FWD towing

I wired my Ford Windstar with brake lights that come on with my motorhome lights, and running lights. This was to a plug on my tow dolly, and also the tow dolly had lights powered by the motorhome.

I put a diode on each light on the rear, for turn/brake signals, and connected the 'white' wire to ground the van to the motorhome lights, brown wire to the running lights in the front of the van, that turned on all the lights when towing.

I moved the diodes over to my new 2007 Ford Edge, and installed a 4 wheels down towing kit on that car, it is SO much easier to tow 4 wheels down, and no need to park the dolly someplace at each campground. Also the 4 wheel down towing only puts about 30 pounds of weight on the tow hitch, while the tow dolly with the 2,200 pound front axle on it might have put around 200 - 250 pounds on the hitch.

I did not leave the keys in the van while it was on the tow dolly. I did have to remember all 7 steps - especially after leaving a campground, hearing a s****ing sound behind me, and discovered the latch to keep the 'tilt' in the up position forgotten! That was on the third time I towed with the dolly, and I never forgot anything for the next 2 years that I full timed with the dolly.

Good luck,

Fred.

I thought about 4 down towing but when I inquired about tow bar and wiring I felt $3800 and that does not include axillary brake was high. I got a tow dolly for a grand with brakes and lights 2010 model. This saves me many thousands.

With FWD, you're PROBABLY OK on a Dolly. The Owner's Manual for the specific vehicle you want to tow is the ultimate authority.

There are some FWD's that shouldn't be dolly towed. Also, be sure the dolly is wide enough for the width of the towed vehicle's front axle/tires.

Manuals for some FWDs, namely a 2013 Dodge caravan for one. tell you not to tow on a dolly. They are concerned about the gears/parking mechanisim being stressed when being strapped down. I towed mine all the time, but I was careful to leave the tranny in neutral, while strapping the wheels down. Then last of all, shift the tranny to park.

Check the owners manual. There are lots of FWDs that cannot be towed on a dolly.

My Subaru can only be towed 4 wheels down, and only the manual shift Subaru can be towed. Don't know about other four wheel drive vehicles, but I think the Subaru is typical.

I was thinking about a jeep liberty either FWD or 4 WD.

I've towed my FWD 2012 Prius on a Roadmaster tow dolly with no problems at all. Although the tow dolly complicates things around a campsite, and storing it in the winter, it is easy to drive the car up onto the dolly, put the vehicle in park, no emergency brake, and strap the front wheels in and go. It's best to check the straps every stop and tighten if necessary. The tow dolly has electric brakes, so no external braking system is necessary, just an electronic brake controller in the RV to adjust the braking sensitivity and response.

103holland wrote:
I was thinking about a jeep liberty either FWD or 4 WD.

I have a 2004 Liberty. It needs to be either trailered or 4-down. No dolly.

Check the manual of the towed car. Many are not approved for tow dollies, often because of body-work clearance and some because of structural or power train conflicts (VWs with cast aluminum oil pans for example).