Community Forums

FL420 · 02-27-2018, 11:11 PM

The cheap(if you consider $20 cheap) and easy solution is....

Drum roll please....

The Reese SoloHitch Alignment System available now in the Men's Section at Wally World.

First, I aligned the car with the ramps the old fashioned way with the wheels perfectly centered on the ramps.

Then, I placed the first Bumper Ball(that's what I call 'em) on a metal part of the car's hood with the ball perfectly aligned with the top center of the steering wheel and theoretically aligned with my line of sight from the driver's seat straight ahead.
Toad Alignment
View from the driver's seat of the first ball.

I then placed the second ball on the angled brace between the tongue and the platform of my American Car Dolly so it was perfectly aligned on a line of sight with the first ball on the car and the top center of the steering wheel.

I got in the driver's seat and saw a little fine tuning was called for and I made those small changes. I then drove the car until the first ball bumped into the second ball(hence the Bumper Balls moniker) and the front wheels were up against the stops.

I've only done it once since(it's been raining) but it looks like it will work great. I hope some of you try it and will like it.

retireearly · 03-01-2018, 09:03 AM

Lots of good ideas. Our dolly is a tilt deck, swivel pan with the attached ramps. It seems to be simple enough, the car doesn't have to be perfectly centered. I just use the lines of traction holes on the ramps (hanging my head out the driver's window).

mdvs · 03-01-2018, 10:29 AM

Harbor Freight has the alignment balls for $9.99.

FL420 · 03-02-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retireearly

I just use the lines of traction holes on the ramps (hanging my head out the driver's window).

That's exactly how I would do it IF I could see my tire by sticking my head out the window. I can't even lean out of the car far enough with the door open to see the tire meet the ramp.

hohenwald48 · 03-02-2018, 12:36 PM

On my Wrangler I line up the center of the two A/C vents in the middle of the dash with the center of the footmans loop on the hood and sight it like a rifle straight toward a dot I have on the back of the motorhome. Of course I'm not using a dolly but it's the same idea.

ThePowells · 03-08-2018, 03:50 AM

Not sure if anybody has posted this one or not, but I an going to cut a piece of 4X4 to fit into the pan and mount it just outboard of the tires so that if the front tires drop into the pan, it is centered and it also gives me a point of reference lining it up.

Straatc · 06-01-2018, 09:27 AM

After several years and many miles we had our first problem. Somehow a strap came loose and when turning the car nearly came off. Dented the side of the car and bent the dolly fender. Always check after few miles and at stops, but drove 200 miles after second tightening. Wish I knew why it came loose, if the ratchet came loose or what. Any one else ever have that kind of trouble?

retireearly · 06-01-2018, 10:37 AM

I had the dealer install safety chains in the pan for that reason. One more step, but worth it to me.

Straatc · 06-01-2018, 12:19 PM

I agree. The Toyota Corolla we pull has a place to connect a safety cable. I have a very heavy safety cable running from car, around & thru dolly frame to safety chain connection on hitch. Confident I would not fully loose car, but bummed it dented car. One extra thing, it was raining. Would wet straps contribute?

Do26 · 06-01-2018, 12:44 PM

I get mine close enough using a tape mark. Tighten straps, but not gorilla tight. Drive away, one left turn, one right, them stop in a straight line and check/tighten as desired. As long as the vehicle itself is roughly centered, the turns will center the steering of the tow car nicely. The stop also gives a place to put away anything left out, the stuff that hits the floor

This process gets the wheels centered fore and aft for the final tightening, which is not against the stop (for me).

I still check the straps along the way, bit once broken in, a mid trip tighten likely shows it may be time for new straps.