Tow Dolly Owners

[EZE Tow]

Thank you !! 12 inch wheels actually. The tires are 22 inches tall.

[vettenuts]

Originally Posted by EZE Tow

Now if what you are seeing is one side or the other "yawing" away from the front of the dolly, this is probably what is happening.

In the video you will see that in a turn the outside wheel will "yaw" away from the front of the dolly a few inches. ( watch the safety chain go from slack to tight and back to slack ) As the RV, dolly, and towed car return to true straight the outside wheel will return to the front of the dolly. If you are getting out of your Coach and looking at the outside tire and it is "back" an inch or more, then it is because the Coach, Dolly and towed car are still in an arch or radius. The tire has not yet returned to its resting position. If you pull forward until all three are true straight and aligned and one or both tires are still not drawn up tight to the front of the dolly, then you need to pull the car up and retighten the straps.

This is why I always find a long straight area to check my straps. I know if the car and coach are not straight the outer wheel will be back from the stop. I only do a strap check when the entire setup is straight.

One other note on brake fluid, it should be checked routinely before any trip. A surge system reservoir is not very large by design (unlike a car) and brake pad wear and piston movement can deplete the reservoir if not monitored.

[JCGibson]

Originally Posted by Shawn E

I have a Landgrebe tow dolly with electric brakes and steerable tires. I have towed approximately 45,000 miles with no issues. I have towed a Pontiac G6, a GMC Terrain, a Toyota minivan (all front wheel drive) and a rear wheel drive manual transmission BMW. I have no association with Landgrebe but liked the fact that they are a US owned small business in Indiana. I picked mine up but they will ship. Check out their website. I have yet to see another one on the road but get asked about it a lot at campgrounds. Good luck with your search.

Shawn

I have seen these before, but didn't know the manufacture. They are pretty cool with lots of different options available. Thanks for the info.

John

[Scott and Ed]

We have towed three different cars behind two different DP coaches,with no issues. We felt dolly towing gave us much more flexibility as far as vehicle choices..Straps and positioning take practice and patience,but really are not an issue. Have stored the dolly upright past two winters,never leaked a drop. Always find Acme customer service to be excellent.Common sense practices will insure excellent performance.IMHO.

[kenn209]

Acme EZE Tow Dolly with Hydraulic Disc Brakes.

[Arkansas RV]

What are "basket straps", I currently use an Acme tow dolly with hydraulic surge disk brakes and the belts are a PITA. Pictures please

[vettenuts]

Originally Posted by Arkansas RV

What are "basket straps", I currently use an Acme tow dolly with hydraulic surge disk brakes and the belts are a PITA. Pictures please

These, I just bought a set.

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Towing...p-Hooks-2-pack

[wayneroe]

This probably seems like a no-brainer to some, but I just purchased a new Tow Master with surge brakes. My issue is probably a nit-pick, but my state (Illinois) requires the tow dolly to be licensed. There is no place to mount the license plate. I have looked everywhere for a bracket that will mount on the bottom of the tail light. Finally, found Master Tow sells one on their website for $24, but by the time you pay the freight it costs almost $40. Seems to me like this is something that should be included and already installed for the price you pay for these things.

[DAN L]

Originally Posted by wayneroe

This probably seems like a no-brainer to some, but I just purchased a new Tow Master with surge brakes. My issue is probably a nit-pick, but my state (Illinois) requires the tow dolly to be licensed. There is no place to mount the license plate. I have looked everywhere for a bracket that will mount on the bottom of the tail light. Finally, found Master Tow sells one on their website for $24, but by the time you pay the freight it costs almost $40. Seems to me like this is something that should be included and already installed for the price you pay for these things.

On my Stehl dolly I use a small motorcycle size plate and bolt it direct to the fender. At night I duct tape a small harbor freight led light to the fender.

[wayneroe]

Originally Posted by DAN L

On my Stehl dolly I use a small motorcycle size plate and bolt it direct to the fender. At night I duct tape a small harbor freight led light to the fender.

Dan, thanks for the response, but boy do I feel dumb. I live in Illinois, my dealer is in Missouri. He told me tow dollies do not need to be licensed in Missouri, but they do in Illinois, so I took the Bill of Sale to the local license service and they charged me all the appropriate fees for a trailer license, gave me a temporary tag, and sent all the required paperwork off to the Secretary of State's office. I got home and had all kinds of issues figuring out how to attach a bracket to my Master Tow dolly, finally ordered a bracket from Master Tow, which was a bear to install. Then, this morning, low and behold, I discovered Illinois does not require the tow dolly to be licensed as long as it is substituting for one set of wheels on the towed vehicle and the towed vehicle is licensed. Money not so well spent on either the license or the bracket. Another of the hundreds of lessons I have learned in the almost one month I have owned my motor home.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by wayneroe

This probably seems like a no-brainer to some, but I just purchased a new Tow Master with surge brakes. My issue is probably a nit-pick, but my state (Illinois) requires the tow dolly to be licensed. There is no place to mount the license plate. I have looked everywhere for a bracket that will mount on the bottom of the tail light. Finally, found Master Tow sells one on their website for $24, but by the time you pay the freight it costs almost $40. Seems to me like this is something that should be included and already installed for the price you pay for these things.

My KK-460 came with a flip up/down plate bracket. I almost never towed the dolly empty so I didn't need to license it. If I had towed it empty then WA law requires a license on the dolly, with a car on it no license plate is required. Strange law but that's WA for you!

[Polyian]

I can attest to the above explanation from Acme. When I unpacked my newly delivered dolly I discovered brake fluid had leaked over the paint at the hitch area of the tongue, it had actually removed the black paint from that area. I had it standing in my garage and I could see it was still slow weeping from the rubber cap. Being in Canada I knew return was not a great option with shipping and border crossing so I contacted ACME and was immediately offered a new rubber cap, a new top cap and new decal. In addition I was given instructions on bleeding the hydraulic brake system and repainting. Bleeding took 5 minutes and I bought a can of Black Tremclad Enamel and repainted the area...blends right in. I used very little so I have lots left for future stone chip touch ups.
In addition, Acme offered me a spare set of Wheel Straps for my trouble, this was a very nice gesture and I received the straps very quickly along with the caps and decal.
Since I replaced the rubber cap I have been storing the dolly upright in my garage with no leaks.
In my opinion Acme Customer Service stepped right up. They also sent me a set of the new Cordura strap covers at no charge, these help prevent abrasion of the straps.

I am happy to hear that Acme is working with their supplier to find a better cap system, I only hope it can be retrofitted to my model. But at the moment the new rubber cap is not leaking.

I think ACME Customer Service stepped up to my problem and I am happy with the dolly's performance.

[Arkansas RV]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Stehl Tow dolly. No problems with lights. Surge brakes, disk brake pads under half warn with 25,000 miles towing a Kia Soul. 14" tires still look great.

Fixed ramps. I don't need to crawl under to attach or worry about falling off while loading. The ramps have never contacted the underside of tow car. Some say they could.

Put a shopping cart type caster wheel near hitch. Wife and I each push a fender to move around like a tricycle. Still fits under rear of MH.

Threw out safety chains. I clamped vinyl coated, steel cable to the whinch bar and push a looped end thru wheel openings and use spring latch hooks bolted to old safety chain holes.

Have never kneeled or crawled under it.

Each fender has a small crack, not worried about them yet.

Can send pictures if wanted.

Master Tow about the same dolly. They have plastic fenders.

Twinboat, would you have a pic or two of your hold down straps/chains?

[JJKJ]

Originally Posted by MTK46

I tow a Ford Edge on a used 2008 Kar Kaddy SS with drum surge brakes. I did away with the chains & use straps through the wheels. Upgraded the straps that hold the tires as my Edge has 20" rims.

Where did you hook the straps to the dolly