Backing up with Jeep Wrangler attached problem

[tmac11]

Hi all,

First major trip with a new 2025 Jeep Wrangle sport being towed by class C Coachman Leprechaun E450. All works great towing, but I needed to back up twice on this trip. When I do, the front wheels of the jeep turn and eventually locks up to one side and I ended up pushing and sliding the tires. I have the blue ox base plate and the blue ox ascent tow bar.

The first time it was a fairly straight back up due to a blow out on the camper back inside tire. The second was the jeep was at an angle around a gas station pump with limited space.

Was thinking it should back up like a trailer attached? Anyone have similar issues/fix?

br tim

 

[Boat Bum]

You can't back those up more than 4 - 5 feet, the reaction time makes it very difficult.

 

[Underboss]

Backing up more than a few feet will destroy the towbar. In 20+ years I have backed up 2x and about 4'. I watch the front tires and if they start to turn I stop.

 

[FLSteve]

The most I have backed mine up was about 2 or 3 feet. If I need to go more, it means unhooking the Jeep.

FLSteve

 

[team bradfield]

Don't back a toad

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Hi all,

First major trip with a new 2025 Jeep Wrangle sport being towed by class C Coachman Leprechaun E450. All works great towing, but I needed to back up twice on this trip. When I do, the front wheels of the jeep turn and eventually locks up to one side and I ended up pushing and sliding the tires. I have the blue ox base plate and the blue ox ascent tow bar.

The first time it was a fairly straight back up due to a blow out on the camper back inside tire. The second was the jeep was at an angle around a gas station pump with limited space.

Was thinking it should back up like a trailer attached? Anyone have similar issues/fix?

br tim

The fix is easy....Don't!! Even if you have someone in the Jeep keeping the steering wheel straight DON'T! Your Tow Bar is not engineered to perform this task. We can disconnect in less than a minute for something like this.

 

[DennisT]

As others have said, don’t back up when towing 4 down.

The individual that did our first setup on the toad told of someone that didn’t believe him. They backed up and destroyed both struts and other portions on the front end of the toad - expensive lesson.

We have got to a point once where we needed to backup - unhook the toad, backup, reconnect and continue on.

 

[Wemustrv]

Do Not back up with a Blue Ox you will destroy the Blue Ox if it locks as well as damaging the toad vehicle. I have backed up a VERY SHORT distance straight back but never try to turn while backing.

 

[OldWEB]

Reading the instruction book will help too.

9. Disconnect the towed vehicle from the towing vehicle before backing up. Do Not Back Up
while vehicles are connected! Damage to both vehicles and the towing system may occur. The
towed vehicle may jackknife causing abnormal stress to the tow bar, car chassis, baseplate and/or pintle hitch of the towing vehicle. These abnormal stresses may cause damage that may go undetected.

 

[tmac11]

Reading the instruction book will help too.

9. Disconnect the towed vehicle from the towing vehicle before backing up. Do Not Back Up
while vehicles are connected! Damage to both vehicles and the towing system may occur. The
towed vehicle may jackknife causing abnormal stress to the tow bar, car chassis, baseplate and/or pintle hitch of the towing vehicle. These abnormal stresses may cause damage that may go undetected.

Thank you! I went back and looked and you are right, it is in the instructions for the tow bar. I did read everything but didn't remember that - must been a senior moment. I will check everything out before I tow again. br tim

 

[RVThereYet]

Google Street Views will give you a great picture of space that you are about to go into.
Just look and if it looks small, DON"T go!

 

[tmac11]

Google Street Views will give you a great picture of space that you are about to go into.
Just look and if it looks small, DON"T go!

Ya.. it was a love truck stop. Never have i seen a smaller loves. Middle of no where and lower on gas than i like. Always try to fill a bit past 1/2 of a tank if i can. It was extremely busy which made it more difficult. Folks also would not move out from the pumps when done pumping also caused more restrictive paths. Live and learn.. thanks for the tip. Br tm

 

[tgdiebolt]

Just my $.02 worth but it works for me. I installed "Exact Center" steering damper on 2020 Jeep Gladiator and am able to backup when needed, especially at truck stops when I go in a little too far or to back out when the one in front of me is not getting the job done.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Problems happen and it’s always the most stressful situation and not something you planned for. Don't panic!

Can it be done a few feet? Maybe…IF the TOAD fronts are perfectly straight. But as soon as the Caster kicks in, they’ll snap to one side and it’s game over.

With our 45’ and full sized truck, we got dead-ended and my option was to have my wife hold the wheel of the truck dead straight with its engine running to give her Power steering. We have headsets for full comms and we blessed with nice people who came over to help hold cross traffic. She knew that if she felt the slightest resistance to let me know and we’d stop and disconnect. But…this worked perfectly as it placed zero stress on the towbar. Again, this is not a recommended procedure, but one that can work if you know what to do and what to watch for.