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

msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 24, 2015
Kayteg1 wrote:
The good, low profile tires for my Mercedes can run $500... a piece...
Even factory wheels have the size that is hard to find for less than $240.

And I guess you are implying this has something to do with this thread? Nobody is talking about Mercedes tires.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Sep 24, 2015
The good, low profile tires for my Mercedes can run $500... a piece...
Even factory wheels have the size that is hard to find for less than $240.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
creeper wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
A trailer has tires too and trailer tires are actually more expensive than car tires. Don't use that has a factor in deciding.

I don't know where you shop, but I've never found that to be the truth. I got a spare tire AND rim for my tow dolly cheaper then any of my car tires. The LT tires I put on my 5th wheel were defiantly more expensive then the trailer tires they replaced.

I bought a used dolly for $1000 off Craigslist with surge brakes. We'll use that until we trade our current toad for something that can be towed 4 down. I've a blue ox tow bar someone gave to me.

elhajj33 wrote:

what about decoupling the axel so I don't need a lube pump.

Doesn't that sound fun to mess around with at the check in at the campground. Hook the axel back up, then take it off the dolly, then store the dolly.

Sounds about as much fun as jockeying a full size trailer around a campground.

I said trailer tires, you said dolly tires. All I can say is I put two new tires on my quad trailer (full size tires) and told Les Schwab to put on the same quality tire that was on it, and they cost me $120 each. The OP was saying one advantage to towing his minivan on a trailer was saving the tires. I was pointing out that trailers have tires too and those tires may be just as expensive if not more so than the minivan tires he's trying to save.

I would imagine dolly tires may not need the same weight rating as tires on a car carrier trailer, as they aren't carry the same type of weight.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
Deano56 wrote:
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

The OP is driving a minivan, not a racecar. Minivan tires would be cheaper, or at least the same price as trailer tires.
sch911
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
elhajj33 wrote:
Why don't you like the lube pumps?

Beyond the issue that they're not distributing fluid to the parts of the trans that really needs it they can have reliability problems, they rely on 12V power and toad batteries can go dead, not everyone installs a charge line from the MH, and we (the manufacturer) are not involved in their development, testing or validation for that purpose.

Personally for me I wouldn't take the risk of burning out my tranny knowing how much it'll cost to fix, and it not warranted either. When we had a minivan (a Town & Country) we used a tow dolly that had surge brakes, and added magnetic tow lights on the back.
zman-az
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
We had a 2003 Caravan. Tranny was acting up so I put it on my car trailer to get it to the shop. The van sat so low that it high centered on the ramps/trailer when I got it half way on. Little throttle got it up on there the rest of the way. Ended up catching the muffler on a lip and pulled it off the pipe. So if you go the trailer route make sure you have proper clearance to get it on there.

I love flat towing but I would not bother towing that 4 down, trade it in for something else that can be towed 4 down would be the way to go.

I hate tow dolly's but if you want to keep this van I think it is the most practical way to go.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2015
elhajj33 wrote:
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.

The Ready Brute tow bar has a built in surge brake. You install a cable one time from the brake pedal to an aircraft grade cable that comes out by your baseplate and connect it when you hook up.
Works great. I have never heard a bad word about it. I have had mine 12 years.

clicky
creeper
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
msmith1199 wrote:
A trailer has tires too and trailer tires are actually more expensive than car tires. Don't use that has a factor in deciding.

I don't know where you shop, but I've never found that to be the truth. I got a spare tire AND rim for my tow dolly cheaper then any of my car tires. The LT tires I put on my 5th wheel were defiantly more expensive then the trailer tires they replaced.

I bought a used dolly for $1000 off Craigslist with surge brakes. We'll use that until we trade our current toad for something that can be towed 4 down. I've a blue ox tow bar someone gave to me.

elhajj33 wrote:

what about decoupling the axel so I don't need a lube pump.

Doesn't that sound fun to mess around with at the check in at the campground. Hook the axel back up, then take it off the dolly, then store the dolly.

Sounds about as much fun as jockeying a full size trailer around a campground.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
Tom/Barb wrote:
elhajj33 wrote:
$1400 Used Blue Ox tow bars + brake controller

I got my tow bar off E-bay used, like new $350.00

blue ox Here at half of what you quoting.

brake controller $100.00 new NAPA.

I can't believe how people get ripped off with the stuff.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
elhajj33 wrote:
$1400 Used Blue Ox tow bars + brake controller

I got my tow bar off E-bay used, like new $350.00

brake controller $100.00 new NAPA.

Forum Discussion

Flat Tow vs Dolly or trailer

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Travel Trailer dolly?

2 wheel dolly or flat tow?

Trailer dolly

Flat tow Jeep Wrangler or Dolly Tow a Mini?

Car dollies