Alpha Dog
Middle Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 03/19/2006
View Profile
|
Just wondering if anyone tows an open car hauler, instead of a tow dolly or 4-down.
What brand?
Electric brakes or no?
How do you like it?
"Arvey" (yes, we gave him a name.)
2007 Coachmen Freelander 3150SS (32' class C)
My "kids" (a bunch of Toy Fox Terriers)
Backup Camera System from www.rearviewsystems.com
Frank's Electronics Voltage Booster (Autoformer)
ScanGauge II
GEO method
|
Rollincool
Always Rollin
Senior Member
Joined: 08/10/2007
View Profile
|
Alpha Dog wrote:Just wondering if anyone tows an open car hauler, instead of a tow dolly or 4-down. I tow my Camaro on an open bed aluminum hauler.
What brand? Its a "Tommy's" from Oklahoma.
Electric brakes or no? Yes.
How do you like it? I love it. It only weighs 1250 lbs empty. We pull our HHR four down, but the Camaro definetely goes on a hauler!!!
2008 Chevy Silverado 4x4 3500 RC/LB 6.0 
2007 Chevy GS Conquest Super C 6340DK
2007 Chevy HHR Toad 2LT 2.4
1990 Chevy G20 Cargo Van 305 
1967 Chevy Camaro Pro Street 468/650hp BBC 
My 70's Show - Tom Kent Radio Network - KLTH - K•HiTS 106.7
|
PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/19/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
I can not help much, but I have towed my son's broken 1986 S10 truck on a hauler that I rented from UHaul. It had surge brakes. It towed as well as my trailer.
I have seen several people with a MH use a traielr instead of dolly. I talked to a few of them. They like the hauler better, except they say it is hard to find a place to store the empty hauler in camp. Sometimes they have resorted to paying for a second campsite just to store the hauler. I thought that was rather silly, but it worked for them.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
|
rjstractor
Auburn, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
I have a car hauler that I use for my tractor, but I've never towed it with my motorhome. I prefer four down, for two main reasons, first, the trailer must be moved with the motorhome, and many campsites are too small or tight to back the 21 foot long trailer into with a 30' motorhome. Second, being that I have a large E450 based C, towing an open car hauler would both overload my hitch and my rear axle. To tow a car trailer I would have to invest some big bucks into upgrading the hitch, getting the frame reinforced, and upgrading the rear springs and tires to handle the 400+ pounds of hitch weight. If you already have a 5000 lb. hitch and plenty of rear axle reserve capacity, it's a more viable option.
1998 Gulfstream Ultra B/H Ford E450 V10
2005 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 w/ Maxidump insert
6x12 Interstate enclosed trailer
7x16 Bulldog flatbed hauling a 2006 Kioti CK20 TLB
2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
1998 Saturn SL2 toad
|
flgatorgirl
New Smyrna Beach, FL/ Blue Ridge GA
Full Member
Joined: 12/09/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
We tow our off-road rock crawler (about the size of a beefy Jeep) on a 20 foot open aluminum trailer. The trailer is made by ATC (Aluminum Trailer Company). It weighs 1400 pounds and tracks beautifully no matter what the tow rig. Also, because it has torsion axles, it rides very nice not stiff and harsh like our last trailer. We use a Prodigy brake controller and highly recommend this brand. We saved the $200 install fee and popped it in ourselves in 10 minutes.
Our Granite Ridge 31SS does very well with the trailer although we do load the rock crawler a little further back for less tounge weight than when towing with the dually. Most of our camping is in open fields at trailheads, so I can't comment on campsite issues with the trailer. If you are used to towing a trailer, getting around parking lots, truck stops, etc is not that much different than when towing with a truck. If you get a trailer, I highly recommend strapping a spare tire down somewhere on the trailer (ours fits under the rock crawler). We started carrying one last year and were real happy that we did a few weeks ago.
|
|
|
geezer34nh
New Hampshire
Senior Member
Joined: 10/22/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I tow a Road Teck with electric brakes behind our 38' Foretravel DP. I have a Prodigy brake controller and Whitey Ford our white Explorer sits on the trailer and rides in comfort. I prefer the car trailer over 4 down as there is no mileage on the differentials, drive shafts and running gear, and the steering linkage. Once in a while there is a bit of argument about where to store the trailer but I unload the car from the trailer, then disconnect the trailer, then park the coach and hook the car to the trailer and then park the trailer. I have towed 4 down, with a dolly, but prefer the trailer. We also have an 8N Ford tractor that we pull and show. With the tractor on the trailer there is room for the golf cart that comes in handy at large shows.
Brad & Lucy aka the Geezer & The Hedgehog
1990 Foretravel 38' DP
Kitty Kat: Earl
Whitey Ford the Explorer riding the car trailer
Navigation: CoPilot 9 on a lap top
ASE Master Technician
SAE
|
Dusty R
Charlotte Michigan 48813
Senior Member
Joined: 04/05/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
I hauled a 3000lb. tractor on an open car hauler, with surge breaks, from Spokane Washington to Michigan. I was a little apprehensive about the surge breaks but they worked great. My stopping distance seemed a little shorter than without the trailer.
We have a 24' MH on an E-150 V-10. The hitch was up-graded after we were rear-ended.
Dusty
|
ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
Senior Member
Joined: 02/26/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
In my opinion.....
I would never go on a vacation towing a "regular" vehicle on a trailer. Simply stated.....It would be too much hassle...extremely inconvenient. We sold our Chevy Aveo that could not be dingy towed, and bought one that could be towed 4 wheels down, and it was an excellent decision.
We can unhook and drive off in under 45 seconds. It takes 3 minutes to re-hook up. That comes very handy in places where you get locked in by traffic or when there is limited parking. At camp sites, you have two huge things to park, not three.
A trailer has it's purpose, but I think not when vacationing.
Bought new in June 2007, Phoenix Cruiser-2350
Fits inside our garage.
Dingy towing a red Toyota MR2 Spyder
See The Inside by clicking on "View Profile" and scroll down
|
Dakzuki
Carnation, Wa, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/01/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
The down side of surge brakes is backing up from my experience. They tend to apply themselves and need to be locked out to go uphill or against any resistance backwards.
Electrics with a controller like a prodigy are also adjustable to account for the load. Very nice setup.
I guess you know where I lean.
95 Chinook Premier
|
Dusty R
Charlotte Michigan 48813
Senior Member
Joined: 04/05/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Dakzuki wrote:The down side of surge brakes is backing up from my experience. They tend to apply themselves and need to be locked out to go uphill or against any resistance backwards.
Electrics with a controller like a prodigy are also adjustable to account for the load. Very nice setup.
I guess you know where I lean.
One would think that the backing up would be a problem. I backed up that car-hauler with surge breaks on sod with a 3000lb. without any trouble.
Dusty
|
|
|
