dolly vs flat

Trackrig wrote:
It seems that most people who are using a dolly are using it because they have to - their toad can't be towed four down; they're not using it because they want to.

And the dolly is one more thing to maintain. Tires, lights, tire straps and maybe brakes. And you have to store it someplace. Why make your life more complicated?

Bill

X2 - If all cars could be towed 4 down dolly's would cease to exist. I am actually looking for a car to tow 4 down and get rid of the car I have to dolly. Getting the car on is a pain, moving the dolly is a pain, straps are a pain. Try getting a car on the dolly in the rain or snow. I can't wait to get rid of the dreadful thing. If anyone tells you dollys are just as easy, they are kidding themselves. I watch folks unhook 4 down cars and it's MUCH easier and quicker than a dolly. But if you have no choice at least it's an option.

I have always preferred 4-down. A dolly or a trailer is another piece of equipment...and in many places they have to be stored, sometimes for an extra fee.

But both (or all three) have their fans. The biggest problem with towing 4-down is getting the "right" car/pickup to do it with. This takes a bunch of research. And...DON'T believe the salesman. All he/she wants to do is sell the car. Research is up to you.

My toads over the years have been:
1- 1996 Ford Contour with a 5 spd stick.
2- 2007 Chevy HHR with automatic
3- my current, a 2011 Ford Ranger 4WD automatic

I have both. Blue Ox system with a Jeep Commander and Demco fold away tow dolly. It all depends on what you want to tow. After 20 years with 4 down and 10 years with dolly it doesn't make much difference in time to hook or unhook. You do have the issue of storing the dolly at your rv site but it is quite easy to roll it to back of pad then fold tongue so that it only takes about 4 feet of space. Then when you are ready to leave you pull ahead 3 feet and hook the dolly then pull out and drive on and tie down. Dolly has surge brakes so you don't have to mess with brakes on the 4 down so that save some time. Really up to you and especially if you have a certain vehicle you want to tow. Last thing for me would be a trailer to tow vehicle on--then you have more of an issue with parking the trailer--although some vehicles ie rear wheel drive you have little choice other than a trailer depending on the tranny. Best of luck tom ps one advantage of the dolly with surge brakes ie Demco is that you can tow any front wheel drive you like including your mother-in-laws!!!!!

4 up much easier. drive on, tie down, hitch up, go.

I tow my Corolla on a dolly and the more I tow the easier it gets. At first it took a little longer, but with practice it gets easier. I have towed my CJ-5 four down and hook-up is a lot simpler. If and when I purchase another car I will be looking for one that can be towed four down, since I already have most of the required equipment. JMO

I totally agree the 4 down is much easier and convenient to connect and disconnect, but with the people I personally know the troubles and money involved I will stick with my dolly, no troubles in over 6 years, one friend bar failed twice under warranty and the second time dammaged the front of his 60k trick, another the brake control has repeatedly failed causing expensive repairs to the unit to be required. My initial investment cost me 700, both of theirs was about 2k the first time and then all the repairs. But they still swear by their tow bars four down.

It is actually a question only YOU can answer for YOU!
I tow the truck four down, using a telescoping Roadmaster towbar.
I tow the PT Cruiser on a dolly.
I towed Jeeps for many years with a fixed-arm adjustable width A-frame towbar.

to get ready to go with the truck:
EDIT: I forgot the important FIRST step, which is to install the towing brackets on the front of the truck, install the lock pins and safety pins, then pick up the towbar and set it on the brackets and install the lock pins, and THEN:
1. Move the truck to the back of the motorhome, and park it within the right distance from the hitch.
2. Unfold the towbar, release the telescoping arms, and (if the distance is right) drop the hitch on the ball. If the distance isn't right, move the truck or the motorhome, your choice. when it is right, connect the hitch.
3. connect the light harness to the front of the truck and to the connector on the motorhome. tie the harness to the towbar arm.
4. connect the safety chains to the motorhome.
5. Put the transfer case in NEUTRAL, start the truck, and run it through the gears to verify the T-case is REALLY in NEUTRAL. Shut off the truck, put the transmission in PARK, and the ignition switch in OFF, NOT LOCKED position.
6. drive the motorhome 20 feet or so, then stop and verify that the telescoping arms on the towbar have locked.
7. Get on down the road.

for the PT Cruiser:
1. Bring the dolly to the back of the motorhome, using the handy little Harbor Freight trailer dolly.
2. Drop the hitch on the ball.
3. connect the lights and safety chains.
3A. release the latch to allow the table to tilt.
4. Load the car on the dolly, verify that the table returned and locked.
5. Install the tie down baskets over the car's front wheels, tighten them securely, and connect the safety chain.
6. Drive away.
7. After 10 or 20 miles, stop and check the tightness of the wheel baskets.

Only YOU can decide which is "BEST" for YOU!
Good luck.

By the way, the PT CAN be towed four down, with a lube pump. In fact, it had a lube pump installed when I bought the car. I do not WANT to tow it four down. I do not trust the lube pump. They have been known to fail. The dolly will not fail and ruin the transmission!

It seems that most people who are using a dolly are using it because they have to - their toad can't be towed four down; they're not using it because they want to.

And the dolly is one more thing to maintain. Tires, lights, tire straps and maybe brakes. And you have to store it someplace. Why make your life more complicated?

Bill

Easy, very easy choice to make...
Take a look around the next campground you frequent. Count the 4 down and the dollys. You can't argue with the numbers.

For us the 4-down method works best, 4 minutes or less to connect to hitch, attach safety chains, plug in power cord, move transfer case selector to neutral, ignition key turned to accessory unlocking steering wheel and then just go.

Don't want an extra piece of equipment to handle and stow.

However go with whatever method works for you..

Best of luck and safe travels.....