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02-15-2019, 08:53 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 10
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Flat Towing vs. Dolly Towing
Hi,
Is there a benefit as far as flat towing vs. Dolly Towing behind my motorhome? Weight, strain on the motorhome, etc.?
I have a gasser...
Thanks in advance!
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02-15-2019, 10:38 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Zebulon, NC
Posts: 5,211
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Welcome to the forum!!
Here is a link to some of the previous discussions on this topics.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22F...=12&gws_rd=ssl
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Kelly and Jerry Powell with Halo (Lethal White Aussie), Nash the Rat Terrorist, and now Reid, the "Brindle we have no idea puppy"
2020 Grand Design Solitude 390RK-R
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02-16-2019, 06:57 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Freedom, NH
Posts: 1,520
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A dolly could add about 500 pounds to the tow weight and flat towing about 100 lbs (baseplate, tow bar, brakes). You can use a tow dolly on multiple cars, without adaptation, whereas flat towing requires a vehicle specific baseplate (around $450 plus installation labor costs). You may need to store the dolly offsite, when not being used to tow.
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Fran, Mary & Zoey (silver Cocker)
2017 Thor Axis 25.5 "RUV", Ford E-450, V10, 6 speed
2016 Chevy Sonic LTZ Auto Hatchback 4-down
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02-16-2019, 09:54 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: North Wildwood, NJ
Posts: 527
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I would first look at your current vehicle to see if it could be flat towed or do you need to use a dolly. I prefer a flat tow as it is simply easier for me. As far as the towing goes I don't see an advantage of one over another unless you have two front wheel drive cars and want to switch them out for different trips. Otherwise between the dolly and magnetic lights and the tow bar, installed towed mounts and lighting kit you might be close in cost.
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Bob and Cathy
2015 Itasca Sunova 33c towing a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
Member FMCA F421963, GS Life, SKP#127220, WIT, PA,
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02-16-2019, 03:50 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,446
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You don't have to alter the front of the car with a dolly.
4 down involves cutting holes in the front trim. The added baseplate may also effect the safety airbag system.
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02-16-2019, 04:30 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Mid Atlantic Campers Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posts: 288
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I started out using a dolly. I stored the dolly on the lower side of my drive. I had to pull and tug to get it hooked up. By the time I got the car loaded I needed a shower again. I did lower body damage to my car with the dolly. I do not like a tow dolly!
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My greatest asset, family and friends! They are gifts from God!
Jim and Pam
2017 Thor Hurricane 34J
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02-17-2019, 02:10 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,078
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldman5145
I started out using a dolly. I stored the dolly on the lower side of my drive. I had to pull and tug to get it hooked up. By the time I got the car loaded I needed a shower again. I did lower body damage to my car with the dolly. I do not like a tow dolly!
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If you go the Dolly route, check the width
Narrow units definitely can contact the vehicle on tight turns
I can turn with the escape and Stehl at 60 degrees
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02-17-2019, 02:32 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: channahon il
Posts: 401
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If you have one newer car and plan on keeping it for a while maybe 4 down is OK for you BUT if you have more than one front wheel and/or are planning to get a new car every other year, you will have an added expense mounting the tow bar on each new car--all this being said everyone has different needs and you have to figure what fits you-- we have 2 different cars that go on a tow dolly-we prefer the Demco tow dolly with surge brakes and the added front wheel so I can move it around at our campsites, we have never had a problem storing it at campsites, we just disconnect and roll it onto the site then back the MH in
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02-17-2019, 02:40 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: channahon il
Posts: 401
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If you have one newer car and plan on keeping it for a while maybe 4 down is OK for you BUT if you have more than one front wheel and/or are planning to get a new car every other year, you will have an added expense mounting the tow bar on each new car--all this being said everyone has different needs and you have to figure what fits you-- we have 2 different cars that go on a tow dolly-we prefer the Demco tow dolly with surge brakes and the added front wheel so I can move it around at our campsites, we have never had a problem storing it at campsites, we just disconnect and roll it onto the site then back the MH in
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02-17-2019, 03:38 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Phoenix, Oregon
Posts: 2,207
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Here is a link to a similar thread that may provide some information also, and there are others.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/dolly...ng-430237.html
We have a dolly, but I have more confidence in 4 down and nearly always tow that way, just my personal preference.
Our current toad is a Geo Tracker. We towed it with a diesel TC for years, and with a 26' 454 powered Flair for the last 3 years without any problems. We tow around 8-10k miles per year coast to coast.
Best of luck with whatever you do.
Steve
__________________
1994 30' Monaco Dynasty, 5.9 230 HP Cummins, MD 3060, 1992 Geo Tracker.
1996 Dodge Cummins 2500 with 1996 Lance 945 camper
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02-17-2019, 08:18 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: North East Texas
Posts: 4,946
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we have been using a hauler trailer since 2009..this week we purchased a another car that is 4 down towable, our current one is as well, but we wanted a smaller setup.
so in coming months i plan to document the heck out of it, because we can load the trailer in 20 minutes ready to go all loaded up
so flat towing...can we do 20 mins safely?
still keeping the trailer, and the big suv (expedition)
wear and tear on towed on ground versus up on a trailer.
so its a new learning experience, i look forward to
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USN Retired, Life time member of the DAV.
Enjoying the 2008 Damon Tuscany 4056, #3998 no your eyes are fine, there are really 6 slides
2022 F150 King Ranch or 2012 Edge toads
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02-18-2019, 11:16 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Phoenix, Oregon
Posts: 2,207
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It's just my opinion, but I would think I could connect a tow bar to a ball hitch faster than anyone could retrieve a trailer and connect it to a ball hitch, place ramps to load a car, run the car onto the trailer, secure the car on the trailer, and store the ramps. Of course if the tow bar isn't already attached to the car, as many are, using a 4 down approach would also require retrieving it and making those connections too. I can't imagine how a car on a trailer would be a faster system to connect.
On the other hand, and another opinion, trailering provides the most versatility of all because none of the toad wheels are on the ground, and a trailer has many other uses. They are handy things to have, if there is room to store them. Years ago I trailered a car from OR to WV for my mom behind our TC using a friends trailer. It was pretty simple, just run it up on the trailer and lash it down.
Steve
__________________
1994 30' Monaco Dynasty, 5.9 230 HP Cummins, MD 3060, 1992 Geo Tracker.
1996 Dodge Cummins 2500 with 1996 Lance 945 camper
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02-18-2019, 11:37 AM
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#13
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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 powerboatr
so flat towing...can we do 20 mins safely?
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No, you can easily do it in 5 min.
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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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02-18-2019, 12:10 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mandan, ND
Posts: 25
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Well we started with small Honda Civic, worked great. Than transmission went. Its not cheep to put it on another vehical. I wont do that again. Dolly for me next time
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