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01-04-2012, 07:56 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
National RV Owners Club Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 11
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Dolly or 4 Wheels Down?
We just purchased a 2008 Subaru Forester Manual Transmission to tow behind our 1999 32' Dolphin. Does anyone have a recommendation for which is better - using a Dolly to tow to the car or a tow bar with 4 wheels down? It seems to me that towing 4 wheels down puts a lot of mileage on the car that aren't really there when I try to sell the car later. Plus I'm a little wary of the auxiliary braking systems for cars - how well they work, how reliable they are, etc. As you can tell, I'm leaning towards the Dolly but there are problems with the dolly as well - needing room to park it at a campsite, having one more thing to hook up when leaving, etc.
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01-04-2012, 08:16 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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On a 2008, I would assume the odometer and speedometer are electronic and odds are it will NOT run up millage when towed ignition off,, HOWEVER that is an assumption and we all know how to remember the spelling of assume (-u-).
Assuming that is the case. 4 down is always going to be my choice.
But even with a stick shift... Go to remcotowing and make sure google remcotowing USA.
I have heard of at least one manual tranny which does not like to be towed,, JUST one, but still one.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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01-04-2012, 08:17 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Orange Beach, AL
Posts: 744
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I have used both and I much prefer towing 4 down. I agree with you about the mileage that is there but unseen when trading but each time that I have traded one in I reveal the fact that it has been towed and I usually leave the tow system intact so there is obviously no attempt to deceive.
The only braking system that I know of that you can really feel comfortable that it is not braking too much or too little is the ReadyBrake. It is effectively a surge brake activated by the pressure placed on the hitch by the tow.
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01-04-2012, 08:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 633
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I will find out next week which way I like best. I have always towed 4 down, but due to some unforseen car trouble I bought a cardolly to tow my other car this winter. the one thing that bothers me so far is the directions say only make 90 degree turns, no u-turns. plus the tires are a full 8 ft. wide. so I am sure it will be a learning experence. plus I am not sure about driving up the ramps and putting the staps on in the SNOW.
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01-04-2012, 09:53 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
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I did tow dolly for 10 years and now have towed a Jeep GC 4-down for 3 years and would NEVER go back to a dolly.
Do a search for posts on your specific questions on mileage.
Here is what the Remco site says:
1992 - 2011 Subaru All 1992 and newer Suburu
Engine:
ALL
Drivetrain:
AWD
Transmission:
Manual
Application Notes
All manual transmission, AWD, Suburus can be towed 4 on the ground without modification.
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
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01-04-2012, 10:06 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,692
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I'm sure you'll get a lot of suggestions on this topic. We opted for a tow dolly. No mods to our car (cutting valance for base plate, wiring etc.) and brake system is on our dolly. If you decide on the dolly make sure it comes with brakes because not all do. So far we have been happy with our choice.
__________________
Steve & Sally / Hudson Our Little Pom / Heidi, Houston & HiTee Forever in our Hearts
04 NEWMAR MACA 3778 W22 / 05 PT Vert
Michigan (Summer) Michigan (Winter For Now)
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01-04-2012, 10:12 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,309
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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.
__________________
Tom
2016 Newmar Bay Star Sport 3004
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport Willys
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01-04-2012, 10:17 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 2,457
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I think that thsi is the best answer
__________________
2008 Itasca 37H
2011 & 2012 Len & Pat's "One lap of America"
27K miles & 41 states in 13 months
Yellowstone Lake 6-1-2012
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01-04-2012, 10:28 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On the Road
Posts: 346
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Now that looks like something a guy could fall in luv with there BluePill...WOW
Sadly it also looks like some euro/techno/futuristic -wanna-b, thing-a ma-bobber !!!
But damn the doubt... still ought to wow em !!!
__________________
05 Itasca Suncruiser, Stock w/ScanGuage II,
2017 Honda Accord TOAD,Home Based in Uniontown, Pa. Retired Navy Officer
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01-04-2012, 10:40 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA (Stick & Brick)
Posts: 2,643
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It was my understanding, from a Subaru specialist mechanic, that NO Subarus could be towed four-down or on a dolly, not even those with manual transmissions. He couldn't say whether dolly towing with the front wheels off the ground plus a driveshaft disconnect between the rear differential and the transmission would be OK. The only recommendation given by Subaru is to trailer tow with all 4 wheels off the ground.
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Frank Damp -Anacortes, WA,(DW- Eileen)
ex-pat Brits (1968) and ex-RVers.
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01-04-2012, 11:17 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
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Frank,
According to the Remco website, that Subaru restriction is only on PRE-1991 models.
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
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01-04-2012, 11:28 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi gordonpond,
I currently tow with both a dolly and 4 down (not at the same time ). I use the dolly when the car needed for the trip requires it. Otherwise I tow 4 down. I really do not have a preference. The tasks are different. When making a CG reservation, I make sure the pull through site can accommodate the coach and dolly while connected. Once we start a trip, with the dolly, it is never disconnected from the coach.
If I had to do it all again, I'd do the same thing. My choice of toads is, for the most part, not limited by towing considerations.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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01-04-2012, 06:35 PM
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#13
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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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Having had both dolly and 4 down, I would go back to a dolly anytime.
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, 06:52 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,638
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4 down so much easier and less weight.
__________________
2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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