Concerned over ACME Tow Dolley Straps

dbates wrote:
Loose tire straps are not a problem if you make 2 changes in your loading procedure:
1. Don’t pull the toad all the way forward on the dolly. Leave about 1 inch between the front tires and the front wheel stops.
2. Tighten the straps down until the tires squish.

When you pull all the way forward the straps will not slide over the tire leaving them a little loose behind the tire. By allowing the 1 inch gap in front of the tire the wheels will roll forward tightening the straps on both sides of the tire.

Since I started doing this, 10 years & 50,000 plus miles ago, I’ve never had a problem with a loose strap. I still check them after the first 50 miles and each time I take a rest stop (about every 2 to 3 hours) but rarely can tighten them any further.

Two other things to watch for. A dolly is wider than the toad & in my case a little wider than the MH so watch when you park next to a curb that you don’t rub the lettering off of the curb side dolly tire. Also make sure that you have plenty of room to pull way from a curb. The sharper you turn away from the curb the more the dolly tongue will swing into the curb causing the dolly to jump the curb.

Dave

Dave, that's an interesting method for locking down the tire. Part of my problem is that my tires are so dang big that they barely go over the hump to fall into the channel. I'll have to try your method next time. Thanks for the tips.

Grandpere wrote:
The straps on our Master Tow dolly fit about like yours do and we have had no problems. After I tighten everything down we drive 10-15 miles and I get out and re-cinch everything down with my 24" breaker bar. I then check everything every time we stop and re-tighten as needed. No problems thus far. This summer will be the big test, we leave here the end of May for a 5400 round trip expedition to OR & MT.

That's good to know that there's somebody else with my configuration and that it works. Thanks. Hope you have an awesome trip this summer, I'm jealous.

Be sure to read the manual completely.....:B...Dennis

Why did you choose ACME? Their products never seemed to work out for Wiley Coyote.

Loose tire straps are not a problem if you make 2 changes in your loading procedure:
1. Don’t pull the toad all the way forward on the dolly. Leave about 1 inch between the front tires and the front wheel stops.
2. Tighten the straps down until the tires squish.

When you pull all the way forward the straps will not slide over the tire leaving them a little loose behind the tire. By allowing the 1 inch gap in front of the tire the wheels will roll forward tightening the straps on both sides of the tire.

Since I started doing this, 10 years & 50,000 plus miles ago, I’ve never had a problem with a loose strap. I still check them after the first 50 miles and each time I take a rest stop (about every 2 to 3 hours) but rarely can tighten them any further.

Two other things to watch for. A dolly is wider than the toad & in my case a little wider than the MH so watch when you park next to a curb that you don’t rub the lettering off of the curb side dolly tire. Also make sure that you have plenty of room to pull way from a curb. The sharper you turn away from the curb the more the dolly tongue will swing into the curb causing the dolly to jump the curb.

Dave

The straps on our Master Tow dolly fit about like yours do and we have had no problems. After I tighten everything down we drive 10-15 miles and I get out and re-cinch everything down with my 24" breaker bar. I then check everything every time we stop and re-tighten as needed. No problems thus far. This summer will be the big test, we leave here the end of May for a 5400 round trip expedition to OR & MT.

enblethen wrote:
I would look at how the strap is hooked to the back. Most tire straps cover more of the top of the tire.
It also looks as though there could be a twist in the strap as the lettering should be all on the outside.

Thanks for replying. Here's another pic which shows how the straps are attached to the back side of the tow dolley. There's only one way to attached them. Know what you mean about the lettering being messed up. On one cross piece the lettering in on the outside and on the next cross piece, the letter is on the inside. There is no consistency in how the straps were sewn. But there is no twist in the strap.

I would look at how the strap is hooked to the back. Most tire straps cover more of the top of the tire.
It also looks as though there could be a twist in the strap as the lettering should be all on the outside.