Tow dolly instructions
Going to buy a tow dolly to tow a 2002 Ford Escape with front wheel drive and automatic. My question is do you leave the car in park with steering wheel locked or what?
Forum Discussion
Depends on the type and make of dolly and there are different approaches to whether or not the steering gear is free or locked. Who makes the dolly? Does the type of dolly have a turntable or swivel plate that allows the lower dolly to turn underneath the wheel platform? Or is it have the type of dolly in which the cars wheels sit directly on the dolly that does not have a moving swivel plate or turntable?
With a swivel plate or turntable the wheels are to be locked as the turn table allows the car to track through a turn. On the type of dolly without a swivel plate or turntable, the wheels in the car must be able to turn and track throughout a turn and thus must be free and not locked.
Arguments can be made in favor of both approaches or types of dolly configuration. I went the turntable/swivel pate route and thus I lock mine with an American Car Dolly.
I always put the car in park and use a safety chain in addition to tire straps
With a swivel plate or turntable the wheels are to be locked as the turn table allows the car to track through a turn. On the type of dolly without a swivel plate or turntable, the wheels in the car must be able to turn and track throughout a turn and thus must be free and not locked.
Arguments can be made in favor of both approaches or types of dolly configuration. I went the turntable/swivel pate route and thus I lock mine with an American Car Dolly.
I always put the car in park and use a safety chain in addition to tire straps
