Dolly Towing a 2020 Chevy Silverado

[Berkyeng]

Hi all

I’m in the middle of deciding what to tow behind my Motorhome.

I’m wondering if anyone has experience pulling a newer model 4wd pickup on a tow dolly? This is what I’m trying to do - I am looking at a tow dolly that has the capacity to tow my 2020 Chev Silverado 1500 4wd.

The reason I want to go this way is that this truck is a work truck that I change out on a routine basis. I am a ~50-60km/yr driver for work so I mile up the trucks pretty quickly. I don’t want to have to reinvest $6,000 every 2 years to convert my truck to dighy towing.

What would I have to do to make this work?

Thanks.

[johntank]

Ductape wrote:
Since you’re working, I’m guessing you don’t relocate constantly, just intermittently as work is complete at one site. If I was moving infrequently and wanted to avoid any restrictions now or later on what the towed vehicle is, I’d skip the dolly and go straight to a car hauler trailer.

I have to agree with Ductape, in my opinion it would not be much more trouble to load the truck on a trailer just two more strap down points and a larger space to store said trailer.

[Lwiddis]

Lots more inexpensive to get the Z71 package two speed transfer case.

[Ductape]

Since you’re working, I’m guessing you don’t relocate constantly, just intermittently as work is complete at one site. If I was moving infrequently and wanted to avoid any restrictions now or later on what the towed vehicle is, I’d skip the dolly and go straight to a car hauler trailer.

[wildtoad]

Berkyeng wrote:
Quotes I have from several RV dealers for a tow bar, base plate, and supplemental braking system here are $5500 to $6000. Plus I would need a new base plate for new vehicles every 2 years (as my company changes my truck out every 2 years.

Check out Ready Brute Elite. May be a lower cost option. But, will your company allow you to modify the truck for four down towing? Be sure to check the trucks manual about dolly towing. My 4WD Wrangler can not be dolly towed according to the manual.

You would not be shelling out $5k every two years depending on what you use. You won’t need a new tow bar, braking system, just a new base plate perhaps and wiring of the lights.

[Lwiddis]

“I don’t want to have to reinvest $6,000 every 2 years to convert my truck to dighy towing.“

Per my 2020 Chevy booklet: “Only dinghy tow four-wheel-drive vehicles with a two-speed transfer case that have an N (Neutral) and a Four-Wheel Drive Low (4 (n) setting.”

Z71s have two-speed cases while Chevy “4x4s” have one.

[MitchF150]

Disconnect the rear drive shaft and no problem at all. Usually just 4 12mm 12 points then just secure the drive shaft with a strap of some sort.. Sure, a PITA, but choose your poison..

I would not just roll it up on the dolly and tow it with the drive shaft connected, even with the trans in neutral... Now, if the transfer case has it's own gear lever and can shift to neutral... You might get away with that, but I have not seen manual shifted 1500 trucks for awhile..

Good luck!

Mitch

[Berkyeng]

Quotes I have from several RV dealers for a tow bar, base plate, and supplemental braking system here are $5500 to $6000. Plus I would need a new base plate for new vehicles every 2 years (as my company changes my truck out every 2 years.

[enblethen]

My 2019 Good Sam towing guide says that year can be towed four down. You would need to v erify for your rig.
It should be only a one time around $2000 to install brackets and towbar to tow it. No where near $6000.

[Berkyeng]

I’m pulling with a diesel pusher rated for 10,000lbs so I should be good there as the curb weight of my truck is only 5000lbs. The dolly gvwr is also 3,000lbs so again should be good for the front wheels of the truck up on the dolly. Just looking to see how to set the truck up to do this.

[Hank85713]

first the weight of truck will probably EXCEED the tow weight sassdigned to the hitch and vehicle. My 94 ranger weights in at approx 4000 lbs and it is much smaller than you chebby. Most rv's are maxed out tow wise to 5000 lbs, so what is your hitch and rv rated for? Then decide if you want a silverado or something smaller.

[enblethen]

You need to verify that the truck can be towed and in which format. Many are not towable due to the fact they are full time four wheel drive and do not have neutral in transfer case.
I would also look into towbar over dolly if the truck can be towed.

[navigator2346]

From the FMCA towing guide:
Only 4 wheel drive vehicles with a 2 speed transfer case that has a neutral and 4 wheel drive low setting can be towed 4 wheels down.

You might can seeing as how the transfer case has a neutral. I would not trust info from here, consult a dealer and read the owners manual.