| Author | Message | ||
| JRT (209.190.8.177) Rating: N/A |
What are the pro's and con's to towing flat or with a dolly? I'm able to flat tow my Saturn LS2,but only at 65mph max. So at times I've caught myself going faster.So I'm thinking on a dolly. With a MC-9 would I also need Aux. brakes? | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.38) Rating: N/A |
The big con to towing with a dolly or flat (four-down) is you cannot back up more than a couple feet. If your vehicle is able to be towed 4-down, it is a lot easier than messing with a dolly. I can't think of any advantage a dolly has over towing four-down. I use a dolly only because I have to for my CRX. The laws vary from state to state on aux. braking systems. My toad is very light so I don't use any aux. system. Never been pulled over. Scott | ||
| Quest (198.29.191.147) Rating: N/A |
The advantage of towing with a dolly is you can tow a car or other vehicle that is unable to lube its parts without the engine running. I have found the dolly pretty much follows the vehicle just like a car that is down all 4. Its true, dollies dont like to back up much, but you can back up some, just be sure you dont jack-knife and damage your car or bus, have someone back there watching what is happening and back up slowly. The Dis-advantage is you have to have a place to keep it, especially when you are camping, and you need to chain it to the vehicle so it is not stollen. I can honestly say, If I never had a dolly, there would have been a lot of times I would not have been able to have a car with me. So I can't say that they are entirely bad but there are'nt many on this board that use them. Hope I answered your question. q | ||
| FAST FRED (209.26.115.228) Rating: N/A |
Small car like VW stick shift or Saturn and flat tow is easiest to live with. If you need a Hummer or Limo where you go , rent one. FAST FRED | ||
| Ed Roelle (68.60.57.219)
Rating: N/A |
I have a dolly and have towed numerous cars with it for about 8000 miles. I then bought a Remco transmission pump and installed it in a Pontiac Montana with a Blue Ox towbar. I find there is no comparison. It is massively easier to attach vehicle. Also, if there is a point where the tow vehicle must be removed to turn around (which has happened to me twice), the difference is 5 minutes vs. 30 minutes. Also, I would ask why the 65 MPH limit with the Saturn. May be a concern for foaming of the transmission fluid - which causes loss of lubrication. Ed Roelle Flint, MI | ||
| Frank Allen (205.188.209.11) Rating: N/A |
Have a high end dollie and have pulled it 75 with a minivan aboard,never had a problem and the 06 dont seem to know it is back there, cant back up more than a few feet so i have to be careful and not get where i have to, i use the lights on the vehicle wired into the bus and this works well for me, backing up is not an option in any case or at least not far, i like it just fine , it is chained to the bus. Frank Allen 4106 | ||
| Peter E (Sdibaja) (64.165.8.244)
Rating: N/A |
I prefer a tow bar… there have been a few times where I had to unhook to make it past a tight spot (in town and in the mountains). I can unhook and move the toad solo in a couple of minutes, hook back up and get on my way solo too. The trick is to drive the toad to the back of the bus, drop the bar on the ball, release the e-brake and go… can’t do that with a trailer Peter | ||
| Don KS/TX (205.187.92.112)
Rating: N/A |
I agree that towbars are many times more pleasant to use than a tow dolly, I have done both. When I asked Saturn about the 65 mph thing, they could give me no reason for the limit, thought it came about from liability interests. I am on my second Saturn (lst one went well over 200k) and 75-85 speeds never hurt a thing. | ||
| Johnny (67.241.232.30)
Rating: N/A |
Tow dollies are a pain in the you-know-where. I plan to tow a 4WD Jeep XJ Cherokee or a 4WD K-5 Blazer diesel 4-down most of the time, or maybe my friend's 3/4-ton Dodge Power Wagon 4x4. The current toad (behind my friend's 1972 RevCon FWD) is a rather well-used  1980 VW Rabbit pickup--2500lbs, cheap ($50 & a used VCR), durable (probably over 400K), thrifty (30+MPG, 1.8 gas engine & a 4-speed manual), & stood up to recently being towed 50MPH in second gear for ~20 miles with no apparent damage. Oops. |