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11-13-2010, 07:07 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 20
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Motor Home towing
Which is better/safer - tow dolly or a tow bar. The tow bar is less expensive but the dolly appears safer.
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11-13-2010, 07:19 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,353
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I have done both. I believe tow bar is safer as there are fewer wheels/tires to maintain, there is less weight, it is easier/safer to hookup and/or load unload (dollys and rain are a BAD combination), and the tow bar is MUCH more secure than the strap tie-downs over the car tires on a dolly. You need a braking system either way you go ...on the dolly, or auxilliary brakes for the car on a tow bar.
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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11-13-2010, 07:40 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 20
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Thanks Paul,
I have seen and heard the probs with disconnecting the towbar and thought this might avoid it - tks for your insight, I am just getting started -- will be full time rv'er soon and wanted to do this part right.
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11-13-2010, 08:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 542
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I agree with the AF Chap(how could you not agree with a preacher) I have towed 4 down with a tow bar for over 12 years and never had a problem. Keep it lubed. As for as I'm concerned it is safer, more confenient, easier and you don't have to worry about storing the dolly when parked.
Good luck with your choice.
Al Sawyer
'05 MADP
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11-13-2010, 08:42 PM
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#5
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Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 54
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One advantage of a dolly over a towbar I found was that I was not restricted to towing just the one specific car. On occasion we towed my wife's car, instead of our regular car. Also one time I towed a small pickup. Any FWD or manual shift car can be towed on a dolly. With a towbar you can only tow the car that has the matching towbracket fitted to it. Also, my (Delco KarKaddy K66) dolly had a surge brake. Very simple to use and low maintenance, rather than the more complex (and expensive) brakes associated with a towbar. However, we do now tow with a towbar. The dolly is an extra little vehicle to store and maintain that I did not want to fool with any longer. But as a towing method a dolly does just fine.
Meurig Davies '07 Meridian 36G
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11-13-2010, 09:02 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 64
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When we first got our MH, we got a tow dolly, and went to Fla for the winter, when I got home I couldn't get rid of the damn thing quick enough, and got tow bars, MUCH BETTER AND QUICKER.
Al, Michigan.
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11-13-2010, 10:33 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 20
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tks all, you have helped me make my decision, tow bar it is !!
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11-14-2010, 09:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 486
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I prefer the tow bar. With the dolly, there is something else to main. Then there's the issue of where to put it when camped.
Besides, I tow a Jeep with Qudra-Drive. It can't be towed with a dolly without damaging the transfer case.
__________________
Joe & Loretta Fischer
2017 Roadtrek Zion SRT
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11-14-2010, 01:56 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 20
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i am thinking a top of the line blue ox with a air force one brake controller by smi to tow a ford standard shift ranger.
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11-14-2010, 03:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Personally I think the tow bar, with a proper aux-brake system, is safer and here is why
When you are towing, if ALL WHEELS have working brakes, then the formula for skid distance on clean dry pavement has one, and only one variable.. SPEEED (Which is squared) For any given segment of road the size of the vehicle, weight, number of tires and such do not enter.. Only SPEED and one other factor.. (Coefficient of friction) which is the same for all vehicles on that hunk of road. Even the condition of the tires matters not less they blow.
BUT.. If you have any wheels NOT braking.. Then the math gets much, much more complex and the vehicle skids farther
With a 4-down system (Tow bar) and proper aux brakes (US Gear, M&G, Ready Brake, Air Force 1) you have all wheel braking
With a dolly.. Two wheels on teh car are NOT braking .... but that weight (mass) is still pushing you down the road and into the rear of whatever you are trying NOT to hit.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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11-14-2010, 04:45 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,875
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The point about being able to tow more than one car using a dolly probably wouldn't apply to a fulltimer.
__________________
2001 National Tradewinds 7370 300 Cat
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Officially fulltiming. The Journey Begins
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11-24-2010, 09:04 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 25
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I bought the ReadyBrake system with the surge brake and it works great once I got it adjusted. I pull a chevy cobalt and don't even know its back there. slo-mo
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11-25-2010, 12:30 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 20
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I had another person tell me that even with a stick shift sometimes you must disconnect the drive shaft, anyone know if this is true -- I have a 2004 ford ranger standard shift 2 wheel drive.
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11-25-2010, 10:53 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,875
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne-H
I had another person tell me that even with a stick shift sometimes you must disconnect the drive shaft, anyone know if this is true -- I have a 2004 ford ranger standard shift 2 wheel drive.
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The dingy guide at www.motorhomemagazine.com says you are ok to tow 4 down with the 2wd manual. It's recommended to tow at 55MPH.
__________________
2001 National Tradewinds 7370 300 Cat
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Officially fulltiming. The Journey Begins
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