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01-08-2021, 07:22 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 6
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As a solo traveler...dolly or flat towing???
Hello my traveling/towing peeps.
I've been going back and forth on whether or not to dolly tow or flat tow, and I had thought I'd made up my mine...but now I'm not so sure. As a solo traveler which towing method is preferable/easier to manage? I realize my current vehicle (Prius) can only be dolly towed, but that can be traded in. I believe I can do anything I put my mind to, but I'm really looking for simplicity and fewer worries while on the road. I don't want to have to rely on a second person when hooking/unhooking my tow vehicle...thoughts/input/advise??
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Molly (dog, co-pilot, navigator) & Me
2008 Winnebago View 24H 3.5L Dodge Sprinter, MPG??
2017 Prius Four
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01-08-2021, 07:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Myers FL
Posts: 140
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I travel with my wife, but she really doesn't help hooking/unhooking. When we get to out destination she goes in to register and by the time she comes out the Jeep is unhooked with the A/C on.
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@014 Sunseeker,replaced 2020 with 2016 Bay Star, replaced 2024 with 2020 Ventana. 2017 Wrangler 2 dr Soft top, Full time as of 1/1 24
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01-08-2021, 07:32 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,834
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I'm a solo traveler. IMHO both can be done by a solo traveler equally well with any need for a helper.
Both have risks -
I have had friends who dolly tow who have gotten toad damage due to not fully following the tow dolly procedures.
I have had friends who flat tow who have gotten toad damage due to not fully following the flat towing procedures.
Personally I flat tow it is faster to connect and disconnect IMHO and I don't have to mess with what to do with a tow dolly when I'm home or parked at a campsite.
FYI I just got a 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid and I flat tow it. Ford designed this into this model and fully supports it at speeds up to 70 MPH (not that I'm recommending doing it that fast).
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Randy - Manhattan, Kansas
2015 Vista 27N
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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01-08-2021, 07:36 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Solo Rvers Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,773
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Travel solo, 4 down is easy and quicker. Easy to unhook and drive in to check out camp area before blindly driving the MH in.
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2009 Monaco Camelot 42PDQ
2011 JK
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01-08-2021, 07:52 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: CA and TN
Posts: 4,662
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LadyLucia, since you are a single traveler, a four down tow vehicle would be easier. I don't know what kind of car that you like but the choices are getting narrower as the transmissions are changed to CVT (constant variable transmissions). If you can use a standard transmission the choices open up.
I towed 2 Honda CR-V's.... a 2007 and then a 2013. The last CR-V that is towable four down is the 2014.
If you are keeping your View, you will have to look at the towing capacity to determine what your choices would be.
I vote for four down towing.
I saw a couple that were towing a Volkswagen Beatle (the newer style). They had a hard time putting it up on the tow dolly. The lower fairing was hitting the dolly causing damage. I wouldn't use a tow dolly myself as towing four down is so much easier to connect.
Now, it's more expensive to set up a tow vehicle for four down towing. You will need a base plate installation, tow bar and possibly at supplemental braking system. Since my tow vehicle weighs 4,200 lbs, I had the Air Force One installed for supplemental braking. When I apply the brakes on the coach, it will apply the brakes on the tow vehicle at the same pressure. It works off of the air brake system on the coach.
Your RV may require a different system if you decide to go that route.
Good luck,
Mark
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2021.5 Pleasure Way Plateau FL Class-B Sprinter (bought May '21)
2018 Mini Cooper Hardtop Coupe, 2 dr. 6-speed manual (toad)
(Sold)2015 Prevost Liberty Coach,(Sold)2008 Monaco Dynasty
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01-08-2021, 07:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2010
Location: McAlester Ok
Posts: 2,057
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I’ve had both, and hopefully never have to go back to a tow dolly. I’m not single but I do it all myself.
Some experiences; tow dolly. Car paint damage from very tight turn. Tow dolly fender weld broke, damaged paint. Toad came forward, one wheel off the platform after an emergency stop. Placing the tie down straps over the wheels in a driving rain at a muddy campground. Rougher ride in the coach with a dolly than a tow air.
Tow bar... I and replaced a top safety pin with a cheap padlock. Major highway bump must have broken the padlock. Only one arm of the tow bar remained attached to the toad. Bent the baseplate arm but very luck.
Tow bar much easier and faster to connect. Tail light system is more reliable than individual lights on a dolly. If perfectly straight you can back a few feet with a tow bar, more so than a dolly.
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2007 Newmar KSDP. 3912
2010 Nissan Frontier SE
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01-08-2021, 11:26 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 252
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbircky
Travel solo, 4 down is easy and quicker. Easy to unhook and drive in to check out camp area before blindly driving the MH in.
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I am solo with an older Honda CRV, run thru the gears & go!!
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01-09-2021, 05:12 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Ridgeville, OH
Posts: 2,455
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I would vote against a dolly for no other reason than do you really want to be rolling a dolly around and figuring out where to go with it every time you disconnect? I've never had a dolly, but I know that I can easily manage towing 4 down on my own. In fact, it's easier than backing into some sites without a second pair of eyes.
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Retired but busier than ever!
2012 Newmar Bay Star 3302
5 Star Tune, SumoSprings, Roadmaster Steering Stabilizer, Blue Ox Avail
Brake Buddy, 2015 Chevy Malibu
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01-09-2021, 05:12 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western NY
Posts: 6,149
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Four Down!
The only way I would consider dolly is if I made a straight run N & S twice a year and didn't travel w frequent stops.
I like the EZ PZ of flat tow.
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Don & Marge
'13 Newmar Ventana 3433 - '14 CR-V TOAD
'03 Winnebago Adventurer 31Y - SOLD
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01-09-2021, 05:20 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Delaware
Posts: 171
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Since I have just joined the ranks of the solo camper, I flat tow and
even solo has its moments, hooking up and un hooking is easy, checking
the lights/turn signals is a challenge, so I turn on lights, go back and check
tow, then do turn signals, it is a PITA to keep walking back and forth.
If I could teach the dog to do the lights it wouldl make it easier LOL.
But you can do it, just take your time. almost forgot, I have a brick that I
put on the bake pedal to check the brake lights.
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Joe
2017 Dynamax DX3 37 BH
Tow: 2020 Ford F-150
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01-09-2021, 05:21 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Monticello MN.
Posts: 958
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I vote for 4 down. I had a tow dolly once for about a week when it was stolen. Been towing Honda CRV's ever since. Had three of them. We now have the last one a 2014 as stated before, this is the last year they are towable 4 wheels down.
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Marianne & Jerry. 2019 Forest River Berkshire 34QS
USS Decatur DDG-31 1971 to 1975
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01-09-2021, 05:26 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Ogdensburg, NY
Posts: 323
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All good recommendations - flat towing is a "peice of cake" if you choose the right towed vehicle and tow/brake setup. There are some very good choices of standard and automatic transmission all-wheel drive vehicles that are available. Yes, choices are becoming more limited but there are a few that lend themselves very well to towing 4-down. It's a 5-10 min. job, with being thorough and checking everything to hookup or disconnect with no real physical demands.
If it were, like, two runs a year to and from a specific location, I would go with a decent open or enclosed car hauler trailer. Not too difficult to find good drive-thru sites for stops in-between.
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2010 WBGO Vista 32k - sold/traded
2014 Tiffin Allegro 36LA
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01-09-2021, 05:30 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: MN
Posts: 2,810
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joet19711
it is a PITA to keep walking back and forth.
If I could teach the dog to do the lights it wouldl make it easier LOL.
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My dad had a 12" square mirror on a little stand that he put behind and in front of the combo to check lights. Only had to walk twice to place the mirror. And that way you can see brake lights too.
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1993 Rockwood 28' Class C - Ford E-350 7.5L
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01-09-2021, 06:11 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Ogdensburg, NY
Posts: 323
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joet19711
checking the lights/turn signals is a challenge,
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LOL - do it in the dark, easy to see in the rear cam of the tow vehicle.
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2010 WBGO Vista 32k - sold/traded
2014 Tiffin Allegro 36LA
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