Ah the old Dolly vs four down argument. Just like Ford vs Chevy.
There are pros and cons to each. Lots of personal reasons for each.
But...
Next time you are driving around, look to see how many tow four down and how many tow with a dolly. Typically at least 80% of folks tow four down. Hum, there must be something good about towing four down - ya think?
Nobody here is going to change anyone's mind on how they prefer to tow. I've tried both and I'll stick with four down. My choice, not yours.
Effy wrote: Why does everyone keep saying dollys need plates? They don't.
You mean license tags/plates? Some states require them for tow dollys and many don't(don't ask me which ones, cause I don't know, but some do). NYS does not require them on a dolly, but will sell them to you for your tow dolly if you are going to pass thru another state where they are required.
If plates are not required for a dolly in your state they are not required in any State you pass through, as all State recognize your Home State licensing requirements, just like driver licenses for MH's.
Used a dolly for 5 years with no problems, as our vehicle was FWD and could not be towed 4 down. Much less expensive they buying all of the equipment to tow 4 down and more versatile.
Arnie
2003 Travel Supreme MH
38KSO1 Cummins ISC 350HP
2004 Honda Pilot w/SMI Air Force One Brake Sys.
1963 Pontiac Grand Prix 20' Enclosed Car Trailer
ThunderingQuiet wrote: Ah the old Dolly vs four down argument. Just like Ford vs Chevy.
There are pros and cons to each. Lots of personal reasons for each.
But...
Next time you are driving around, look to see how many tow four down and how many tow with a dolly. Typically at least 80% of folks tow four down. Hum, there must be something good about towing four down - ya think?
Nobody here is going to change anyone's mind on how they prefer to tow. I've tried both and I'll stick with four down. My choice, not yours.
Your opinions will vary.
Maybe it's geography. When I take notice it's usually more like 80% dolly. Hmm.
ThunderingQuiet wrote: Ah the old Dolly vs four down argument. Just like Ford vs Chevy.
There are pros and cons to each. Lots of personal reasons for each.
But...
Next time you are driving around, look to see how many tow four down and how many tow with a dolly. Typically at least 80% of folks tow four down. Hum, there must be something good about towing four down - ya think?
Nobody here is going to change anyone's mind on how they prefer to tow. I've tried both and I'll stick with four down. My choice, not yours.
Your opinions will vary.
Maybe it's geography. When I take notice it's usually more like 80% dolly. Hmm.
I've used both and believe it comes down to personal preference, unless there's no way you can tow your particular vehicle 4-down, in which case a dollie or trailer will be your only solution. You should have braking, either supplemental for the toad or on the dolly, for any vehicle over 3000lbs. Either way, you'll have to pay extra for the brakes. What to do with the dollie when you get your destination? I've been at a couple of locations where I had no room to maneuver (sp) the dollie under the MH. All in all, I would go 4-down if I still had a MH.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
We ran into a problem with our Escape too. It can't be towed 4 down, can't be towed on a dolly. Too expensive to buy a different car for camping since this is paid for, so we opted for an aluminum open wheel trailer. We checked for a kit for the driveshaft, but they don't make one. Since the trailer is so lightweight, we can tow it with the Escape and will park in overflow if need be.
jk31668 wrote: i am not sure on this but i was told that with 4 wheels down the odometer continues to run therefore the miles rack up even tho it isnt being driven so a dolly would prevent that.
That might be true with the older mechanical speedometers/odometers, the ones that are hooked up with a flexible cable from the instrument cluster to the transmission.
But all of the cars/trucks I've bought in the last 20 years have had electronic odometers, and I'd venture a guess that it's very rare to see a mechanical odometer these days (although I'm sure there are still a bunch on the road.) With the electronic ones, as long as the dash board is not powered up (ignition is off, or as ThunderingQuiet points out the correct fuse is pulled) then the odometer shouldn't rack up miles. I know mine for sure doesn't (I don't have a steering wheel lock, so I don't need a key in the ignition, and the ignition is not turned on.)
crimmps49 wrote: We ran into a problem with our Escape too. It can't be towed 4 down, can't be towed on a dolly. Too expensive to buy a different car for camping since this is paid for, so we opted for an aluminum open wheel trailer. We checked for a kit for the driveshaft, but they don't make one.
Exactly the situtation I ran into the with the wife's Escape, which would've made a good toad for our purposes. Instead of a trailer, fortunately I had the option to set up my Avalanche as a toad. It's a lot heavier than the Escape, but well within my tow capacity. While my truck can be towed four-down, it's another one that cannot be towed on a dolly. I'm very happy towing four down, but I would've considered a dolly if the situation was different. I was "this close" to buying a car hauler trailer a couple years before I got the MH, and if I had the car hauler already, I probably would've just used it to pull the Escape around.
It's been said before, and will be said until the end of time: no one solution works for everyone. This one will never be definitively resolved, just like the gas/diesel arguments...
2007 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40PDQ LE 400 ISL Cummins/Allison
2002 Chevy Avalanche toad
Inside: Him, Her, and a pack of little furballs...
I would have to throw my vote with ThunderQuiet and say I see far more four down towing than dolly's. Even though I have not had any trouble with my dolly, if my DW and I are fortunate enough to be able to full time I am quite sure then we too would go the four down route.
Had a Ford Escape to and loved it, too bad the all wheel drive makes them un-towable in any fashion. Dang!
I've owned both.....can 't say I was a big fan of the tow dolly.
1. Straps came loose and had to be checked at every stop.
2. Once in a campground you have to put it "somewhere" and many sites just aren't that big.
3. Hooking up takes about 5+ minutes and in the rain it was a pain.
4. Another set of tires to replace and check pressure.
5. Purchase another license plate for it.
4 Down.....hooked up in 3 minutes, low to no maintenance.
Like someone said, it just depends on IF your car can be towed 4 down.
Jim , MJ & Spirit of Sambuca Bear
"He's one big Newfie"
Dynamax Ultra 450UL
450 MBE
Jeep Sahara Toad
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