to the rear which gives it a bit of heads up in the front which may change front end geometry a little.
The towing vehicle is a Mitsubishi Fuso 10 mtr MM515H
Cheers Les
AnswerID:
495924
Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:50
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 09:50
Hi Les,
More weight over the front of the vehicle will change the caster angle at the wheels and make it more positive. You may have answered your own question I think.
If the vehicle has been lifted and no compensatory adjustments carried out, that will create negative castor as
well.
Sounds to me like the vehicle in its unloaded state has negative castor.
When did you have the castor bushes done. Since the last outing with the boat on top??. This may explain it if that is the case. They may not have correctly adjusted the castor when replacing the bushes.
Just a thought.
Cheers, Bruce.
| At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.Lifetime Member
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FollowupID:
771527
Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 15:16
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 15:16
Isn't the Nissan Patrol a front beam axle as oppopsed to independant?
If so load over the front may alter the castor very slightly but shouldn't make any difference to the toe in/out.
FollowupID:
771545
Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 16:06
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012 at 16:06
Hi Pop,
The camber angles are so fine that small variations can have significant effects.
If any work has been carried out recently this might account for any change.
I agree with you that it should not have an effect on toe in or toe out though.
Cheers, Bruce.
| At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message |
FollowupID:
771550
Follow Up By: Member - Jerry C (WA) - Monday, Oct 01, 2012 at 21:51
Monday, Oct 01, 2012 at 21:51
Hi Les,
When towing in the past were you using the same tug, the Mitsubishi ?
Cheers, Jerry.
FollowupID:
771632
Follow Up By: Les H3 - Tuesday, Oct 02, 2012 at 14:29
Tuesday, Oct 02, 2012 at 14:29
Hope to have found problem,caster bushes incorrectly fitted so we will see
FollowupID:
771660
Follow Up By: Les H3 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012 at 16:09
Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012 at 16:09
Well all is gr8 the patrol tow's just fine now that everthing is as should be caster and camber are within specs,happy travels now
FollowupID:
772581
Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012 at 18:08
Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012 at 18:08
Good on you Les, thanks for the
feedback.
Pleased that all is OK now.
Cheers, Bruce.
| At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message |
FollowupID:
772587
Reply By: tonysmc - Monday, Oct 01, 2012 at 11:12
Monday, Oct 01, 2012 at 11:12
You haven’t accidently left the steering lock on have you? When I was doing the same, I would always take the keys out of the ignition when I stopped and often drove off and forgot to unlock the steering again, (keys back in ignition and turned on) It soon came apparent what I had done when I went around a bend.
Also, it could be that the front bearings need to be replaced as they seem to get flogged when being towed on an A frame.
Cheers Tony.
AnswerID:
495986