Swivel-platform toad question

[kernst52]

We are towing our front-wheel-drive Chrysler minivan with our MH with the wheels strapped to the swivel platform. Is the steering supposed to be loose and not locked? I have been putting in the key in the van, turning the steering some both ways, and then taking the key out. The car needs an alignment after our trip of 1800 miles. Am I doing this right?

Thanks.

Ken

[Ramblingpair]

Pull the van on the dolly, put in park, take the key out, and start your trip. Nothing else is needed. Hope this helps.

[twinboat]

I drive up the ramps until they tilt up, give a little gas to push against the wheel stops. I then put it in park, get out, taking the key with me.

Place the lock pin in the tilt, push the safety cables thru the wheels, strap the tires down and off I go.

I can't imagine towing with a dolly would mess up your front wheel alignment.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Either the dolly or the car front wheels has to turn a bit when the coach makes a turn, but not both of them. If the dolly has a swiveling wheel platform, the steering on the vehicle should be locked or tied down if it has no steering wheel lock. The dolly owner manual or online instructions will be clear about that. If the dolly has a fixed wheel platform, then the steering on the vehicle should be unlocked/loose.

Most of the major brands of dollies these days have swivel platforms, e.g. Master Tow, Stehl, Kar Kaddy, and Roadmaster. Acme EZETow does not.

[kernst52]

The swivel platform does the swiveling, not my car steering. I will leave the steering wheel locked from now on. The alignment problem turned out to be suspension and steering parts needing to be replaced so the problem was inherent in the car, not anything I was doing with towing.

Thanks for helping clear this up for me.

Ken

[Gary RVRoamer]

Yeah, towing did not cause your alignment problem. The risk in towing that way is that the car can kiss the dolly fenders if both the platform and the car shift to the same side at the same time.