Tow bar vs Tow dolly

[wecamp4fun]

We recently purchased a 31' National Sea View with a V10 Chassis. We are now wondering which way to go. Tow dolly or tow bar. We now would be towing a 96 Escort wagon. Who better to ask than the guy that use them. What all is really needed? I have and idea, but i want the opinions of the PROS!!!!! thanks
Kevin

[wecamp4fun]

We recently purchased a 31' National Sea View with a V10 Chassis. We are now wondering which way to go. Tow dolly or tow bar. We now would be towing a 96 Escort wagon. Who better to ask than the guy that use them. What all is really needed? I have and idea, but i want the opinions of the PROS!!!!! thanks
Kevin

[DriVer]

A tow dolly is an additional maintenance and item of concern when you're going down the road. Finding someplace to put it when you get to where you are going is always a concern. Using a tow dolly, you're actually running a triple.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Four down towing is much more convenient than a dolly, but by the time you convert the Escort for towing and buy the two bar, base plates and (highly recommended) aux tow brake, you have sunk a lot of money into it. Maybe more than the amount of RVing you do can justify. A new dolly isn't cheap either, but you can usually find used ones around at a decent price.

By the way, you really should have a dolly with brakes and they are less common. That Sea View is not rated to tow more than 1500 lbs without brakes.

[BHEMOTH]

If you use a tow dolly you are relying on the coach brakes for both vehicles. I don't think most states and provinces allow towing anything over 1500 lbs without a supplementary braking system.

[wecamp4fun]

ok, so looks like the cheapest route is put the dw in the car and tell her to follow. Seriously, sounds like the TB is the best, safest route. would need TB, safty chains, brake unit on toad anything else?

[Frankie]

Sell the Escort,buy a nice used wrangler.I have roughly $110 for new base plates,$280 for used falcon towbar.$20 for sockets and wire for auxillary lights,$20 for new safety cables and $500 for factory rebuilt roadmaster aux. brake.Most was bought of ebay.My first jeep wrangler cost $1500 and some elbow grease. The tow dolly works if you dont mind the hassle of finding a place for it once you park.If your a weekender it will get old quick.But ,they run under $1000 for a good used one ,most will have electric brakes or surge brakes.Dont bother with the ones without.

[becks]

As others have said, a tow bar is most often the best and simplest way to go. We tow a CRV or a Ford Ranger with Blue Ox equipment and all has worked well from day one. Since there are so many cars and trucks that are flat towable today you may want to see if you can find another toad. We too reside in Southeast Minn. Good luck

[BigSkyBob]

Tow bar, four down using the M&G Air brake system. Works perfect and I can install everything in 2 minutes flat. No electronics to be concerned about plus you have power brakes.

[Gary RVRoamer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">would need TB, safty chains, brake unit on toad anything else? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Probably a transmission lube pump to make the Escort towable.

[historyljc]

I've done both. You see what I have now.

[TXiceman]

We we had motorhomes we started out with a dolly and switched to a 4-down towing. If we were to go back to a motorhome, I'd probably go with a dolly with brakes. While it some trouble to load and store it, You are not tied to one vehicle.

Ken

[David K]

As you can see by my signature, I have both. It depends upon what I need at the destination as to which one I use -- the Focus or the Freestyle. Between the two, the 4 down Focus is the less hassle to hook up and unhook. On it I have a Roadmaster tow bar and a Roadmaster air brake hookup. It takes about 5 minutes to hook up the entire rig. For the tow dolly, I have the brake controller in the MH and electric brakes on the tow dolly. For a hookup with the tow dolly, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get the car on the dolly, tie it down, etc. The physical work for the tow dolly is much more than with the 4 down.

With my MH I do not have a weight problem for towing either one of them and don't know if that may come into play with your MH or not. Just MHO that the 4 down is the easiest.

[DeanLinAZ]

Kevin:
We have done both ways as well. We towed a Miata four-down using Blue-Ox and Brake Buddy equipment for four years with no issues. We then purchased a PT Cruiser with an automatic tranny which required us to tow the PT on a dolly or install a Remco pump for the tranny--too many horror stories about the pump on PTs. We have towed the PT Cruiser on an Demco SS460 tow dolly for 4 years, also without any issues. I know most RV'ers tow four down, but both systems work very well depending upon what your toad choice is.

Be safe and have fun!!