Tips for lining up toad with dolly.

[vettenuts]

Front center is easy, it’s the rear that is the issue. I found the front tires going up so the tire edge aligns with the ramp edge puts the front of the car right in the center. I usually have to get the car up to the ramps and then get out and eyeball the center rear mounted GPS antenna to get the rear centered. I also made some wood approach ramps that keep the metal ramps from lifting.

[Scarab0088]

The car's tires DO NOT NEED TO BE TOUCHING THE FRONT BAR.

The tires will want to center between the front and rear strap connections...Given time, the straps will self-center the car's tires (front to rear) like in this photo:


Even having the dolly slightly pivoted off-center from the car at loading is not a problem...the car's tires will seek the strap mid point as soon as you drive a bit. Just be sure to stop and retighten the straps after a good/hard left and right turn.

Best luck

[Scarab0088]

We have the old style ramps, but - like the new ramps - they can only be placed in 2 locations against the dolly due to the strap hooks.

We set the ramps - drive up to the ramp edge - double check for left/right alignment - drive up and stop on the dolly. No need to push the car's tires against the front frame rail (see post above).

The approach to landing metaphor above is very good. Start aligned and then don't touch the steering while climbing the ramps.
Also, guard the brake with your left foot to avoid an accidental over-shot...hasn't happened to us (knock wood), but we have helped someone unload who did that. Really requires having 2 jacks .

Best luck

[LarryJB]

Vettenuts,
Why do you even worry about the rear tires? If the front tires are lined up right how could the back tires be not lined up?

[mdvs]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

The car's tires DO NOT NEED TO BE TOUCHING THE FRONT BAR.

The tires will want to center between the front and rear strap connections...Given time, the straps will self-center the car's tires (front to rear) like in this photo:
Attachment 192902

Even having the dolly slightly pivoted off-center from the car at loading is not a problem...the car's tires will seek the strap mid point as soon as you drive a bit. Just be sure to stop and retighten the straps after a good/hard left and right turn.

Best luck

Your picture does not truly represent how the tires are secured on the eze tow. The front strap actually pulls back under the front of the tire. True the tires do not remain against the front bar when turning, the outer wheel in the turn will pull away. When the dolly and car is back in line the tires pull back up to the bar. If there is a gap the straps should be tightened again. The other force/factor that comes into play is the twisting/turning of the tires as you make turns. The better the tie down the less the movement. If you have to much movement the tires will work out from under the straps. As many have stated you must check your straps within the first couple of miles and then each time you stop. I see that the new straps from eze tow have rubber blocks on the single front strap to reduce the strap movement. I have towed over 9000 miles with the eze tow with no problems when the initial strapping is done properly.
True, the tires don't have to be perfect but for a long distance tow where the car will not be taken off for a 1000 miles or more I get the least amount of tire movement when the initial strapping is done properly. I have found the key to the ideal tie down with the least effort is getting that initial alignment. From there it's a piece of cake. Some days my wife is able to follow my directions and gets the car on perfect. Other days she has problems or I don't do as good a job giving directions.
Thanks again for everyone's suggestions. I hope to test some ideas out soon and make this process less stressful.

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by mdvs

Your picture does not truly represent how the tires are secured on the eze tow. The front strap actually pulls back under the front of the tire. True the tires do not remain against the front bar when turning, the outer wheel in the turn will pull away.....

The photo was only for demonstration of the physics with a basket strap over a tire.

In a turn, both tires will rotate AND pivot. The outside tire moves back AND the inside tire moves forward...albeit a tiny bit.

The only exception is a toad with very large off-road style tires...which hang over the dolly front AND rear. And these will try to rotate too...BTDT.

Yes, the front piece of basket strap will start pulled back under the tire when loading...if/because the car's tires are hard against the front frame. But it doesn't stay there for long.

Don't take my word for it. That's just the science behind why the Eze-Tow works so well. Next time you take a trip, stop for a moment before unloading to notice how the tires and straps settle.

The axle is placed right in the center of the frame, because that is were the straps will pull/center the car's tires. If the car's tires were gonna stay forward, the axle would be forward too.

My main point is that there is no reason to push to load with the car's tires up to the front frame bar. Just like there is no reason to worry if the car and dolly are slightly off-center in alignment. Just drive for a short distance and double check the straps after everthing gets straight.

Over 15,000 miles on our EZE-TOW and never a problem...but we did get new tires recently

Safe travels

[vettenuts]

Originally Posted by LarryJB

Vettenuts,
Why do you even worry about the rear tires? If the front tires are lined up right how could the back tires be not lined up?

So the car is even and touching both stops. I have done it with only one tire touching but the car never corrects, I.e., if one tire is back an inch it stays there and I prefer not to tow it that way.

Yes, I have read the above about the front tires touching the stops.

[twinboat]

Put a 2X4 board across the beginning of the ramps and drive up to it. If both tires hit it at the same time, your aligned and up you go.

My ( Other dolly brand ) ramps have a 1 1/2 inch end that the car has to climb. If I feel one tire go up before the other, I know I'm off course. Make the beginning if the ramp a bump, rather then a smooth transition.

Right to left is cured by a black line down the ramps, just outside the tire path.

[LarryJB]

Originally Posted by vettenuts

So the car is even and touching both stops. I have done it with only one tire touching but the car never corrects, I.e., if one tire is back an inch it stays there and I prefer not to tow it that way.

Yes, I have read the above about the front tires touching the stops.

Hmm? This was not my experience with my eze tow.

[mdvs]

There are many possible points of variation for loading the vehicle when you consider the wheel sizes, ride height, tread etc.. Because of this I'm sure that we each have slightly different experiences as demonstrated by the responses here. I find it educational reading what everyone has to say and appreciate your taking time to post them.

[LarryJB]

Mdvs,
Have you watched the videos on the acme site? They explain how to load the car and show how it is designed to move on the dolly.

[mdvs]

I have. They have improved over the years. I just need to improve the my loading process.

[LarryJB]

Practice, practice, practice. I bet I loaded and unloaded my car in the driveway 50 times before I actually took it on my first trip. It became much easier each time I did it. I remember the first time I loaded took me almost an hour. I got to where I could do it in 10 minutes.

[lahoggan]

Not sure what everybody's talking about but when I pull my car on the dolly if it's off a little bit I just crank the power steering back up a little bit come straight it's easy to move it over an inch. However if I was worried about it I think I would tape a laser pointer to someplace on the car and Mark the ideal spot on the back of the motorhome. Then repeat the process with the laser pointer in the same place every time.