Community Forums

MoRV · 04-14-2010, 08:55 PM

Anyone have one of these? Or heard of them?
Tow Dolly / Car Tow Dolly / Car Dolly / Master / Tow Dollies

We would like to tow my 2006 Chevy Equinox (built before they came out with the '4-down' towing option), so we would have to use a tow dolly.

Also, the owners manual for the car says to use a locking device to lock the steering wheel once up on the dolly......why? The steering wheel locks when you put it in park, and we would be in park for dolly towing.

Thanks in advance for any info...........

Jimmyzw22 · 04-15-2010, 12:23 AM

When you tow with a tow dolly the wheels that will be rolling on the ground need to be hooked to a Manual Transmission or the rear wheels for a front wheel drive car. You can also remove the drive shaft but if you tow a car with rear wheel drive with the rear wheels rolling on the ground you will ruin the transmission unless the car has that option for towing. Hope this helps

Elkhartjim · 04-15-2010, 06:47 AM

I've seen this ad and the only concern I have is the 10" tires. I use a Demco dolly but with 14" tires. It may be perfectly fine, just looks a little light weight to support the Equinox. I don't have a clue what they are talking about a locking device either. Are they saying you need something like the club. My Demco actually swivels when I turn.

BTW...i'm looking at a 2010 Equinox...have you been pleased?

MoRV · 04-15-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim

I've seen this ad and the only concern I have is the 10" tires. I use a Demco dolly but with 14" tires. It may be perfectly fine, just looks a little light weight to support the Equinox. I don't have a clue what they are talking about a locking device either. Are they saying you need something like the club. My Demco actually swivels when I turn.

BTW...i'm looking at a 2010 Equinox...have you been pleased?

Couldn't have been happier.....I love the interior room front and back(the back seat has more leg room than any other comparable size car-way more room than in the brothers' Commander) and drives like a dream. I commute 120 miles round-trip daily and I am very comfortable, even in heavy traffic. I know they changed it enough that it is now towable with four down, so not sure what that might have done to the drive......mine is 4 years old and no problems at all......Oh, yeah, I average 24 miles to the gallon, too, and drive stop and go a lot.

Research seems to be saying go with a tow dolly that is heavier duty and has the swivel feature.....

MoRV · 04-15-2010, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyzw22

When you tow with a tow dolly the wheels that will be rolling on the ground need to be hooked to a Manual Transmission or the rear wheels for a front wheel drive car. You can also remove the drive shaft but if you tow a car with rear wheel drive with the rear wheels rolling on the ground you will ruin the transmission unless the car has that option for towing. Hope this helps

Thanks for the info...every little bit helps.

BTW, the pups are adorable!

Tom-NC · 04-17-2010, 12:23 PM

MoRV

I have a Roadmaster Tow Dolly and tow a 98 Honda Civic. The Roadmaster Tow Dolly has electric brakes and I installed a brake controller on the motorhome. THe beauty part of the Roadmaster 2000 Tow Dolly is that it has it's own steering system so that the tow dolly wheels follow the RV rear wheels.

There is no locking device for the steering wheels of the toad as like you said when you put it in park it locks the wheel plus the wheels are strapped to the dolly.

Do your homework and check them out but for my money Roadmaster 2000 is the way to go and you will not have any problems.

MoRV · 04-19-2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom-NC

MoRV

I have a Roadmaster Tow Dolly and tow a 98 Honda Civic. The Roadmaster Tow Dolly has electric brakes and I installed a brake controller on the motorhome. THe beauty part of the Roadmaster 2000 Tow Dolly is that it has it's own steering system so that the tow dolly wheels follow the RV rear wheels.

There is no locking device for the steering wheels of the toad as like you said when you put it in park it locks the wheel plus the wheels are strapped to the dolly.

Do your homework and check them out but for my money Roadmaster 2000 is the way to go and you will not have any problems.

Well, we've narrowed it down to the Roadmaster or a Demco....due to the steering/swivel. And, we already have an electronic braking system on the MH so we'd just need to plug 'er in. Thanks much, all.

Jimmyzw22 · 05-03-2010, 11:34 PM

Did you ever buy one? I just after days and days of research for the money I could afford I bought an American Car Dolly at American Car Dolly

For the money, total delivered with the brake controller that is built into the dolly it was 1410.00 It seems to be built well and has some great tie down design. I will let you know how it works but it also has removeable ramps.

Jim

MoRV · 05-04-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyzw22

Did you ever buy one? I just after days and days of research for the money I could afford I bought an American Car Dolly at American Car Dolly

For the money, total delivered with the brake controller that is built into the dolly it was 1410.00 It seems to be built well and has some great tie down design. I will let you know how it works but it also has removeable ramps.

Jim

Wow! great......good for you. Actually we HAVEN'T bought one yet.....(procrastinators deluxe!) We'd love to hear what you think of it.....sounds like a real good price, too.

gresults · 05-04-2010, 11:52 PM

I had question a few of the post mentioned a swival feature in there brand over the American but notice on there website they say
"Our Car Dollies Swivel and will accommodate Most any size car, very Low Profile cars and Most Large pickups and vans without running boards."
so does it swival and track with the motorhome...from looking I don't see a swival feature.

MoRV · 05-06-2010, 07:20 AM

I honestly don't SEE how they swivel from the pictures on the website.......but they SAY they do.......???????

Tom-NC · 05-06-2010, 07:31 AM

I don't see any kind of steering mechanism on the picture of the dolly. I bet the wheels just pivot which is not steering or tracking like the RV. The wheels should steer just like a car does.

The other problem I have is thhe braking system which they claim uses the power from the brake lights which means there is no adjustment as to how hard the brakes on the dolly are applied. When using electric brakes you need a brake controller in the RV so you can adjust it as the tow dolly does not use it's brakes to stop RV.

I hate to say this but sometimes inexpensive is not always the best way to go.

Good Luck

Elkhartjim · 05-06-2010, 07:53 AM

On my Demco, the wheels "steer" so as to track the mh. There is a tie rod that connects the wheels so they of course track together.

Like Tom-NC, inexpensive is not always they way to go. Make sure the dolly is rated for the weight you intend to load/tow. In my opinion, that American looks pretty light weight and according to their website it will carry "most"...I wonder how much "most" weighs? I also noticed there are no safety chains to hook the vehicle to the dolly and I guess the tire/wheel straps must have the ratcheting mechanism to tighten the straps. I don't mean to be picking, just pointing out some things I would be concerned about.

I sure appreciate the fact my ramps are attached at all times. Hard to imagine laying on the ground in the rain trying to install ramps. Just my experience.

MoRV · 05-06-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim

I sure appreciate the fact my ramps are attached at all times. Hard to imagine laying on the ground in the rain trying to install ramps. Just my experience.

Ohhhh...yeah, that would be kinda tough, wouldn't it? When you load 'er up (and sometimes when you gotta go, you GOTTA go-rain or shine), you have to get under there to take them OFF, too.
Definately lots of 'food for thought' before choosing one.