Flat Tow vs Dolly or trailer
So just bought my first MH. It has a 10,000lb hitch and plenty of CCC. I need to tow a 5,000lb 2005 Dodge caravan SXT. I looked into flat towing and looking at the cost, here's what I'm seeing (a...
Forum Discussion
elhajj33, it's clear we all have many varied opinions and experiences with towing a vehicle.
Over the past 30 years I have yanked a toad around with both styles. I started towing 4 down. That set up was fine, but I had one bad experience with it on an occasion when the connection to the toad was inadequate. The toad broke free and tried to pass me while coming down a hill up in the Maritimes. Luckily the safety chains barely held and we avoided a tragedy. I chalk that up to my own ignorance in lacking knowledge of the adequacy of my vehicle connection.
Last year we had to decide which style of towing we wanted to set up with our new moho. As the wife insisted on a front wheel drive automatic (and she wanted a used older Focus) it pushed us towards a dolly. In the process, like you, I explored costs associated with both approaches to towing.
I opted for and American Car Dolly. It has as an option its own controller and electric brakes. The cost was a bit better with the car dolly than what I would have come up with setting up a 4 down set up with a different model of car.Frankly I have more peace of mind with the dolly as its closer to a traditional trailer set up.
Thus far - over a year- we have been more than satisfied with the dolly. Having set up and attached using both styles of towing, I notice no difference in set up time- both ways (4 down/dolly) was/is about 10 minutes- sometimes faster sometimes slower depending on how clumsy I am. The dolly is only a few inches wider than the rig and it is not noticeable when traveling.
We towed the dolly and Focus from Florida to Alaska and back this year. Never had a hiccup.
Having used both approaches I now have to come down on the dolly side.
Just offering my thoughts and experience.
Over the past 30 years I have yanked a toad around with both styles. I started towing 4 down. That set up was fine, but I had one bad experience with it on an occasion when the connection to the toad was inadequate. The toad broke free and tried to pass me while coming down a hill up in the Maritimes. Luckily the safety chains barely held and we avoided a tragedy. I chalk that up to my own ignorance in lacking knowledge of the adequacy of my vehicle connection.
Last year we had to decide which style of towing we wanted to set up with our new moho. As the wife insisted on a front wheel drive automatic (and she wanted a used older Focus) it pushed us towards a dolly. In the process, like you, I explored costs associated with both approaches to towing.
I opted for and American Car Dolly. It has as an option its own controller and electric brakes. The cost was a bit better with the car dolly than what I would have come up with setting up a 4 down set up with a different model of car.Frankly I have more peace of mind with the dolly as its closer to a traditional trailer set up.
Thus far - over a year- we have been more than satisfied with the dolly. Having set up and attached using both styles of towing, I notice no difference in set up time- both ways (4 down/dolly) was/is about 10 minutes- sometimes faster sometimes slower depending on how clumsy I am. The dolly is only a few inches wider than the rig and it is not noticeable when traveling.
We towed the dolly and Focus from Florida to Alaska and back this year. Never had a hiccup.
Having used both approaches I now have to come down on the dolly side.
Just offering my thoughts and experience.
