Tow Dolly with surge brakes - recommendations?

I suspect you will be more satisfied with adding a brake controller and electric brakes. But frankly most people do not bother with brakes of any sort on dollies.

Surge brakes work good. You just have to remember you can not back up with them. If you try backing up with the dolly attached the brakes will activate. Have seen some that have a pin or lever to lock out the brakes so you can back up.

I have friends who use an Acme dolly and they are very happy with it, I on the other hand have had two Master Tow dollies with surge brakes and if going back to using one I would get one with surge brakes again. By the way you can not back up when using any kind of tow dolly, surge brakes or other wise. As a matter of fact you can not back up even if you are towing four down for more that a foot or two.

If I had my "druthers", I would druther have a Demco Kar Kaddy.
I like the steering.
I had one, but it didn't have brakes, so I sold it.
Definitely one of the dumbest things I have ever done!

I tow with an ACME, pull a KIA Sportage, two new tires, new spare, 10" wheels, Vault Bearings. No problem at all had it about 15 months, and selling...PM me if your interested

jules6 wrote:
I have friends who use an Acme dolly and they are very happy with it, I on the other hand have had two Master Tow dollies with surge brakes and if going back to using one I would get one with surge brakes again. By the way you can not back up when using any kind of tow dolly, surge brakes or other wise. As a matter of fact you can not back up even if you are towing four down for more that a foot or two.

I back my tow dolly up all the time for far more than 2 feet. Because you can't doesn't mean it can't be done. Misinformation is not good.

I will throw in my 2.5 cents. I started with a Master Tow and it worked OK. Had the surge brakes and was towing a Mazda CX5. Had a blow out that completely destroyed the cheap plastic fender. Decided we wanted to tow a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Very low clearance and a long nose. Tested on just about every dolly out there and was afraid we would have to leave the Eclipse at home. Then tried the American Car Dolly. Has removable ramps to help with clearance and is very heavy and sturdy. A nice touch is an electric brake that runs off your Towing vehicles brake light connection. You plug into the towing vehicles 4way and you have lights and electric brakes. Works great.

Farmboy666 wrote:

jules6 wrote:
I have friends who use an Acme dolly and they are very happy with it, I on the other hand have had two Master Tow dollies with surge brakes and if going back to using one I would get one with surge brakes again. By the way you can not back up when using any kind of tow dolly, surge brakes or other wise. As a matter of fact you can not back up even if you are towing four down for more that a foot or two.

I back my tow dolly up all the time for far more than 2 feet. Because you can't doesn't mean it can't be done. Misinformation is not good.

X2, X3, etc!!!

I couldn’t tell you the number of times I’ve backed up a B train of grain trailers, a LOT more than 2 feet too!

Mind you, I know I’ve met a bunch of folks who need a 40 acre gas station to fuel up a m/h too.

Wufpak204 wrote:
It seems that the general consensus is a tow dolly with surge brakes for towing our Mini Cooper with front wheel drive.(our MH isn't wired for electric brakes). Any recommendations? Does anyone have the Acme EZE-Tow with surge disc brakes? It looks like a reasonably priced well designed tow dolly. Thanks.

I bought the Acme EZE-Tow with surge disc brakes. Works very good towing a Honda Accord EX. There is a lockout device that comes with the tow dolly for backing it up if needed.

Before we went to 4 down, had a Master Tow with surge brakes. Never had an issue in about 6000 miles of towing. Can back it up on smooth surfaces, but could have issues on bumpy terrain. Things can go south pretty quickly with the pivoting axle and short tongue so you need to be very careful if backing up, but it can be done.