Community Forums

pushtrk99 · 12-07-2019, 06:10 AM

there is rv reviews which we use-you can get an idea what kind of campground it is, also when it comes to getting gas buy the "next exit " book, it will help you find rv friendly gas stations, so you can get it in & out without any problems, we put a star by the gas station name if we use it and it was real easy, flying J has rv pumps just for rv and that is real neat-also most decent campgrounds have somebody take you to your site and almost always offers to help me get set-up- we do exactly like you said about unloading we also had 3rd leg put on dolly so it rolls around easy even on gravel. "ENJOY"-Rich & Audrey

450Donn · 12-07-2019, 07:17 AM

One more thing to consider/look at. Does this proposed 31 foot MH have enough towing capacity to handle your cars weight? Often times gas MHs run out of capacity long before they are loaded with much stuff. You indicated your going full time. That generally means almost all your posessions. That can add up to a lot of weight. All that stuff reduces your chassis towing capacity. Its not inconcievable that once loaded this 31 foot MH could have less than a thousand pounds for towing
As a full timer have you, cost wise considered a truck and a larger fifth wheel?

Alikair · 12-07-2019, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450Donn

One more thing to consider/look at. Does this proposed 31 foot MH have enough towing capacity to handle your cars weight? Often times gas MHs run out of capacity long before they are loaded with much stuff. You indicated your going full time. That generally means almost all your posessions. That can add up to a lot of weight. All that stuff reduces your chassis towing capacity. Its not inconcievable that once loaded this 31 foot MH could have less than a thousand pounds for towing
As a full timer have you, cost wise considered a truck and a larger fifth wheel?

Very good question. I have no idea.
The FR3 30ds specs
Wheelbase:190"
GVWR:18000 lb.
GCWR:23000 lb.
GAWR Rear:12000 lb.
GAWR Front:7000 lb.

My car info:
Chevy Volt weight = 3,794 lbs

khocke · 12-07-2019, 07:27 AM

You'll be fine soloing. I was I added a hitch to my toad so that i could tow the dolly around. Sometimes a campground will ask that you park the dolly in their storage area.

twinboat · 12-07-2019, 08:51 AM

I often stop past the site, drop the car off and then back the MH, with dolly connected, into the site.

Go slow and correct quickly with the short dolly. Sometimes the surge brakes skid on dirt, but I pull foward and try again.

Alikair · 12-07-2019, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

I often stop past the site, drop the car off and then back the MH, with dolly connected, into the site.

Go slow and correct quickly with the short dolly. Sometimes the surge brakes skid on dirt, but I pull foward and try again.

Hi twinboat, I have wondered if pulling a dolly empty would be easier than with the car on there, it seems like it would be.

I would love to be able to do this. I could park my car before I enter the campground and drive the motor home in. Then just walk back to my car at my leisure. It would take away a lot of the anxiety.

When you do this, do you unhook the car near the campsite stall or do you unhook the car before you reach the campground?

Cooperhawk · 12-07-2019, 09:05 AM

Towed with a Demco dolly for years. Don't sweat it. Most campgrounds have pull through sites and you don't even need to unhook the dolly. Only a few times in all our years of towing did we have to relocate the dolly somewhere else and then they helped us. In short sites you can also unhook it and just shove it up under the motorhome.

We tow four down now, but the dolly was never a problem. Lots of nay sayers out there.

Cooperhawk · 12-07-2019, 09:07 AM

Just ask for a pull through and you're good to go. If not you usually unhook when you enter the campground, tow the dolly to the site, and either have someone drive the car in or walk back for it. No big deal.

Alikair · 12-07-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooperhawk

Towed with a Demco dolly for years. Don't sweat it. Most campgrounds have pull through sites and you don't even need to unhook the dolly. Only a few times in all our years of towing did we have to relocate the dolly somewhere else and then they helped us. In short sites you can also unhook it and just shove it up under the motorhome.

We tow four down now, but the dolly was never a problem. Lots of nay sayers out there.

Thanks Cooperhawk. I would definitely try for the pull through sites first.
Doesn't the back in sites have better locations? From aerial views I have seen, the back in sites are on the perimeter and have nice trees where the center of the park is where all the pull troughs are dont have much cover or privacy.

BillJinOR · 12-07-2019, 09:23 AM

Every campground is different. I most cases there will be a check in area “ pull forward to here” signs. When you go in to check in ask ... where can I unhook ? They will be happy to let you know. Probably at the checkin area . It’s virtually no different than flat towing , you have to unhook them also. Yes it’s slightly more hassle but not the horror stories 4 downers make it out to be. ( I have a car hauler trailer a dolly and have 4 downed ) If you have some physical disability , can’t bend , can’t lift, can’t kneel yes it might be difficult.
Most times I take the car off at the check in , go to the site , pop the dolly off and roll it to the back of the site or out of the way by hand. How physically capable are you? I’m 67 in good shape and it’s not a issue. I have friends that are my age and just about need a walker .
For short stays we almost always are assigned a pull thru anyway even if we don’t ask for one. It’s a short learning curve you’ll be fine. Keep your eyes open and watch others.

twinboat · 12-07-2019, 09:34 AM

It depends. Because I can back the car off the dolly quickly, if the campground isn't super tight, I bring everything in together.

Loading takes a bit more time so I usually find a out of the way spot to do that.

We all have had to wait while folks back in their rigs so it is expected. No one should get upset at a few minutes delay.

At one site, the owner couldn't back his 5th wheel in to the spot. After 10 minutes, with all sorts of guidance, someone jumped in the drivers seat and did it for him. Then the line of 4 waiting RVs could get by.

Cherilanet · 12-13-2019, 02:08 AM

When I first started solo, I rented a tow dolly from UHaul and tried to load and unload the car.... after a week, I tow had my toad set up to tow 4 down. I have used it for 3 years and love the convenience of it and how fast and easy it is to hook and unhook.

JLorden · 12-13-2019, 11:32 AM

I have been solo RVing for only about 6 months, Tow'd and Dolly go with me almost always. In fact I had to load Tow'd (Honda Fit) onto Dolly to bring the RV home. I second the person that said something about driving off the front of Dolly. I've done it twice!!

My lessons learned:

I put down "lego" levelers so I can ease up the ramp. I found that my Fit had trouble getting onto the dolly and that caused issues going up the ramp. The wheels would spin a bit and then the dirt on the tires would cause slipping on the ramp. The levelers eliminate the slipping.

Make sure the moving part that the car sits on is straight. I went off once because one tire went on the other didn't.....little bit if gas...off the front I went

Get out and look, then get out and look, when in doubt get out and look. The two times I drove off the front a little voice in my head said "get out and look"...oops

and my final piece of advice, when you are practicing with a spotter, is listen to the sounds Tow'd and Dolly make. You will get used to what is right and what feels/sounds wrong.

As far as the campsite goes I usually drive by first. I have always unloaded at the campsite. It is really a pretty quick job. I unload Tow'd park it off the side of the road then back the dolly in with the RV. I have pushed Dolly in to place by hand, but with practice I've gotten pretty good at backing dolly in. Having said that, don't even try to back Tow'd and Dolly together! If I can't fit the dolly, RV and car in the spot I will unhook the dolly and back up over the tongue. Since my RV is only 24 ft and my car is really small I rarely have to do that. I can usually even park my car across the front of the RV.

Loading....takes longer....I have done it in front of my site, "borrowed" other sites (back car into a different site, back dolly up to car or a pull through that wasn't available at check in), and gone to over flow area. It all depends on how busy the campground is and what will be the least stressful.

I go out with Minnie, Tow'd and Dolly about once a month it hasn't taken too long to get it right.

Go have fun!!