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Dumbest invention of the month award

This topic can be found at:
https://www.barthmobile.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3631087061/m/8133926657

12-15-2010, 11:31 AM
Moonbeam-Express
Dumbest invention of the month award
http://www.electrictowhitch.com/

How to overstress your RV, spend lots of money, add six more steps to your set-up and render you vehicle useless in the event of a part failure.

Sorry, I just don't get it! But the demo girl sure is cute!!!




Formerly: 1997 Barth Monarch
Now: 2000 BlueBird Wanderlodge 43' LXi Millennium Edition DD Series 60 500HP 3 stage Jake, Overbuilt bike lift with R1200GS BMW, followed by 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited,
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
12-15-2010, 12:31 PM
DougZ
After watching how easy Nick C. loaded his toad at the GTG, this thing is a joke. I really hate the idea of having to stand between the 2 vehicles too. If someone should run into your toad, you're dead.



W4JDZ
12-15-2010, 07:46 PM
Gerald
My Regal came with a Demco SS Kar Kaddy. The first time I tried it, didn't take me any longer than this video... and I sure would trust it alot more!!


1986 Barth Regal SE
34 foot tag - 454 Chevy
8610 3363 34TFPOB
12-15-2010, 10:35 PM
Doorman
This thing is nothing but dangerous. Who in there right mind could build this and not understand the ungodly hitch weight. The worst thing is someone is going to use this contraption.
Doorman


1986 31' Regal -1976 Class C
454/T400 P30 -350/T400 G30
twin cntr beds - 21' rear bath
12-16-2010, 12:00 AM
olroy
Hitch weight with a trailer - insignificant, but it would be difficult to attach sway controls. With a motor home hitch weight would be very significant. If you need to tow wheels-up, a car caddy is better.

This gizmo obviates the need to store a car caddy, but stresses the hitch receptacle & is one more mechanical gadget that can fail & strand you. It appears to have zero advantage over a standard tow bar with arms that collapse to align it with the hitch ball.

A gadget of questionable safety, designed to benefit people too lazy to learn the correct technique for hitching trailers or tow cars. Not a labor saver in my view.
12-16-2010, 12:33 AM
bill h
anybody remember the old Beetle towbar that you used to lift the front wheels off the ground and hang it on the ball? I towed dune buggies like that for years.


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84 30T PeeThirty-Something, 502 powered
12-16-2010, 06:45 AM
Moonbeam-Express
quote:
anybody remember the old Beetle towbar that you used to lift the front wheels off the ground and hang it on the ball? I towed dune buggies like that for years.

Yeah, but the bugs front end is about the normal weight of a tandem trailer. Did you hear the winch strain to lift the little SUV in the demo?




Formerly: 1997 Barth Monarch
Now: 2000 BlueBird Wanderlodge 43' LXi Millennium Edition DD Series 60 500HP 3 stage Jake, Overbuilt bike lift with R1200GS BMW, followed by 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited,
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
12-16-2010, 11:44 AM
Bones
Is towing a vehicle with its suspenion topped out like that a good idea? One thing is for sure, there isn't a ton of clearance on those front tires. I don't like the fact the front tires are bound to hit the ground from time to time.

This kind of reminds me of the HitchHog in that it was also really bad towing related idea. It was dolly wheels that mounted between the trailer and tow vehicle. A product just begging to help folks overload their tow vehicle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqlYtuAUMn0


Regal 25 built in 1989
1985 P-30 chassis
454 TH400
12-16-2010, 01:40 PM
bill h
A while back, I attended traffic school for a speeding ticket. The instructor was a highway patrolman, and I remember him saying that towing setups had way, way more than their share of accident involvement. Don't remember the numbers, but it was several times higher.

He said bad equipment and setup was a major factor, and showed slides of bad examples he had stopped on the road. Some were of the "There! I fixed it" variety, and some were examples of bad products sold to the unknowing public. The product under discussion here falls into that group.

He was responding to a question regarding CA's 55 mph speed limit for trailers or toads. He said speed makes any accident worse, even if speed was not a contributing factor, and trailers were involved in way more accidents. I did not use a toad back then, so did not think to ask a question specifically motor home and toad related.


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84 30T PeeThirty-Something, 502 powered