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
I’ve pulled a Demco KarKaddy SS dolly for 9 years, almost 50,000 miles and have been very pleased with it. Its wheels swivel similar to the frontend of a car rather than having swivel plates. They are well built, fold down to about 50% of their in use size for storage and the company provides excellent customer service.
Some people have complained about straps coming loose, but if you strap it down right you won’t have that problem.
When I first started using the dolly I strapped the toad down as Demco recommended by pulled the toad all the way forward to the front wheel stop 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 won’t slide over the wheels as they are tightened so they remain a little loose behind the wheels and when you started pulling the Toad it slips back leaving the straps loose on both sides of the wheel.
With this in mind, I now pull the toad all of the way forward, back up about an inch then strap it down until the tires squish. As the straps tighten the wheels are allowed to roll forward and the strap tension equalizes on both sides of the wheel. Since I started doing this (over 44,000 miles ago) I’ve never found a strap loose enough to cause a problem. I still check them within 50 miles of start and again each time I stop (about every 2 to 3 hours). Demco doesn’t have a problem with this but has chosen not to change the guidelines in their manual.
Also remember:
1. 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.
2. 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.
If you have any other questions just "private message" me.
Dave Bates
Some people have complained about straps coming loose, but if you strap it down right you won’t have that problem.
When I first started using the dolly I strapped the toad down as Demco recommended by pulled the toad all the way forward to the front wheel stop 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 won’t slide over the wheels as they are tightened so they remain a little loose behind the wheels and when you started pulling the Toad it slips back leaving the straps loose on both sides of the wheel.
With this in mind, I now pull the toad all of the way forward, back up about an inch then strap it down until the tires squish. As the straps tighten the wheels are allowed to roll forward and the strap tension equalizes on both sides of the wheel. Since I started doing this (over 44,000 miles ago) I’ve never found a strap loose enough to cause a problem. I still check them within 50 miles of start and again each time I stop (about every 2 to 3 hours). Demco doesn’t have a problem with this but has chosen not to change the guidelines in their manual.
Also remember:
1. 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.
2. 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.
If you have any other questions just "private message" me.
Dave Bates
