Tow dolly question

The only restrictions I've ever heard on tow dollies not allowed is what wa8yxm said. That is just that some campgrounds may require you to store them someplace. Otherwise I've never heard of any state that banned them. I don't even recall that discussion ever coming up on here.

There is one campground I stay at that has tow dolly/trailer restrictions.

You may have it on site so long as it remains attached to your Motor home or if you un-hook it you have to put it in the "Trailer Lot" and pay the "Trailer Parking Fee".. My opinion of this policy is that it does not affect me since I tow 4-down.

And that is what I suggest for you.. Tow 4 down, But alas not all towed cars can be hauled that way.. But let me give you a few reasons.

First: To find out if your car can be towed 4 down with or without modification google REMCO TOWING and answer the 20 questions (closer to five) it will tell you.

Now: Towing on a dolly or trailer.. you have to get it all lined up and pull on just so, then strap it down, and safety chain it, then tow it a ways and re-check.

4 Down: I can (and in fact last hook up did) easily pull up 45 degrees off, Get it close and hook up.. Put it in neutral, make sure the parking brake is off, and Away we go.. Hook up is two arms pins and latch pins, two safety cables one elctrical cable and a breakeaway cable, took me longer to type it than to hook up the cables (Arms take a bit of work). Arms store on the RV when not towing.

The only problem I have had with this I'd have had towing a car on a trailer as well.

Different cars tow differently:

Some all you do is put either the transmission or transfer case (4wd with manual transfer case) in Neutral

Some you need to follow a procedure (Start, run through gears, put in neutral)

Some like the one I tow now I had to add a lube pump, I tow in neutral but the lube pump keeps fluid flowing so the bearings are moist (About 1500 installed).

Some like the one I used to have I put on an axle lock, this is very old technology that has much the same effect as breaking a half axle on a front wheel drive,, One wheel turns free, the other one turns the differential the trasmission is in PARK,

Some you put a device like that on the drive shaft (Rear wheel drive).

In all cases the cost is about 1500 dollars to modify.

I’ve pulled a Demco KarKddy SS for the past 9 years and 50,000 miles in all of the states marked below with no problems. Yes 4 down is a little faster and easier but I love my Vibe and it can’t be pulled 4 down.

Some things to remember:
1. When I first started using the dolly I strapped the toad down as Demco recommended pulling it all the way forward to the front wheel stop then strapped it down but I found that the straps came loose & I even had one strap come all of the way off. I then realized that the straps didn’t slide over the wheel as they are tightened so they remain a little loose behind the wheels and when you started pulling the Toad slip back leaving the straps loose on both sides of the wheel.

I now pull the toad all of the way forward then back up about one inch. I strap it down until the tires squish. As the straps tighten the wheels roll forward and the strap tension equalizes in both the front and rear of the wheel. Since I started doing this I’ve never had a problem with a loose strap. I still check them within 50 miles of start and again each time I stop (about every 2 to 3 hours) but I’ve never found a strap loose enough to cause a problem since.

I talked to Demco about this procedure & they have no problem with it but have chosen not to change the guidelines in their manual.

2. If your dolly is a little wider than the RV watch those right curbs when parking. I ground the lettering off of the right dolly tire before I realized this.

3. Make sure that you allow plenty of front end room when parking along a curb. If you have to turn too sharply when pulling out the rear of the RV swings in the opposite direction pulling the dolly into the curb causing the dolly wheels to scrap or roll over the curb.

Dave

I would also recommend "surge brakes". I have a tow dolly that I use to haul cars that needed to be repaired, and I pull it with my F 250, that also pulls my 5er. It has electric brakes, and whenever the dolly is empty, every time I stop the tires will lock up on the dolly. I ended up putting a switch into the brake circuit to turn them off, so I would not ruin the dolly tires.

Ditto on the rest... using dolly 5+ years, never had a problem. Yes, 4-down is easier but we only tow 2-3 times/year and neither of our cars easily convert to 4-down towing so the dolly made sense for us at this point.

I've heard that some campgrounds make you remove the dolly and store it in a separate area while you are there, but I've never hit that personally. Nine out of ten times we drop the car out front, leave the dolly attached to the RV, and pull into a pull-through lot we've reserved. Back-in sites require more work but that's expected.

Wouldn't be without brakes and safety chains for the car. I carry a backup set of straps just in case...

some states require licensing,etc., them if they don't have a car on them.
bumpy

I'd like to add some more but Sez is spot on. I've been towing a Demco kar kattie for 6 years and never had a problem. I'm on 2nd moho and 2nd toad, same dolly. I did replace the straps because first toad had 14in tires and new has 17in.

I have been all over the USA for 4 years now. I have not found any places that said tow dollies were not allowed. There are many good tow dollies out there. Mine is made by Stehl. Some states will require the dolly to have brakes. I strongly suggest you get one with surge brakes. No brake controller installation is necessary with surge brakes. The brakes will work on the dolly regardless of what vehicle is towing it. They are for the most part a maintenance free braking system. Occasionally as with any vehicle you check the brake fluid level and brake pads.

Some tow dollies have wheels that will steer as the MH turns and others have a pivoting tire deck that will pivot when the MH turns. Mine has the pivoting deck, I have no experience with the steerable wheel models.

I would have to say that Towing 4 down would be easier but the right tow dolly allows you greater flexibility for what kid of vehicle you will tow behind your MH. With a tow dolly for the first day or two after you load the car you have to make occasional stops to tighten your wheel straps. They stretch and will loosen. After retightening them a few times they will remain tight. Good Luck with your search, do your homework and make the purchase only once.