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01-20-2014, 12:27 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 35
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Dolly or towbar?
Just got my 1st MH last week. A 2001 georgie boy with the ford v-10. Need help with a tow behind vehicle. What is th advantage of using a front wheel dolly trailer? or using the tow bar attachment? I've seen both in use. Do you unhook when you first get into the campground? Or wait till your by the campsite? I would think you want to unhook prior so as not to block the road & piss some other folks off. Thanks for any replies.
Dave
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01-20-2014, 12:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Tow bar will only tow vehicles that the manufacturer allows to be towed or have been modified to allow towing.
Tow dolly allows most front wheel drive vehicles to be towed.
I've towed our '05 Honda Odyssey both ways behind the same MH.
Both have their minus and pluses
Tow bar tends to damage/wear the towed vehicle more as the the transmission and driveline is turning.
Vehicle seems to sustain more rock chips.
Dolly is a separate item and needs to be stored.
Extra tires and braking system to maintain.
Less wear and tear on the towed.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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01-20-2014, 12:35 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 413
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With the "dolly" you can take most any vehicle with you. With tow bar, your vehicle must be able to be towed 4-down. Quite a few vehicles can be towed 4-down if you add a driveshaft disconnect and/or a lube pump for the tranny. I started out with a dolly and REAL quick switched over to 4-down. I would never go back to a tow dolly.
Hhg
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01-20-2014, 03:05 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,328
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I have never towed with a dolly but from watching others at camp grounds who do, I am SO glad I chose to tow four down. There are many many cars and SUVs that can be towed four down with out modification. Any worry about chipping the paint can be taken care of with something like a protect-a-tow or similar.
Although you have seen both at camp grounds you will notice that the vast majority of people tow four down. There is a reason for that, it is much simpler to hook and unhook and you don't have to worry about where to store the dolly.
As for where to unhook when arriving at a campground; it all depends on how the campground is laid out. Ask at regerstration they will direct you. Some have separate area to unhook, some have RV lanes righ at the entrance, and some will have you drive to the site before unhooking. You won't be upsetting anyone of you simply follow the standard procedure for the campground.
If you have a car that you want to keep and can only be towed on a dolly, by all means use a dolly. But if your car can be towed four down or you don't mind getting one that can, that is the way to go.
__________________
Paul, Kathy, and Tux the Mini Schnauzer
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 42 LH, 2013 Honda CRV
"When the time comes to look back, make sure you'll like what you see"
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01-20-2014, 03:11 PM
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#5
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,302
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If you have a vehicle that can be towed 4 wheels down then by all means use a tow bar it is easier to set up and less to worry about. Regarding rock damage. There are several products out there that can prevent rocks from flying up into the towed car. I try to keep it as simple as possible when towing and four wheel down is that..
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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01-20-2014, 03:29 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 192
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I also have a Georgie Boy with a Ford V10. Congratulations on your new rig! I flat tow a 1998 Chevrolet (Geo) Tracker 5 speed 4wd. The vehicle will go anywhere we care to go once camp is set up and it only weighs 2300 lbs. so you can tow it with ease. Unfortunately they are no longer made :( I recommend towing four down with a tow bar and finding as light of toad as you can find. Keep it simple and small and you will not be sorry. Don't forget that you add the weight of the tow dolly to the weight of the toad vehicle to come up with your GCW. The V10 is a good reliable engine but is not overly powerful when installed in a large motorhome and towing a vehicle so lighter weight equals better performance/fuel mileage. You also don't have to find a place to store the tow dolly once your at your destination.
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01-20-2014, 03:37 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,692
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I've towed both ways and have to say 4 down is easier and cleaner. It all depends if the vehicle you intend to tow is capable of being towed 4 down as well. Not all can. One thing I do like about towing with a dolly is you can tow different front wheel drive vehicles without any modifications to the car. (towbar, cutting the fatia, etc.) When at your site you have to be concerned on whether the campground you are at will allow you leave it at you site or do you have to take and store it somewhere. Here in our park there not allowed on your site soooo, you have to find a place to store it which in our case was a park accross the street who had a facility. (then again extra cost) As far as where we unhook the toad, I always do it outside the park, for as you mentioned not wanting to tie up any traffic. Hope this helps and good luck with your decision.
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Steve & Sally / Hudson Our Little Pom / Heidi, Houston & HiTee Forever in our Hearts
04 NEWMAR MACA 3778 W22 / 05 PT Vert
Michigan (Summer) Michigan (Winter For Now)
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01-20-2014, 06:39 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Huffman, TX
Posts: 792
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After one trip I sold the dolly and toad and got a Jeep Wrangler for 4 down towing. Easier hookup and disconnect. Dolly did a good job towing, but I just didn't like the work to get vehicle tied down properly.
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01-21-2014, 02:39 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by osok
After one trip I sold the dolly and toad and got a Jeep Wrangler for 4 down towing. Easier hookup and disconnect. Dolly did a good job towing, but I just didn't like the work to get vehicle tied down properly.
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Agreed....exact same experience for us. 4-down is just so much easier.
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01-21-2014, 10:58 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Everett Washington
Posts: 40
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Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but for me after spending thousands of dollars on preparing my car for flat towing (braking system - that never worked properly and cost me aditional money and a headache - tow bar, base plate etc.) I would never go back to 4-down towing.
Four down limits you to take only one car that must be setup for it, and creates more wear and tear on front end and front tires versus tow dolly.
I use Demco KK 460 SS and so far I had no problems driving and parking it at camp grounds, where is plenty of room for hooking up the car and driving off.
__________________
G.T.
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01-22-2014, 05:02 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: st.charles mo.
Posts: 1,482
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I'm on my forth car with my Demco Kar Kaddie 460SS. I had one flat tire on the dolly and will continue to tow this way.
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01-22-2014, 08:31 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 35
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Thanks for the replies. Some good information given here
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01-22-2014, 08:36 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wherever the rig is parked
Posts: 8,092
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herman Snerd
Agreed....exact same experience for us. 4-down is just so much easier.
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Same here. Bought a brand new Acme dolly, used it for exactly 100 miles, put in on Craigs List and traded the Toyota for a Honda that would tow 4 down.
__________________
Bruce Dickson 2013 Thor Challenger 37GT, 5 Star Tune, Safe-T-Plus Steering Control with Air Trim, Roadmaster front and rear Sway Bars, SuperSteer rear Track Bar, Crossfires, 2018 Honda CRV . Full timers since Jan 2012.
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01-22-2014, 09:54 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,965
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We've used both and to me it's a wash. We started towing our Buick Le Sabre on a dolly. It couldn't be towed 4 down and we didn't want to either add another car to the fleet or replace it. We towed it over 4 years and 25,000 miles without a problem.
When we got into off roading it seemed pointless to haul the Le Sabre half way across the country just to park it at the campsite and rent a Jeep. We bought a 2004 Jeep Wrangler and originally intended to tow it on the dolly. After reading the owners manual and finding out it had to either be trailered or towed 4 down we purchased the necessary towing hardware.
The only advantage I see for towing 4 down is there's 1 less piece of equipment to store and maintain. Both systems cost about the same and both take about the same time to hook up and unhook.
If you already have a vehicle that you want to take along, and it can't be towed 4 down buy a used dolly. If it can be towed 4 down and you intend to keep it for some time buy a tow bar and related hardware. Keep in mind some of the hardware needed to tow 4 down is vehicle specific. In most cases you can't transfer it to a newer, or different model or brand vehicle.
__________________
Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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