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01-04-2012, 06:59 PM
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#15
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,942
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I am not so sure I would consider 4 down easier. You have to have the special tow brackets installed on each vehicle you tow as well as a dinghy brake system installed.
With a dolly, you can tow multiple front wheel drives vehicles...unmodified...and use a surge brake system on the dolly. It also gets the front of the dinghy up higher so that it does not catch all of the road debris thrown up by the coach.
Been there and doe that with both. How many of you that are preaching 4-down have actually used a dolly as well.
Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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01-04-2012, 08:40 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 325
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Big advantage to dolly is less wear and tear on toad. While the odometer doesn't record mileage the front suspension, transmission, power steering rack, etc. do get a workout. Not to mention the washboard roads and potholes.
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01-04-2012, 09:05 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,569
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I have done both and will stay with the 4 wheels down, Blue Ox is my choice.
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01-04-2012, 09:07 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bearaboo
Big advantage to dolly is less wear and tear on toad. While the odometer doesn't record mileage the front suspension, transmission, power steering rack, etc. do get a workout. Not to mention the washboard roads and potholes.
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Why would the front suspension. power steering, rack etc. get a "workout" when on a dolly? The suspension would get a little workout but no where near what driving would. The power steering would never enter in to it either.
In fact there is more wear on those components when towing four down.
I've done both with the same vehicle ('05 Odyssey) and I'm still on the fence. On a dolly really isn't much different in setup time and no wear on the drivetrain. You do have to find a place to store the dolly, but the Demco KK-460 folds so it's not too bad. But it does weigh about 600#'s and it's hard to move on gravel.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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01-04-2012, 09:56 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
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Mr-D said:
==================================
But it does weigh about 600#'s and it's hard to move on gravel.
=======================================
Kinda reminds me of my old girlfriend....anyhow....
I'd suggest 4 down. More expensive for sure but well worth it.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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01-05-2012, 04:22 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 268
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You can NOT tow any Subaru on a Dolly. It will mess up their all wheel drive. Since you got the Forester, your only option for towing is four down or four up on a trailer. That being said, I think the Forester will make a great toad and while it does add tow milage to the car, it is not recorded on the odometer.
I currently tow on a dolly. It is fine for me right now. You have to think about where to put the dolly at your destination but I have never found that to be too much of a problem. If I have to move it far, I hook it to the trailer hitch on the car and tow it. If I was FT, I would probably tow flat. The problem is you have to get the base plates installed. I still commute and change cars every few years. Big expense if you are not planning to keep the toad for many years of travel. With the dolly, just drive the new car on and strap it down. No changes or additions needed, expect to make sure you don't buy an all wheel drive.
Take care, have fun.
__________________
Dan and Kathryn DeBruin plus dogs
2005 Newmar Dutchstar 4009
Victor NY
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01-05-2012, 04:36 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildtoad
Towing four down is preferred as you don't have to buy a dolly, use a dolly, hook up the dolly, store the dolly. If you plan to tow the same car (and your car allows it)for quite sometime then four down is the way to go.
If you don't want (or can't) to modify your car for towing, or you want flexibility in what car you take when, then go with the dolly.
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IMO this is the total answer to the question. We don't want to fit out a car to tow so dolly. We don't need a small car to rig to tow 4 down so dolly. We trade every 3 years so cost to keep switching 4 down expensive so dolly.
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Mike, Janet & Duchess (cavalier King Charles)
2008 35B windsport, Brazel's rear TracBar, Koni shocks & Safe T plus steering
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01-11-2012, 02:00 PM
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#22
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Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Alberta
Posts: 51
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Towed 4 down for many years then bought a car needing a dolly so made the switch two years ago. I just bought a 4 down towable toad. The dolly is just too much work to manage plus the loading and strap-in process takes too much effort. And the heavier car and dolly cost extra fuel. The cost of the dolly vs base plate/tow bar/brake system is about the same. This is what works for us.
Greg
04 Bounder 35E on W22 + 89 Suzuki Samurai LWB
__________________
Greg & Tess Harrison,
'04 Bounder 35E on W22, '10 Honda CR-V toad
Near Edmonton, Alberta
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01-11-2012, 02:18 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobog
Towed 4 down for many years then bought a car needing a dolly so made the switch two years ago. I just bought a 4 down towable toad. The dolly is just too much work to manage plus the loading and strap-in process takes too much effort. And the heavier car and dolly cost extra fuel. The cost of the dolly vs base plate/tow bar/brake system is about the same. This is what works for us.
Greg
04 Bounder 35E on W22 + 89 Suzuki Samurai LWB
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But, with a dolly you don't have to buy new baseplates and switch the braking system and wire the toad although I do wire my toad into the dolly so I have lights on it.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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