Community Forums

rml1998 · 06-04-2010, 09:09 PM

We recently purchased an automatic transmission PT Cruiser convertible that we will require a tow dolly to tow front wheels up.

The question is .... When we purchase the tow dolly can we use one without brakes because this car is light or do we need dolly brakes (which electric or surge)?

Or should we purchase the proportional brake system for the car?

We need to decide this in the next few weeks.

TXiceman · 06-04-2010, 09:42 PM

Get the dolly with brakes. Trying to brake the wheels on the dinghy won't do as much good.

Some states require brakes on towed loads over 1500#, some 3000# and some 3500#. If you have a gasser chassis, you will probably have a chassis limit of 1500# for a towed load without brakes.

SOme will argue that a towed dinghy is not the same as a trailer because the laws say trailer. I cannot understand the reasoning because the motorhome does not know if you have a trailer loaded with roks or feathers that weighs 3500# or is it a 3500# dinghy. All the motorhome knows is that there is 3500# push when it tries to stop.

The difference between stopping with and without brakes may be a foot shorter, but an inch can make the difference between stopping and an accident.

Also get the dolly set up with a break away system.

ken

rml1998 · 06-04-2010, 09:53 PM

What is the "Break away" system?

DeanLinAZ · 06-04-2010, 09:58 PM

We towed a 2005 PT Cruiser convertible with the automatic transmission for five years and over 30,000 miles on a Demco SS360 tow dolly with surge brakes. That setup worked great for us with no issues.

The PT weighs almost 3500 pounds, so I would not tow it on a dolly without a brake system. I don't know how an aux system like SMI, Brake Buddy, etc would work on the rear brakes only or how effective they would be. The main concern I would have is that the aux braking system would try to pull the PT off the dolly when the brakes were applied. The tie down straps would really see a lot of load in the wrong direction at that time. I would contact the folks at Demco with that question before proceeding or better yet, just buy a dolly with surge brakes and go RVing.

BTW, we still have our PT Cruiser convertible, but are now towing a Jeep Wrangler four-down. Wanna buy a gentally used Demco tow dolly?

Good luck!

DennisZ · 06-04-2010, 10:05 PM

I believe that your PT can be towed all four down with the addition of a lube pump. Just a thought.

Dennis

DeanLinAZ · 06-04-2010, 10:15 PM

Dennis is correct.

Remco makes a pump for the PT Cruiser. When we began the setup to tow our PT almost six years ago, the Remco pumps had some reliability issues when mated with PT Cruisers. That is why we went with the Demco tow dolly. You can also tow five speed manual transmission PT's four-down all day if you can find one.

rml1998 · 06-05-2010, 05:43 AM

Looking for the dolly and thanks....Where are you located for the Demco dolly?

TXiceman · 06-05-2010, 08:03 AM

A break away system will set the brakes on the dolly or dinghy in the event it detaches from the tow vehicle. Keeps it from crashing across the road into other vehicles.

Ken

GaryKD · 06-05-2010, 04:41 PM

Hi rml1998,
To read about the Demco tow dolly go to Demco. The Name to know when you Tow. . I have had the Kar Kaddy SS for 5 years. It is an excellent dolly. It will handle the weight of you PT. My dolly has surge brakes.