Community Forums

Sallys Mom · 04-03-2007, 02:49 PM

OK - I've been reading and reading about tow vehicles and finally found the car I want to tow - a 2001 Saturn SC2. Went to CW to figure out what I need to buy to get "ready to roll". They say the parts I need cost about $1300 but their quote for installing everything was about $3000 and 7 hours to install!!! After lots of web searching I decided to go to the best source - iRV2 people. Please let me know all your ideas. I bought a Saturn to tow all 4 wheels on the ground, but other people say a tow dolly is just as good and less money. I want to do the best for the car as well as the MH. Thanks for all your help.

Sallys Mom

Sallys Mom · 04-03-2007, 02:49 PM

OK - I've been reading and reading about tow vehicles and finally found the car I want to tow - a 2001 Saturn SC2. Went to CW to figure out what I need to buy to get "ready to roll". They say the parts I need cost about $1300 but their quote for installing everything was about $3000 and 7 hours to install!!! After lots of web searching I decided to go to the best source - iRV2 people. Please let me know all your ideas. I bought a Saturn to tow all 4 wheels on the ground, but other people say a tow dolly is just as good and less money. I want to do the best for the car as well as the MH. Thanks for all your help.

Sallys Mom

Frankie · 04-03-2007, 03:08 PM

Tow dollies are okay,but where do you put it when at the camp ground.It maybe cheaper , but it is not any easier or better.If you shop around a little bit more then camping worlds you will find varied pricing. I bought a lot of good used tow stuff on ebay.Some base plates do take some time to install,hoprfully someone else can help you on the saturn. My buddy at len-rich rv istalled my base plates on my xl7 and it took a good 1/2 day along with the wiring.I use magnet lights,if I wired to harness it could have taken another 2 hours.

teofff · 04-03-2007, 05:31 PM

Tow dollies are cheaper, but Sallys Mom is right, it will always be in your way at any campground, and then you have to store it at home also. It takes me minutes to hook up my Suzuki Grand Vitara. I have a Blue Ox Tow bar, and a Tow-V-Aire supplemental brake system. they are labor intensive to install...but you just spent a ton on your MH...don't skimp on something as important as your tow set up!!! I don't have quite $3,000 invested, but darn close.

RV Wizard · 04-03-2007, 11:46 PM

Sallys Mom, if you are going to tow it four down you will have to have a base plate installed. These are made spsecfic to the year, make & model of vehicle. THere are several brands but I like Blue Ox. You will need a tow bar that fits the base plate (same brand or use adapters of different brands). I like the bars that mount and stay on the MH. Be sure to keep it locked on. You should and in some states are required to have some sort of brake assist. There are many brands and varieties of this and you should do your homework on this as well. You will need lighting on the back of the towed car so those behind you know what you are going to do and can see you at night. Again there are several ways to do this. I like the add a bulb and socket method into the rear fixtures on the toad. You can order these assecories from RV Upgrades who is a major sponser of this website and have a hitch shop install them for you. Good luck and keep us informed on the progress you make.

JJ Hamick · 04-04-2007, 08:57 AM

All the advice yuou have received is good and accurate. I towedc with a dolly last year. I did not find it a problem to store at camp sites and I stored it at home the same place as my MH. I am now looking into towing an 04 Liberty 4 down. I shopped around on the internet and found the parts I need for about $1400 shipped. I contacted a local auto body shop who is familiar with installing towing parts. When all done I will have about $1800 total.Check with RV Parts Outlet and RV Upgrades. They are on the web but I don't have their links handy. Have have very good prices.

Sallys Mom · 04-04-2007, 03:34 PM

Hey - thanks to all of you for your thoughtful replies. I just knew I could count on iRV2 for good info. I believe I will get the parts to tow the Saturn with all 4 wheels on the ground and also an auxiliary brake system. Seems the safest way to go. I can probably find someone around home to install everything and avoid paying CW $125 an hour.

Again - thanks to all for taking time to answer.

Sallys Mom

Lorna · 04-04-2007, 07:10 PM

Check out Hitch Trader for used brackets. I got mine for about $100 plus shipping (not much). Still need to get a tow bar. There's a guy in AL that has some tow bars for sale. Should still be posted (has several types) but you will have to e-mail him for prices & models available.

Hemi · 04-05-2007, 01:25 AM

Sallys Mom:

I just had a local RV garage install everything needed to tow 2006 (2wD, automatic) Saturn Vue behind a 36 ft Holiday Rambler gasser.

Before going to the garage I already had a blue ox tow bar, all the connection pins, hitch for the RV, electrical cable that fit into female of RV, breakaway cable, and safety cable (they call came with the Holiday Rambler).

The garage obtained and installed the base plate (in two parts: tow bar connection parts + safety cable hooks), electrical plate + wiring on front of Saturn, buddy brake cable; additionally the garage had a used buddy brake.

The final bill was $1300 (which included all labor and parts and the used buddy brake which was $500, part of the $1300).

The tow home went just fine...I hardly noticed that I was towing the Saturn, cruised at ~63 MPH; I really could not tell if the buddy brake was actually working...I believe I will need to make a few more trial tows with different buddy brake adjustments, possibly with my wife in the Saturn Vue, to make final adjustments on the buddy brake or at least to watch the buddy brake push the Saturn brake petal.

Overall, very pleased with this setup.

HEMI

DLBatz · 04-07-2007, 04:46 AM

My toad could not be towed 4 down so I've towed 18,000 miles with a KarKaddy dolly & have had no problems. It takes less than 8 minutes to hook up & under 5 to disconnect. With its fold back tongue & fold up ramps it takes very little storage room. If you plan to change toads regularly it will be less expensive in the long run.

With that said, I will tell you this. If you have & plan to keep a vehicle that can be towed on all 4s DO IT. It is easier & cleaner to hook up (especially in bad weather). The dolly is a little wider than the MH so you have to watch it on narrow roads & up against curbs.

Good luck with your decision.

Dave Bates

TXiceman · 04-07-2007, 06:03 AM

We have towed a dinghy on a dolly and 4-down. The 4-down is a bit more convenient, but not that much. If we were to go back to a motorhome and tow a dinghy, I would probably gt a good dolly w/ surge brakes rather than equipping a car for 4-down towing. But that is just my opinion.

The last dinghy we had was rated by the manufacturer to tow 4-down, but we had tranny problems. The shop where we had the repair work done was a trusted place and honest. He said the problem was caused by towing. We had towed the car about 20000 miles and had 40000 on the odometer. It did not record towed miles. By the time we sold the car it had 75000 miles showing and we had towed it a total of 40000 miles, so the chassis and suspension had 115000 miles and it showed.

The best thing we found to keep the front of the car from being damaged with road debris was the RV UndeR-Skirt.

Like I aid, next time, I'd go with a dolly.

Ken

BounderDan · 04-07-2007, 07:12 AM

Sally's Mom. We tow a Saturn Vue behind our Bounder 35E. Our BrakeBuddy came with a dash light that illuminates whenever the toad brake is applied. It is just nice to know when it is helping and when it is not. You may be able to order one. I like ours set near its least sensitive setting. It seems unneeded and as set seldom actives on most normal or easy stops. But makes a big difference and is clearly noticable in a hard or emergency whoa-up!

Sallys Mom · 04-08-2007, 10:51 AM

Once again, thanks for all the great information. BounderDan we also have a Saturn VUE, along with the Saturn SC2, but don't really plan to tow the VUE. We have a smaller MH and believe the smaller car will be sufficient when we travel. Within the next month we should have all the parts installed and love the idea of our little car "pushing" the MH.

Thanks everyone!
Sallys Mom