when considering the type of toad what should one consider? rather on a dolly or not?

I have only had jeeps as toad vehicles, manual Cherokee and two Wranglers with automatic transmission. I'm not a fan of extra stuff like a dolly.

First, get a vehicle that YOU like, and second get one that does NOT require any modification (other than lights and braking) to be towed.I have used a dolly, and found that much of what is said against them is purely personal opinion. I didn't have much trouble at all with the dolly.I have towed Jeeps and a Dodge Ram 1500 four down. The Jeeps I towed with a fixed arm adjustable width 5000 lb. capacity towbar, which some people say is just too much trouble, and nearly impossible to hitch by oneself. I didn't have any problems.The Dodge was a little bit heavier than the Jeep, so I found a used Roadmaster Stowmaster telescoping towbar with 6000 lb. capacity. The telescoping arms were not much improvement over the fixed arm towbar, IMO.Yes, lube pumps are available for many automatic transmission vehicles. This is the type of modification I want nothing to do with, along with driveshaft disconnects. In fact, our PT Cruiser has a lube pump installed. I have never checked it for operation. It is too easy to put the car on a dolly, and I don't have to mess with the front end to install towbar mounts.I have also used a flatbed trailer to haul a vehicle. It works, and the trailer was very handy for hauling hay. A trailer can also be backed up, whereas backing a four down toad or a dolly is not recommended (some folks do it anyway).

This post comes up frequently. I would have suspected being a member since 2006 you may have seen a few. I have done both. Dolly is a good method when you have a vehicle that can't be towed 4 down - that's really it's only redeeming value. That and it can be used on different vehicles - maybe. Dolly's are a hassle to hook up, big and heavy and another item to maintain. I could not wait to get a vehicle to tow 4 down and get rid of my dolly. 4 down is soooooo much easier. I can hook up our CRV and get it ready to tow in about 1 minute - literally. According to CRV manual I have to let it idle for 3 minutes, usually I hook up while it's doing that and have to wait for a minute or so for the idle time to lapse because it takes me so little time and effort to hook up. People will tell you they love their dolly and it's not much hassle and I say they are making themselves feel better. If all vehicles were able to be towed 4 down, the dolly market would decline to close to nothing pretty fast. People who have a dolly only do so because their vehicle can't be towed 4 down. Unless you enjoy lugging the dolly to the hitch, hooking it up, hooking up the wires, trying to line up the ramps, drive up on them (good luck with that if the ramps are wet), put on the straps around the wheel (pretty dirty job), tightening the straps, and then driving for a while and stopping to tighten the straps again - and undoing it all when you get there. Add to that unhooking the dolly and lugging it to store it somewhere. With 4 down, drive up close to the bars, put in 2 pins, attach the cables, plug in the lights and done.

I have heard there are some vehicles you can tow with 4 down without modifications. and some you can.t

Dinghy guides. Tells you pretty much what you need to know. If it's not in here you would need to refer to the owner's manual of a vehicle. Do NOT rely on the dealer to tell if you a vehicle can be towed 4 down. They've been known to be wrong or will tell you what you want to hear to sell a vehicle. Dinghy guides

Toad | Good Sam Community

chuckftboy
Explorer
Apr 07, 2017
Towing 4 down is what most people do because its convenient not having extra dolly's or trailers to deal with and the extra hook-up time. The initial set up is expensive but RVing isn't exactly the best hobby to have if you are trying to save money.

If you don't mind buying American, Chevy makes a lot of 4 down, towable vehicles.
crasster
Explorer II
Apr 07, 2017
I say a standard shift Toyota Yaris is the best. Lots of reliability, fun to drive and zip around in after driving a coach, easy to park in cities and destinations. However, I'm starting to be more of a fan of 4 up towing (trailer) than 4 down.
Mile_High
Explorer
Apr 07, 2017
I know the Wranglers had issues 07-11 with the 3.8 and 4 sp transmission. In late 12 that all got reworked 3.6 and 5 sp and I think, (I hope) that resolved most of the issues.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Apr 07, 2017
lanerd wrote:
Mr.Mark wrote:
My personal experience with the reliability of Jeeps was not so favorable. Although I didn't tow them (before motorhoming), they were in the shop way more than acceptable.

So, when it was time to look for a toad, we bought a new 2007 Honda CR-V then moved on to a 2013 Honda CR-V. Sadly, automatic Honda's starting in 2015 are not 4 wheels down towable.

Safe travels,
MM.

But, if you use your toad for off-roading... a jeep is pretty much the only way to go...depending, of course, of how off roading serious you are. Many AWD toads that are 4-down towable can survive with mild to moderate off-roading like an AWD CRV.

I agree with the poor reliability of jeeps....at least that has been my experience. However you got to keep in mind what a Jeep goes through. I would never want one for a toad if I didn't do any serious off-roading.

Ron

I had a '96 Grand Cherokee and then a '99 Grand Cherokee. Both had to be towed back to the dealer more than once under warranty. The '99 had Quadra-Trac that had to be rebuilt twice. I would hope that the newer Jeeps are better.

We don't really go off-road, I want AWD for snow and/or icy conditions. Most AWD systems are really passive four wheel drive. If the front wheels slip, the rear wheels will kick in (on Honda's).

I have a Land Rover LR4 also that is a true 4x4. It would be nice if it could be towed but it is heavy. It has been a very reliable vehicle, the current one is my second Land Rover (first was an '06 and the current is a '10).

Safe travels,
MM.
lanerd
Explorer II
Apr 07, 2017
Mr.Mark wrote:
My personal experience with the reliability of Jeeps was not so favorable. Although I didn't tow them (before motorhoming), they were in the shop way more than acceptable.

So, when it was time to look for a toad, we bought a new 2007 Honda CR-V then moved on to a 2013 Honda CR-V. Sadly, automatic Honda's starting in 2015 are not 4 wheels down towable.

Safe travels,
MM.

But, if you use your toad for off-roading... a jeep is pretty much the only way to go...depending, of course, of how off roading serious you are. Many AWD toads that are 4-down towable can survive with mild to moderate off-roading like an AWD CRV.

I agree with the poor reliability of jeeps....at least that has been my experience. However you got to keep in mind what a Jeep goes through. I would never want one for a toad if I didn't do any serious off-roading.

Ron
Mile_High
Explorer
Apr 07, 2017
4 down and dolly in the passenger seat!
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Apr 07, 2017
My personal experience with the reliability of Jeeps was not so favorable. Although I didn't tow them (before motorhoming), they were in the shop way more than acceptable.

So, when it was time to look for a toad, we bought a new 2007 Honda CR-V then moved on to a 2013 Honda CR-V. Sadly, automatic Honda's starting in 2015 are not 4 wheels down towable.

There are still a lot of nice cars to tow.

Just pull up the Motorhome magazine towing guide for 2017 and it will show you everything that is towable four wheels down.

Safe travels,
MM.
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Apr 07, 2017
We use a flat 20 ft dovetailed trailer. Didn't mind the xtra charge at Bluewater either. Nice people, good fishing.
gafidler
Explorer
Apr 07, 2017
Honda CRV.. end of discussion
lanerd
Explorer II
Apr 07, 2017
machunt wrote:
I have heard there are some vehicles you can tow with 4 down without modifications. and some you can.t

Jerry, are you thinking about getting rid of your 5'er and going to a motor home?

There are a couple of things that you need to tell us first before we can recommend anything.

First, what will be the tow rating of the mh?
Second, what will you be doing with the toad when not being towed?

Ron

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