Tow backup

[T’sOVR&Explore]

Forces imposed on a telescoping tow bar from the front wheels prying against the triangle geometry get to be many multiples of the hardest braking inrush you could ever create by braking the towing vehicle.

A good friend backed up a few feet on pavement and jammed his Blue Ox bar so badly that to stop risking making it worse by going forward from the extreme bind, I chose to jack his front wheels off the ground and we pushed the front of the truck back over while my shop trolley jack was oriented sideways under the front crossmember to let it all move sideways while the front was up, no longer with front tires planted on pavement.

It is the prying force of the towed vehicle's nose heading off track in reverse caster that you need to understand.
Huge. Prying. Force.
Huge....

 

[Underboss]

Forces imposed on a telescoping tow bar from the front wheels prying against the triangle geometry get to be many multiples of the hardest braking inrush you could ever create by braking the towing vehicle.

A good friend backed up a few feet on pavement and jammed his Blue Ox bar so badly that to stop risking making it worse by going forward from the extreme bind, I chose to jack his front wheels off the ground and we pushed the front of the truck back over while my shop trolley jack was oriented sideways under the front crossmember to let it all move sideways while the front was up, no longer with front tires planted on pavement.

It is the prying force of the towed vehicle's nose heading off track in reverse caster that you need to understand.
Huge. Prying. Force.
Huge....

Exactly. A straight wheel reverse is not the issue, its once the toads caster takes over and spins the wheels the damage occurs