Advice on tow dolly behind my Class A Gasser

[bsiemens]

I've been told by my Toyota dealer that I can't convert my RAV4 to flat tow so I now must look at a tow dolly. I've rented a U-haul years ago and they don't come with brakes of any kind. My first question is, do I need brakes on the tow dolly? My next question is are there any brands that I should not even consider? We were going to rent another U-haul for the trip from North Carolina to South Texas, but $500 seemed a bit much for only 4 days rental. Looks like one of us will drive the coach while the other drives the car for this trip.

[Effy]

I always skip over the legal debates on this issue as it ends up being a hot mess of part fact - part doom and gloom. The bottom line is this; having already spent a lot of money on an RV, then a car, then a towing mechanisms, why on earth would you not spend a little more and get brakes? If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. You will stop faster. Without them it will take you longer to stop and use more coach brakes on descents. No need to really make it more complicated than that. Toad/dolly brakes offset the several thousand pounds of weight you are compounding on the coach's brakes.

[hipower]

mowermech wrote:
Yes, if getting the "best" is important, IMO the DEMCO Kar Kaddy is the dolly you want. I used to have one. I sold it. That was a very dumb thing to do!
If getting the best bang for the buck is important, then the American tow dolly is the one I would buy.
As for brakes, yes, having them is a "good idea". The only law that applies in most states is the Braking Performance Law. You must be able to stop on a clean, hard, dry, level surface, within 40 or 45 feet (depending on the state) from 20 MPH. This is also in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

Doesn't the Braking Performance Law standards apply to a vehicle as manufactured? Does that apply once it is met by the manufacturer? I can't even suggest that manufacturers test every vehicle manufactured for compliance, only a representative sample would be done, if that many.

[mowermech]

Yes, if getting the "best" is important, IMO the DEMCO Kar Kaddy is the dolly you want. I used to have one. I sold it. That was a very dumb thing to do!
If getting the best bang for the buck is important, then the American tow dolly is the one I would buy.
As for brakes, yes, having them is a "good idea". The only law that applies in most states is the Braking Performance Law. You must be able to stop on a clean, hard, dry, level surface, within 40 or 45 feet (depending on the state) from 20 MPH. This is also in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

[blknomad]

I have a demco that has surge brakes that I've used for 9 years. Current setup is 36ft gasser and 2wd rav4. Buy a demco with surge brakes and be done, Any fwd car and any tow vehicle. Nothing to change no wiring no magic brake setup no fuses to remove no crank and let it run every 2 hours. I just returned from a 45 day trip out west and never had to unhook the dolly. Buy it once and forget it.

[Effy]

First, don't trust a dealer to tell you if your car is towable. Dealers are notorious for giving bad information. Your car's manual should have a section on towing and recreational towing. That will provide your answer. If you determine that it can be towed on a dolly, brakes are recommended. I never really understood why this is a debate. You spend all the money on the RV, the car, the dolly and skimp on brakes. Why? Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. I've towed with and without brakes and it makes a huge difference. You are adding several thousand pounds, how could it not make a huge difference?

[craig7h]

I have just started towing with a dolly. Have a roadmaster with electric brakes, so far no problem.

[usersmanual]

bsiemens wrote:
I've been told by my Toyota dealer that I can't convert my RAV4 to flat tow so I now must look at a tow dolly. I've rented a U-haul years ago and they don't come with brakes of any kind. My first question is, do I need brakes on the tow dolly? My next question is are there any brands that I should not even consider? We were going to rent another U-haul for the trip from North Carolina to South Texas, but $500 seemed a bit much for only 4 days rental. Looks like one of us will drive the coach while the other drives the car for this trip.

the rav4 if its a all wheel drive you can not tow it with a tow dolly

[ArchHoagland]

Remco

[STBRetired]

Have a Master Tow dolly with surge brakes. Towing a Chevy Malibu at present. Simple to load and has worked quite well for us. Be sure to get a dolly that steers or has a turntable. The Master Tow has a turntable that the car sits on, and has LED lighting.

[Lancslad]

The U haul trailer I rented had a hydraulic brake setup on the hitch. It was independent of the tow vehicle.

[MitchF150]

2wd or 4wd Rav4? Wife has a 2003 4wd Rav4 and no way you could do a dolly with it.. Remco trans pump is the only option and then you can just flat tow it.

Good luck!

Mitch

[gbopp]

Acme Tow Dolly

American Tow Dolly

I think these two are the best bang for the buck. And, I think it's wise to have brakes on a tow dolly.

[Dutch_12078]

We've been towing first a 2002 RAV4 and currently a 2011 RAV4 for a total of nearly 50,000 miles. I did have to install a Remco transmission pump to make them towable, but it is doable as long as you have the correct transmission.