Tow dolly - not that bad after all

[Ponderosa]

I have towed four down with different cars for many years now. I traded the latest toad recently just before a trip and was faced with having to decide what to do. I had never used a tow dolly and the thread here and elsewhere gave me pause about doing it. But, I no longer had a four down towable and we were planning a big trip for the summer this year.

So, went out and bought a used Acme Eze tow. I turned out to be one of those what is all the fuss about experiences. I towed my car over 6000 miles behind the Class C. Put it on and took it off as needed. It was EZ! The first couple times I had the straps coming loose - meaning there was a slight gap between the wheels and the stop after driving for a while, but then I bought a bigger wrench and cinched them a couple more clicks and no more issues. It took only a couple more minutes to connect the straps than wrestling with my Blue Ox and brakes did, so that was a wash. I did totally wear out a set of tires on the dolly though, thanks to the crappy roads in this country.

I guess if I had the choice I would go four down, but overall the dolly experience was not a big deal and certainly not as bad as the four down fans might have us think.

[kjburns]

My one problem with a dolly is that part where I have to chain the car to the dolly. The rest is easy.

[RJsfishin]

I just changed from 4 D to Dolly. I see no difference, just different.

As far as the safety chains, I am working on "hooks" that will connect w/o ever getting on the ground.

[Bill_Diana]

I've towed both ways, dolly & 4 down, and each has it's pros and cons. Now that I'm older the 4 down does require less muscle than using the dolly.

[wbwood]

PortWentworthSam wrote:
We use a Master Tow dolly and I think it's great. The original tires sucked but other than that no problems. Easy to use.


As far as hooking up in the rain goes, I always plan ahead. I check the weather reports and if it looks like rain I just put the car on the dolly earlier than I had planned or wait until the rain passes.

Haven't gotten wet so far.

First time we used the tow dolly, we had to hook it up in the rain. WE were broken in with it...lol

But if it's raining, it's raining. Whether you have a tow dolly or a tow bar. If it can wait, it can wait. As far as the wet ground, I just used my rain jacket to get on the ground. Others have mats they use. The only time I had to get on the ground was to hook up the safety chains. No big deal.

[PortWentworthSa]

We use a Master Tow dolly and I think it's great. The original tires sucked but other than that no problems. Easy to use.


As far as hooking up in the rain goes, I always plan ahead. I check the weather reports and if it looks like rain I just put the car on the dolly earlier than I had planned or wait until the rain passes.

Haven't gotten wet so far.

[wbwood]

We love our ACME tow dolly and we live only an hour from the manufacturer and was able to pick it up there. Works great. I don't know what the fuss about tow dollies is.

[mowermech]

I bought a used Demco dolly so we could take the PT Cruiser to Chattanooga with us. I towed a Jeep four down many miles before that, using a fixed arm inexpensive ($165) towbar.
"THEY" say those bars should never be used, just as "THEY" say a dolly is too much trouble.
IMO, "they" are wrong on both counts.
I now have a Roadmaster towbar on the Dodge pickup. I can't see where it is any better than my old Reese fixed arm unit. I still have to get out and look to see if I am close enough to connect it. Well, OK, the Roadmaster is rated at 6000 lbs. capacity, whereas the Reese was only 5000 lbs, so in that respect it IS better!
Dolly, towbar, or trailer? It is purely personal preference. No more, no less.

[myrtle_beach_rv]

Been towing on a dolly for 10 years now. 2 PT cruisers, 2 jeeps and a ford taurus. Up and down I 26, 40 and 75 through mountains with no problems.I can load and unload about as fast as any 4 down. Glad you're having good luck with dolly.

[gbopp]

Good information, thanks for sharing.

[willald]

dons2346 wrote:
I would dread the day I would have to hook up in a total down poor.

Agreed, but hooking up in a down pour would be no fun regardless whether you were towing 4 down or with a dolly.

Of all the reasons we chose to go to four down towing, the threat/risk of having to hook up in the rain really wasn't one of them.

Will

[dons2346]

I would dread the day I would have to hook up in a total down poor.

[willald]

Ponderosa wrote:
I have towed four down with different cars for many years now. I traded the latest toad recently just before a trip and was faced with having to decide what to do. I had never used a tow dolly and the thread here and elsewhere gave me pause about doing it. But, I no longer had a four down towable and we were planning a big trip for the summer this year.

So, went out and bought a used Acme Eze tow. I turned out to be one of those what is all the fuss about experiences. I towed my car over 6000 miles behind the Class C. Put it on and took it off as needed. It was EZ! The first couple times I had the straps coming loose - meaning there was a slight gap between the wheels and the stop after driving for a while, but then I bought a bigger wrench and cinched them a couple more clicks and no more issues. It took only a couple more minutes to connect the straps than wrestling with my Blue Ox and brakes did, so that was a wash. I did totally wear out a set of tires on the dolly though, thanks to the crappy roads in this country.

I guess if I had the choice I would go four down, but overall the dolly experience was not a big deal and certainly not as bad as the four down fans might have us think.

..As one that dolly towed with the same dolly you have (Acme EZE), and now tows 4 down (and have for some time), I actually agree with you.

Four down is definitely my first choice, but if circumstances changes and we were to go back to dolly towing, I'd be OK with it. However, it would only be with an Acme EZE tow dolly. The EZE dolly really does eliminate some of the disadvantages about dolly towing.