Got my EZE Tow today

[Knightab]

[srrobe]

Now that's a good idea

[twinboat]

I put a 6 inch, caster wheel, just behind my hitch. It sits about an inch lower then the triangle foot.

Now I can push it under the RV, to save space. I also push it around, by the fenders.

[tim myers]

Heading out for my first trip with the EZ Tow. Took me 28 minutes to connect everything including the lights. This was by myself so a lot of in and out of the toad to get things lined up correctly.

[tim myers]

OK, we have arrived and are all set up at Fort Boonesborough State Park in Kentucky.

About a three hour trip for us normally but tonight there were many accidents in Cincy as well as some really bad weather. Still we made the trip in about 4 hours including dinner in the RV on the way.

As for the EZ Tow; I drove about a half mile to a parking lot and made a few tight turns, tightened the rig out and re tightened the straps. I managed to get 2 to 3 clicks on the ratchets. We headed for Cincy and then the rains came in buckets with lots of wind and a spectacular lightening show.

I stopped at the next rest area which is about 10 miles into our trip and noticed the left ratchet was twisted. i loosened it and reset it and got another click on the right ratchet.

About 60 miles farther down the road we stopped for dinner at a rest area and I checked everything. The car looks like it slid about 3 or 4" to the right on the tow dolly. It was definitely no longer centered. It was also pretty loose with about 2" of gap between the left tire and the angle stop. The right side had about an inch of gap. I tightened both straps with no real issue and the car pulled back tight against the angle stop. I meant to but didn't check the safety chains to see if they still had adequate slack.

We arrived at our destination an hour and a half later with no further issues.

Do the straps keep stretching or is this because they are new?
I am sure the rain didn't help much, but just wondering if the straps will need to be adjusted as often as I did tonight on future trips?

I thought I had the straps pretty tight before leaving, but could have probably managed to tightened both a few more clicks. Don't know if that would have helped or not.

Curious to hear comments from those with more experience.

[Knightab]

I assume with the EZE Tow you have to leave the steering unlocked while towing? If so this may be one of the downfalls of a non pivoting dolly. I have a Stehl pivoting dolly and once I do a retighten after about 10 miles mine does not change.

[Knightab]

This is interesting go to the video for the EZE TOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=522&v=g_BJQAR43WU and fast forward to about the 8:20 mark and watch the strap as they shoot video underneath. You can see the strap loosen up.This may be true with all dollys I dont know but I found this particular shot interesting.

[cenfl]

Originally Posted by Knightab

I assume with the EZE Tow you have to leave the steering unlocked while towing? If so this may be one of the downfalls of a non pivoting dolly. I have a Stehl pivoting dolly and once I do a retighten after about 10 miles mine does not change.

X2 with our Master Tow dolly, also with a pivoting pan. Have towed > 5K miles with it so far and once straps are tight, they stay that way.

[vettenuts]

My last trip was with new straps as well. They seemed to loosen more at the beginning of the trip than later. Just make sure you are against the stop when initially installing. When we left Traverse City, MI for home, I checked them several times and never had to tighten again after the initial start of trip checking. That was 1,200 miles. I think you will find that the straps will stretch a bit then stop.

Also, make sure the wheel net that goes over the top of the tire all point to the center of the wheel, i.e., each individual strap piece that comes off of the two straps with the hooks must be 90 degrees to the strap with the hooks or they will loosen up every time you tow. Hope that makes sense.

[twinboat]

You need to pull really hard on the wrench, when tightening.

The wrench should be about 2 ft. long.

Make sure there is at least 1- 1/2 wraps of strap around the winch drum when tightening.

I tighten mine, to make the tires squish, a little, on the bottom.

[Brockx]

Tim, it seems new straps need to be checked the first time used at least in my experience. The smartest thing I did was to buy a "Hitch Ball" wrench it is an 18" box end wrench available at most Wal-Marts. Being sure the cross straps are straight across the tires count big also.

[Sthwindrider]

Originally Posted by tim myers

Heading out for my first trip with the EZ Tow. Took me 28 minutes to connect everything including the lights. This was by myself so a lot of in and out of the toad to get things lined up correctly.

http://m.harborfreight.com/magnetic-...kit-69778.html something like this could help with the alignment when loading solo, stick one to t the center of the bumper and the other on the tongue of the dolly. I bought mine on sale for $5 a while back and use it for hooking up the boat trailer but it could work for lining up the dolly as well

[Knightab]

Originally Posted by Sthwindrider

Magnetic Trailer Alignment Kit something like this could help with the alignment when loading solo, stick one to t the center of the bumper and the other on the tongue of the dolly. I bought mine on sale for $5 a while back and use it for hooking up the boat trailer but it could work for lining up the dolly as well

Yep, that is a great idea and pretty cheap. I use a magnetic base CB antenna that had been laying around but I basically use it for positioning the car on the ramp forward. I have the spot marked on the dolly and when I pull forward I go till I see the antenna move and I know I am all the way on.

[vettenuts]

Yes, I have the big wrench from Wal Mart as well. It is specific for the dolly strap ratchets. I keep it in the rear passenger side compartment so when I walk back I can just grab it when we stop. Keep a lug nut wrench there as well and check those too.