And I am in that nether world of what to do in so many ways. Had the MH for over a year now. My other vehicle is a 2002 F-150 that is not ready to bite the dust with only 89,000 on it. For the most part when I head out every month for extended trips I have friends that can take me here or there as needed. However, I am getting to the point of being itchy for cross country travels. A dolly gives me the ability to grab a car from one of my sons when they don't need it per their lifestyles. I really do not want to buy a car for 4 down towing and have yet another vehicle to park and maintain (without getting rid of the truck). Some folks have suggested renting a car at destinations that necessitate touristy or practical transportation. I know there are disadvantages to a dolly, perhaps less regarding storage by getting a folding one. Backing a rig with anything behind it can be a test for sure. And yes, it does take a few more motions to get a car on/off a dolly. So, here I am still trying to weigh the pros and cons. But, it does not keep me from hitting the road every three weeks!
Scott
2011 Sunseeker 3170DSF
2 great sons, Scott & Alex (23 & 20)
"Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes."
..Although I've just started at this, you can chalk me up as one that tows with a dolly, and am completely happy with it.
Yes, its more work to hitch up and unhitch. And, its slightly more maintenance responsibility, to keep the dolly maintained (tires, straps, etc). However, thats really where the disadvantages of a dolly ends, assuming you get the right dolly, and learn to use it right.
With the dolly we have (ACME EZE tow dolly), its low ground clearance means I can store it almost completely under the MH, out of the way. This unit takes up less space (less than 24" sticks out behind the MH) than even a Demco Kar Kaddy SS, and costs half as much. Only weighs around 400 lbs, so is not hard to manually move around, either (especially with the wheel attachment I built that goes on the ball hitch). Soo, stowing it at the campsite does not have to be the issue some make it out to be.
Now, the main reasons I chose this route: I NEVER have to make ANY modifications to any FWD vehicle I will bring with us. Ever. Just drive it onto the dolly, strap and chain it on and go. No installation of braking systems, base plates, lube pumps, driveshaft disconnects, none of that. I saved close to $2000 going with the dolly initially (even buying the dolly brand new), and every time we trade vehicles or use another vehicle, it will be several hundred more $$ saved since no modifications will be necessary.
And, if one day we trade to a vehicle that can tow 4 down and we decide to go 4 down: I can sell the dolly, get a good portion of the $$ I put into it back, and move on.
If you're starting out with a vehicle thats very costly to set up for 4 down towing and have no intention or desire to buy another vehicle any time soon, IMO the dolly is much more cost effective.
Will & Angela
2 children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2012 FR Georgetown 351DS on F53 (V10) Chassis Our Rig
Just did a nice, easy browse of the Acme. Kinda funny given the Acme name. I almost expected the Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote to pop up with explosives. Very cut and dry item. No pretention. WYSIWYG. And I thought when my 4000W generator was shipped that was interesting. This will be even more so to accept delivery at home!
tallyo wrote: I was fat, dumb, and happy with my tow dolly for 3 years. Then I went to 4 down. I never knew how unhappy I was.
Haha, I understand what you're saying. No doubt 4 down is much easier, and most people end up going that route (and we probably will too one day).
However, for folks like me that really need to bring a minivan type vehicle (and already own such and don't want to trade), towing 4 down is obscenely more expensive and in many cases just not an option. That, and some of us just do not want to make so many modifications (lube pump, base plates, auxiliary braking, etc) to their everyday driving vehicle.
In that case, all you can do is make the best of using a dolly. I've done so, as follows:
Quote: Biggest draw backs to a dolly for me are: 1. you have to move it every time you load and unload the car. You can unload the car at check in , then when you get to your site if it's a back in you have to get out and unhook the dolly and roll it to the back of the site . then you can back in your MH. When you get ready to leave it reverses the process.
..This is why we went with the lightest and lowest ground clearance dolly available, the Acme EZE dolly. At only 400 lbs and with the wheel attachment/handle I made that attaches to the coupler, I can move the dolly around very easily, and can store it almost completely under the back of the MH out of the way.
Quote: 2. When it's wet, with front wheel drive, the tires can spin when loading, always thought someday the front of car was going to be in the rear of the MH.
..This is one of the reasons we wanted (and went with ) a dolly that has detachable ramps. Ours has detached, plastic (Rhino) ramps, that I can keep stowed where they stay dry to avoid this problem as much as possible.
Quote: 3. Always dirty hooking up and taking off straps.
Yes, no doubt about this. Not much you can do about this, except to plan on washing up as best you can after hooking up and unhooking.
I've found that I don't really get *too* dirty unhooking, but hooking up you do. I just plan on changing clothes and cleaning up some after hooking up and before we hit the road. Just one of the things you have to live with if you use a dolly.
Quote: 4. While many campgrounds allow the dolly on site, there are those that make you store it elsewhere on the property.
..As noted above, our dolly fits almost completely under the MH. I doubt seriously if any CG would ever have a problem with us storing it on our site that way, as it takes up very little extra space (less than 24" behind the MH). If I ever do run into a CG so 'anal' that they won't let me keep the dolly on our site this way....Well, thats probably a good indicator that its time to keep driving on to the next CG, anyway.
Quote: Other than these things,towing is about the same. If your toad isn't towable 4 down, then a dolly it may have to be.
Indeed so. I also see it this way: Right now, I'm relatively young, and my fat a** could use the extra work/exercise that a dolly requires. I consider it 'forced exercise', haha.
When kids grow up and no longer camp with us, we no longer need a minivan for a toad, and I get too old and/or lazy to deal with a dolly, THEN we'll get a smaller toad and set it up for 4 down towing.
Until then, its like you said, a dolly it has to be.
One other advantage to a dolly that is seldom mentioned in this discussion: Which 'toad' you think would be easier to sell, command a better resale value, and would you be more interested in buying: One thats been towed 4 down, having its brakes and part of the drivetrain worn for who knows how many extra unlogged miles, or one thats been towed on a dolly, where the brakes and drive axle have not been worn any more than odometer indicates? I'd prefer and be willing to pay more for the latter if I was buying a vehicle.
When I went to set up my BMW 323i to tow 4 down I found nobody made a baseplate for it. I then got a quote to make the base for $750-850. Already had a towbar I had used to tow my 85 4x4 Ramcharger. But now add brakes & lights and OUch in the pocketbook.
Found our tow dolly used on craigslist for $600 with surge brakes and lights. Nothing to add to the car or the motorhome and the car is locked without a key in it when we tow.
Ray, Cheryl, Cory & of course Miss Molly the four-legged child
I was fat, dumb, and happy with my tow dolly for 3 years. Then I went to 4 down. I never knew how unhappy I was.
Biggest draw backs to a dolly for me are: 1. you have to move it every time you load and unload the car. You can unload the car at check in , then when you get to your site if it's a back in you have to get out and unhook the dolly and roll it to the back of the site . then you can back in your MH. When you get ready to leave it reverses the process. 2. When it's wet, with front wheel drive, the tires can spin when loading, always thought someday the front of car was going to be in the rear of the MH. 3. Always dirty hooking up and taking off straps. 4. While many campgrounds allow the dolly on site, there are those that make you store it elsewhere on the property.
Other than these things,towing is about the same. If your toad isn't towable 4 down, then a dolly it may have to be.
Tallyo
2012 Phaeton 40 QBH
Freightliner, 6 spd Allison
2010 Chevy Equinox 2LT w/ Brake Buddy Vantage
Drinks-6, Eats-4, Sleeps-2
Semper Fi
hasheel wrote: I'm currently towing a 2007 Chevy Colorado, 4 down. It's 4WD and very heavy. I also own a 2005 Honda CRV(DW's). We get about 6.5 mpg towing the Colorado. DW does not want to buy another base plate. Will it be easier to tow the Honda with a dolly than the Colorado 4 down? Thoughts?
If the CRV is AWD then the dolly is out. I doubt you will see any significant fuel savings with the CRV 4 down. The car weight difference might be a factor for you in which case the dolly is not a good option.
Whatever you do you need brakes on either toad or dolly.
It is a no brainer. Having a tow dolly gives one the versatility of towing virtually any front wheel drive vehicle made without additional expense. I never had a problem with storage of the dolly at RV parks, the dolly fit under the MH at those parks that I had to unhook it. I recently purchased another 4WD vehicle for towing 4 down. The cost of the brackets, wiring and brake kits and labor (I'm getting lazy in my old age)approached $1000.
David Just rolling along enjoying life w/F53 Southwind towing a 87 Samurai or 01 Grand Vitara looking to golf or fish Simply Despicable Any errors are a result of CRS.
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