Community Forums

katoommaster · 05-03-2010, 08:48 PM

Just purchased a dolly trailer with surge brakes to tow my new 2010 Honda Element anyone out there tow with a dolly trailer have any tips?

FATMANAR · 05-03-2010, 08:54 PM

Make sure to retighten the straps after a few miles. Straps have a tendency to loosen up or streach. After that you should be good to go. Check once and a while to make sure straps are tight and enjoy...Happy trails..

RVThere · 05-04-2010, 06:14 AM

Make sure your steering wheel locks otherwise the front end may shimmy over to one fender while you are driving.

I would also make sure my MH jacks were up when I loaded the car on the dolly because you can give the MH a good push.

Good luck!

GaryKD · 05-04-2010, 09:42 AM

I do not lock the front steering wheels. So far (5 yrs) never had a problem. When you reserve a CG, make sure they know you have a dolly and the combined total length of your rig. If they have a site that accommodates the length the better for you.

Jimmyzw22 · 05-04-2010, 10:58 AM

We just got our new to us 2002 Holiday Rambler 40pbt 3 slide model and I have been going around and around looking at tow dolly's and reasearching the beast one for our money. Last night American Car Dolly delivered to my house a brand new dolly with electric brakes and their EZE-Brake controller that works off of the brake light plug for 1410.00 delivered. They have a good reputation and it is a nice dolly. The way it straps down is good too because it releases away from the car body. I think I will enjoy it. We have a Jetta and Beetle automatic that we are towing.

Rick Long · 05-04-2010, 11:05 AM

So your BACKING the Beetle onto the dolly?

FATMANAR · 05-04-2010, 12:40 PM

Just went by the Flying J here in Russellville, Ar. and there was a young man with a Ranger pickup on a towdolly. Well kind of, app. the straps had come loose and the truck jumped the pan and was sitting on the tongue of the dolly. Keep check on those straps for tightness!

whem2fish · 05-04-2010, 12:51 PM

i alwaysed worried about that i added safty chaine to the pan then attatch to lower a-fram chains would have to break a-frame i always recheck a
nd recheck straps mine is a stel tow elect. brakes with a 2007 4 door chevy pu
dave

Always-RVing · 05-04-2010, 01:44 PM

I towed with a dolly a few years back. Straps are bad... They come loose when you thought they couldn't get any tighter. Check often.

Jimmyzw22 · 05-05-2010, 10:49 AM

No, New Beetles are front wheel drive

wardy · 05-05-2010, 12:06 PM

Yes straps do loosen. But I discovered if I load my car and tighten the straps down, THEN while the cars running turn the steering wheel right to left 3-5 times. That will seat the tires better, then repeat and tighten again. Still, check anytime you stop & always use chains. Some people hate dollies, I don't. My Kar Kaddy SS has served me well.

TXiceman · 05-05-2010, 07:22 PM

When we were towing on a dolly, I'd stop after about 10 miles and retighten the straps. I also had a safety chain securing the dinghy to the dolly. I also towed with the steering wheel unlocked and tranny in neutral. The only time we had a strap really come loose was the tire went flat due to a nail.

Ken

Tom-NC · 05-06-2010, 06:42 AM

I have been towing with a tow dolly for a number of years and have no problems. I have a Roadmaster 2001 with electric brakes and tow a Honda Civic. The dolly has steering mechanism which allows it to follow the rear wheels of the RV. It also has chains which I attach to the Civic.

The wells in the dolly hold the tires very good and the straps secure the tire and I do check them after a few miles of travel. The steering wheel in the car is locked straight ahead and tranny is in park. I have had no problems with this tow dolly and would recommend it to everyone. I did add a spare tire to it and a third wheel so that if I have to unhook it in a campground I can just push it around.

Lastly when going into a campground I usually ask for a pull-thru site thereby leaving the dolly connected but disconnect the power to the dolly as it would be a draw on the RV battery.

Enjoy

Glenn and Kathy · 05-06-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katoommaster

Just purchased a dolly trailer with surge brakes to tow my new 2010 Honda Element anyone out there tow with a dolly trailer have any tips?

Is your Element a 2 wheel drive or all wheel? If all wheel check to make sure it is towable on a dolly. Most Honda all wheel drive systems must be towed 4 down.

Glenn