FLAT TOW VS. DOLLY

[AATIM]

Have a Winnebago Adventurer 32H and until last month towed a 2003 Honda Accord using a Blue Ox towing system/Patriot brakes. Car was recently totaled (no one, except car, hurt). Replaced with a 2010 Accord EX-L (auto, 6 cyl). Considering going to a dolly vs. flat tow. Honda really doesn't recommend flat towing new(er) Accords,although Blue Ox sells a base plate for the car. A couple questions:
1. Opinions and thoughts on flat vs. dolly towing.
2. If I go the dolly route, brand of dolly. Also, do I need brakes with a dolly and if so, electric or surge.

Thanks from a fairly new RV'er.

Tim

[RJsfishin]

I been towing a 4WD Liberty 4 down, no brakes for 3 yrs. Not a problem, nor did I ever feel like I dint have enuff stopping power.

Now I just bought a Demco KarKaddy w/o brakes to tow the liberty replacement, a Chrysler mini Van, but only before reading the owners manual saying "all 4 wheels must be off the ground" I'm questioning the reason behind that.
I plan to take up the challenge of adding surge brakes to the Dolly,....if I can tow this van.

[dadwolf2]

Those of you who flat tow, any consensus on which supplemental braking system to use? Braking systems seem to range from complicated to a basic cable attached to the brake pedal.

[AATIM]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the advice. We 4-down towed our 2003 Honda Accord for about 2500 miles last year with (almost) no problems but the car was totaled by a distracted driver (please don't text and drive!) in Charleston a couple months ago. I'd read that the 2010 version could also be towed, but was looking at a dolly mostly because of the inconvenience we suffered after the accident when I had to rent a car (actually the other driver's insurance company did) for us at each stop during our trip to Key West. With a dolly, I could have just kept one rental for the whole time. Still, even though there are lots of good reasons to purchase/use a dolly, I think we are going to go back to 4-down. Again, thanks for all the help.

[Foggy]

I wouldn't be without brakes. I have surge brakes so no controller needed. I can tow with whatever has enough moxie to move whatever is on the dolly. Handy to retrieve friends, family vehicles that died somewhere.

[cmalberto]

You can tow the 2010 - just follow the emergency tow procedures - see http://www.remcoindustries.com/Towing/Store.php

I bought a tow dolly last year - used it about 6 times. It does work but no fun to hook up when it is raining or in the middle of the summer. I found out I could tow my 2006 Honda Civic 4 down - got it setup last month. Made one quick trip - I think I am car tow heaven.

Will be selling my tow dolly(listing in local classifieds) soon.

Guess my point is - once you tow 4 down, you won't go back.

[duane124]

i love how people say do a search on this or that topic....

is it empowering to make that statement?

how bout just dont respond if you have nothing to contribute

[teddychamp]

I use tow dolly from ACME. Best solid all welded tow dolly on the market and is equipped with surge disk brakes and 10 year guaranteed sealed bearings. Led lights and heavy duty high speed tires inflated to 90 psi. Check it out. Made in USA. !!!

[mowermech]

naturist wrote:
In Virginia, brakes are required by law if the towed vehicle (car plus dolly, in this case) exceeds 3500 lbs. Some other states, it is 3,000 lbs. If you fancy travelling outside VA, I'd go with the lower number.

Actually, in MOST states braking on a towed motor vehicle is not required by law. The 1500 lb or 3000 lb. figures are for trailers, and a towed motor vehicle does not, in many states, match the legal definition of a "trailer". One of the key provisions in the laws defining a "trailer" is "designed to be towed by another vehicle", which a motor vehicle certainly is not. That definition is also in the FMVSS.
Many states, including Montana and California, have a "Braking Performance Law" which defines how fast you must be able to stop on a clean dry hard level surface from 20 MPH. In Montana that law is MCA 61-9-312. FMVSS also has that standard.
FMVSS: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Also, keep in mind that in states where the limit for trailers is 1500 lbs, that usually means 1500 lbs UNLADEN weight. When the braking limit is 3000 lbs or higher, it usually means GROSS or loaded weight (GVW or GVWR)

[Bobbo]

I dolly towed for 3 years before getting a car that can be towed 4 down. I prefer 4 down, but would get a dolly again if I needed to.

Yes, you need brakes. I prefer surge over electric, but either will work. Be sure you have a breakaway system too.

[Nomadac]

I recommend you do a Search on this subject as there are multiple posts on this subject.

[Beverley_Ken]

We towed our 04 Accord (not endorsed for 4 down towing) on a dolly, until the warranty ran out and then switched to 4 down (no lube pump), just followed the instructions for the CRV. No problems at all in 3 years and 20000 miles. We will not go back to dolly towing.
I believe, but you should confirm that the 03,04 Accord and even the 12-14 CRVs have the same transmission.
Here is the link to Remco towing for there opinions.

Beverley and Ken

[lanerd]

If you go 4-down, you'll need to get a lube pump for your Honda's transmission.....otherwise, dolly is the way to go. Some dollys have built in brakes, some don't...$$$.

This is almost, if not, a daily question here. I highly recommend that you do a couple of simple searches on toad, dollys, trailers, ect and you'll get a ton of great info.

Ron

[BTPO1]

I do both dolly and 4 down. 4 down is definitely easier and quicker.

I have a Demco dolly that is steerable. I believe that it is the same as a Kar-Kaddy. I put electric brakes on it and to me it made a difference in the mountains.

I went with electric brakes as to me it was cheaper than surge as I already had the brake controller set up in the MH. I use surge brakes on my boat trailer and they work great also. JMO

[naturist]

In Virginia, brakes are required by law if the towed vehicle (car plus dolly, in this case) exceeds 3500 lbs. Some other states, it is 3,000 lbs. If you fancy travelling outside VA, I'd go with the lower number.