towing a car

[Damstenger]

We just purchased a 2012 Phaeton and are trying to figure out the best system for towing our car. It can be towed on all fours with speed limit limitations (65 MPH), We are also considering buying a traler to haul it. Anyone have any recommendations as to which is best?

[mustang652]

from another Tiffin owner.

[paz]

It sounds like you already have a car that can be towed 4-wheels down. Towing on a dolly or trailer may save some wear and tear on the tires, and it would save buying a tow bar, installing a base plate, installing lighting on the toad and buying an auxiliary braking system for the toad; but the problem with a dolly or trailer is finding a place to put it at the campground and at home. For that reason, most motorhomers seem to prefer towing 4-wheels down.

[mustang652]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz It sounds like you already have a car that can be towed 4-wheels down. Towing on a dolly or trailer may save some wear and tear on the tires, and it would save buying a tow bar, installing a base plate, installing lighting on the toad and buying an auxiliary braking system for the toad; but the problem with a dolly or trailer is finding a place to put it at the campground and at home. For that reason, most motorhomers seem to prefer towing 4-wheels down.

Just a note on using a dolly. If I'm doing an overnighter, I call ahead for a long pull through, otherwise, I put the tounge of the dolly under the RV and shorten the footprint.

[historyljc]

Set it up for towing 4 down. Dollys and trailers are a PIA.

[Arch Hoagland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by historyljc Set it up for towing 4 down. Dollys and trailers are a PIA.

I agree.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz It sounds like you already have a car that can be towed 4-wheels down. Towing on a dolly or trailer may save some wear and tear on the tires, and it would save buying a tow bar, installing a base plate, installing lighting on the toad and buying an auxiliary braking system for the toad; but the problem with a dolly or trailer is finding a place to put it at the campground and at home. For that reason, most motorhomers seem to prefer towing 4-wheels down.

I've towed the same vehicle ('05 Honda Odyssey) both ways and can honestly say it's not a problem either way. Moving the dolly and storage can be a problem, but not having to worry about transmission damage, brake wear, run down battery and the ability to tow different vehicles makes up for a lot of that. Also, we have the Demco KK-460 which folds up for storage and has brakes. I do have the Ody wired to the dolly lights too.

[offthewall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by historyljc Set it up for towing 4 down. Dollys and trailers are a PIA.

X2

[kannonvaggon]

This is one where " it depends " ....

If ya only tow a couple times per year, like some snowbirds, and have a place at each end to store your dolly..... AND your toad isn't set up properly to tow four down.... and you change cars fairly often, etc, etc... then MAYBE a dolly ain't a bad thing.

If ya travel in the mountains with a moderately sized coach you will want brakes on the dolly.

It is seemingly more of a PITA to unhook and move the dolly than to unhook a towbar and brake system. Hooking up a dolly CAN be a pain especially on slope or out in the mud etc, it depends a lot on which dolly and which car as to what is truly involved with getting it on the the unit and getting it tied down and such.

I would never have a dolly myself. Don't care for em. BUT there are many folks that tow a car that's not capable of being four down or they only use it a couple times per year and already own a dolly so don't want the hassle of getting the toad set up with all the gizmos.
I like towing four down just fine. My toad is very easy to hookup and unhook, has a good brake system controlled by the air brakes, and has no speed or lube restrictions, and pulls great. Not ALL cars or pickups make great toads, but most can at least get the job done.

I recall one time in Nashville watching a poor guy out in the rain and mud trying to get his dolly through a mudhole and up a little hill so he could at least hook it up to his coach... and it wasn't a pretty sight.

[Damstenger]

Thanks for all the input. I was sold on a dolly until I read the last posting. My biggest concern with the cars we have and the 4 down is the speed restrictions (65 MPH). Maybe I need to learn to slow down a little.

[okgc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by historyljc Set it up for towing 4 down. Dollys and trailers are a PIA.

X4

Trailers are for horses and old cars.

[Lault]

My HHR is not to be towed over 65 but I have towed at 70 for over 10,000 miles with no issue. Not to worried about it.

[IRVTrekin2]

A number of campgrounds don't have room at your site to store your dolly, along with your MH and toad. I have seen some that actually want you to bring it to a central location to store it, now that is a real PITA. Man handling the dolly around the campground in dirt and sand as you get older gets to be a real handful. A number of dollies don't have brakes on them, just like some that pull 4 wheels down don't have an auxiliary braking system for their toad, both bad ideas. As far as 65 MPH there are some good threads on this forum about how fast we drive these giant boxes down the highway.