Tow dolly instructions

Are you suppose to read the directions? I just look at pictures.

Car in PARK - YES, absolutely.

Steering wheel locked - depends. If the dolly has a rotating pan (common) or wheels that turn during vehicle turns (rarer), then lock the steering wheel. A dolly with neither of those (rare, cheap dollies) the steering wheel needs to be unlocked. But there should be only 1 point where rotation occurs on the dolly during turns.

There should be a towing guide with your new dolly that explains how to properly configure your car. The dealer will also be able to answer your questions. Make sure you get a dolly with some sort of braking system (surge or electric).

Our MasterTow has the turntable base, so we put the car in park and lock the wheel.

americanrascal wrote:
Depends on the type and make of dolly and there are different approaches to whether or not the steering gear is free or locked. Who makes the dolly? Does the type of dolly have a turntable or swivel plate that allows the lower dolly to turn underneath the wheel platform? Or is it have the type of dolly in which the cars wheels sit directly on the dolly that does not have a moving swivel plate or turntable?

With a swivel plate or turntable the wheels are to be locked as the turn table allows the car to track through a turn. On the type of dolly without a swivel plate or turntable, the wheels in the car must be able to turn and track throughout a turn and thus must be free and not locked.

Arguments can be made in favor of both approaches or types of dolly configuration. I went the turntable/swivel pate route and thus I lock mine with an American Car Dolly.

I always put the car in park and use a safety chain in addition to tire straps

X2
We have a Demco Kar Kaddy with the turning base. We put our car in Park and lock the steering wheel the tow dolly does the rest.

Depends on the type and make of dolly and there are different approaches to whether or not the steering gear is free or locked. Who makes the dolly? Does the type of dolly have a turntable or swivel plate that allows the lower dolly to turn underneath the wheel platform? Or is it have the type of dolly in which the cars wheels sit directly on the dolly that does not have a moving swivel plate or turntable?

With a swivel plate or turntable the wheels are to be locked as the turn table allows the car to track through a turn. On the type of dolly without a swivel plate or turntable, the wheels in the car must be able to turn and track throughout a turn and thus must be free and not locked.

Arguments can be made in favor of both approaches or types of dolly configuration. I went the turntable/swivel pate route and thus I lock mine with an American Car Dolly.

I always put the car in park and use a safety chain in addition to tire straps