towing with dolly

I use leveling blocks under the ramps to get a better grade on the ramp, then pull up with my tires just resting on the bottom of the ramp. I get out, check the alignment to make sure I am centered, if not adjust, otherwise pull it up on. I am always paranoid about over shooting it, but it hasn’t happened yet. I take it pretty slowly and once I know I am up and on, I gradually rest it on the front stops, set the parking brake, put the straps on, then release the brake. This ensures I am tight against the front stops. All that said, sometimes it takes me a few tries to center it. Once underway I usually do a few test stops and starts and check the straps again. I am always surprised about how the car can “rest” into position requiring a little more tightening on the straps. I also check them at every rest or fuel stop.

I, with the help of the DW, put the car on the dolly exactly where we wanted it, then took a small strip of colored tape, centered where I sit in the Drivers seat, (same way some mark there windshields to stay centered in the lane) that way the car is always centered where I want it and DW can be working on other things. The dowels sounds like a good idea as well.

You might want to get a couple of wooden dowels, and mount them to the side fenders, so that you can see where the edge of the ramps are...that might help. Putting a stop on the top, so that you don't over shoot it would help too.

As mentioned...practice, practice, practice:)

Practice, practice, practice.

I towed with a dolly for 3 years. By the end of that time I could do it easily in 1 try about 90% of the time.

MaryinMotion wrote:
I would like some helpful hints about how to get your car up on your dolly in only one, smooth attempt. I would like to do this on my own sometimes. But right now, it often takes both me and my husband several attempts to get the car centered well enough on the dolly.

There is no easy way with my Kia, it sits so low that I have to use additional ramps I made to get up on it without tearing off the lower valance, DW guides me, sometimes still takes a couple tries.