My wife and her mother are traveling with our Class C pulling her RAV4 on a tow dolly. I helped her load this morning, and everything looked good. She just called and said that the strap worked it's way off one of the wheels on the car and was actually flapping in the wind. That's frightening. We're both new to all this, and I'm now very uncomfortable that I couldn't be there to see this.The tow dolly is a Master Tow Model 80THD. We've used it for a few hundred miles with no troubles, but this is probably the first time it's been more than 100 miles from home.She did leave in the rain today, and drove most of the day in the rain. The straps that were provided are after-market straps provided by the dealer. They wrap around the rear portion of the tire, but it goes to a single strap right at the top. I'm wondering if the fact that they don't cradle all the way over the top of the tire plus the fact that they were wet is why one got loose.Without looking at it myself, I'm sort of at a loss. I'm obviously a bit concerned now that my wife and mother in law are having to deal with this themselves.Any advice I could pass along to them would be welcomed.Right now, I've just told them to stop often and be sure the straps are still on.

When we use our tow dolly, I stop at about 25 miles and re-tighten the straps, then every 100 miles after that I am checking them again. That is one of the draw backs to a tow dolly, the straps will loosen, but usually after re-tightening them at 25 miles they are good to go. At least at this point I have not has to re-tighten them again.

Straps are made in at least three sizes. Sounds like you may have ones too small. Tighten them really tight, stop after half hour and tighten again, and keep an eye on them is about all they can do now.

Yeah, these straps seem too small, but the dealer assured me they were right. I'll look into larger. The loose end is plenty long enough, but the part that cradles the tire seems too short.We do stop at a few miles and re-tighten. Then at each gas stop, I check them, but that could be 400 miles. We'll just have to reconcile ourselves to stopping more often.Yep, I'd much rather have a towable car, but right now we just have to go with what we've got. Thanks for the input.

Never believe dealers.. of anything.... contact factory... for real answers...double up on straps... 4 are better than 2.. every time. my opinion.and always check straps.. at 25 miles and 100 there after... they are not made of STEEL.. so can stretch/slip... and install errors... I deal mostly with motorcycles.. 40 plus years.... I use 6 straps for 1 bike.that is (6) 1000 pound straps.. for (1) 700 pound motorcycle...but I have used tow dolly.. several times...just last year.. Wife's PT Cruiser.as for the problem... you go to them and fix it...or direct them to a trailer rental place to correct issues.

I actually did contact the manufacturer, and they assured me it was fine for the RAV4. I also found a post here from someone that said he'd pulled a RAV4 for thousands of miles on the same dolly. Problem is, I think, the dealer pulled the straps off the shelf and got some too short. I assumed they'd come with the dolly from the manufacturer. I will check for longer straps.I'm a rider too. I've owned 25 bikes over my 50-year riding career. Currently there's a '99 ZRX and a '13 FJR1300 in the stable. I tend to ride them where I go and don't trailer then often, but I also use six straps.

Tow Dolly problems | Good Sam Community

ECones
Explorer
Nov 30, 2015
blknomad wrote:
You have the wrong size straps, bottom line!!!

Yep. I'm thinking that's the issue.

I talked to her this morning and she's going to try to get some longer straps at a nearby RV dealer, but we're not hopeful anyone will have them in stock. If that's the case, she'll just have to be super vigilant on the way home, and we'll get more before towing again.

Thanks all
blknomad
Explorer
Nov 29, 2015
You have the wrong size straps, bottom line!!!
RJsfishin
Explorer
Nov 29, 2015
The web should cover nearly 1/2 of the circumference of the tire, and if so, they can loosen, but not slide off.
Nylon straps do not slide well over rubber, therefore they will loosen over miles and time, they need retighten after 25 and 100 miles.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Nov 29, 2015
ECones wrote:
Like I said earlier, though, this is the longest trip with the dolly, and it's the first time in the rain.

Fabric definitely stretches when it gets wet. A factor for sure.
ECones
Explorer
Nov 29, 2015
Bobbo wrote:
ALWAYS stop after about 50 miles and check the straps. They will frequently need tightening! If they don't, you are good to go. If they do, I would tighten them and re check after another 50 miles.

Straps stretch. After a few months of use, their stretch will be much less and you will have to tighten them less frequently.

We've been checking after a few miles and usually tighten one or both. After that, 'til now, they've held to the destination.

Like I said earlier, though, this is the longest trip with the dolly, and it's the first time in the rain.

Thanks for all the input folks. I've suggested to my wife that she try to find an RV shop near where she is that can get her some longer straps by Thursday, her leave day. If not, she'll just have to stop often and check, which she will anyway.

I'll try to find some longer straps for it.
ECones
Explorer
Nov 29, 2015
dbates wrote:
I can’t speak about the type of straps that you or Master Tow uses. I have a Demco KarKaddy SS dolly that uses strap webbing that encloses most of the tire’s top. I found that even if I mounted the toad as Demco recommends (pulling the toad onto the dolly until the tire presses against the dolly’s wheel stop) that the straps can come loose. I noticed that when this is done the straps will not slide over the tire and will not fully tighten behind the wheel. I now leaving about one inch between the tires and wheel stops, then tightening down the straps until the tires squish. The one inch space in front of the wheel allows the tire to roll forward as the straps are tighten equalizes the tension on both sides of the tire. Since I started doing this (50,000 miles ago) I’ve never had to retighten a strap.

Dave

We always pull the car forward as far as possible. Reading your explanation makes me think that may not be the best way to handle it. Thx
ECones
Explorer
Nov 29, 2015
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
I haul my bike because Wife no longer rides.. she stopped in 2003....

I have ridden since 1969.. never missing a year.. currently Honda VTX1800F.

Of course, pulling the car I couldn't take the bike, but even if I could I wouldn't. My wife hasn't ridden with me since about 1980, and the RV trips are for us together.

I get plenty of saddle time without taking it RVing.
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Nov 28, 2015
I haul my bike because Wife no longer rides.. she stopped in 2003....

I have ridden since 1969.. never missing a year.. currently Honda VTX1800F.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2015
ALWAYS stop after about 50 miles and check the straps. They will frequently need tightening! If they don't, you are good to go. If they do, I would tighten them and re check after another 50 miles.

Straps stretch. After a few months of use, their stretch will be much less and you will have to tighten them less frequently.
dbates
Explorer
Nov 28, 2015
I can’t speak about the type of straps that you or Master Tow uses. I have a Demco KarKaddy SS dolly that uses strap webbing that encloses most of the tire’s top. I found that even if I mounted the toad as Demco recommends (pulling the toad onto the dolly until the tire presses against the dolly’s wheel stop) that the straps can come loose. I noticed that when this is done the straps will not slide over the tire and will not fully tighten behind the wheel. I now leaving about one inch between the tires and wheel stops, then tightening down the straps until the tires squish. The one inch space in front of the wheel allows the tire to roll forward as the straps are tighten equalizes the tension on both sides of the tire. Since I started doing this (50,000 miles ago) I’ve never had to retighten a strap.

Dave

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