Car that can be towed 4 down without too many modifications

[AGC]

I an trying to decide whether to tow 4 down or on a tow dolly.

Which car(s) can be towed 4 down with just the basic equipment (base plate, tow bar, etc.), don't really want to add transmission lube, disconnect drive shaft, etc.

Don't really want to spend to much as it will also serve as a commuter car, so anything between 5-8 years old would be fine

[rdmike]

2nd part.

4 down with blue ox set up. Got in a jam once where i had to back my 40'. In minutes un hitched the toad, moved and backed up the Rv. Very very easy. Now when wife is registering at rv park.. i un hitch the toad and she drives the car in (in case i need to back up)

Dollies are troublesome IMO good luck.

[DouglasC]

Bumpyroad wrote:

rk911 wrote:

don't know about a dolly but when flat towing you can't backup with the toad attached. that's because the tow bar is designed to pull, not push. and the front wheels will more than likely turn causing the tow bar to twist.

the design of the tow bar has nothing to do with backing up 4 down. if the steering wheel is held straight with the motor running, the toad can be backed up straight and level without cramping/crabbing of the front wheels. I, and others, have backed a toad for short distances, in a straight line, at very slow speeds without the earth coming to an end. someone has to be watching the front wheels and the instant they start to move sideways, the toad must be stopped. in the past someone has said that the tow bars are weaker in a pushing vs pulling situation. I would like to know how much more stress is put on the bars slowly backing a short distance in a straight line, and that put on the tow bar in a panic stop,or repeated braking coming down a mountain.
of course one can always use the toad to pull the motorhome backward for short distances.
bumpy

X 2

Have backed up my motorhome & toad for as much as 10' on occasion with no problems.

[rdmike]

I have a Ford Fiesta SE manual. Put in nuetral key to acessory for brake and roll. Easy as it gets.

[Cmore12]

'07 Ford Explorer SportTrac w/transfer case neutral kit ($200.+ 50 to have the dealer program it.)
Mazda says not to tow my '95 Miata 4-down due to the tranny oil pump being on the engine side, but many posters have successfully. We stop a couple times a day and start it and run it through the gears. Bumpy's advice might not work for me with this 2200# Miata pulling a 26,000# beast backwards. How would I stop it? Might cost me a clutch, too.

[dfreiberger]

Jeep Wrangler. Manual or automatic, no problem. No steering lock so no keys needed. A light kit or diodes needed for the tail/brake lights. This kit allows the lights to be powered from the MH. A Brake buddy would be powered through the 12 outlet but draws hardly any current; only when the brake assist kicks on and the compressor needs pumping back up.

[Bumpyroad]

rk911 wrote:

don't know about a dolly but when flat towing you can't backup with the toad attached. that's because the tow bar is designed to pull, not push. and the front wheels will more than likely turn causing the tow bar to twist.

the design of the tow bar has nothing to do with backing up 4 down. if the steering wheel is held straight with the motor running, the toad can be backed up straight and level without cramping/crabbing of the front wheels. I, and others, have backed a toad for short distances, in a straight line, at very slow speeds without the earth coming to an end. someone has to be watching the front wheels and the instant they start to move sideways, the toad must be stopped. in the past someone has said that the tow bars are weaker in a pushing vs pulling situation. I would like to know how much more stress is put on the bars slowly backing a short distance in a straight line, and that put on the tow bar in a panic stop,or repeated braking coming down a mountain.
of course one can always use the toad to pull the motorhome backward for short distances.
bumpy

[rk911]

AGC wrote:
That's what I figured so I think it would be much easier to disconnect the car and backup the MH without a tow dolly on the hook.

If I was using a tow dolly that would mean I would need to take the car off the tow dolly first and then back up the MH with the dolly still connected which I don't think would be easy.

you may be able to backup with a dolly...don't know about that. we've been towing since 2003 and in that time I've only been brain dead twice where I had to disconnect in order to get myself out of a jam. I like to tell newbies to towing that there's no parking lot, alley or road that you can't get into. getting out, that's another story. you'll get really good at sizing up lots, gas stations and so on.

[AGC]

That's what I figured so I think it would be much easier to disconnect the car and backup the MH without a tow dolly on the hook.

If I was using a tow dolly that would mean I would need to take the car off the tow dolly first and then back up the MH with the dolly still connected which I don't think would be easy.

[rk911]

AGC wrote:
Thanks all, we're still in the process of buying our first class A and was starting to think about the toad. We were looking into getting a tow dolly and just pulling my car but in hearing the various opinions about 4 down vs. tow dolly; we're thinking 4 down might be the better option.

With a tow dolly you have to worry about where to store it at home and on the campground. The other big thing I started to think about is when you have to back up the MH with a car on the back. My understanding is you cannot backup a MH with a car on a tow dolly or 4 down, meaning you would have to disconnect the car and then back up the MH. My question is if I have a tow dolly wouldn't it be difficult to back up a MH with just the tow dolly attached.

This is the main reason we're thinking 4 down towing for us, am I crazy or missing something...

don't know about a dolly but when flat towing you can't backup with the toad attached. that's because the tow bar is designed to pull, not push. and the front wheels will more than likely turn causing the tow bar to twist.

[AGC]

Thanks all, we're still in the process of buying our first class A and was starting to think about the toad. We were looking into getting a tow dolly and just pulling my car but in hearing the various opinions about 4 down vs. tow dolly; we're thinking 4 down might be the better option.

With a tow dolly you have to worry about where to store it at home and on the campground. The other big thing I started to think about is when you have to back up the MH with a car on the back. My understanding is you cannot backup a MH with a car on a tow dolly or 4 down, meaning you would have to disconnect the car and then back up the MH. My question is if I have a tow dolly wouldn't it be difficult to back up a MH with just the tow dolly attached.

This is the main reason we're thinking 4 down towing for us, am I crazy or missing something...

[DouglasC]

All hybrids manufactured by Ford Motor Company going back to the 2006 Escape are towable 4 wheels down - - no battery cables to disconnect or fuses to pull. I have owned a 2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid and now a Fusion hybrid. Both towed and rode well on the highway. Now averaging over 38 MPG on the Fusion - - great car!

[RV_CONUS]

lanerd wrote:

RV CONUS wrote:
GMC Terrain

We've been towing ours now for four years and 65,000 miles...not a single problem has developed with it. It's been a perfect toad for us.

Ron

Thanks for the info. Good to hear.

We looked also at the Jeep Cherokee. Some historical Problems with their 9 speed transmission scared me away.

Everything I could find on the Terrain came up mostly positive.

[Bumpyroad]

gemsworld wrote:
Saturn Vue with automatic tranny.

just be sure you get the one that has a Honda tranny in it. my 2005 could be towed. the old original VUE couldn't be towed 4 down. had the lawnmower type transmission.
bumpy

[Community Alumni]

Saturn Vue with automatic tranny.