RV Towing: Dolly vs RV Flat Tow - Full Time RV Living
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- Опубліковано 10 сер 2018
- RV Towing: Dolly or Flat Tow? Which is better? In this video we discuss the pros and cons of towing a car for RVing with a tow car and the different ways to tow a car. We also discuss which car we purged and which car made the cut for RV life. Finally, what our towing plans are for the future. Be sure to stick around until the end of the video for our famous bloopers especially if you need a good laugh!
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We've done flat-tow and we've done dolly. Let's just say our tow dolly is for sale on Craigslist. We found dolly towing way more complex and challenging (parking, connecting and disconnecting) than flat towing. Plus tow dolly adds even more towing weight (615 lbs in our case). Flat-towing is our way to go.
My wife and I love watching you guys, we are just getting ready to start using our new Montana 5th wheel and traveling the country. You have educated us so much, and we are looking forward to spending time on the open road. Keep up the good work and info and maybe we will run into you guys at sometime.
Thanks so much for hanging out with us! We appreciate it more than you know.
Thank you for this video. Super helpful information! Preparing to RV full time with my wife in a few months. Thanks again!
I love watching the videos you made 3 years ago. What a difference. Love it.
Right! 😂😂
Hubby and I just purchased our first class A so we’re newbies. Watching all your older videos. Thank you guys so much for the valuable information! Helps a lot! Safe travels!
Our pleasure!
We just bought a 2017 jeep trail hawk from Carmax. We didn't want the regular Jeep Wrangler because after having a mercedes benz we were a little spoiled. The trail hawk can be flat towed and is a four-wheel drive. We have panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled seats, leather seats, auto start, cold weather package, etc. pretty luxurious. But if you watch some of the youtube videos, you can take this vehicle off road - almost as good as the wrangler. But this car is a very comfortable SUV that can be used for "regular" driving. The only downside is the gas mileage isn't extraordinary. RVLove just bought one and that's what hooked us in to this vehicle. We love it! Good luck with your new channel - we've subscribed!! :-)
08MarineMan Ok, Ok, you’ve convinced me...you and a few others! Lol. I will go for a test drive and check it out! I gotta tell you Phil is pretty happy about this. Thanks for sharing. We really appreciate the info! Thanks for watching and safe travels to you guys! Go Navy!
if you tow 4 down behind a MH did you add the wiring harness recommended by Jeep.
how do you ask a question on this site--you, me & the rv?
I just started full time and learned a lot from your videos over the past year. At 1st I said I don't wanna tell a car but after driving cross country without a tow car I know I now am definitely going to get one. I already decided I want flat tow and I'm looking forward to your videos on the flat tow process. I should be getting mine in about 3 to 4 months so perfect timing with your how to flat tow video. I'm so low and 70 and anything other than flat toe was out of the question. Thanks for the info on the dinghy towing guide.
Congrats on going full time! Good call on flat towing, it made our lives much easier. We did a video on our flat tow set up when we switched over.
Great video. Love the easy communication between the two of you!
It is not ALWAYS easy! We can both be a bit stubborn....mostly Phil. lol
My buddy and his wife bought a brand new Class C Jayco, and tried using a dolly towing a CJ5 Jeep, they got rid of it after using it once and went with a tow bar and love it! He got lucky, someone gave him the bar for free, another guy made up the bumper mounts for free, and someone else wired it all up for free!
Love the ending bloopers!
Laughing out loud with you in the bloopers! Great content.
Great informative video covering a wide array of options and pros and cons of each. I appreciate your time effort and insight and those who are just starting to look at towing a car as a option should agree. Thanks also for keeping it light and fun.
Glad it was helpful!
I just subscribed. I ended up doing a deep dive into Thousand Trails recently, and one of your videos was very influential in making me think twice. I also did not know about Passport America. After watching two of your videos on towing yesterday, I did a deep dive into flat towables last night. I have a smaller Class C, so I don't want something big. Right now my wife is driving a VW separately when we want the extra vehicle, or a moped on a rack on the back hitch, which has its limitations. The Versa seemed like a prospect, but I found advice that while you could technically do it with a manual trans, you were voiding the warranty. Then I was looking at the Spark, 2022 model preferably. But there is nothing in the country short of an older model with 70,000 miles. The Honda CRV is similarly too old for me. No other small vehicles that I can see. So then I considered the Ford Ranger and Bronco, and the Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee Trailhawk. I independently came to the same conclusion as you. I think I like the Trailhawk the most. Thanks.
Another great video, wife and I have been 5th wheel rvers for 15 years and are looking to move to class A. We have started research and our super glad we've found you youtube and web site. Stay safe .
Best of luck!
We watch your videos a lot. Usually on our TV in the evening. We have not figured out how to click on "thumbs up" from our TV. We love your videos and many are very helpful to us. Although we have had many campers and 3 motorhomes, it has been a while and things have changed so we are learning! We always towed with a dolly and never had any problems. We looked into 4 wheels down towing but can't afford the cost. We have an AWD GMC Terrain we want to take to Florida with us this winter but it can't be towed 2 wheels on a dolly nor 4 wheels on the ground. I have a trailer I used to haul antique tractors to shows. I guess the terrain will be hauled on the trailer. We'll see how that goes! Be safe, see you out there!
Enjoyed this. Very informative, going to be a chase vehicle
This is absolutely perfect thank you so much for all the good information, keeping to the point.. video explanation and humor. I’m a single mom just starting and you guys made me feel more comfortable
Glad it was helpful!
Great information. We just purchased a dolly since we do not have a vehicle that we can flat tow. However, we are of retirement age, so likely flat towing will be in our future. Love your videos. They are informative and entertaining as well.
LOVE THE HOME OF THE BRAVE SHIRT
You did a good job on the tow dolly video, glad you are keeping the Acura, by far the best quality choice. We have experience with both the tow dolly and flat towing. The flat towing does require a good amount of setting up and does require lifting connecting of hitch assembly. So the possibility of straining you back is still a possibility. We towed a Ford Taurus on the dolly and a Saturn (Standard Trans) on the flat tow setup.
Phil reminds me of an old Navy Chief I knew. Got a crazy side to him. Good luck to you guys.
Well he was once a Senior Chief so..... Phil said thats just good training. lol
Love the bloopers at the end !!!!!
Thanks Jim!
Thanks for the help. I broke my back 13 years ago. The vertebrae split vertically and the back half went through the cord. Some nerves were cut through and others damaged. Part of my legs are numb and the rest is in constant pain. So, I feel for you. Nerves generally don’t heal, in fact mine is getting worse. We have a bumper pull camp trailer. We haven’t been camping in 3 months and winter is coming (Idaho near Yellowstone). I can’t hook it up or put the levelers under it anymore. I’m looking at a class A now. From what I say, the dolly is best. The wife has to mow the lawn, and being an Idaho girl, she’s strong enough to move a dolly. We don’t have a car that can be flat towed. And like you, all of our loans are paid. Even the house. I thank you again.
We bought the 2019 Jeep Trailhawk to replace our 1998 Jeep Wrangle 4 cylinder which was a gutless wonder. Plus too high off the ground for my wife to climb into. Live and learn. The Trailhawk is a bright blue so we can easily find it in a Wally World parking lot. We love our Trailhawk! Comfort ride plus it can go just about anywhere! We have always flat towed. Hope to see you on the road. R Villa. BIll and Debbie. Heading to Canada this summer!
Canada! Awesome! We cant wait to explore up there but as with so many places it is on the list and the list is very long! lol
I just looked up the Trailhawk after seeing your comment. Are all of the trailhawks flat tolable? Any information you can tell me about them would be helpful. I'm in the market for a flat tollable vehicle. Jeep Wrangler's are a very hard to find.
Great info guys...btw I have a friend who tows 4 down and he shared something with me that I did not know. If you use your Jake break while going down mountains every time you let off the gas it activates your brake lights and on some tow bar braking systems that is what activates your cars breaks (via the 7 pin hitch system). He was using this system on his first toad and while traveling down a mountain decided to use the Jake break and his car stared on fire because every time he let his foot off the gas, his car brakes would activate and it started to melt his rotors on the car and it stared on fire. He told me if I am going to flat tow there is only one system to purchase and it's called Air Force. Just thought I would share this. BTW your videos are getting more and more polished, looks great and keep up the great work. Vicki and I are so excited to join our journey in a couple of years. Hey also, what video editing program do you use? Thanks Greg & Vicki
This is great information! Thank you so much for taking the time to share. According to our paperwork Air Force was installed by the previous owners (we purchased with 10K miles) but we have not confirmed. Hopefully this is the case as the connection is still on the back. Thanks for your comments about our videos. We are trying to get more comfortable behind the camera and better with editing. Hopefully, we continue to improve. Thanks for watching and please continue to provide feedback! Hopefully we can meet up one day!
We have a diesel motorhome, and it doesn't have a jake brake, but an exhaust brake. I'm going to be doing some thinking and research on your comments, though - interesting. We have a Brake Buddy, an intertia system, and it's a bit of a pain to set up between trips. Already thinking about replacing it.
You guys are so adorable and helpful
Thank you!
Cute video! Learned a lot thanks guys!
Great video guy. One of your most informative and also one of your funniest!! Great points to ponder. Sorry I can’t help you out on the tow dolly. Haven’t used one but good luck on your research. Cheers!!
Thanks! We are planning to ditch dolly in the next couple of months. We dont like her at all!
Love your vids! Always learn something!
Awesome, thank you!
We dinghy tow (4-down) our toad behind our '21 Bounder. That worked out to our advantage because our first big trip included a side trip to the Ford dealer after the Check Engine light went on in the coach. At that point our dinghy became our lifeboat to get us back home before my vacation ran out. We planned another vacation six weeks later that included going back to pick up the Bounder.
You mentioned "Happy wife, happy life" when picking your toad. It's true because nothing rhymes with "Happy Husband". I'm retired now so I'll "See you on the road."
Thanks for the great info!
I loved this video!! Great job guys, One of my favourites!!
Thanks Dean for your continued support! I hope someday we can actually meet up!
Me too! I'm sure someday It will happen and our paths will cross. We will make it work 🙂😉
Great video!
Lots of great information
As usual great video!! You guys are too cute! Hope to meet up one day but for now I appreciate all the info while I aim for my next chapter in 2023.
When I 1st began my luv’n the full-time rv lifestyle I towed a 1981 Honda Accord Hatchback, 5 speed manual trans, via a Blue Ox Tow Bar and totally luv’d the ease of hookup etc. That was done behind a 1991 Winnebago Warrior, Class A, approx 25’ rv. I had no problems climbing & descending the Rocky 🏔 etc.
Although I must admit there were a few occasions whereas the front 🚗 tires would get caught up in some soft sand causing a momentary off-skew situation of which I don’t quite understand why it happened. Possibly the lighter weight of the vehicle being towed
four down or (?). I didn’t have anyone traveling with me to ask why this occurred. Just me and my beloved Akita 🐕, Kiowa Kukiko Kuma.
We are a new subscriber and are trying to catch up on all your videos. This one was timely because we are considering upgrading from a 5th wheel camper to a Tiffin MH. Towing a vehicle will be a new experience for us and we don't know much about the different setups. We have looked at the 33AA and want to see the 37PA as well. Our 41 ft fifth wheel has served us well and we like having plenty of room. We are not full timers but are considering it. Great job on your videos
Thanks and good luck with your search.
Phil and Stacy! you are retired, set income, still young enough to enjoy the journey! thank you for sharing your travels, some I have not seen since the 1950's !
Our pleasure!
Great video. Well formed opinions. Id keep the acura. Probably gonna tow dolly a ford fusion
Good video guys. We went with the flat tow option with a Jeep Wrangler. My back is also worned out, and frankly need to save it a little longer so I can enjoy our coach. Keep up the video production.
Thanks for watching Angel! We are still looking for our perfect flat tow. Hopefully we will pull the trigger by October. Safe Travels!
Hello. Just subscribed, I have viewed your channel a few times and like the info you provide. I am currently rebuilding an old 1987 Fleetwood Southwind to go full-time . The 4 down idea, for me, seems to be the best way.My hitch is only rated for 3500 lbs and this type will be less wear on the engine and transmission. Be safe, have fun and enjoy. Bye now.
We bought a 2013 CR-V just for this purpose, it can be towed 4 wheels down. We LOVE the fact we have a car, to go get groceries, etc. The tow bar we bought has a built in braking system (inertia system), so no expensive braking system. Works fantastic. We have a 32' gasser and really don't notice the car. But that's just us! Thanks guys :)
Nomadic RV we have the CRV on our list of cars. They changed the transmission on the newer ones. Gonna have to go back a few years to find one we can flat tow...hopefully with low miles. Will look into the tow bars you have. Thanks for watching!
nomadic rv , which tow bar did you get ? we bought a 2013 Honda crv also but have not got a tow bar , you,me &rv we found out through our research that the crv are towable thru 2014 , for 2015 Honda went to a cvt type transmission and can no longer be towed
You are welcome 😊
G'day Richard, you are correct. The tow bar we bought is the ReadyBrute Elite RV Tow Bar by NSA www.readybrake.com/store/p4/ReadyBrute™_Elite_RV_Tow_Bar.html. We love that you don't need to purchase or fiddle around putting a brake on the drivers side floor. Hope this helps Paul.
Great video, thx guys.
Hi you guys still towing with the trailer. Good video Glenda and I never miss your new videos. We are working our way south next week. Hope to see you on the road again.... Mike
Hey Michael! It would be great to meet up again! Hopefully, longer than an hour next time!! We will be in TN for the next few weeks. Send us an email if you will cross paths! And yes, we still have the dolly but hopefully we can unload it soon. youmeandtheRV@gmail.com
Hi from down under (Australia) We Used a dolly to tow a little Daihatsu Terios. Behind our Winnebago However I've also got a "Bad back" so we've purchased a Suzuki Grand Vitara to Flat tow. I agree with all the pro's and cons. We used to pull a caravan behind our 4X4 but a broken leg and back injury makes it all but impossible to unhitch, set the leveling jacks etc. Thanks for your video. 10 out of 10!
Thanks Gordon! We love the flat tow set up much better! We can't wait to visit Australia!!!
Thank you for such important information...Excellent...You have helped me so much...
You are most welcome
Photo bombed!
Oh, the other thing to watch out for is that a lot of vehicles need to be started periodically while towing which is bothersome. My Hummer for sure, and a Jeep I believe can be towed endlessly without having to start it up. This is especially nice if you are driving a long way.
For sure. We want simple not 12 step program!
Great video, lots of very helpful info. I had to laugh at the nosey neighbor at the 2:22 mark... 😁
HaHa! Actually, that is the owner of the house. We recorded that video at our first boondockers welcome location. She was coming to get us for something but I cant remember what. You have an eye for detail! lol
Very helpful. Did not know about that dinghy report. Thanks so much guys… Subscribing now 😊
We did. Used it during our search for a new tow vehicle.
We do keep our tires rotated pretty regularly.
we are going on the road with same set up you have.
we are using a tow dolly on a 2019 KIA
we are headed out from AZ to see the country...5 to 6 months...thanks sfor the video...it was great!!!
AZ going rv ing
Have fun!
I always wondered about this. Thanks.
You bet!
I'm glad you mentioned back issues with these options. I just wrecked my back and I may need to switch from a dragger to a driver and I'm thinking flat tow is probably best and we own an Equinox which is one of the cars that can be flat towed. Nice job.
Glad to help!
Great and informative video!
Glad it helped!
Thanks!
I had a good laugh on the end- great! :-)
I started with a tow dolly and it was a pain the back. So I used it one trip to Arizona, Florida and many states in between from Nova Scotia and sold it when I got home and went with a flat tow system. I have a small car, Chevrolet Spark with a manual transmission connected to my class A with a Blue Ox tow bar and a Blue Ox Patriot 3 brake system. I purchased the tow bar and the base plate from the dealer and the brake system from Amazon. This works very well for me although it cost a bit more as I sold the tow dolly and that off set a considerable amount of the system. So far so good. Big con for me with the tow dolly was the straps had a tendency to come loose and had to be checked and retightened frequently. Con for the flat tow, inability to reverse but then again it is not recommended to reverse with the tow dolly, so flat towing wins.
Thanks for the back info. Mine is shot and still I forget many times to factor that in to decisions.
It really can affect your day to day. The last thing we want is to end up with Phil unable to move for a few days.
Wow! Thanks! Not sure if you saw my comment a few days ago? I appreciate this post!!
Thank you for watching Ann Renee! I did see your post and I commented on it! Sorry you weren't notified. I am glad you could use the information we provided. It is info we wanted as we were starting up.
Those bloopers 😁😁😜🤪
At 1:24 you said it will increase your gas millage when towing? I think you meant to said decrease millage. :-)
OK, it is like this>>>>>
A tow dolly is like 8 or 10 X more expensive than a tow bar & baseplate.
A dolly has tires you have to keep inflated & watch for wear PLUS you should carry a spare.
A dollys wheel bearings must be regreased & inspected annually.
A dolly has lights & wiring to maintain.
In camp where will you stow the dolly?
Can the dolly be manhandled and rolled around or must the Rv be used to move the dolly?
Where will you stow the dolly at home?
Will you need to pay a storage yard to stow your dolly when at home?
A tow bar>>>>
You can mount the baseplate to your toad yourself OR pay a shop
The tow bar needs ZERO maintenance.
The towbar is light enough to carry around OR you can get one which stays attached & folds.
The towbar can be stowed in your garage at home.
The towbar uses a seperate light cord. I carry a spare, just in case.
HANDS DOWN the towbar is the cheapest, easiest, most hassles free choice.
!
Great discussion!! We’re in the market for our 1st MH to see if we like it better than our TT. When using the car dolly, are there mileage restrictions that we should be aware of? Like can we tow our car on the dolly for 400 miles straight in one shot? We’ve noticed websites recommending not using a dolly for long distance, but they don’t elaborate on what “long trip” may mean. Any advice you all have would be wonderful. TY - we’re off to the next video to see the flat tow vehicle 😀
In many states if the towed vehicle weighs less than 3,000 lb you don't need a braking system. Any front wheel drive manual transmission car can be flat towed, auto trans cannot. That creates an enormous problem for those of us in the US of A. Manual transmissions are very rare. Except for imports like Fiat. Many are available with manual transmission AND they weigh in at about 2,400 lb. The manual trans also serves as a decent theft deterrent device since most young folks have no idea what that third pedal is for.
Try an overhead mounted short elastic on a loop of rope so you can stretch forward and back - I assume you have a garage when you aren't RV'ing and can manage that. You'll be amazed at how cool it is - max easy core - very flexible - great workout.If you want an alternative - go with basic yoga - get those toes all the way behind you touching the floor - best flat stretch. You can also simply stand and twist, and twist with a kick once you have a degree of confidence -- that's for maintenance!NICE WORK! LOTS OF GREAT NEW INFO - musta been techies - right?
No garage....no house. We sold it all and are full time. But we do go to the Planet Fitness frequently and I have been pushing Phil to do more yoga type stretches. Thanks for the tips!
That was good guys. We are currently using a tow dolly since our Ford Escape CANNOT be towed flat. 😞 Personally I don’t like towing at all, but it sure is nice having our car with us. Maybe we’ll go van size one day...hmmmm.
Phil would never go that small! I think 35 ft is about as small as I can get him to agree too! As you saw ours cannot be flat towed either. But we will see how it goes for us in the future! I think the pro of having the convenience of a car out weighs the cons of towing a car. We will see what happens in the future for flat tow. Thanks for watching!
Nice educational video I did a great job. Cute couple by the way LOL
Great info
Thanks
You look like future Jeep Wrangler owners. We want switch from trailer to class A and will get a Jeep so we can also carry our two 12’ kayaks. The Jeep Cherokee would be a good choice except harder to carry the kayaks full time.
There will be a Jeep in our future and hopefully some kayaks to go with it!! We can’t wait to ditch that dolly!
Oooh! I really appreciated seeing the Fiat 500 towing video section. Just got a used Fiat 500 a couple of weeks ago in preparation for having a tow vehicle. Thanks for all the info!
I did love my green goblin!! Did you get an automatic or stick?
@@todayissomeday - we chose the automatic. :)
That’s what we had. I was just wondering because you can flat tow a standard. If ours had been a standard we would have kept my ride and skipped the dolly. Yup, I loved that car! 😁
@@todayissomeday - We wanted to flat-tow, and were definitely NOT going to deal with a trailer (for our current vehicle, AWD), but were okay compromising on using a dolly. It was nice to see that the dolly was doable with the Fiat, which went with the Motorhome dinghy guides that I looked at...but hadn't seen on video, yet. Confession: I was considering learning how to drive a manual vehicle, if necessary. That's still a possibility for the future, as well as flat-towing. :-) But for now, super-excited about the great gas mileage!!
Did you have to have a farewell ceremony for Green Goblin? Maybe a little grieving period? I can understand, if so. :-)
We started with a 2000 Saturn Wagon 5 speed. So light it didn't require a supplemental breaking, just a break-away cable. Easy but the Saturn is so low to the ground and not that comfortable to drive around in. Plus, it was 5 speed. Upgraded to a much better Blue Ox tow bar, a supplemental braking system similar to the Ready Brake and a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. I (the wife) do all the hooking up and unhooking. Start the car, put it in Neutral, turn the key off. Hook-up takes me about 5-10 minutes. We never have to stop and run the transmission fluid through it since it's CVT. That easy!
That sounds like a dream! We are still using the dolly but hopefully after the first of the year when we sit for more than 5 minutes we can switch it for a flat toe. Safe travels
Tow not toe!! I need more coffee! lol
Some new dollies come with cheap Chinese wheel bearings. Had them fail first trip out. Warrantied but wasted a couple days. Carry an extra set of bearings..
Conversely, had a friend flat tow a new Fiat 500 Abarth behind his new Class B. He wasn't aware a front tire on the Fiat blew out. Caught fire. Burned car & Class B to the ground on I4 here in FL. 😳😱
Since you're going to have to tow something anyway , we decided to go with a travel trailer . This way we don't have two engines and two vehicles to insure , register and maintain . A travel trailer is cheaper to insure , register and maintain . And a travel trailer has more living space than a motorhome because you don't lose living space in the drivers compartment . We can just use our pickup truck to run errands and sight see .
Thanks Scenic Driveways. We thought about that in the beginning, but we didn't own a truck. A trailer is a great option as well. Thanks for watching.
Been there, done that both with a travel trailer and a fifth wheel. Sick of trying to find a parking spot for a 3/4 ton or larger truck when sight seeing.
Great video, guys! And HEY! My worst "back thrown out" incident happened while brushing my teeth! LOL (this is Chad BTW). I researched 4 down towing when we were deciding between Class A and Toy Hauler Fivers... The breaking systems thing is so complicated! Any idea which route you're going to take with that?
That is awesome! Phil is glad to know he isn't the only one who can throw out his back doing something so mundane! The previous owners had Air Force 1 according to the paperwork so we have to check that to be sure. But if so that will help because it is still installed. As far as dinghys we are looking for something super simple. There are enough steps in break down without adding 8-12 more in our tow car. So as of now the only cars we have found are Jeeps (which I am not a fan of) and manual Fiats (yes, its Stacy so you know I love them). Since we are paying cash budget will play a big part in our decision. But research is ongoing......
We owned a jeep cherokee for about a month when we were sure our plan was a class A DP. LOL Long story we'll save for happy hour in TN. 🍻 Not a fan of any of the jeeps? The cherokee and grand cherokee can be flat towed as long as they are the active-drive 4x4.
Yes, I know.....I have them at the bottom of my list which is very short! Very, Very short actually. Only has 2 cars on it! lol
Only the Active Drive-2 has the Neutral setting and can be flat towed. Also needs the flat tow harness for the steering and has a long procedure to tow. better off with a Wrangler...
You, Me & the RV - There are so many more choices then just a Jeep & Fiat; keep researching especially if a comfortable ride is what you might need for back issues etc.
I have an H3 Hummer and it tows great. Since they are not made anymore, if I were you I would go with a Jeep Wrangler. Not only do they tow great, but since they have a transfer case, they do not add miles to the vehicle. Second, and most importantly, they are more versatile when you get to your destination, since they are four wheel drive. You can hit the off road and explore.
We are looking at the Jeep trailhawk. We will call it a compromise! lol
bigger rigs dont really get worse gas mileage, its kinda bottoms out at some point & doesnt get worse after that lol
Great video - informative and entertaining. I see you towed an Acura on a dolly. We’d like to do the same with an Acura RDX (2WD) but the owner’s manual says it can only be done for short distances at low speeds. Dealer maintenance rep says it should be fine. How did you convince yourselves it was ok? Did it work out alright?
Our Acura did not say the same thing in the manual. We didnt have a problem with it at all other than it was to low to the ground to tow without scratching it up.
once you have your car perfect on a dolly... USE pool noodles on a long fishing poll or golfing flag to mark where to drive up on the ramps... attached them to the dolly so driver can see the markers.
I have been using a trailer. It is a pain where the sites are shorter but I can back it in if need be, after taking off the SUV. I actually have a hitch on my SUV so I can haul the trailer to a overflow parking. I am seriously considering buying something I can flat tow.
Roy Davis our research is ongoing for a flat tow vehicle and tow system. I have to man handle the dolly in and around our sites....not fun. Good luck with your search. Thanks for watching.
Get lumbar pillows for each of your vehicles and your back problems will be a distant memory. Car manufacturers have the worst designed seats for proper back position (even the seats with lumbar inflators) and when you couple that with road vibration you end up with everyone with some degree of back pain. At first it will seem awkward or even a little uncomfortable, but once your back gets used to being in the right position your back problems will be greatly relieved. Also, never sit in a chair or couch without a lumbar pillow. Figuring this out was the best thing that ever happened to me. Great trailering info, too.
Thanks so much!
I like to tow a Honda fit behind my RV.
Do you think tow dolly is the best option for it?
Great stuff. BTW whenever handling weight or going up and down, ankle boots will be great for your back..flip flop will burn your toast & back. HTH JP
Glad you have some type of tow for the Fiat. Will make it much easier to bring the Fiat to dealer for weekly repairs. You know FIAT stands for fix it again Tony!!
I loved that car! I never had a lick of trouble with her. I could go a solid month before I needed gas and my commute was an hour each way. Oh well the green gremlin was sold to a good friend.
We tow dolly a Saab Convertible, hate hooking up dolly, love putting top down and exploring. We carry a sprayer, one of these pump gal size, a bucket and a microfiber cloth so we can wash the car with little water in a half hour at any site.
Thats a cool idea for washing the car! I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons with the car. Right now the con is weighing a bit heavier and the pros for the Acura. We might be ditching it for flat tow soon! Thanks for watching and safe travels.
Do you get a lot of rock/road damage to your Toad? We are trying to decide if we should also install a Blue Ox KarShield next Tuesday when our Toad goes in to be set up for the first time.
Thanks!
I loved the turquoise Saab convertible back in the 80s-90's.
Our dolly let us slide our ramps inward. I can’t see yours well but you might check if you can adjust your ramps inward.
We have since moved onto a flat towing system.
So funny! You guys remind me of us! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sweet!! :)
“We don’t need those toys”. That’s what my first wife said 😂
That old woman in the background is hilarious. You should have done a blooper reel of just her.
We were at a boondockers welcome and that was our host! She was checking on us.
Great video. Hey, are you guys flat towing yet? I wanna know more about that site that lists all the vehicles that can be flat towed. Do you have any more information on it? Where can I find it? Thank you.
We are flat towing. www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/
Phil try picking up one sock at a time..... easier on the back!!! :)
Right! I tried to tell him that but he doesnt listen! hahaha
Flat towing with an automatic transmission can be done with a RWD vehicle by removing the driveshaft . Be sure and tape the U joint .
Maybe I missed it, but I assume the fiat was automatic? Because it's a popular (and great) flat tow vehicle if it was manual. We love ours.
Yes, it was. Had it been a stick we could have flat towed it.
Maybe check into Ozone therapy for his back.
My wife and I are looking at getting a van customized from Quigley Offroad. Full size van with 4x4. We still have a couple little kids so we need/want lots of room. And four wheel drive.
That sounds like a good ride!
It's NOT the trsansmission in a Jeep that allows it to be flat towed,its the Neutral position in the Transfer case. You can tow a Jeep in park if you want to.
Hello, I hope you are safe and doing well. I saw you seem to have the same tow dolly as I do. "Tow Master 4900lbs. I thought I saw a emergency brake cable on your dolly. If so, did you add it yourself, or was it already on. And where can you find one. Thanks and safe travels.
Ron, IN,
Our dolly did have a brake cable that came with it. We have since sold it for a flat tow system.
I’m a solo traveler and was thinking the dolly would be best but, now I’m wondering if I should flat tow?!
What are you driving? Smaller RVs may not need the dolly taken off. But depending on the size of the site you may need to remove it. Some people are really good and driving up on the dolly. My problem is the fiat was so narrow there was just no fudge factor. After the day with the wet tires and sand I was done. If you have a wider wheel base this may not be the case for you. You just may need to get out of the car to check how you line up with the dolly a few times. The more you use it the better you will get. The biggest problem will be moving it because it is a bit heavy.
I hope you guys see this. I am at home at this very second one short-term disability and will eventually be on permanent disability for a very bad back. When I say bad I'm talking about a metal cage and screws in my l4 l5 region, stenosis of my lumbar spine, arthritis in my lumbar spine, and degenerative disc in my lumbar spine and my cervical spine. Way too many years as a paramedic.
You had mentioned moving a dolly around at the RV park. Did you do that by hand or did you have some type of a device to help you? My wife and I will be buying a class A in a couple of years and begin traveling the country but I'm trying to figure out ways that I can do it with a bad back.
Have you ever tried the hand dollies with the 2-in ball on them to move it that you can get at harbor freight and places like that? Did you move it by hand?
Any advice would be appreciated!
good stuff
maybe an actual list or chart would be nice .... also maybe sit down and relax😊
thx
You forgot it matches the MH better LOL. Little OCD here