Acme EZ Tow Dolly & Chevy Cruze

[jhites]

I just purchased an Acme EZ Tow Dolly for my 2012 Chevy Cruze. This is my first time to use a dolly and could use some help with a couple of questions. The Cuze is Automatic so dolly was my only choice .

The Cruze manual says to put in Park and lock the wheel with a locking devise when dolly towing.

The Acme Tow dolly manual says that the wheel needs to be free to turn and unlocked. I can use the same setup as when 4 down towing a standard trans to achieve the unlocked wheel which is to remove fuses 22,23,24 and 25. When 4 down towing it also says to put in neutral but I can leave it in park on the dolly with the fuses removed and still have a unlocked steering wheel.

Anyone using a Acme tow dolly know which would be correct?

Thanks for any input.

[jhites]

I wanted to thank everyone for their input. After your input and much testing/research, this is what will be required for a Acme Tow Dolly and an Automatic Transmission 2012 Chevy Cruze.

First the Cruze manual directions for dolly towing:
1.Shift the automatic transmission into P(Park) or manual transmission into 1(First) gear
2. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight ahead position with a clamping device
3. Remove the key from ignition
4. Secure to dolly
This can NOT be used for an Acme EZ Tow Dolly
This would be used on dolly's with swiveling plates for the toad’s front wheels to set on or a rack & pinion wheel base where the dolly’s wheels swivel.

This is the procedure I will need to use for the Cruze with this dolly.
1. Shift automatic transmission into (P)Park
2. Turn ignition key to Accessory
3. Remove fuses 22, 23, 24 and 25 ( I will be replacing these with a Fuse ByPass Switch for Towed Vehicles - 2 ATM Mini-Fuse) I will need 2 switches to disable all 4.
4. Secure dolly
Removing the above fuses will eliminate battery drain and unlock the steering so it is compatible with the Acme EZ Tow Dolly. Fuse 25 is steering column lock, 22 is for ignition/electronic key system and 23/24 are body control modules.

[dougsee3]

I have the same dolly, I tow a 2006 Impala no steering lock put in park,remove key,
and tie down. Watch for interference with strut mount behind tire. I have to pull the inside part of strap onto tire not across the inside of wheel. This would be have straps offset 2 to 3" to the outside of wheel and tire.
I do notice some scrubbing of dolly tires in tight turns.

Also put car a inch or two back from stops and pull car forward with dolly tire straps.

You just have to find out if and how the steering locks or not.

[SteveL1948]

Sorry I can't help you on your question about your Cruze but just wanted to say I have a 2010 model Acme dolly that I pull my PT Cruiser with and I love the Acme dolly. It's light, pulls like a dream, and the surge brakes and sealed wheel bearings are a plus!! I still have to use the straps on mine since it doesn't have the new quick hook up on it. I think you will be happy with it once you get your steering wheel lock issue sorted out. Good luck and happy motoring!!

[ShapeShifter]

jhites wrote:
The Cruze does have a locking steering wheel

Then to properly use your dolly you will need to do one of two things:

• Keep a key in the ignition so the steering wheel is unlocked. Hopefully you have an "unlocked" key position that doesn't turn on the accessories, if not then you may have to pull fuses or install a switch to prevent running down the battery.
• Or, modify the steering wheel lock mechanism so that the wheel doesn't lock with the key removed and never have to worry about it again.

[willald]

John, I would do like a previous poster suggested - turn off ignition, remove key, see if you can turn the wheel a full turn or so without it locking. Yes, wheel will be hard to turn without power steering, but you can do it.

If it does not lock up, I would definitely just leave it in park, steering column unlocked, key out of ignition when towing. That way you avoid pulling fuses, which is one PITA I would prefer to avoid if possible. Especially since your Cruze's manual says you can dolly tow it in park, so you don't have to worry about damaging the parking mechanism in your Cruze's tranny like I had to with the Kia.

Your owner's manual instructions saying to secure the steering wheel is not really applicable with a dolly like the Acme, which does not have a swivel platform. In that case (no swivel platform), you need the steering to remain unlocked, as you know.

..And I disagree completely with a previous post, suggesting the ACME dolly is cheap or bad because it doesn't have a swivel platform. In reality, its the exact opposite - The way Acme has designed this dolly, it works great without having all the extra weight, moving parts, etc. of a swivel platform. Don't have to worry about dolly fenders hitting fenders of the towed vehicle like can happen with swivel platform dollies. Nor do you have to deal with securing the steering wheel on older vehicles that don't have a steering lock.

Has to do with the way Acme designed the dolly with smaller wheels, fenders, but reality is that you can turn this dolly in really, really sharp turns, and it will NOT make contact with the towed vehicle. I know, 'cause I tried it - got in a parking lot, turned it all the way to the point front of towed vehicle was about to touch back of the MH, and no contact between dolly and the towed vehicle. Right at 90 deg. angle, and it worked fine. Try doing that with a swivel-platform dolly, and in many cases you'll come away with some dents in your towed vehicle's front fenders.

Anyway, good luck with it, John, and feel free to ask away any other questions you have. 🙂

[jhites]

ShapeShifter wrote:
If you need a locking device for the steering wheel, it sounds like the Cruze does not have a steering wheel lock, which is becoming quite common these days. Everyone is so used to the steering wheel locking when they take out the key, that many people just assume the lock is there and are surprised to find out they aren't universal anymore.
So you may not have to leave the key in the ignition to unlock the steering wheel. Easy way to check is to take out the key, and start cranking on the steering wheel to see if it locks. Of course, it will take quite some effort to turn it without the power assist.

The Cruze does have a locking steering wheel, which is one reason I question the GM manual section on dolly towing an automatic. Of course, it showed 4 down ok until they sent out their revision page to stop claims for all the burnt tranny's. I also have seen requests for info on towing being sent to their engineers. Guess they can't research themselves.

[ShapeShifter]

jhites wrote:
The Cruze manual says to put in Park and lock the wheel with a locking devise when dolly towing.

If you need a locking device for the steering wheel, it sounds like the Cruze does not have a steering wheel lock, which is becoming quite common these days. Everyone is so used to the steering wheel locking when they take out the key, that many people just assume the lock is there and are surprised to find out they aren't universal anymore.

So you may not have to leave the key in the ignition to unlock the steering wheel. Easy way to check is to take out the key, and start cranking on the steering wheel to see if it locks. Of course, it will take quite some effort to turn it without the power assist.

[JohnnyT]

Moved from class A forum

[dbates]

I’m sorry to say that you get what you pay for. Based on Acme’s website it appears that they have no built in swiveling capability. In other words, they have no swiveling plates for the toad’s front wheels to set on or a rack & pinion wheel base where the dolly’s wheels swivel. Because of this they depend on the toad’s front wheels to swivel when turning. This means that you have to leave the key in the ignition in the on position so that the steering wheel can turn.

I don’t know how this will affect the 2012 Chevy Cruze. You’ll have to check with GM or someone on this website that has the same dolly & toad.

Dave