Going to tow a small Mazda on a dolly behind a small Class C (21 footer). I am wondering about a few things:1. The car has pretty low ground clearance (an Achilles heel for this car IMHO). Am I likely to encounter any problem with its butt scraping on the ground while it's being towed?2. What additional length (roughly) will the dolly with the car mounted on it add to the rig?3. Is the rig going to be substantially challenged towing this size car and dolly? I know it will be a total slug climbing mountains, but what about overall MPG and performance? Is this too much to ask of a small class C?I am assuming for the sake of discussion that a trailer, due to weight, length, and difficulty of handling/unhooking/storing, is pretty much a bad idea.

Any info on this in the owners' manual? damaging the rear undercarriage can be nasty and expensive. Like the rear bumper...to say nothing of the gas tank. Be careful. Maybe even consider a full car carrier trailer. How about another car? One that can be towed 4-down? I used a Chevvy HHR for quite a few years. Good car, good "toad"..and now only can buy them as used....maybe really inexpensive?My first "toad" (in 2001) was a used 1996 Ford Contour...5 spd stick. Was a Mazda with a Ford badge. GREAT toad..., in 2007 went to Mazda to buy a new car to be used daily and as a toad....was told that one cannot tow a (newer) Mazda 4 down no matter what. That is why I did research and bought the HHR. No trailer, no dolly. Just 4 down. And....IMHO, that is best way to go. (My current 4-down "toad" is a 2011 Ford Ranger 4WD, automatic. )g'luck!

A trailer is much easier to back up than a dolly. Not that much more of a problem to store either.

You need to provide more information!1. What are the specification of the MH you're planning to pull the dolly with?2. Have you checked with the dolly manufacturer to see if the dolly can handle the Mazada properly?3. Does the dolly have a braking system?4. Is the hitch on the MH strong enough to handle the dolly and toad?Even though I've pulled my Vibe on a dolly for over 10 years and 50,000 mile I'll agree with jerseyjim that 4 down is better but it's getting harder to find toads that can be pulled 4 down and can you afford changing toads?Dave

With that low ground clearance, I would be afraid of a dolly.

Go measure the height of the dolly where the tire sits, then measure at the front tire of the vehicle dead center on the tire to the wheel well, then raise the car by the amount of the dolly so that the wheel well has the same height above the dolly's wheel height, remember that you will no be using the tire measure at all since the suspension will unload.To recap ground to wheel well measure add dolly height from ground to where the tire will rest, raise vehicle and then check clearance from rear tire to bumper that will be what is called the escape clearance angle, just remember that any uneven pavement of gradient will infringe upon this angle as in gas stations and parking lot entrances, for me I would use a trailer rather than a dolly.navegator

Dinghy tow dolly questions | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

dbates
Explorer
Jan 07, 2016
You need to provide more information!
1. What are the specification of the MH you're planning to pull the dolly with?
2. Have you checked with the dolly manufacturer to see if the dolly can handle the Mazada properly?
3. Does the dolly have a braking system?
4. Is the hitch on the MH strong enough to handle the dolly and toad?

Even though I've pulled my Vibe on a dolly for over 10 years and 50,000 mile I'll agree with jerseyjim that 4 down is better but it's getting harder to find toads that can be pulled 4 down and can you afford changing toads?

Dave
jerseyjim
Explorer
Jan 07, 2016
Any info on this in the owners' manual? damaging the rear undercarriage can be nasty and expensive. Like the rear bumper...to say nothing of the gas tank. Be careful. Maybe even consider a full car carrier trailer. How about another car? One that can be towed 4-down? I used a Chevvy HHR for quite a few years. Good car, good "toad"..and now only can buy them as used....maybe really inexpensive?
My first "toad" (in 2001) was a used 1996 Ford Contour...5 spd stick. Was a Mazda with a Ford badge. GREAT toad..., in 2007 went to Mazda to buy a new car to be used daily and as a toad....was told that one cannot tow a (newer) Mazda 4 down no matter what. That is why I did research and bought the HHR. No trailer, no dolly. Just 4 down. And....IMHO, that is best way to go. (My current 4-down "toad" is a 2011 Ford Ranger 4WD, automatic. )

g'luck!

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Dinghy tow dolly questions

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