Considering a tow dolly...... Info needed
We just bought a new motorhome and need to pull our 2013 Ford Escape, front wheel drive. Our last toad was pulled with a tow bar setup, so I'm not familiar with tow dollies. I've seen some have auto...
Forum Discussion
We used a tow dolly for more than 21 years. Ours didn't have auto-steer or brakes, and the brakes were the main reason I switched to four-down.
If the wheels on the dolly don't steer, you put a tremendous load on the hitch if the overhang on the motorhome is excessive. It actually tried to separate my rear cap from the sidewalls. I don't recommend a dolly that doesn't have wheels that steer.
Just like towing four-down, you can't back a dolly with the vehicle on it. Our dolly was light enough that when we had the car off, it was easily moved by hand, even up slight hills. That said, a good dolly with steering and brakes will be heavier than ours was. There were many places I'd remove the car, and then back the dolly into a space where we could secure it.
Most of the time I'd disconnect it, put the dolly on the ground and back the motorhome over the tongue of the dolly. When I couldn't secure it that way I wrapped a chain through the holes in one of the wheels and secured it with a lock. That way the wheel would drag after just a few feet. If I did leave it attached to the MH, I locked the links of the safety chain.
With a front wheel drive automatic you can leave it in neutral or park, it shouldn't matter. Our car was a manual trans and I always left it in neutral. With either choice, leave the key in the ignition in the unlocked position, because the wheels of the car will turn when the dolly turns.
It was a good way to tow many different vehicles (all front wheel drive), but I didn't want the problem of where to keep the dolly in some of the smaller spots we camped in. I've gone back to four-down for a number of reasons, but I understand both choices.
If the wheels on the dolly don't steer, you put a tremendous load on the hitch if the overhang on the motorhome is excessive. It actually tried to separate my rear cap from the sidewalls. I don't recommend a dolly that doesn't have wheels that steer.
Just like towing four-down, you can't back a dolly with the vehicle on it. Our dolly was light enough that when we had the car off, it was easily moved by hand, even up slight hills. That said, a good dolly with steering and brakes will be heavier than ours was. There were many places I'd remove the car, and then back the dolly into a space where we could secure it.
Most of the time I'd disconnect it, put the dolly on the ground and back the motorhome over the tongue of the dolly. When I couldn't secure it that way I wrapped a chain through the holes in one of the wheels and secured it with a lock. That way the wheel would drag after just a few feet. If I did leave it attached to the MH, I locked the links of the safety chain.
With a front wheel drive automatic you can leave it in neutral or park, it shouldn't matter. Our car was a manual trans and I always left it in neutral. With either choice, leave the key in the ignition in the unlocked position, because the wheels of the car will turn when the dolly turns.
It was a good way to tow many different vehicles (all front wheel drive), but I didn't want the problem of where to keep the dolly in some of the smaller spots we camped in. I've gone back to four-down for a number of reasons, but I understand both choices.
