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RVer402 · 10-04-2016, 08:54 PM

Have been researching the dolly issue here - lots of great info! I know from what I've read here that toad for dolly needs to be front wheel drive. Now for the stupid question - does that eliminate all the all wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles? We briefly stopped by a couple of lots today for a quick look at some potential options, pricing, etc. and at Toyota lot the rep said there's a button in Toyotas that disengages the AWD or 4WD so dolly towing should not be a problem. Correct? We need to clarify what we can tow with a dolly. If all the AWD and 4WDs are eliminated, that considerably narrows the field (in MN anyway).

Thanks to me, our HHR toad was totaled last spring. Since we had a Stowmaster setup and part of that went with totaled car (hated the Stowmaster and would have had Blue Ox except car came with the Stowmaster), we are starting all over with toad. Yep, an expensive mistake on my part!! We were going to just tow our van now with dolly but it is old and we learned today there are some major repairs that would be needed so not worth doing that. Meanwhile we have decided that overall it will be cheaper and give us more options to stay with the dolly plan, so that is the reason for the above question.

Thank you!

dons2346 · 10-04-2016, 09:33 PM

I would not believe the salesman when it comes to saying AWD and 4WD being towable on a dolly.

To be safe, I would say that any front wheel drive can be safely put on a dolly

Arch Hoagland · 10-04-2016, 10:00 PM

Store : Remco

Remco will tell you if a car can be towed on a dolly.

Rockwood27 · 10-05-2016, 04:57 PM

If you don't know the answer for a specific vehicle, you should dig out the Owner's Manual and read it. Don't ever trust the word of a salesman!

RVer402 · 10-05-2016, 10:32 PM

Arch, Thanks very much for the Remco link. We found very helpful info there. Also, the info there led us to contact a hitch dealer and he gave further helpful info and was clearly very knowledgeable. After taking into consideration what we have learned, we think we are going to go with flat down towing after all. Now to find the car, leaning toward a CR-V, and we will have the hitch done in Oregon by the hitch dealer we spoke with via the Remco link. We are meanwhile suffering from the shock of what the car will cost us!! Thanks again for the assistance.

For future reference for anyone who reads this thread with similar questions in mind, see the FAQ section on the Remco site linked above in Arch's reply. It provides excellent info. Their expertise is in flat towing, but they offer good info here about my dolly question. There are other FAQs there that were helpful to us as we ultimately went back to the thought of flat towing and it is a superb site for flat towing info.

Arch Hoagland · 10-05-2016, 11:59 PM

Glad to help you out. Let us know what you eventually get setup with.

Crabby Mike · 10-06-2016, 07:53 AM

If you're looking at CR-Vs, you need to know that 2014 was the last year they could be towed. Honda switched the CR-V in 2015 to a CVT that can't be towed (or so I understand).

RVer402 · 10-06-2016, 09:50 AM

Yes, Mike, you are correct. We did learn that in our research yesterday and getting the wrong car would be disastrous, to put it mildly, so thank you for pointing it out. CRVs are pricey, so we are looking at older models.

nothermark · 10-06-2016, 01:52 PM

FWIW I don't see why you think you need AWD or 4WD unless you live at the wrong end of a long unplowed road. From what I have seen in upstate NY any FWD drive car is more sufficient in any weather you should be out in and a lot you should not. BTDT. That opens your choices considerably.

Gary RVRoamer · 10-06-2016, 03:10 PM

There are no absolutes in this towing business, but there are some guides. That's why we always say to verify the speciic vehicle, preferably using the owner manual or the manufacturer's sdirect support people.

So, nearly all FWD vehicles can be dolly towed. Very few AWD vehicles can be dolly towed. Some 4WD vehicles can be dolly towed (largely those with a neutral in the transfer case). Nearly all standard transmission vehicles can be dolly towed as well, whether front or rear drive.

Some vehicles can't be dolly towed because they have some sort of traction control or limited slip rear axle. It's basically the same technical issue as with AWD - there is a computer or mechanical gadget trying to make judgements based on the speed each wheel is turning. Dolly towing usually messes that up. Even my own car (2013 Buick Verano FWD) complains after a dolly tow - its ABS and "Stabil-Trak" traction control system gets errors while towing, and it takes a short drive for it to convince itself that all is OK and clear out the fault codes.