First time using tow dolly

Based on other posts on this forum you could end up having problems with loose or broken wheel straps; therefore, it’s a very good idea to have chains between the toad & dolly. If you strap the wheels down as suggested below it may never be a problem but I’d still recommend installing & using them.

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 strap 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, 9.5 years & 51,000 miles ago, I’ve never had a problem with loose straps. 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 rube 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

Hi,

I had a deck that swivels, and would not leave the steering unlocked. Never had a problem.

I drilled 3/8" holes into the front, near the bumper of my minivan (or found some factory holes, I don't remember) and installed 3/8" eye bolts. Then I could use quick connect on the end of chains on the tow dolly to help secure the van to the tow dolly, in the event that one of the safety straps came loose.

I would tow about 500' or so, then double check the safety straps. Usually they would 'settle in' and need to be tightened a little bit. I did this because one trip I drove about 30 miles, then checked it at a rest area, they where loose. . .

Once - on the first week towing with it, I left out the tilt safety hold pin, and the ramp could tilt back each time I started moving. I fixed that by listing the 7 steps to hook up the van, and have it ready for towing. Then mentally counted the 7 steps as I went along.

I also installed diodes in my van rear tail lights. I put in a wire connector, and tee in the tow dolly lights. So as I hitched up, I connected the van taillights with the tow dolly ones, and the van running lights and brake lights came on with the motorhome and tow dolly ones. Not sure if required or not, but safer than not having them. . . It takes about 15' of wire, and I put a diode under each tail light lens, with two inputs and one output to the light. Inputs from the van and motorhome.

The diode packs came from Roadmaster, and are the same kind that I installed in my Honda CRV, and later I transferred them to my Ford Edge. I bought them at Camping World.

My biggest reason for buying the Edge is that I can tow it four wheels down, and not bother with the dolly anymore! It was a bit of a pain finding a location to store it while in a campground, and being alone, I had to pull the RV into the campground roadway, then hitch up the dolly, then move the car around to hook it up too. All the while blocking traffic. It might have been easier to just hook up the dolly and pull around to a parking area near the front of the campground, if I did not need to walk back for the car.

Have fun camping and sightseeing!

Fred.

If either the deck turns, large bolt in middle of it, or the wheels turn, tierod between them do NOT unlike steering. You only want one thing pivoting, this is one of the advantages to dolly over 4 down you can lock steering take the key out and lock the door.

I use two extra safety chains fro the dolly to the tiedowns on the car. I do not know if it is required but I know that I feel safer inn case the straps should break or come off. As far as unlocking the steering wheel on my older Demco I do not, but the wheels on the dolly turn like on the car. You may want to check with Roadmaster on that question. JMO