towing a vehicle

[skipngail]

I have a class a 28foot v10 Ford 2002. I am looking for information on what is the best way to pull a vehicle on all fours. On a dolly. Or on a trailer . Want to know about what kind of car can and can't be towed ....

[Heisenberg]

The only way to go ... 4 down.

[rrpoulin]

I would recommend towing 4-down as well. There isn't any other practical way of towing a vehicle. That said, you should really pay attention to Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings on your coach. I just finished setting mine up and it was a real twister. My coach is a Ford V10 like yours, rated at 26,000 GVCR max. Naked, the coach weighs in at 22,000. Add all the stuff you carry with you including your water and some and that leaves you with the weight of the car you want to pull. In general, the lighter the better but not always. If you consider what you will do with your toad (car/suv/truck) while travelling, you might be able to get away with a small two seater. If you bring the kids and the in-laws, you need a van or better.

We travel as a couple with a small dog. I looked for a vehicle that would take us to the grocery store and for sight-seeing. A Smart car is what we decided on only because my wife likes to drive an automatic. I was tempted by the Fiat 500 but it was standard and on the expensive side, so was the mini which I really like because I have seen them behind rigs and met the people who drive and rave about them. In our 20 years of RV'ing, we had very few occasions where we needed more than two seats. Maybe a handful of times at most. We drove pickups and 5th wheels, always had room for 4 people but rarely needed it.

When it was all said and done, the Smart was the best choice for us. It is a bit harder to set it up for towing because some states need you to install a brake unit in the car no matter the weight of the car. In my case the car weighs 1,800 pounds which is really light but still, CA needs brakes and so does Idaho and other western states. I picked up a used Smart from a dealership in CA, a really good deal, over the internet of all things (that was really scary for me).

The towing combo I picked was the Roadmaster tow bracket, Roadmaster Falcon All-Terrain tow bars with an Invisibrake under the seat. I added a mud-guard to prevent stone chips. I got them installed at Camping World. The worst part about the Smart is that it is strangely built for the usual tech so they needed some help with the details. The Roadmaster help desk was really good with helping out.

With the car, the whole set up cost less than 15K, which is less than buying a used CRV or some other small car off the local used car market.

I have put nearly 5,000 miles on this set-up in the last few months, went over the Rockies a couple of times, and really like the way everything works together. We love the car and I like pulling it, I sometimes forget that it's behind me when I pull it.

Do your research before doing anything. It took me at least 3 weeks of head scratching, surfing the forums, vendor sites, talking with people towing vehicles etc to actually settle on a possible solution that worked for me. Take your time!

[cochise49]

We had the "Dolly" Dolly from Harbor Freight. Kept it in trunk of the toad while traveling. No disassembly needed. It was a real back saver. I could move the dolly around on our slanted driveway without help. Still...the dolly weighed 500 pounds or so. Took a little effort to keep from rolling downhill unintended and hard to pull uphill. Doable for most though.

[mowermech]

This little gadget makes moving a dolly quick, easy, and simple:

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-trailer-dolly-69898.html

I assembled mine with wing nuts instead of the supplied hex nuts, so I can take it apart without wrenches. When disassembled, it fits in the basement of the motor home. A couple of minutes to assemble it, and I can move the dolly anywhere with ease!

[Daveinet]

If you go with a towbar, I would recommend ReadyBrute towbar with integrated proportional braking. Its the least expensive way to get a towbar and braking system. Lots of satisfied users on RVnet.

BTW: Yes I would recommend towing 4 down. Its just less to deal with, once you pull into the camp ground. You can't always find a pull through site, so trying to push the dolly around and get it out of the way would be a pain at best. I camp at state parks, which often do not have level entrances to the campsite. I can't imagine trying to push a dolly back up into the site, of even leaving it attached to the coach and trying to back into the site, especially if it is dark.

[D_E_Bishop]

If you can find a Suzuki Sidekick or Grand Vitara with 4 wheel drive and an automatic, they are great. Sidekick is about 2700 lbs. and GV is about 3200 lbs. We love our GV and our Sidekick. The SK needs a trans and converter otherwise I'd still be towing it.

[ArchHoagland]

You can modify some vehicles to make them towable.

Check here

[2gypsies1]

Here's a 2013 tow guide:

Tow Guide for 2013 Vehicles

We tow our 2004 Jeep Liberty 4-down. Easy and don't have to deal with a dolly.

[cochise49]

We have used both methods. Dolly was great when we had an older Camry that could not be towed 4 down without a lube pump (not worth the expense). After a few years we bought a CRV and sold the dolly. Fitted the CRV with a towbar, brake system and wired in the tail/brake lights to include a charge wire. Costs for each were very similar. Maybe only $500-600 more for the four down setup on a $2000-3000 setup. Dolly was a pain to store and we avoided many parks that we otherwise had enjoyed. Now...good used dollies with brakes can be found at bargain prices. But if you are handy (I'm not) four down systems can be found on Craig's List, eBay etc. as well. Just my $.02.

[kjburns]

You might want to start with the Motorhome Magazine dinghy guides for info on four down towable vehicles.

[mowermech]

IMO, there is no "best", there is only what you like!
For instance, I use a fixed arm adjustable width $145 towbar on my Jeep. It has worked great for nearly 20 years on various vehicles. Nothing has worn out, bent or broke! SOME people say it is too inconvenient to use one of the awful things!
I have no trouble at all. I even hook it to the motorhome by myself!
I use a dolly for our PT Cruiser. Oh, sure, I could put a lube pump on it. That would only cost about $1000, plus the cost of a towbar and base plates. If it failed, a new transmission would only cost about $2500. I think I'll keep using the dolly. It worked fine for our vacation from Montana to Tennessee and back.
I have used a trailer also. It works for ANY vehicle. Some vehicles can not be towed four down, and some can not be dolly towed. ALL vehicles within the weight limits can be trailered!
As for what can be towed:
Nearly all Jeep 4X4s can be towed four down, as well as many other 4X4 vehicles that have a NEUTRAL in the transfer case shifter. Most 4X4s can not be dolly towed!
Subaru vehicles, MANUAL transmission only, can usually be towed four down. they can not be dolly towed, regardless of transmission.
Many front wheel drive manual transmission vehicles can be towed four down. They also make great dolly tows.
ALWAYS look in the Owners Manual for "Recreational Towing" Instructions for any vehicle you are considering. If the Owners Manual says NO, I would not tow it. Do not rely on what a salesman or service manager says. It is doubtful they really know anything about it!
However, some people DO tow vehicles that the manufacturer says NO for. It is their vehicle, not mine, I don't care what they do.
Again, it is personal preference. Only YOU can decide what is right for YOU.
Good luck.

EDIT: I forgot to mention towed vehicle braking. While it is a good idea, it is not required by law in many (if not most) states. Some states have "Braking Performance Laws", where you must be able to stop within a set distance, often 40 or 45 feet, from 20 MPH, on a hard, level, clean surface.
Keep in mind that a towed motor vehicle is often NOT a trailer by legal definition, and trailer towing laws do not apply.
Check the laws in YOUR state to find out what YOU need to do. Do NOT rely on any list of towing laws on the internet. Every one I have seen is inaccurate!

[crasster]

My towing preference is a dolly because with a very light vehicle, it keeps things simple. I have a tiny Toyota Yaris that is a stick shift (standard). Even though it can tow 4 down (and I have towed it this way), I just don't think I can beat the dolly.

I pull up the dolly, strap the wheels, magnet the lights, and off I go. (well a little more but that's the gist of it LOL)

I don't even bother with car brakes because it is so incredibly light. Once I'm at a CG or national forest, I get great gas mileage, ease of traveling in mountains, and a super fun car to drive. (of course, this is opinion).

I DO like the ease of the dolly more than hooking up brakes. etc. Honestly, I was considering getting a landscape trailer with a long ramp and just pulling up on that. Then I wouldn't even have to strap wheels. Just leave in gear, clutch up, with emergency brake on.

[JimM68]

particularly if you are going to get a car that can be towed, 4 down is best by far. Ford chassis A's will have a tow rating of 3500-5000 pounds. A trailer will wieght the better part of a ton emptry, and when you get there you gotta find a place to put it. Ditto for the dolly, 'cept it's not as big.

4 down is easy, all you need is a tow bar, lights, and a braking system.Hookup is fast, and there is nothing to store, the tow bar stays on the back of the motorhome when not in use.

Many if not most 4wd vehicles can be towed. A lot of maunaul trans cars can be too. motorhome magazine has a full list on their website.
Always check the car's owners manual under "rectreational towing"

Popular include most jeeps, honda crv's, awd ford escapes, and many saturn models.

The ever popular searching on this and other forums will yeild a host of info.