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02-18-2019, 12:17 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: North East Texas
Posts: 4,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D
No, you can easily do it in 5 min.
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thats the wifes idea as well,
but still pull rv out of spot, bring car around, hook up car, chains wiring. Put brake thing in, plug it in, set it. double check car is in neutral and parking brake is off, mirror folded.
one more walk around to ensure pins are in, do brake light check and brake check...pull forward to ensure tow bar locks in extended position, stop, get out , go back and check it.
i think 5 minutes is optimistic , 10-12 may be real world.
first few times i bet its 30 minutes
we generally never get in a rush to move on or hook up, if its an emergency we each get a vehicle
__________________
USN Retired, Life time member of the DAV.
Enjoying the 2008 Damon Tuscany 4056, #3998 no your eyes are fine, there are really 6 slides
2022 F150 King Ranch or 2012 Edge toads
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02-19-2019, 05:56 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Mid Atlantic Campers Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posts: 288
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Here are some of the problems I have encountered with a tow dolly
Raining and the tires spun getting onto the pivot plate. The front bumper cover was against the fender. Small scratch on the bumper cover.
Unloaded in a campground with a dirt road that was slightly unlevel. Bumper cover hung on the pivot plate. I did not see what was happening until it was too late. I almost tore the cover off.
Dolly is 101" wide, same as MH, except the MH has 2 tires on the rear and on narrow crooked roads that little 14" tire on the dolly wants to go off the edge of the road. It also seems to find every pot hole near the edge as well.
You need to stop after about 50 shake down miles to tighten straps on tires.
I have to get on my knees to pull the pin on the ramps. After a farm accident I can't get down on my left knee.
When you hook up and unhook the dolly you have to pull it by hand. On level ground that is no problem. Have a slight grade, say 1' of drop in 8', and you will know what 500 lbs feels like. At 90+ degrees it becomes pure misery.
I could keep on, but I won't. The cost is a little more to tow 4 down, but to me it is worth it. If I had to go back to using a dolly i would either not take a car and rent one or have the DW drive it. I HATE A DOLLY!
__________________
My greatest asset, family and friends! They are gifts from God!
Jim and Pam
2017 Thor Hurricane 34J
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02-19-2019, 07:50 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,759
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We've stayed in many CGs that do not have storage for a trailer in addition to a tow car.
__________________
2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
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02-19-2019, 08:12 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: If I'm not here, I'm somewhere else.
Posts: 1,222
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I started with a dolly, but went to four down.
The later is much better for me. I did not like driving it up the ramp, and then getting on the ground to put the straps on, etc.
JMHO
.
__________________
Ken & Laurie
North in summer, Home in Silver Springs, FL in the Winter
2022 Riverstone 39RKFB - 2022 RAM 3500 Dually Laramie
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02-19-2019, 05:28 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 55
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Which does this fall under...flat or dolly?
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02-19-2019, 08:37 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldman5145
Here are some of the problems I have encountered with a tow dolly
Raining and the tires spun getting onto the pivot plate. The front bumper cover was against the fender. Small scratch on the bumper cover.
Unloaded in a campground with a dirt road that was slightly unlevel. Bumper cover hung on the pivot plate. I did not see what was happening until it was too late. I almost tore the cover off.
Dolly is 101" wide, same as MH, except the MH has 2 tires on the rear and on narrow crooked roads that little 14" tire on the dolly wants to go off the edge of the road. It also seems to find every pot hole near the edge as well.
You need to stop after about 50 shake down miles to tighten straps on tires.
I have to get on my knees to pull the pin on the ramps. After a farm accident I can't get down on my left knee.
When you hook up and unhook the dolly you have to pull it by hand. On level ground that is no problem. Have a slight grade, say 1' of drop in 8', and you will know what 500 lbs feels like. At 90+ degrees it becomes pure misery.
I could keep on, but I won't. The cost is a little more to tow 4 down, but to me it is worth it. If I had to go back to using a dolly i would either not take a car and rent one or have the DW drive it. I HATE A DOLLY!
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Exactly if a had to use a dolly i would not bring the car, I'd rent one or Uber.
With four down connect in 2 min or 20 minutes on dolly plus constantly checking or retightening straps. Save your sanity go four down.
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02-21-2019, 12:05 PM
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#21
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Marion, Ohio
Posts: 86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducksquasher
Hi,
Is there a benefit as far as flat towing vs. Dolly Towing behind my motorhome? Weight, strain on the motorhome, etc.?
I have a gasser...
Thanks in advance!
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I tow a Mini Cooper S, 4 down. Based in Ohio I save the cost of license and maintenance on a dolly, plus finding a place to park it at a campground. I've had no issues to date, but I am adding a brake system even though it weighs about 2200 lb. Just to be legal.
__________________
Roger & Della - 2004 Allegro Bay, Workhorse 8.1L, Allison. 2008 Mini Cooper S
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02-21-2019, 12:44 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 126
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Can't imagine fussing with a dolly, 4-down is so quick and easy.
-Kevin
__________________
2015 Fleetwood Excursion 35B / Running on FL XCS Chassis / Pulling a 2009 Mini Cooper S
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02-26-2019, 07:20 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powerboatr
thats the wifes idea as well,
but still pull rv out of spot, bring car around, hook up car, chains wiring. Put brake thing in, plug it in, set it. double check car is in neutral and parking brake is off, mirror folded.
one more walk around to ensure pins are in, do brake light check and brake check...pull forward to ensure tow bar locks in extended position, stop, get out , go back and check it.
i think 5 minutes is optimistic , 10-12 may be real world.
first few times i bet its 30 minutes
we generally never get in a rush to move on or hook up, if its an emergency we each get a vehicle
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I’ve been towing 4 down for 16 years, and 5 minutes is about right. All the stuff you list above is way overblown. The “brake thing” can be permantly installed, after which you never need to touch it again. Some of that stuff does not need to be done, some needs done only occasionally, and most of those items can be done in seconds.
__________________
Marc and Jill, Wellington FL
2013 Entegra Anthem 44SL
2018 Lincoln MKX
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02-27-2019, 08:58 AM
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,078
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I alternate depending on where we are going and for how long. A dolly is pretty handy in that you can change cars/trucks and not have the expense of transferring the systems.
Should you go with a Dolly then a good one and a wide one is a must or you might not be happy.
As far as the additional load I cant tell any difference between the Dolly/Escape or F150
With the Stehl you only have one pin and if you go dolly use the double straps as the singles tend to come loose much easier. Tread tape takes care of the wet surfaces on the loading dolly ramp surface
Just by observation it seems there are more 4 down now than in the past
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02-27-2019, 11:49 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 126
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powerboatr
thats the wifes idea as well,
but still pull rv out of spot, bring car around, hook up car, chains wiring. Put brake thing in, plug it in, set it. double check car is in neutral and parking brake is off, mirror folded.
one more walk around to ensure pins are in, do brake light check and brake check...pull forward to ensure tow bar locks in extended position, stop, get out , go back and check it.
i think 5 minutes is optimistic , 10-12 may be real world.
first few times i bet its 30 minutes
we generally never get in a rush to move on or hook up, if its an emergency we each get a vehicle
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You doing redundant checks as illustrated above is the time kill, not necessary. I do a simple visual check before I move to the next task and never go back. The light check is the last physical task and the tow bar locking I can see from the coach driver seat.
-Kevin
__________________
2015 Fleetwood Excursion 35B / Running on FL XCS Chassis / Pulling a 2009 Mini Cooper S
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02-28-2019, 11:28 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Phoenix, Oregon
Posts: 2,207
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I think double checking is a personal preference "comfort" thing. I usually do some of that too. I've even stopped down the road a short distance to check again to be certain all is well and that I didn't forget anything, and sometimes I have---like freeing the toad steering wheel. In my opinion whatever time it takes to be certain all is well before starting is time well spent, regardless of what tow system is used. I've never timed myself, I figure it takes whatever it takes, what difference does it make anyway?
Steve
__________________
1994 30' Monaco Dynasty, 5.9 230 HP Cummins, MD 3060, 1992 Geo Tracker.
1996 Dodge Cummins 2500 with 1996 Lance 945 camper
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02-28-2019, 11:51 AM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Nuck
Which does this fall under...flat or dolly?
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is that a single axle trailer under that car ? it seems so low the rear wheels might touch ground going up driveways ?
__________________
2018 Forest River 2851SLE "Forester"
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02-28-2019, 12:01 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 369
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Dolly user here
I have an American Car Dolly brand. Widest fender to fender width and has removeable ramps. Light enough to move by myself and very well built. Big plus it has option to have a brake controller that works for the brake light wiring so no need to have a brake controller installed in the coach. Manufacturer delivers and goes through loading procedures etc. Great customer support. Would recommend this dolly to anyone.
Home | American Car Dolly
__________________
2016 Precept 31uL ( the roving dog house)
Pack of pups (Ms Heidi Buddy &Bella)
I'm just the cook (and driver)
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