How much hassle to hook up a car dolly?

Not fun in the rain and or mud and the tires start spinning going up the ramp. Also driving in rain then stopping and dealing with dirty, wet straps.

We used a tow dolly ONCE. ONCE was enough.

About 15 minutes here too. I have a rubber foam knee pad to kneel on, I think it came from the garden department at the store. Have never had the need to lay down while attaching the dolly or vehicle.

At campgrounds I normally get a long pull through site, then you don't even have to disconnect the dolly.
After a few uses you will get the hang of it and even know exactly where your tires need to be lined up. I hang my head out the drivers window when entering onto the ramp so to see my exact spot.

On the straps, mine were folded over and sewn together on the very end. That made it a bit difficult when trying to thread it through the ratchet. I unraveled the sewn in thread, then unfolded and heated the end with my heat gun for a flat edge (no fold) much easier now.

Time is one thing but kneeling or laying down in the wet or snow to tie down the wheels, is what I saw as a huge drawback

4 down for me now

8 minutes for my mastertow with a toyota prius V

Have only had the Master Tow dolly for a couple of months so far and used 3 times. Takes me about 15 minutes to drive on and secure the car. Flat towing 4 down might be faster and easier, but I might take one vehicle this time and a different vehicle the following time. Would not want the cost of having to equip all the different vehicles with the stuff needed to do so. Can also use the dolly to pick up a broken down vehicle if needed.

I used to own a new 1999 Honda CRV, all set up for towing. It was pretty easy to get ready, I guess about 3 minutes if I came back to the RV and wanted to leave right away from when I parked the car behind the RV and was ready to drive off in the RV. I have a Roadmaster RV attached hitch with arms that extend to the car. Then plug in the lights, vacuum line for the brakes, and install a Roadmaster Tow Shield. Push the car back until one of the arms locks, then shut off the car engine with it in neutral, and I was ready to go.

Then I got a tow dolly for my Windstar van. I have to find a place to park the dolly, then hitch it up to the RV. I put round hooks under the van, so easy to attach the tow dolly chains to the van with a quick clip. Then chains from tow dolly to RV. Plug in tow dolly lights to RV and to van (so van taillights work with RV brake and turn lights). Pull van onto dolly, put it in park. Put in a pull out pin under the ramp (of dolly) and slide a clip into place to keep it from tilting to the drive off position. Tie down right and left tires. (I know the steps are out of order I have not towed or even owned the van since 2008).

In the summer of 2007, I bought a Ford Edge, because I did not like the tow dolly. It is also set up for use behind the Roadmaster hitch on the RV. Vacuum line to the braking system too!

Now I tow the Edge or a VW based Manx dune buggy (at 1,500 pounds no brakes are needed). And I still have the tow dolly, so I can tow my handicap ramp van too! But have not used the RV in a couple of years.

So the tow dolly is a bit of a pain, but it can be done. It takes an additional 10 minutes on hitching up, but I will have to do it when I want to tow the ramp van. I would rather hitch up the Edge for a short trip, but the 400# wheelchair will not fit.

Fred.

past-MIdirector wrote:
About 10 minutes tops. I have a Karcaddy and it's light and easy to move. Do it all myself.

Another Kar Kaddy owner, and I agree. 5 to 10 minutes. That includes putting a full front cover on the PT Cruiser; the cover goes all the way from under the front bumper up over the windshield.
I don't find it burdensome at all.
Connecting the telescoping towbar on the Dodge 1500 takes about 5 minutes from the time I approach the back of the coach until I can drive off.
Connecting the Jeep with the fixed arm towbar took about three minutes.

It is all purely personal preference. Some folks swear by one method or the other, some folks swear at the same method.
Good luck.

About 10 minutes tops. I have a Karcaddy and it's light and easy to move. Do it all myself.

About 10 minutes tops. I have a Karcaddy and it's light and easy to move. Do it all myself.