New to RV- Flat tow vs. Car trailer??

IMO, it is personal preference; no more, no less.
All three methods (trailer, dolly, four down) have advantages and disadvantages!

Trailer: You can take ANY vehicle up to the size/weight limits of the trailer.
You can back up anywhere, anytime, any distance, limited only by your own expertise (or lack thereof).
No questions about what kind of braking to get; brakes are on the trailer, as required by law in all 50 states!
No question about a breakaway braking system; it is installed on the trailer.
No problem about light wiring; lights are on the trailer, as required by all 50 states.
It is relatively easy to load and tie down.
The trailer can often be used for other things. I used mine for hauling horse hay!
The disadvantages:
The weight of the trailer
Where to put the trailer.

Dolly: You can take ANY front wheel drive vehicle that will fit the dolly, and some rear wheel drive vehicles.
Brakes, as noted for a trailer.
disadvantages:
weight, again.
where to put it, again.
Can be a pain to load.
Can not be used for ANY AWD or 4X4 vehicle without removing/disconnecting the rear driveshaft.
It is NOT recommended that backing up be tried.

Four down towing: easiest to hook up, it is said
No tongue weight.
Disadvantages:
Many vehicles can NOT be towed four down without expensive modifications.
Towing options are limited to those vehicles that are set up for it.
Backing up is NOT recommended. (some say it can be done. I tried it once, never again will I try it.)

I had a trailer, but I sold it. (sold the horses, didn't need the trailer anymore.)
I have a dolly for the PT Cruiser, but we never take it, so the dolly may be sold.
The truck is set up for four down towing, and I can put my ATV or the boat in the bed. OR, here it is legal to double tow, so I can put the boat in the bed and tow the ATV on the trailer behind the truck.

Like I said, purely personal preference.
Good luck.

DutchmenSport wrote:

In my opinion, for the benefit of the vehicle, it's better on a trailer. Besides, todays automobiles will continue to roll up miles, even if the engine is not running but wheels are turning.. Also, you are right, you can take any vehicle with you on a trailer.

All modern vehicles have electronic speedometers/odometers that do not register mileage if the key is not turned on i.e.the engine running.

Only the old cable driven speedometers/odometers that are driven from the transmission record mileage when the transmission is running.

I started out with a dolly and it worked great for 6 years, as that vehicle could only be towed on a dolly and I could not see buying another vehicle to tow 4 down at the time. I also pull a 20' enclosed car trailer for my 63 GP and have never found any problem with parking the trailer at any CG I stayed at, and the tow dolly always fit on my campsite with no problem.
I now have a 04 Honda Pilot that I tow 4 down which is very easy to connect, and tow. The equipment to tow 4 down is more expensive than a tow dolly, but limits you to towing only that vehicle.

It all depends on your needs and what you want to spend, IMO.

First of all let me be the first one to welcome you to RV.Net! I've been towing all 4 wheels down since 1976 and I don't know of any other way. I would go with a trailer if I was towing like Corvette etc.

cwkoch,

I use both. Over 11 years with the trailer for the reasons you are thinking, off-roading with a Jeep. Aluminum trailers are very nice but with that MH you probably won't notice the weight savings. One of the most important advantages to the trailer is being able to back-up along with they roll easier. While the 4-down towing is a little easier to connect/disconnect I much prefer using the trailer. As for having to store the trailer in some auxiliary parking lot that can be taken care of by good planning and long pull through sites. Of those 11 years I had to disconnect the trailer once but I was only 56' long. The only disadvantage to the trailer is you will have another piece of equipment to take care of and need a place to store it at home.

Blaster Man wrote:
We camp in many places where there is no place to store a tow dolly.

Ditto!

We camp in many places where there is no place to store a tow dolly.

Versatility vs ease of use. 4 down is easier but limits choices of towed vehicles. I use a tow dolly for the same reasons you probably might prefer a trailer. Much wider choice of toads, can use dolly with multiple vehicles I own. Can use dolly with multiple tow vehicles I own (MH and B van). Don't have to modify a new car when I trade. When it comes to tow rigs one type does not suit everyone. Choose the one that best fits your need.

I have done both and now flat tow. I had a incident with dollies twice. Once the frame started to come apart and nearly lost my toad. Another time I was hooking up when I pulled my tow onto the dolly, the ramps were wet, and I slid off to the side damaging my door. I have never had any bad incidents with flat towing. The only prob with flat towing is the available vehicles out there. I am now flat towing a Ford C-Max and love it. Either way, it is personal preference. Happy towing.

Regardless of your perceived dis-advantages on a tow dolly, they are all easily overcome. Go tow dolly all the way, I have and have never regretted it

I flat tow a Jeep TJ and a Honda CRV. No trailer because I don’t have a spot to store one at home. If I had a trailer, I’d use it for off-roading trips (the trailer could come in handy getting a damaged jeep home). For non off-roading trips, flat towing the CRV is much simpler overall (lack of ability to back up is about the only disadvantage).