KeninAZ
SE AZ
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Joined: 06/22/2002
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I had purchased a tow dolly (80 THD with brakes) for 1/2 the price ($800) of new that was used only one time.
Then I bought a new car to tow when we go full time that can be towed 4 down according to the manual.
So I decided to research towing 4 down.
What I found was that the total costs of 4 down far exceeded what using the dolly would be.
The tow bar was $627, the brackets were $287 plus 3 hours to mount. The misc kit was another $300 or close and the braking unit was another $1200 installed. The dealer also pointed out that with his brake unit the compressor was not the box style that sat on floor and had to be removed each time you wanted to use the car. The compressor mounted elsewhere and the linkage came from the rear of the pedal with a disconnect that was easy to use.
The total costs of the install would run between $2600 and 3000.
Just for kicks I called my insurance company and asked about coverage for all this stuff installed on my car just in case I had an accident.
The costs of replacing, repairing and installing this auxiliary equipment is not covered by my policy at all.
Considering all of this I decided to go ahead and wired the dolly up and use my brake controller that I had on hand.
4 down towing may have some advantages to the dolly buy not when it comes to overall costs. Add that to the risks of the loss of a car and having to re equip the car at your expense.
Considering you can buy a new dolly like mine for around $1500 if you shop it and add in $250 to have it wired to a $100 brake control it appears to be quite a bit cheaper.
I have spent some time driving a tow truck in my life after retirement and I just feel more comfortable with the dolly anyway.
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texasbaskets
Frisco, TX
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Joined: 10/06/2003
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Good observations. One thing to consider with the dolly is a tow bar on your car. That way you can unload the car and lug the dolly around behind it, giving you the option to disconnect almost anywhere. We often leave ours with the boats and other trailered stuff in the remote parking area.
Good luck no matter which way you go !!!  
Michael, Kay, Hans (our Mini-Schnauzer co-pilot) and Prissy (Hans' Malti-Poo co-pilot)
'05 Coachmen SportsCoach SE 372DS a.k.a. "Mana's Cabana"
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RetiredbutWorking
Central Texas
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Joined: 02/10/2006
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I went with the tow bar because it is so easy to use. A couple of pins, a couple of cables and a couple of wire and I am towing the dinghy. I also don't have to worry about were to store the dolly when I get to my camp sight.
RBW
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TallTeam
Illinois
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Joined: 04/30/2007
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Our insurance covers anything permanently attached, such as the base plate. I had a fender bender and am trying out the insurance on the base plate right now  - We used a tow dolly for two trips but much prefer the flat towing we did this year.
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KeninAZ
SE AZ
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Joined: 06/22/2002
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I found that my MH is so high in the rear that most of the dolly fits right underneath it for storage.
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goodcruisin
Greenwood, IN
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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I have $1200 invested in preparing our Explorer for "four down" towing. I probably saved $300+ by doing the installation myself. Granted, with some searching, a used dolly could have saved a few hundred dollars. But realistically I just didn't want another "thing" sitting around the house. I already have three street cars, drag car, trailer for drag car, two boats (one mine and one FIL) plus the MH. We're also considering taking one of our classic cars out of storage and bringing it to the house. The dolly would just take us one step closer to our place being a Sanford & Son look-a-like.
John (USN Ret) and Debbie
The Paw Pack (Freckles, Stinky & Ranger)
'96 Monaco Windsor 36' DP 8.3L Cummins
Ready Brake w/ Demco Excali-bar
'03 Ford Explorer (Toad)
'04 Honda Insight
'04 Volvo S80 AWD
'74 Dart Swinger Drag Car
14' Boat 9.9 Mercury
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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My Ready-brute tow bar with a built in surge brake system cost about $700. Demco baseplates cost $200-$325. I have installed two of them myself. Not a hard job. I did my own wiring, not hard. I have never understood why people pay $1200 for a toad braking system.
I did the tow dolly thing for a few years and found it a pain. A pain to load, especially in the rain, a pain to move the trailer around the campsite, two extra tires and wheel bearings to maintain and worry about and the wheels stuck out farther than my turn radius, so you could hit gas pumps, curbs, etc.
An example, we pulled into a campground for one night. The office person said its a tight campground, you need to disconnect here. I had to unload the car, deal with the dolly, drive the RV to the site, walk back annd hook up the dolly to the car, drive back, unhook and deal with the dolly again, then set up. With a tow bar, I unhook and my wife drives he car in behind me.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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Nomadac
Columbus, IN
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Joined: 11/22/2004
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Big Katuna wrote:My Ready-brute tow bar with a built in surge brake system cost about $700. Demco baseplates cost $200-$325. I have installed two of them myself. Not a hard job. I did my own wiring, not hard. I have never understood why people pay $1200 for a toad braking system.
Does your tow bar w/surge brakes have a breakaway system that if it were to become disconnected it would apply the dingy brakes? If not that is why people pay for a braking system that will stop the dingy if it becomes disconnected vs. hitting the first thing it comes into contact with.
My dolly w/electric brakes has a breakaway system just like the TT I used to tow. I have yet to find a CG that I could not store my dolly and I have plenty space at my home for storing it. Just what is most convenient for each individual.
Arnie
2003 Travel Supreme MH
38KSO1 Cummins ISC 350HP
Car Dolly w/1996 Toyota RAV4 2WD
1963 Pontiac Grand Prix
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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Yes, I have a break-away system. Its included in some of their packages and can be purchased separately. Other companies use the same type device.
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tallyo
Fort Myers,Florida
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Joined: 06/12/2007
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I used a tow dolly for 4-5 years and never realized how much work it was hooking up and unhooking( especially in the rain) then storing it at campgrounds until I went to 4 down.
If you factor the additional cost of the tow bar over several years and the cost of maintenance on the tow dolly over the same period; the 4 down is more than worth it.
The only advantage to a dolly as I see it is if you have a car that cannot be towed and you will always have a car that cannot be towed.
Tallyo
2007 Winnebago Adventurer
W-24, 6 spd Allison
Saturn VUE w/ Brake Buddy Vantage
Drinks-6, Eats-4, Sleeps-2
Semper Fi
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