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kemer's avatar
kemer
Explorer
Jun 30, 2015

Tow Dolly Question

We have a 2014 Winnebago Sightseer and will be towing a vehicle on a Master Tow dolly. The Winnebago manual says that I should only use a hitch/ball with a 4" drop. However, the tow manual says that the top of the ball should be 14" from the ground. If I use a 4" drop, the ball will be high(according to tow manual), if I use an adjustable ball and lower it to 14" from ground, I'm going against the Winnebago suggestion. Any suggestions as to which is better?

THANKS
  • What percentage of your receiver hitch rating are you using? Drop hitches add leverage against the receiver. If you're towing 60% of the hitch rating, no big deal.

    If you're towing 4900 lbs with a 5,000 lb hitch, better keep an eye on the receiver.
  • Towing rule for anything you're towing is to keep the tongue as level as possible when you're getting set up. Reason being is that when you start stopping, the force applied by the Toad (or tow dolly) should be in line with the towing vehicle. You don' want the force to be thrust upward id your tongue is pointing up or likewise pointing down (set too low). The theory that comes into play is tat (objects that are in motion, tend to stay in motion). So you have better control if aal the force is in-line rather than up or down.
  • Grandpere wrote:
    Go with the Master Tow Dolly guidelines, they built the dolly you are using. Winnebago is probably giving a general guideline used for all tow dollys.


    Ditto! If the ball is too high, the ramps may drag on the ground over uneven pavement. If too low, the ramps could hit the rocker panels on the vehicle. Go with the Master Tow dolly recommendations.
  • Go with the Master Tow Dolly guidelines, they built the dolly you are using. Winnebago is probably giving a general guideline used for all tow dollys.