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08-18-2018, 11:12 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 92
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Empty Tow Dolly
I know that the air pressure needs to be dropped to 10 pounds to transport an empty tow dolly. My question is how many miles can you transport an empty tow dolly without doing damage to the tires or the dolly itself. I need to travel approximately 1500 miles. Has anyone done this?
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08-18-2018, 11:22 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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The dolly doesn't care if it is empty or loaded regarding how many miles you can put on it.
Lowering the tire pressure reduces the bouncing when towing empty due to the stiff springs/suspension.
It might even tow smoother if you could add some weight - like strapping 8 or 10 cinder blocks to it (although I don't how much weight it would take to make a difference).
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08-18-2018, 02:34 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryB
The dolly doesn't care if it is empty or loaded regarding how many miles you can put on it.
Lowering the tire pressure reduces the bouncing when towing empty due to the stiff springs/suspension.
It might even tow smoother if you could add some weight - like strapping 8 or 10 cinder blocks to it (although I don't how much weight it would take to make a difference).
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When I purchased the dolly and towed it home it wanted to bounce itself apart in just 30 miles but I didn’t know to drop air pressure. There is NO suspension on a dolly thus the problem. Has anyone dropped pressure and experienced no problems?
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08-18-2018, 02:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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Have not tried dropping pressure as I did not know about it until after I towed ours ~80 miles each way to drop the RV off for repairs then pick it up.
Dropping the pressure is easy. Push down on the little stud sticking up where you put air in the tire. That is a shrader valve. Don't forget to put the pressure back up when you are going to load a car.
I like the idea of adding weight but think sand bags are easier to dispose of than cinder blocks...
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08-18-2018, 02:46 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nothermark
Have not tried dropping pressure as I did not know about it until after I towed ours ~80 miles each way to drop the RV off for repairs then pick it up.
Dropping the pressure is easy. Push down on the little stud sticking up where you put air in the tire. That is a shrader valve. Don't forget to put the pressure back up when you are going to load a car.
I like the idea of adding weight but think sand bags are easier to dispose of than cinder blocks...
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Did it make a huge difference after you dropped the pressure? What psi did you drop it to?
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08-18-2018, 02:55 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Western Montana
Posts: 976
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ACME recommends 25-35 psi in their dolly tires when towing it unloaded. I towed it home 80 miles after purchase with about 40psi and it did bounce.
__________________
Mike & JoAnne
Montana Summer / Arizona Winter
'16 Prism 24G / '02 HitchHiker 38 LKTG
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08-18-2018, 03:02 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AudiDudi
ACME recommends 25-35 psi in their dolly tires when towing it unloaded. I towed it home 80 miles after purchase with about 40psi and it did bounce.
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Yea with no suspension no matter what it is going to bounce just a matter of best way to reduce. Would like to hear from someone who has towed long distances empty with no problems.
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08-18-2018, 03:13 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobman
Did it make a huge difference after you dropped the pressure? What psi did you drop it to?
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As I said, I found out about dropping the pressure after I did the tow. The bouncing was what got me thinking about adding weight.
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08-18-2018, 03:15 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nothermark
As I said, I found out about dropping the pressure after I did the tow. The bouncing was what got me thinking about adding weight.
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Got ya
Thanks for the reply
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08-18-2018, 03:52 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,441
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I've towed my Stehl Tow dolly empty from Georgia to Melbourne FL. It was a bit over 300 miles.
Dropped the air in the tires to 20 psi and used the straps and winches to keep the swivel plate heading straight ahead.
Bricks on the dolly would have required more tire pressure and probably would have broken apart. Can't imagine how I would keep them or sand bags on it anyway.
The dolly had no springs and the cars suspension acts as one, while towing.
Dead weight on a unsprung axle would just get beat to death.
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08-18-2018, 05:17 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
I've towed my Stehl Tow dolly empty from Georgia to Melbourne FL. It was a bit over 300 miles.
Dropped the air in the tires to 20 psi and used the straps and winches to keep the swivel plate heading straight ahead.
Bricks on the dolly would have required more tire pressure and probably would have broken apart. Can't imagine how I would keep them or sand bags on it anyway.
The dolly had no springs and the cars suspension acts as one, while towing.
Dead weight on a unsprung axle would just get beat to death.
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Thanks !
Think I’ll ask master tow and see what May suggest.
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08-18-2018, 06:35 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,134
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We towed our just under 400 miles without issues. We dropped tire pressure to 15 lbs. we had a pin for locking the steerable wheels.
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08-18-2018, 08:00 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
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I moved my daughter from Raleigh to Denver (1600 miles) about 3 years ago, and towed her car out for her on a Stehl tow dolly. Lowered the air pressure and drove home with just the dolly. No problems at all.
I debated buying a bunch of landscaping blocks and hauling them home on it for weight, but then just made the decision to lower the air and go for it.
__________________
DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
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08-19-2018, 04:23 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tampa FL
Posts: 679
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Pulled our empty Master Tow from Tampa to Albuquerque. Caused some tire wear but otherwise fine. Recommended 10psi was too low in my opinion.
__________________
2006 HR Scepter 42DSQ
Holiday FL
RVIA Certified RV Service Technician
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