I've always tow'd 4 down. I've been looking for a new car............I like SUV's and the choices that can be towed 4 down are very limited.So, I was just thinking, maybe buy a SUV that I like, just buy a tow dolly. Having never used one..........I'm looking for input...............the pros and cons. ThanksBrian

Never used one but noticed others that have them. If you disconnect the dolly you have to have a place to park it. Seems to take longer to get ready to leave. More weight?

I just sold my tow dolly. Previously I had a custom built single axle trailer that I towed my 2002 Mini on. Sold the mini (bought a Fusion)and got the dolly in 2010. The older I got, the harder it was to push the dolly around the campground, especially when the ground was uneven. Now, (at 64) I purchased a Chevy so that I could flat tow it behind my coach. The upside is I have 3 less tires to worry about and less weight to tow (the dolly weighed 600#). The down side is that the cost of buying a flat tow setup is substantial, even buying a used tow bar and discounted braking system and bracket on ebay. The installation of the components could easily exceed $500 but I did that myself. The hookup procedure is much more complicated too but all the parts are relatively light weight. And if I change vehicles I have to buy a new bracket and move the brake and lighting systems. Still I am glad to see the tow dolly gone!Dave07 Rev 40E

Used dolly's, flat bed and closed trailers, 4 down is the easiest and least hassle. I tow a 92 F-150 4x4 behind my Wanderlodge with Blue Ox 10K steel bar and M&G brake system. Newer vehicles are getting to be a big problem for toad use in my mind.

Tow dollies are a pain to deal with. We purchased a car that was flat towable when we bought it, but then the manufacturer sent out a letter and a page to replace the one in the original owner's manual stating that the warranty would be voided if it was flat towed. It takes longer to hook up and unhook, takes 2 people to load it (one to drive the toad, and one to guide the driver), we also have to carry extra boards because our toad has very low ground clearance and the spoiler will hang up on the dolly if we don't have that extra 1 and 1/2 inches clearance, have to store it on the campsite after we've unloaded and unhooked, have to stop every so often to check and make sure tie down straps are still in place. One of our straps came off while traveling, and we caught it when we stopped to fill up the RV. My hubby saw another one that had lost both straps while towing, so it was basically just sitting up there on the dolly with nothing to hold it on. One bump and their toad would've been a goner. He tried to catch up to them, but was in a speed restricted company truck and couldn't do it. He saw them several miles later on the side of the freeway trying to get it strapped back down. Don't know if it fell off, or if some other motorist let them know. Love my Chevy Cruze, but I would rather have something that didn't require a tow dolly.

Tow dollys are not as convenient as towing 4 down. We tow our Kia on a tow dolly and it does take a longer to hook up the trailer then have the wife guide me onto the dolly so I am have the van centered, hook up the tire straps and ratchet them down tight, drive about 5 miles stop and re-tighten the straps. Then re-tighten after 50 miles and then every 100 miles after that. You want to tighten the straps as tight as possible, preferably till the front tires start to look like they are low on air. So while it is somewhat annoying to tow with a dolly, it is not that hard. A tow dolly is cheaper than equipping a front wheel drive vehicle that is not 4 down tow-able with the necessary equipment to prevent transmission damage. I recommend the Master Tow Dolly, I am the 3rd owner of ours and it is still going strong. I have not seen many tow dollys up close to see who made them, but those that I have were all made by Master Tow Dolly. So the pros are you can tow any front wheel drive vehicle made, the cons are it takes longer to get hooked up and having to check the tire straps every so often. BTW, you must leave the steering wheel unlocked just as you did when towing 4 down, the tires must be able to turn with the pivoting of the tow dolly. Only because we like to explore back county are we getting a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for our toad, otherwise we would just purchase what ever vehicle we like and use the tow dolly to pull it. I am going to keep the dolly even after we purchase the Jeep so I can pull other vehicles if necessary. It doesn't eat or drink LOL so it costs us nothing to keep but occasional maintenance to the turn table so it doesn't rust up from non use.Best of luck with you decision.

Are tow Dolly's a Hassle? | Good Sam Community

Mike_Hohnstein
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
Used dolly's, flat bed and closed trailers, 4 down is the easiest and least hassle. I tow a 92 F-150 4x4 behind my Wanderlodge with Blue Ox 10K steel bar and M&G brake system. Newer vehicles are getting to be a big problem for toad use in my mind.
sportech
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
I just sold my tow dolly. Previously I had a custom built single axle trailer that I towed my 2002 Mini on. Sold the mini (bought a Fusion)and got the dolly in 2010. The older I got, the harder it was to push the dolly around the campground, especially when the ground was uneven. Now, (at 64) I purchased a Chevy so that I could flat tow it behind my coach. The upside is I have 3 less tires to worry about and less weight to tow (the dolly weighed 600#). The down side is that the cost of buying a flat tow setup is substantial, even buying a used tow bar and discounted braking system and bracket on ebay. The installation of the components could easily exceed $500 but I did that myself. The hookup procedure is much more complicated too but all the parts are relatively light weight. And if I change vehicles I have to buy a new bracket and move the brake and lighting systems. Still I am glad to see the tow dolly gone!

Dave
07 Rev 40E
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
Never used one but noticed others that have them. If you disconnect the dolly you have to have a place to park it. Seems to take longer to get ready to leave. More weight?

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