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

 

[Roadglide117]

I know this sounds like a funny question but what is the reason that you can’t back up with a tow? If a tranny is unengaged, shouldn’t you be able to? Asking for a friend. Lol.

The front wheels will want to turn like a zero turn mower. I've done it with someone in the tow vehicle to move a short distance. It's not about the tranny, Tow bars made to pull not push

 

[Rollin Ollen]

I am not an engineer........but that has never stopped me. I would think that the initial inertia of any stop would exceed the amount of pressure from a slow reverse (not saying a reverse is ok to do)

I think most of us have done short, slow reverse one time or another. I have. I just had the navigator watch the towed wheels. When they began to pivot, we stopped but it was enough for us to maneuver forward to the exit we needed. I believe an easy roll back on flat ground isn't going to do any harm but that is a chance one takes.