Dolly to Toad Safety Chain

[Gary RVRoamer]

FWIW the problem with a lot of cars is that there is no hard point to use as an anchor. All that leaves is suspension.

Even worse than that on the Buick Verano we began dolly-towing this year. The entire front underside is covered with a panel, I guess for aerodynamics, so it's nigh impossible to get chains onto anything. I added a length of chain to the dolly's own chain and loop it up over the axle spindle adjacent to the wheel. It's at a wide angle from the dolly end and probably won't help much if the car ever came loose from the wheel straps, but it's the best I can figure put.

[twinboat]

All of this kneeling and laying on the ground is why I use the front wheels. I push it thru and reach it, without kneeling on my fake knees.

I know some wheel don't have slots.

[Scarab0088]

I submit that there is no good reason to have to get on the ground to load/unload a dolly towed car.

There is a metal frame "up there" on any front wheel drive car (radiator, engine, transaxle mounts, etc.) behind any plastic or rubber front end.

I would strongly suggest adding a heavy cable up or chain up through any fascia with a strong "D"Ring to make a loop around the frame for easier safety chain connection.

I would also avoid chaining to the front suspension. Modern cars just do not have the heavy metal construction like cars from as recent as the 70's.

Safe travels to all

[nothermark]

Know the knee problem. Wish I had wheel slots. ;-)

FWIW the trick we use for bow lines is to open the hood and pull a fender screw. Take 6-8 inches of webbing and make a loop. Open a hole for the screw in the ends of the webbing put the screw back in with the webbing loop so it will hang out about 2-3 inches when the hood is closed. I use a wrap of tape around the webbing where it goes through the hood to protect the paint. Open the hole with a tapered tool so the weave opens instead of getting cut. The loop hides under the hood when not in use. I have one on both sides. ;-)

[Gary RVRoamer]

I would also avoid chaining to the front suspension. Modern cars just do not have the heavy metal construction like cars from as recent as the 70's.

True enough, but this is just an emergency "breakaway" thing and not the primary or even secondary tie-down. The purpose is a last resort before the car goes bouncing down the road on its own, so a bent suspension or axle is a minor consideration at that point. The instructions for my Master Tow dolly stipulate that several inches of slack be left in the safety chain.

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

True enough, but this is just an emergency "breakaway" thing and not the primary or even secondary tie-down. The purpose is a last resort before the car goes bouncing down the road on its own, so a bent suspension or axle is a minor consideration at that point. The instructions for my Master Tow dolly stipulate that several inches of slack be left in the safety chain.

I am really liking the covered cables idea from this thread Will be looking into that.

And, I totally understand why someone would not want to add anything (like a safety chain hook-up) to the car for dolly towing...heck, no mods to the car is one of the big reasons dolly towing is better than flat-towing.

So...I will volunteer that the safety chains saved our car once...and (Thank Goodness) no damage occurred to the car...if it happened to me it could happen to anyone.

One tire strap came lose at the winch (totally operator error). The car slipped back on the dolly resting on the safety chain, bouncing down the road.

The car flew down the road unstrapped for good long time, until I noticed an odd angle of the car and dolly in the rear camera...stopped and re-strapped.

If the safety chain had been looped on a front suspension piece, I believe major repair would have been required. But since the safety chain was hooked on the frame, it only required a hit of black rattle can paint to cover the scratch marks.

Safe dolly travels