| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 166 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.149  Rating: N/A |
I am planning to tow a 2002 Honda Civic with a dolly behind a 26' Uhaul box truck from Cincinnati to Austin, TX. I tow my golf cart on my landscape trailer with my 4106 but I have never towed a vehicle with a dolly which raises the two front wheels. I assume is similar to towing a trailer, but am looking for tips, suggestions, advice, ridicule or whatever thanks | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 389 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 72.187.35.208  Rating: N/A |
Just be careful that you don't get trapped in a situation where you have to back up. I did the same type of cross country trip a few years ago. I stopped for the night at a motel with truck parking in the back and got stuck back there because of construction. Had to unhook everything to get turned around. A PITA to be sure. | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 90 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213 Rating: N/A |
Hey Jim We have use a dolly many times.. no big deal but Len is right backing up is a problem but not impossible. Make sure that the wheels of the car are properly inflated and that the wheel straps are tight plus check the straps each time you stop. If you are towing at night make sure that the tail lights are visible or better yet get a set of the magnetic ones that you can put on the rear of the car. I had the cars lights wired to run off of the tow vehicle but if this is a one time thing the magnetic ones are probably the less expensive way to go Thin cloth between the magnet and car will prevent scratching but make sure the magnet has a good hold. Good Luck Les | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1261 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 99.153.142.249  Rating: N/A |
We purchased a Honda , CRV , just because it can be towed flat , even with an auto tranny. 8 hrs 65 mph , then operate engine & shift thru gears , go again. I would check if you can too,, a simple tow bar is loads handier/more convienant than the dolly. FF | ||
| John & Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 436 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 96.42.5.35  Rating: N/A |
Jim, we used to tow our Honda van all the time behind our class C on a dolly. No problems at all except as Len said sometimes you get caught and have to unload the car, turn the dolly around and head out. That only happened to us a couple times like following a one way road into a park and have it end in a tight turnaround. The other thing is don't try to tow a vehicle backwards on a dolly. I did that once to avoid unhooking a driveshaft. Almost lost the whole rig when it took off sideways on me.Good Luck. John | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 167 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.149 Rating: N/A |
thanks to all for the info and good tips | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 534 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.3.170 Rating: N/A |
We have towed a lot with a dolly. It's like they are saying. Be really careful where you pull into as the car on the dolly will back up about 4 feet. A car 4 down isn't much better but you can unhook in 20 seconda & move both vehicles separately. A car on dolly takes about 5 minutes and always seems to need to be done in the rain or a bad place. If we can't see what's around the corner, we get out & walk the path much like you'd do before pulling a bus off onto a grassy field etc. That little walk can save you big. Sounds like you are moving rather than touring. For a move I'd tough it out with the dolly for a one shot deal. Stop at truck stops, rest areas & the like. | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 628 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.238.13  Rating: N/A |
...technically in road slave land, were many of us reside, this is like a b-train, but in RV land of freedom riders, it is not. The fine line on braking regulations is another matter , denounced by jurisdiction. =if your tow dolly has brakes but not your final axle, this is fine provided that final axle is under the "no brakes needed on tow trailer limits" for the area being traversed, as it is in effect a separate trailer in this configuration(brake-less trailer gvw). Ask the dude at the scale what he would do if it was him. -Combined GVW is still another point of of difference between the two worlds , defined if you must cross the scales or are exempt under gvw or commercial versus recreational. | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 168 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.149 Rating: N/A |
I learned much from all the feedback. Alas, we decided it was cheaper and easier to take the 2 vehicles seperately since we had 2 drivers. Thanks to all for all the good info |