I recently purchased a new ACME tow dolley and am very concerned about the placement of my straps on the tires. They state they will fit tires up to 20" which is what I have, 20" tires. I send pictures (posted below) to ACME expressing my concerns. The emailed me the following statement - "...You will want to adjust the bottom two cross straps so that they align with the stitching. Then make sure that the wheel straps are completely tightened which will make the top cross strap snug..." To make sure I understood the message correctly, I called their office. The girl who had responded to my email said to just straighten up the second strap so it was straight. I also explained that the straps were as tight as we could get them and we were still concerned with the gap in the top strap (third strap) and the possibility of it slipping off the tire. She said she would have one of the guys call me back but it's been a week and no response to either of my two phone messages.Most of the straps I see on tow dolleys show the straps across the top of the tire and we are very concerned with these straps just being attached on the rear of the tire and also the gap as shown in the picture. Do you feel this is a safe situation with the current positioning of the strap? Thanks for any help/advice!!

I would look at how the strap is hooked to the back. Most tire straps cover more of the top of the tire.It also looks as though there could be a twist in the strap as the lettering should be all on the outside.

enblethen wrote:I would look at how the strap is hooked to the back. Most tire straps cover more of the top of the tire.It also looks as though there could be a twist in the strap as the lettering should be all on the outside.Thanks for replying. Here's another pic which shows how the straps are attached to the back side of the tow dolley. There's only one way to attached them. Know what you mean about the lettering being messed up. On one cross piece the lettering in on the outside and on the next cross piece, the letter is on the inside. There is no consistency in how the straps were sewn. But there is no twist in the strap.

The straps on our Master Tow dolly fit about like yours do and we have had no problems. After I tighten everything down we drive 10-15 miles and I get out and re-cinch everything down with my 24" breaker bar. I then check everything every time we stop and re-tighten as needed. No problems thus far. This summer will be the big test, we leave here the end of May for a 5400 round trip expedition to OR & MT.

Loose tire straps are not a problem if you make 2 changes in your loading procedure:1. Don’t pull the toad all the way forward on the dolly. Leave about 1 inch between the front tires and the front wheel stops.2. Tighten the straps down until the tires squish.When you pull all the way forward the straps will not slide over the tire leaving them a little loose behind the tire. By allowing the 1 inch gap in front of the tire the wheels will roll forward tightening the straps on both sides of the tire.Since I started doing this, 10 years & 50,000 plus miles ago, I’ve never had a problem with a loose strap. I still check them after the first 50 miles and each time I take a rest stop (about every 2 to 3 hours) but rarely can tighten them any further.Two other things to watch for. A dolly is wider than the toad & in my case a little wider than the MH so watch when you park next to a curb that you don’t rub the lettering off of the curb side dolly tire. Also make sure that you have plenty of room to pull way from a curb. The sharper you turn away from the curb the more the dolly tongue will swing into the curb causing the dolly to jump the curb. Dave

Why did you choose ACME? Their products never seemed to work out for Wiley Coyote.

Concerned over ACME Tow Dolley Straps | Good Sam Community

j-d
Explorer II
Apr 24, 2015
Glad it worked out. I don't know if a dolly comes with a decent wrench to tighten the straps, but the previous owners of ours had a good mechanic's open end wrench that fit the ratchets. It's essential to have that.

THANKS for the update! OP's often don't bother and we don't get to know how things went and if our suggestions were helpful.

Happy RV'n!
Minnie_Collecto
Explorer
Apr 24, 2015
Just thought I would provide an update to our first adventure. Everything went perfectly on our maiden voyage, it just took awhile to get on the road. We double-checked everything and used the method suggested here re: letting the straps pull the tire forward the last inches. We stopped numerous times to make sure the straps were still tight and I was surprised they required little tightening. Only had one click tighten at the first two stops after that, it was fine. Thanks to everyone who provided us with helpful advice - this forum is great.

Update - Just wanted to provide an update. It appears that the larger tires with the wide wheelbase are damaging the hooks on the straps. Since the hook is under the tire, the clasp is getting damaged by the tire when traveling. Acme has a solution to this problem which involves welding two additional loops on the vertical portion of the tow dolley next to the tire. This modification will eliminate the hook getting caught under the tire, hopefully. Haven't be able to get the dolley to a welder yet.
wbwood
Explorer
Apr 23, 2015
Oldme wrote:
We have used the Acme EZ tow for the past several years
and could not be more pleased.

With our 16" tires the straps are more towards the top.
Your 20" wheels/tires will make if further back.

I have always had great response on both the phone and e-mails
with any questions. Maybe you request got lost. I would call them
back and ask if they have straps that are longer on the back side.
They have changed strap designs several times.

Same here...I have emailed them after hours and received a response back from the owner rather quickly. Fortunately I only live about an hour from them. So I can go see them if I need to. Matter of fact I picked mine up from their shop and saved the shipping cost.
willald
Explorer II
Apr 20, 2015
Minnie_Collector wrote:
willald wrote:
Minnie_Collector wrote:
Will, the placement of the straps is my major concern. The "new and improved" straps that come with the dolley now are not adjustable. The cross-straps are actually sewn to the side pieces so we cannot position them as we would like to. I wish they were adjustable because that would solve my problem. I wonder why they changed to this new non-adjustable strap??

Ahh, I did not realize they changed the design of the straps, and that the new ones are no longer adjustable. That sucks, and pretty much blows a lot of the advice I gave you out of the water. :(

You might try calling ACME, see if they can still can get the old style straps, that were adjustable. If you can get your hands on a set of those, you might be able to do better.

Wbwood is probably right, though: The way you have them now, as long as you can get and keep the straps tight, will probably work OK.

Oh, and to a previous poster that said the tires cannot come off the straps: Ohhh, yes they can. Been there, done that. Had it happen once, where one tire came completely out of the straps. Fortunately the straps on the other tire, as well as the beefed up, shorter chains I was uinsg still kept the car in place on the dolly. It wasn't long after that happened, that our ACME dolly was sold on Craigs list, and we went to flat towing. :)

Wow, that had to be scarey when you realized that you lost a strap. We ordered an extra set when we purchased the dolley so we would be prepared, just in case.

Oh, we didn't lose the strap, it was still there on the dolly. It just wasn't on the tire anymore. Yep, we bought a 2nd set of straps after that, too. Never used those new straps, but they did make it easier to sell the dolly Craigs list, having a brand new set of straps I was including in the deal.

Yes, was not happy when I found the tire sitting free, out of the strap. Made me very glad I had beefed up and shortened the chains from dolly to the car, they are what held it in place on that side. :)

In the tire straps' defense, though: That was one of first times we towed it a long distance, and I was still learning with the straps, didn't really have them on right. Thats why one worked loose. After that, once I figured out what I was doing with the straps, never had one come off the tire again.

Will
Oldme
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
We have used the Acme EZ tow for the past several years
and could not be more pleased.

With our 16" tires the straps are more towards the top.
Your 20" wheels/tires will make if further back.

I have always had great response on both the phone and e-mails
with any questions. Maybe you request got lost. I would call them
back and ask if they have straps that are longer on the back side.
They have changed strap designs several times.
j-d
Explorer II
Apr 19, 2015
One of ACME's more illustrious products
At an art museum in Santa Fe NM, there's a life-size artist's rendition of this famous bomb.
j-d
Explorer II
Apr 19, 2015
I had an issue with a boat trailer where the attaching points changed and my custom-made tie-down straps came up short. By adding a Shackle
I was able to get them to reach. You'd want to check the rating of the shackles and lock the shackle pins.
A "French Link" should be OK too.

Just don't use anything that has a loop which is simply formed with a bend like this S-Hook
The constant tugging will open them up and lose the load.
Minnie_Collecto
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
wbwood wrote:
Ours came with the yellow straps like this picture...

Ours are sewn and not adjustable. Just make sure the side straps (one near the rim) are in about the same place on both sides of the tire. Then make sure the sewn cross strap (closest to metal hooks) is as far up as it will ago. Then adjust the next crossover strap as far forward as it can go and so on. Make sure the single strap that goes into the ratchet is centered on the tire, as well as the ratchet. Also make sure the hooks do not have any play in them. If you can move them around on the bars they hook onto, then can come loose a little.

Don't be surprised if the car inches a little from the front bar that stops the tire. As long as the straps are on good and tight, you are good. But if you feel getter, then by all means tighten it down and/or move the car more forward. If oyu have trouble having the tire stay at the forward cross bar, try this. While in drive or 1st gear, when the tire reaches the bar, apply the brake and then teh emergency brak. Do not take it out of gear before that as it will allow some motion after you let off the brake.

Brian, it looks like those straps have a little more length between the hooks and the first cross over strap. I wish the new ones had alittle more length in that location -- we wouldn't be having a concern if they were a little longer. Maybe it's time for me to get a smaller dinghy, :)
Minnie_Collecto
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
willald wrote:
Minnie_Collector wrote:
Will, the placement of the straps is my major concern. The "new and improved" straps that come with the dolley now are not adjustable. The cross-straps are actually sewn to the side pieces so we cannot position them as we would like to. I wish they were adjustable because that would solve my problem. I wonder why they changed to this new non-adjustable strap??

Ahh, I did not realize they changed the design of the straps, and that the new ones are no longer adjustable. That sucks, and pretty much blows a lot of the advice I gave you out of the water. :(

You might try calling ACME, see if they can still can get the old style straps, that were adjustable. If you can get your hands on a set of those, you might be able to do better.

Wbwood is probably right, though: The way you have them now, as long as you can get and keep the straps tight, will probably work OK.

Oh, and to a previous poster that said the tires cannot come off the straps: Ohhh, yes they can. Been there, done that. Had it happen once, where one tire came completely out of the straps. Fortunately the straps on the other tire, as well as the beefed up, shorter chains I was uinsg still kept the car in place on the dolly. It wasn't long after that happened, that our ACME dolly was sold on Craigs list, and we went to flat towing. :)

Wow, that had to be scarey when you realized that you lost a strap. We ordered an extra set when we purchased the dolley so we would be prepared, just in case.
wbwood
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
Ours came with the yellow straps like this picture...

Ours are sewn and not adjustable. Just make sure the side straps (one near the rim) are in about the same place on both sides of the tire. Then make sure the sewn cross strap (closest to metal hooks) is as far up as it will ago. Then adjust the next crossover strap as far forward as it can go and so on. Make sure the single strap that goes into the ratchet is centered on the tire, as well as the ratchet. Also make sure the hooks do not have any play in them. If you can move them around on the bars they hook onto, then can come loose a little.

Don't be surprised if the car inches a little from the front bar that stops the tire. As long as the straps are on good and tight, you are good. But if you feel getter, then by all means tighten it down and/or move the car more forward. If oyu have trouble having the tire stay at the forward cross bar, try this. While in drive or 1st gear, when the tire reaches the bar, apply the brake and then teh emergency brak. Do not take it out of gear before that as it will allow some motion after you let off the brake.

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