tow dolly vs. Tow bar

[real4u2c]

Ok All,

Tow dolly vs. tow bar, I need feedback on what the consensus is using to tow behind a Class A. My Class A is 2004 Fleetwood Pace arrow 37c with the 8.1l gas engine, I believe its a max tow of 5000lbs. I am not towing over that weight toad combined I am trying to stay under 4500lbs. I have never pulled anything behind my home on wheels, so any and all input is welcome. Especially when I am about to make a huge to me monetary decision.

[Sam_Spade]

jpmihalk wrote:
Dolly towing opens up a lot more possibilities for tow vehicles as basically any front wheel drive vehicle can be dolly towed.

ANY vehicle can be dolly towed.
If it is rear wheel drive, you just back it onto the dolly.

[John___Angela]

Four down is nice but if you have a vehicle that can not be flat towed then a Tow Dolly is not a bad way to go. It seems there are a growing number of vehicles that can not be towed 4 down. Many of the Electric vehicles such as the leaf, bolt and Ioniq can not be towed four down as well and since this is the trend for the future I suspect that in 10 years tow dolliess will be more common than they are now. Both our vehicles are electric and the one must be trailered 4 UP. I don't know about Teslas but some are all wheel drive and I suspect they must also be trailered.

Anyway, check out wether your vehicle can be towed 4 down and go from there.

[Mile_High]

Diode kit for my JK was super simple to install.

[dubdub07]

Diodes. Mag lights will blow off.

[hilldude]

Tow dolly 15 minutes to hook up,sometimes laying on wet ground hooking safety chains.Four down five minutes hooking up no laying in a water hole.

[Mile_High]

I guess there are two approaches -

• The vehicle type you drive is more important to you so you tow it by whatever means is required for that specific vehicle, or
  
  
• The towing method is more important to you so you find a vehicle that can be towed using your preferred method.
  

Neither is the wrong answer.

[jpmihalk]

Not sure about the "only way to go" as lots of people use dollies without issue. Yes 4 down is a little more convenient but also more expensive to set up. Dolly towing opens up a lot more possibilities for tow vehicles as basically any front wheel drive vehicle can be dolly towed. Once you have a 4 down towed, it is a pain to switch vehicles unless you buy the baseplate and lighting for the new vehicle. (Cha-ching!)

For the record, we have done it both ways and are currently using a dolly because of the vehicle we are towing.

[tropical36]

real4u2c wrote:
Ok All,

Tow dolly vs. tow bar, I need feedback on what the consensus is using to tow behind a Class A. My Class A is 2004 Fleetwood Pace arrow 37c with the 8.1l gas engine, I believe its a max tow of 5000lbs. I am not towing over that weight toad combined I am trying to stay under 4500lbs. I have never pulled anything behind my home on wheels, so any and all input is welcome. Especially when I am about to make a huge to me monetary decision.

4 DOWN is the only way to go IMO and should be one's everyday driver, as well, for cost effectiveness... Toad Link

[real4u2c]

We purchased a road master sterling tow bar, a blue ox patriate proportional brake controller, still cant decide on magnetic lighting, or diode lighting, or buying a late model good used small car using our 2010 Pontiac g6 for a trade-in. We are trying hard to keep the tow weight well below the rated hitch capacity. We scoured the FMCA website and printed many model years worth of toads, which we tasked ourselves to researching.

[Sam_Spade]

Mile High wrote:
have the DW jump in the toad and use it to back up the motorhome. I probably could with my Jeep on a level surface with the MH in neutral.

OK now THAT is using your brain. :B

You would have to have the MH running so you could steer it though.
You can't put enough pressure on the tow bar to make the front end of the MH move sideways.

[Mile_High]

I heard, but haven't tried it, that if you really need to back up, have the DW jump in the toad and use it to back up the motorhome. I probably could with my Jeep on a level surface with the MH in neutral.

[dubdub07]

You can back up until the wheels turn. Sometimes I can back up 5 feet, sometimes more. Just depends. There is 32K of MH pushing a car backwards, so the probability is pretty good you can bend something.

Blue Ox, Blue Ox, Blue Ox......best out there. Customer service is 10 out of 10.

Bill

[Snomas]

We've been 4 down towing for a long time; It's the most convenient. 8 yrs w/ a 2004 Honda Odyssey and 5 years presently w/ our 2012 Explorer. The only problem I've had is car battery going down on long day trips so I just charge battery at end of the day.

[Effy]

et2 wrote:

Sam Spade wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
load easy, and you can back up.

Having some unpleasant experience trying to back a 4 wheel farm wagon where the front wheels steer.......

I can't help but think that towing a vehicle 4-down would limit your backing to maybe a couple of feet at most.

But almost nobody seems to want to mention that.

I've never had to back up in 4 years. Planning is the key. The tow bars aren't designed to push, and the front wheels on the toad will probably go south as you said. Some have had limited success. Nothing I'd ever try.

That one Time if I ever had to back up it would take a very short time to just disconnect vs damaging stuff. Plan your moves ahead.

You can't really back up with a dolly either, so...

As stated, plan your moves ahead like gas stations and such. Worst case it takes you a few minutes to unhook. Trying to unload from a dolly which requires 2x as much space and time to roll off it could be problematic in a tight space like a gas station. That said, I've never had to unhook with either method. You car will track almost exactly with the MH.

[et2]

Sam Spade wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
load easy, and you can back up.

Having some unpleasant experience trying to back a 4 wheel farm wagon where the front wheels steer.......

I can't help but think that towing a vehicle 4-down would limit your backing to maybe a couple of feet at most.

But almost nobody seems to want to mention that.

I've never had to back up in 4 years. Planning is the key. The tow bars aren't designed to push, and the front wheels on the toad will probably go south as you said. Some have had limited success. Nothing I'd ever try.

That one Time if I ever had to back up it would take a very short time to just disconnect vs damaging stuff. Plan your moves ahead.