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 (all pricing is from eBay unless stated otherwise):BasePlate: $395 Remco Lube Pump Kit: $1265 (remco price)Tow Bar: $625Blue Ox Patriot brake system: $700Hi Low: $180The math so far puts me at: $3165 and I haven't figured in what I'll need for lighting. I don't like this number!! The other thing about towing flat is wear on the tires and accumulating mileage (correct me if i'm wrong).Part of me likes a dolly (though I hate making the tow wider, but a dolly or a trailer seems like a simpler way to go. I think i'd need the trailer and then the brake. I have NO idea what I'm talking about. Would love some feedback!

Four down is always the easiest way to go. But that vehicle would need to be towed on a dolly. There is no mileage accumulated on the vehicle being towed. Consider upgrading you toad to something 4 down compatible.

sch911 wrote:Four down is always the easiest way to go. But that vehicle would need to be towed on a dolly. There is no mileage accumulated on the vehicle being towed. Consider upgrading you toad to something 4 down compatible.why does it need to be towed on a dolly? what about decoupling the axel so I don't need a lube pump. I've read a bit about that but most people talk about lube pumps.

A trailer has tires too and trailer tires are actually more expensive than car tires. Don't use that has a factor in deciding.

Others can chime in. Depends on the vehicle. Many diesel RVers tow Chev F150 crew cabs 4 down. No need for lube pump. About $2300 to tow. Some vehicles are not as adaptable for towing. Dollies are fine. Some actually tow in enclosed trailers. Problem I have noticed. Where to park dolly or trailer. Some RV parks have areas. Some don't. Most of our FTer friends prefer 4 down. It is a preference though. Maybe some FTers that tow trailers or dollies will post their preference.

First of all, Awesome photography on your website! Very cool stuff.Secondly: We used a KarKaddy 3 with surge brakes for the first 3 years (a Prius was our toad). We liked it and it worked good. We have since bought a Jeep and tow 4-down now. I could go back to a dolly if I had too. But it is nice not having the dolly at the site though. Also, if we ever take a corner too tight or run down a dead end road.... it seems like the detach of the 4-down method might be faster and more efficient than dealing with a dolly.Check out craigslist if you decide on the dolly route, you might find better prices there. We sold ours in 24 hours at a $1,500 price recently. It was in good condition and maintained when it was supposed to (greasing the zerks).

Flat Tow vs Dolly or trailer | Good Sam Community

elhajj33
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
Big Katuna wrote:
Here my cost for making my 2011 Honda Element flat towable.

Ready Brute tow bar $750.
Demco baseplate $350.
Harbor Freight $10.
magnetic lights
Installation $0.00

what about brake controller? If i went used my cost would be

$1400 Used Blue Ox tow bars + brake controller
$1265 New Remco Lube Pump
$395 Base Plate
??? Lube Pump install

I'm at $3060 before installation. I'm just going to hold off. For right now, we don't really need a toad as we'll be staying fair close to home at local CGs.

If/when we go FT we'll flat tow. I'll probably talk the mrs into a used honda oddessey (pre CVT transmission) so it's flat towable.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
Here my cost for making my 2011 Honda Element flat towable.

Ready Brute tow bar $750.
Demco baseplate $350.
Harbor Freight $10.
magnetic lights
Installation $0.00
mowermech
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
Deano56 wrote:
i don't quite understand the comment that no miles are accuring pulling all 4 down. No matter what way you go, there are parts always moving whether it's tires rotating or driveshafts (halfshafts included) bearings. People have preferences, and cost are factors. I don't like the idea of 3K plus to tow 4 down, even though it looks like the best and easiest way. Use dolly's can be purchased for under a thousand dollars on CL or local newspapers

That means that there are no miles added on the odometer when modern vehicles with electronic speedometer/odometers are towed. IF the ignition switch if OFF while being towed, that is.
I have always wondered what they do when they sell the vehicle, and have to sign the odometer certification. Do they certify that the odometer reading is the correct miles on the vehicle? Seems to me that is a fraudulent certification!
As for comparing vehicle tires with trailer tires, when I was putting the Jeep on my trailer, those 33X10.5X16 inch Load Range E M&S tires were about $1000 per set. The trailer tires didn't cost anywhere near that much!
Deano56
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
i don't quite understand the comment that no miles are accuring pulling all 4 down. No matter what way you go, there are parts always moving whether it's tires rotating or driveshafts (halfshafts included) bearings. People have preferences, and cost are factors. I don't like the idea of 3K plus to tow 4 down, even though it looks like the best and easiest way. Use dolly's can be purchased for under a thousand dollars on CL or local newspapers
Deano56
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
msmith1199 wrote:
Kayteg1 wrote:
Would life be so easy to make straight answers, there would be no need for internet forums at all ;)
I've been thinking about toad for decades and to date bicycles or dirt bike did the job, but I already figured out the best theory.
Get a light trailer and put your toad on it.
You will face some issues with trailer storage, but you save tons of money on toad brake systems that bring all kind of troubles, will wear cheap trailer tires instead of expensive car tires and having option of enclosed bigger trailer will have an option of adding bicycles, PWC, or kayaks or canoe to the set.
Have to admit that idea come from the fact that I don't let my family to drive anything but Mercedes and those are not towable in any model.

I'm no tire expert, but I just put two tires on my quad trailer a few months ago, and the mid range tires cost me $120 each. Not too cheap.
a decent set of tires for our cars are way more than 120.00 each, 17" rims
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
No mods to a car for flat towing if its approved for towing like a pre 15 CRV. Add a baseplate.

I have dollied,flat towed and pulled a trailer.
I think a trailer is an even bigger pita than a dolly and I will never dolly again.

The only reason to trailer IMHO is to take a car and toys eg golf cart, ATV'S, etc. And those days are over for this guy.

Keeping it simple. Toad with a Vespa on the toad.
elhajj33
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
DrewE wrote:

:h What vehicle modifications are typically required to use a dolly?

i was wondering the same thing. Right now (since we're only using the coach for little trips here-and-there until we go FT), I'm leaning towards a dolly. I like the idea of a flat trailer, but they're more expensive and i don't have room to store a trailer at my house (hoa, sigh...).

The coach is going to facility 10 minutes from my house for storage. Storing a dolly is another $50 per month. That just doesn't make sense.

I'd definitely need to keep a trailer at a storage facility if i went that route. A dolly can fit in my garage!
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
DougE wrote:
Many good reasons for using a trailer have been listed. It's the simplest and safest. Dollies or 4 down require modifying your vehicle. I would highly suggest putting a receiver hitch on the car so you can use it to spot the trailer when you reach your destination. Much easier than using your tow vehicle.

What modification of the vehicle is required to use a dolly?
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
Big Katuna wrote:
The dolly wheels track outside the track of the motorhome. If the motorhome clears the pump island the toad will clear too.

Not true for a dolly. If the mh wheel is close to the island, the dolly wheel will hit it. Same for curbs and tight driveways.

You have to be careful with this type of advice and this depends on your setup. I have a 35' DP and I tow a Dodge Dakota extended cab truck. I assure you I can clear the gas pump or a curb and still hit it with the truck. Although I have never hit a gas pump, I have hit a curb with my toad that the motorhome easily had cleared.
DrewE
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
DougE wrote:
Many good reasons for using a trailer have been listed. It's the simplest and safest. Dollies or 4 down require modifying your vehicle. I would highly suggest putting a receiver hitch on the car so you can use it to spot the trailer when you reach your destination. Much easier than using your tow vehicle.

:h What vehicle modifications are typically required to use a dolly? At least for front wheel drive vehicles, I can't think of any. Certainly when I helped a friend move and towed her car on a dolly behind the rental truck, we didn't need to do anything to the car other than strap it down on the dolly. In that case, as I recall, there were trailer lights on the dolly fenders.

Towing four down does require vehicle modifications.

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