trailer jack on a tow dolly

[jblancharddds]

Is it possible/advisable to put a trailer jack on a tow dolly? I'm thinking when I park my class C for a quick overnight, it would be so easy to raise the dolly with the trailer jack, move the rv slightly forward, level the rv and then the next morning back up the rv, hook back up and go. This would be so much faster and easier than backing off the vehicle and having to strap down again the next morning.

[Grit_dog]

And better yet, the quick and easy answer, rather than polling the internet and inciting discussions that aren't pertinent to the original question, would be to go hook up, put toad on the dolly and see how much effort it takes to un-hitch it.
I "think" dollies generally center the toad wheel slightly forward of the dolly axle. For obvious reasons, including the potential for "summer" teeth" if there's any uplift pressure on the tongue hitch.

[mkirsch]

dodge guy wrote:
I don’t know why it would say not to level with a tow dolly connected.

I do. It's CYA on the part of the leveling system manufacturer.

Dumb people will park on a steep slope with the trailer connected, hit the leveling button, bend or break something, and sue the manufacturer.

Best to just flat out say "NO" than to give the end user any opportunity to make a judgement call.

[mkirsch]

Where do the toad's wheels sit on the dolly in relation to the dolly's axle? Ahead means you will have at least some tongue weight and a jack is a possibility. Directly over the axle is anybody's guess. Behind the axle would mean you get your "summer teeth" if you tried to unhitch. As in, "summer" here, "summer" there after the tongue pops off the ball and catches you in the face after you release it.

HOWEVER, I'm confused here. You're very concerned about going "by the book" on the leveling, but ignoring the book for the tow dolly.

[dodge_guy]

I don’t know why it would say not to level with a tow dolly connected. Especially if you are on level ground!

What system do you have? My LCI system does not say anything about not leveling with anything hooked up?

[dodge_guy]

Where are you reading that says not to level with a tow dolly attached? I’ve never heard of that! You would have to be way off level to have to disconnect. A tow dolly has no tongue weight or minimal at around 25lbs. So that’s no an issue. The dolly is sitting on a ball which will allow it to pivot! So that’s no an issue unless it’s an extreme case like I mentioned.

[schlep1967]

My concern would be not knowing if there is any lifting force on the ball before unlatching it. If for some reason, say the parking brake was set in the towed and the coach moved forward an inch, that could put an upward bind on the hitch/ball. Then you unlatch the ball and it could pop up with force and break your hand.
Seems like one of those shortcuts that might work for one guy with X brand of dolly just fine. For the next guy with Y brand of dolly .... not so good.

[JRscooby]

I don't know, but have a question.
It looks to me that a dolly has a very low TW. And like any trailer, when you lift the tongue TW decreases. I don't know that lifting the tongue with car on would let the car down, tongue up and forward, making it hard to hook back up

[jblancharddds]

My class C has auto levelers and everything I see says don't try to level with the tow dolly connected. That's why I'm looking for an alternative to unstrapping, backing off then having to pull the toad back up onto the dolly and strap it back down again before departing the campground the next morning. It just seems like a trailer jack would work. I wanted to know if anyone else had done this.

[fj12ryder]

Has anyone figured out the actual question, and why? OP, please come back.

[dodge_guy]

Im sure it can be added...…..but why are you disconnecting for an overnight? you can leave the dolly connected and it will pivot on the ball so it will not bind. im sure if the 2 were way off level from each other it could bind. but for 99% of the time I dint see it happening.

[Grit_dog]

Tal/IL wrote:
You should not disconnect the dolly from the towing vehicle with a towed vehicle loaded on the dolly. It can be dangerous.

Key word, "can". Just depends what the tongue weight is and how much you can lift.
To be fair, I only recall pulling the dolly off with toad on it, once. It was a Uhaul dolly with a Chevy pickup on it. POS Uhaul truck needed repairs en-route and it was quicker and easier to just drop the dolly w/ toad to take the truck over for the night for repairs.
I recall grabbing a piece of 4x4 lumber that I had for a wheel chock, pulling the dolly hitch up and my wife stuck the 4x4 under it to keep it propped up. Toad was parked in gear to not roll.

But a jack would work superbly.

[bucky]

Set the brake on the toad. I don't see a problem. Just don't drive off in the morning with it set.

[Tal_IL]

You should not disconnect the dolly from the towing vehicle with a towed vehicle loaded on the dolly. It can be dangerous. Here is a pretty complete instruction video on tow dollies. Disconnecting a loaded dolly is addressed at about 8:15 in the video.

https://youtu.be/i2VLlxx2MHo

[Grit_dog]

It would seem very feasible and easy, if that's what you wanted to do. Just go to the local trailer place or farm store and get a jack with the right heights and a universal rectangular U bolt side mount plate.

But do you need one? Tow dollies don't really have tongue weight. I've disconnected them with a vehicle on before. Although it could get stuck and need some assistance. Jack would be easier if you had to do it regularly.