How to Load a Car (TOAD) onto a Tow Dolly - Towing Option for RVers

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  • Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
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    ℹ️ About this Video:
    Marc shows you exactly how he loads our vehicle onto our tow dolly. While the process may vary slightly between different brands of dolly's and vehicles, this step by step how-to-guide will give you a good idea of what to expect, what to pay attention to, and ensure the safe towing of your vehicle.
    Ours is an Acme tow dolly (2011 ish?) and we tow a 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible with manual transmission.
    Please note that tow dollies and vehicles often have different requirements for towing and some vehicles cannot be towed at all. Be sure to check your owner's manual and check with your manufacturer before attempting to load or tow your vehicle. Get the right procedure for your setup.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 127

  • @iggykonrad8368
    @iggykonrad8368 5 років тому +1

    I used a tow dolly for 2 years and could not wait to get rid of it. Took us at least 30 minutes to hook up and if it's raining or snowing crawling around on the ground was a real pain. We found that no matter how well the straps are tightened they will work loose. We found that we had to stop at least 3 times to make sure the straps were tight as they stretched. Stop number one was before leaving the camp ground, number two was about one mile down the road and stop three was at the first rest stop. The straps never did not stretch and our vehicle move at least 6-8 inches backward. Safety chains are a whole story in themselves. I had one knot up and it took me an hour of crawling around on the ground to get it free. The two vehicles we towed were a MINI Cooper and a Toyota van. The MINI towed well but the Toyota van end up with rear suspension issues from the weight being shifted toward the rear and had very high rear tire wear. Now that we have a GMC Acadia and a tow bar we can be on the road in 10 minutes and near have to stop to check anything. We do check at every rest stop. No more having to find a place to pull over and check on the dolly straps. Our tow bar is a Ready Brute Elite with a built in surge brake, works very well and after 4 years we've had no issues.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  5 років тому

      Thank you for sharing. We had challenges with our dolly too, but sounds like you had even more challenges than we did. That said, we were still very happy to have made the switch to towing four down with a tow bar now that we have switched vehicles. We love our Roadmaster Nighthawk, and Invisibrake. Here are links to our latest set up. ua-cam.com/video/8949W9UjCr4/v-deo.html for part one, and part two here ua-cam.com/video/S2p8oeZPU_I/v-deo.html

    • @PSteve1947
      @PSteve1947 4 роки тому

      Loosening straps often result from not enough wraps around the ratchet. Don't start off with straps pulled real tight. Straps need at least three complete revolutions so that the straps bind on themselves and don't slip. @@Rvlove

  • @gregorydugre891
    @gregorydugre891 9 років тому

    I have a few more years yet before I retire and go full time. I find your video's very informative and helpful. I was wondering after watching your tow dolly video if you connect the taillights of the tow vehicle to the motor home. I thought it was required to have the lights on the tow vehicle operational or at least a set of operational lights attached to the rear of the tow car. Perhaps you do attach the lights but just didn't include it in the video. I was thinking of towing four down but watching you I may consider using a dolly. I also like your 3,6,9 and 12 months update of how things are going. I know full time is exactly how I want to go at least for 4 or 5 years but my wife is not as sure as I am. she is willing to try it for a while but your video's help a lot and I think once we get out there she will love it. Thank you for sharing your journey Gregory Dugre.

  • @sungn4512
    @sungn4512 7 років тому +1

    Great thorough tutorial on towing. Thanks for putting it together for us all.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      You're welcome

  • @stevenbarry1998
    @stevenbarry1998 11 місяців тому +1

    Excellent video

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 місяців тому

      Thank you

  • @kellykathymcdaniel8023
    @kellykathymcdaniel8023 8 років тому +3

    For stability I recommend putting on the rv parking brakes. Watch the forward movement on four rv/dolly when you drive up. Will keep the mini from pushing the rv and dolly forward resulting in a more stable platform to drive up on.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      The RV Parking brake is always on when we do this... it's just about impossible to stop some movement when driving up onto the dolly.

  • @timrover
    @timrover 9 років тому +3

    Watching your installation is building up my confidence to acquiring a toad, Thanks Again.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Tim “Tdub” rover Love our TOAD

  • @laurieadairgrove6899
    @laurieadairgrove6899 9 років тому

    I enjoy your videos! With your help I am learning how to help my husband with all the things RVing will entail. We just got our first coach, 34' a used one, but very nice and well kept. We hope to start next summer although not full time as we have a brick and mortar business that will require him to be on site most of the time for a few more years. In the meantime, I will keep learning from you! Thanks!

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Laurie Adair Grove Awesome! Glad you find them helpful. You might also find the associated blog post useful when deciding on which way to tow www.rvlove.com/2015/08/11/faq-pros-cons-tow-dolly-4-down Enjoy tour rig! Used is a good choice, let the first owner work out all the bugs!

  • @theartofwanderlust
    @theartofwanderlust 5 років тому +1

    Very helpful, clear and concise video

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  5 років тому

      Thank you. We did new videos about our four down towing set up too. It was a two part video with related blog posts. Here is a link to part 1 of the blog if you are interested. rvlove.com/2018/04/11/our-vehicle-towing-set-up-part-1-tow-bar/

  • @glb6
    @glb6 8 років тому +1

    We got our first motorhome back in May and decided quickly we needed to tow our car. Last Friday I bought a used tow dolly off Craigslist. This video was very helpful as the seller didn't show me anything. He told me that a license plate wasn't required but my tax commissioner said yes it was. One thing I don't understand is that the straps are identical so why is there a left and right? Thanks again for your video.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      Hi there, we got our used on CL too - glad the video was helpful. Our tow straps are not identical - maybe yours are? Take a closer look to check, for ours the strap /loop is such that is provides proper access to each wheel and would not work on opposite sides - I would suggest contacting the manufacturer of your dolly to see what they say - ours is an Acme, yours may be different. Good luck!

  • @tech3kenny566
    @tech3kenny566 8 років тому +1

    Whoever gave this video a thumbs down is a hater. Thanks for the video, RVLove.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому +1

      +Kendel Lawson Sr You're welcome. :)

  • @mymcvittie
    @mymcvittie 8 років тому

    Great video. Two comments: 1) be aware of local laws, some places require signal/brake lights on the rear of the car being towed, with no part of the car more than 2 feet behind the lights. Your tow dolly lights wouldn't suffice.
    2) I use a dolly with my 2015 Honda Fit, and the odometer is connected to the front wheels, so towing on the dolly doesn't add any mileage to the car. We had a 2007 Fit, and the odometer was connected to the rear, so it would add miles. Depends on the car ;) Towing it 4 down always adds miles
    Nice video!

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      Yes Marc looked into all that in the beginning and because MINI is so short should not exceed length past dolly lights to be illegal BUT perhaps the local laws in some states may be different as you say. 99% of time we don't drive in dark anyway for many safety reasons and personal preference. Good tip re the towing adding miles to toad... Safe travels!

  • @JudyCraigDexterME
    @JudyCraigDexterME 9 років тому +1

    Very informative! Safe Travels and hope you enjoy Maine...

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Judy Craig Thanks, Loved Maine!

  • @LovingAtlanta
    @LovingAtlanta 7 років тому +2

    👍 Very helpful (I'm considering a Mini as a tow vehicle as well).

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому +1

      Love our MINI :)

  • @timcombes9054
    @timcombes9054 9 років тому +1

    Very thorough and helpful! Thank you!

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Tim Combes You're welcome! This is something we would have found helpful when we started out with our research so we figured it may be helpful for some other folks too

  • @BoxinTheCompass
    @BoxinTheCompass 9 років тому +1

    Nice video Marc! Thanks!

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +BoxinTheCompass :)

  • @searaydrivingguy
    @searaydrivingguy 3 роки тому +1

    I use a Mini Cooper on a dolly also the ratchet straps click loose when you take turns what i do is wrap thick tow hook rope twice through the rims and wrap the rope around the dolly frame and hook it down tight then my whole 1200 mile trip from Vancouver to San Diego i do not have to worry about the straps coming loose around turns between the straps safety chains and rope hooks my car is not going anywhere but i am hoping to flat tow next season it is alot of work using a dolly there is days i hate doing it specially when it is raining

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  3 роки тому

      Thanks for sharing the tip. We tie down the straps too, to help make sure nothing comes loose. Agreed that setting up in the rain is unpleasant. We switched to flat towing for our second tow vehicle. Here is a link to our towing related articles and videos on our website. rvlove.com/start-here/rv-setup-vehicles/towing/
      Thank you again and safe travels -M

  • @bird1142
    @bird1142 9 років тому +1

    I love minis

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Zay Buckley Such fun cars :)

  • @dlutkework
    @dlutkework 9 років тому +1

    Nicely done.

  • @roddymc3261
    @roddymc3261 3 місяці тому

    Thanks a lot😊

  • @GaryBoyd02
    @GaryBoyd02 8 років тому +1

    Great video

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      +Gary Boyd Thanks Gary

  • @goodxrvn2053
    @goodxrvn2053 6 років тому +1

    Thank you for the TOAD videos. We plan on using one this summer. I noticed that you do not use auxiliary lights on the back of your car but only rely on the dolly lights. Have you ever had any issue with law enforcement only using the dolly brake and signal lights?
    Thanks for the great content.
    Joe

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  6 років тому

      Nope never had an issue - and now we've changed to towing a Jeep four down. :)

  • @pgicruiser3128
    @pgicruiser3128 6 років тому +2

    Glad to hear a tow dolly can be used for the Mini with automatic transmission. Any additional prep needed for the automatic?

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  6 років тому +1

      Hello, No additional prep that we are aware of when using a dolly. As long as the drive wheels are off the ground. Of course, if you are looking at one of the all wheel drive MINIs they cannot be towed last time I checked.

  • @TwoLips14
    @TwoLips14 6 років тому +1

    What are some suggestions for pulling into a developed campground? Should the toad be unloaded from the dolly outside the campground with the RV towing the dolly unloaded into the site or unload the toad and unhook the dolly at the campground space? Also thinking about using the toad to pull the dolly into the campsite. We will begin dolly towing soon for longer trips.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  6 років тому +1

      Most of the campgrounds we have visited have check in areas that are great places to unload the toad from the dolly. Sometimes during a rush of check-ins, it ends up being easier to leave the toad on the dolly until you get to your site and unload there, especially if you are able to have a pull through site. Pull through sites would of course allow you to disconnect when you are already in your site. We have known a few folks that have vehicles that are able to pull the dolly they get transported on once unloaded, but our MINI was not able to have a hitch installed, so this did not work for us. If that is an option for you, it would be great to have the additional versatility. Thousand Trails campgrounds , where we stay most of the time, allow you to choose your own site. So, it was usually beneficial for us to disconnect at check in or wherever the check in staff recommended, and then search for sites with our toad instead of with the motorhome.

  • @trailertrashtim2
    @trailertrashtim2 7 років тому

    Marc and Julie: Can you explain how the lights work? Are there taillights on the dolly which is wired to the RV?

  • @twoboldlygo459
    @twoboldlygo459 9 років тому +1

    Nice video, Marc. I tow 4-down so it was interesting to see the difference. Are the brakes on the dolly electric or surge? As I'm sure you know, when towing 4-down the brakes on the towed vehicle have to operate in concert with the towing vehicle. I opted for the SMI Air Force One system. It's a little pricier than some of the other systems but you don't have to mess with connecting those clunky boxes to the toad brake pedal - just have to connect a short coiled air line from the coach fitting to the toad fitting. Safe travels!

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +TwoBoldlyGo Our dolly has surge brakes so we didn't need a fancy setup with braking for the car itself. Sounds like you have a great setup with yours! Nice and easy. Glad you enjoyed seeing the other side. You might be interested in our post on dolly vs 4-down and the reasons we ended up going that way. www.rvlove.com/2015/08/11/faq-pros-cons-tow-dolly-4-down/

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +TwoBoldlyGo Safe travels to you too!

  • @sngscratcher
    @sngscratcher 9 років тому +1

    You've convinced me to go the tow dolly route for my soon to be purchased toad. Have you guys picked up much rock damage on the front of your mini? I'm wondering if some sort of barrier might be good to keep the paint chips down to a minimum, as well as lessen the potential for a broken headlight or chipped windshield. Thanks!

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      +Open-minded Skeptic Cool, assume you also read our post on tow dolly then? www.rvlove.com/2015/08/11/faq-pros-cons-tow-dolly-4-down/
      Haven't had any issues with paint chips on front of the MINI - but towing with the dolly is one of the reasons we decided to go that route, to elevate it higher off the ground for added protection. Also it's a 2006 and already quite imperfect, we intentionally bought a cheaper/older car so we wouldn't get upset if anything happened to it on the road as it's pretty exposed to the elements.

    • @sngscratcher
      @sngscratcher 8 років тому +1

      RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett "Haven't had any issues with paint chips on front of the MINI - but towing with the dolly is one of the reasons we decided to go that route, to elevate it higher off the ground for added protection."
      Yes, this is what I was hoping would be the case, and part of the reason why I want to go with a tow dolly, as well. Thanks for the advice! Cheers.

  • @camperatwill3951
    @camperatwill3951 9 років тому +1

    Question? Do you need auxiliary lights and can you back up using a tow dolly?

  • @darrenedger4552
    @darrenedger4552 9 років тому +1

    I would rather just use a tow bar is once you get to a campground it stows away then with a dolly it takes up space at smaller campgrounds or parks.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Darren Boggs We've never had a problem finding space for our dolly at campgrounds in 16 months so far. Even in shorter campsites it slides 80% under our coach.

    • @PalaVR
      @PalaVR 8 років тому

      +RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett Great video!
      You guys have a TON of good info in your blog post on the subject on your website. It's a tough decision in the end.
      I went with the Blue Ox baseplate on Agent Cooper. Had it installed by Sky Meadows mobile RV Repair in Starke, FL back in January for a song. 8000 miles later, I'm still happy I chose to go the way I did. Once the RV is out of the campsite, I can be hooked up and ready to go in about 3.5 minutes vs. 10.
      * Pull up to the tow bar.
      * Fold down the arms on the tow bar.
      * Install tow pins to the receivers in the front bumper if I removed them (which I don't for short stays).
      * Connect towbar arms with the tow pins, securing with long shackle Master Locks that I picked up at Wal-Mart.
      * Put car in neutral, Parking brake off. Lock car.
      * Push car backwards until the tow bar arms "clicks" into place.
      * Attach safety cables to the Carabiners attached to the frame.
      * Attach U-haul magnetic lights to the top-rear of the car - run excess cable underneath the windshield wipers - and plug into the 4-pin connector at the back of the coach.
      * Start the coach, pull the coach forward 5-10 feet, check the arms, check the lights.
      * Drive away.
      For me, trying to figure out what to do with an extra piece of hardware at every site, and (more importantly for me) not having to be concerned about someone making off with the dolly, leaving me essentially stranded until I replaced it, whereas I can take the Blue Ox Towbar and put it in a storage bay, or even secured inside the coach. It's a small risk, but it is non-zero, and wound up being enough of a factor that I went with towing 4-down.
      Also, I cringed a little when the driver's side ramp *moved* in the gravel under the torque of the car the first time you went up the ramp. The thought of torquing the ramp right out from under the wheel *before* you get onto the dolly? Yeah, that's nightmare fuel right there...and there are plenty of examples on UA-cam to make it a valid concern, I think... =(

  • @searaydrivingguy
    @searaydrivingguy 5 років тому +1

    i do this with the same dolly and same car and frankly i am getting sick of it this will be my last season using a dolly i am going with a tow bar all wheels on ground next season

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  5 років тому

      We transitioned to a tow bar and 4 down on our second vehicle too. More on that set up in this related blog post. rvlove.com/2018/04/12/our-towing-set-up-part-2-braking-and-setting-up-jeep-tow/

  • @albertoledezma5790
    @albertoledezma5790 2 роки тому

    Holaaaa!! Hay alguien ahi? Buen tutorial, tengo una pregunta, usted hizo el dolly señor? si es si, que medidas son las llantas y cual es su capacidad de carga? gracias de ante mano saludos de ciudad de mexico

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  2 роки тому

      Gracias. Capacidad es bien para muchos vehiculos. No solamente los pequenous.

  • @johnhawthorne9349
    @johnhawthorne9349 7 років тому +1

    I have the fob key rather than a regular key.

  • @ciaobambinodollclothesbout4370
    @ciaobambinodollclothesbout4370 7 років тому +1

    Thank you for posting this video! We'll need a tow dolly to tow our Ford Transit van on our RV.
    and know nothing.. ;) I was wondering where you stored the tow dolly in a campground, but read in the comments you put it under the RV. Do you lock it down? Do you ever just leave the tow dolly hooked up to the RV in a campground? I didn't see you hooking up lights. Don't you have to have those too?

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      Hi there, we slide the dolly under our RV if the site is short, but if in a longer site, we usually just leave it hooked up on the hitch. I would estimate that we leave it hooked on the hitch about 70% of the time. We usually lock it to the coach by locking the pin (and lock the hitch of course) or when we unhook it from the coach we will often put lock on it so it can't be easily removed and hitched up to someone else! That said, we are probably a bit overly cautious (Marc is ex law enforcement) and we see plenty unlocked so we are sure it's rare for them to be stolen. Yes we do have lights on the dolly, but we rarely drive at night for safety reasons. Our car is very short in length so not far behind the tail lights on the dolly, and from what we understand, if the car extends less than 11 feet behind the last set of lights(double check this), it does not need it's own lights, especially since the RV lights are still very visible because our car is so low. However.... your van would be much longer and taller, so we would definitely recommend that you have additional lights wired for the van because the van would obscure the lights of the motorhome. The nicer, but more expensive path, would be to wire into the actual vehicle. We have also seen aftermarket lights that can be plugged into the motorhome trailer wiring and can attach to your van with magnets. If we didn't have a soft top convertible, we probably would have done the magnetic lights. I (Marc) really like your choice of toad (transit van). Very versatile. We actually saw somebody that built a wood shop into a van that they used as their toad. Judging by your name, I am guessing that you are setting up a sewing room. I think it would be cool to have a van because we could store larger items like bikes inside and could even do an occasional overnighter with the van without taking the coach. Hope this helps.
      Best of Life!
      Marc and Julie

    • @ciaobambinodollclothesbout4370
      @ciaobambinodollclothesbout4370 7 років тому +1

      Yes, I am definitely going to have a sewing room.. :) I make doll clothes that fit dolls like the American Girl doll and sell at European and farmer markets locally.. My husband is retiring in 4 weeks, so after the market season and Christmas, we are taking off for 4.5 months, heading south and then west to Arizona to look into markets there.. Like you turned your closet into an office, we bought a 2017 Four Winds 30D bunkhouse, whose bunk setup turns into a 2 seat dinette, so that will be my sewing studio with a curtain to close it off. ;) The van carries our inventory and market supplies, and I absolutely love it. We just got the 2 seater so we would have more storage, but it's just us, so the dogs can ride in the back.. ;) Not sure if we could go minimalist and just live in an RV full time, but 4.5 months will be a good test.. Please keep up the good work on the videos. I've learned lots from you both.. :) Linda..

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      Thanks Linda, glad to hear it. Love the sound of your setup! Sounds like it works great for you. Am sure the 4.5 months will be a great experiment into the RV lifestyle for you. You don't have to do super minimalist if you have a bigger rig but yes the smaller you go, the more you have to let go of!

  • @chrissjbfd
    @chrissjbfd 7 років тому +1

    Did you add the piece of angle steel that is at the back of your front tire after the car is loaded on the Dolly? I looked at other ACME dollies and they don't have that, but is seems like a great Idea to help keep the tires in place.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому +1

      We didn't modify the dolly at all - except to switch tires and straps - ours is an older model - maybe that's why?

    • @chrissjbfd
      @chrissjbfd 7 років тому +1

      Thanks for the fast response. I build my own dolly based it off of the Acme Dolly design, your video was a huge help.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      Wow impressive! Glad you found the video helpful!

  • @johnhawthorne9349
    @johnhawthorne9349 7 років тому +1

    First time Mini toad owner. fob key in ignition, shift in neutral, remove parking brake, shut down ignition but leave key in. When I arrive at destination the battery is dead on Mini. When I turn off ignition it takes 30 min for car systems to go to sleep w key removed; then the steering seems to be unlocked. Can it be towed that way or will steering wheel relock? Inconvenient to have to wait 30 min but I can't find anything in the manual that helps w key to unlock steering and turn all other systems off.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      Hmmm we are a 2006 Mini Cooper S. We turn the key all the way to where it is ready to pull out but leave it in place. We don't leave it on accessories. Seems very odd. Have you spoken to a MINI dealer/shop? That's what I would do. Should be the same as ourss but maybe there was a change between 06 and 07?

  • @MrMr123
    @MrMr123 4 роки тому

    Thanks for the video, why this and not flat tow?

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  4 роки тому +1

      Glad you enjoyed the video. Our MINI was able to be flat-towed, but we chose to dolly tow it because we wanted it up off the ground a bit more because it was so low, and also because flat tow setups are expensive to install, and it was an inexpensive car. We flat tow with our current vehicle. Much more information on our website, including links to many other towing related videos. Here is a link for you. rvlove.com/start-here/rv-setup-vehicles/towing/
      -M

  • @stevewicker984
    @stevewicker984 8 років тому

    Thanks for the little demo! Gosh I'm on the fence between 4 down and a tow dolly. Do you find it a problem storeing the dolly at campgrounds? Seems to me with a class a coach if you unhook the dolly and put it at the back of a campsite you could back over most of the dolly to save on space. A friend of mine sold his dolly he said it was a hassle hooking up and storing it he has a class c coach.right now we have an Elantra which would require a dolly, if we went 4 down we would have to buy a different car and the tow bar etc not sure if it would be worth the hassle.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому +1

      HI Steve, yes we went through all of those questions ourselves! You are right - our coach backs 80% over our dolly and we've never not been able to fit it on our site. 4 down is unquestionably the easier way to go BUT the dolly works a treat for our low profile MINI. We get a LOT of questions about this and share our answers here - these may help you narrow down the best way for you rvlove.com/2015/08/11/faq-pros-cons-tow-dolly-4-down/ - we figure we can always sell the dolly and probably get our money back if we decide to switch to 4down (with a different toad). Honestly, the dolly isn't as big a hassle as many might think, if you really love your current car and don't want to switch it it's a good place to start and it you don't like it sell and go 4 down - as fast as we saw tow dollies selling on Craig's List, we are confident ours would go in a snap. Good luck!

  • @BigFireDave
    @BigFireDave 9 років тому +1

    Just curious, you said you had a manual transmission, why have the towing doll at all? With a manual you can use just an A frame to the hitch and leave all 4 car tires down on the pavement, cant you???

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому +1

      +BigFireDave Yes you can - here are our reasons www.rvlove.com/2015/08/11/faq-pros-cons-tow-dolly-4-down/

  • @torquedrive23
    @torquedrive23 7 років тому +1

    Who is the manufacturer of the dolly? I suspect it's Acme of which I am considering. Thanks for the informative video, we are planning on purchasing a Mini to tow behind our 2017 Jayco Redhawk 23XD.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      Yes Scott it's an Acme

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      Sorry for delay, we snuck away for an unplugged vacation :)

    • @torquedrive23
      @torquedrive23 7 років тому +1

      Thank you so much. Merry Christmas

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      You too! Here's a an awesome 2017!

  • @brush8738
    @brush8738 6 років тому +1

    hi where did you get your tire straps from? i have a small car like you and size 13 inch tires. the straps online are too big.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  6 років тому

      They came with the dolly which we bought used on Craig's List!

  • @karenmckinzie4811
    @karenmckinzie4811 3 роки тому +1

    Is your mini an automatic? Can I tow my automatic mini on a dolly without any modifications?

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  3 роки тому

      Our MINI was a six speed manual. But... if you are towing on a dolly and keep the drive wheels on the dolly it should not matter what the transmission is. Therefore, you should not need to make any mods to your automatic transmission. -M

  • @nielswil
    @nielswil 8 років тому +1

    Are the lights of rv visible for other motorists? I didn't see any connection between the rv and the toad car.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      +Niels Willemse Yes the RV lights are clearly visible. When it starts getting dark we also turn on the Mini stage 1 lights but we usually try to avoid driving at night with the RV anyway.

    • @nielswil
      @nielswil 8 років тому +1

      Okay, thanks for clearing. I hope one day to do what you are doing. Like your videos.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      +Niels Willemse Thanks!

  • @torquedrive23
    @torquedrive23 7 років тому +1

    Hi Marc, is your dolly a Master Tow?

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому

      HI Scott it's an Acme

  • @thegarceauproject
    @thegarceauproject 4 роки тому

    Towing with automatic or manual

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  4 роки тому

      Our MINI was a 6 speed manual, and therefore was able to be towed 4-down, instead of on a dolly. But we chose to tow on a dolly because it was lifted off the ground more, and reduced the investment as we felt it was not worth over investing in equipment for towing 4-down on such an inexpensive car. -M

  • @RebelCowboysRVs
    @RebelCowboysRVs 9 років тому +1

    I have used a dolly like that an I have to say that I am not a fan. The lack of a real pivot point puts way to much strain on the tow car when turning.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +RCRV We looked into them, definitely some advantages to swivel deck tow dolly, we found there were pros and cons to every towing solution available. But ultimately, none of the swivel decks we could find were suitable for a car with such a low load height as our MINI (or as affordable).

  • @Carlossantos-wg8rs
    @Carlossantos-wg8rs 2 роки тому

    That dolly is old , they have tow dolly that has the wrench on and metal ramps that lock on to dolly

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  2 роки тому

      Yes, the dolly we had when filming this video was a few years old, and the video itself is quite a few years old now. But still gives a good idea of what to expect, and how to load. Other dollies, especially newer ones likely have easier loading and securing options. -M

  • @johnhawthorne9349
    @johnhawthorne9349 7 років тому

    Forgot to add 2007 Mini S, 6 speed manual trans

  • @JamesYGGoY
    @JamesYGGoY 6 років тому

    why does the steering wheel need to be unlocked?

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  6 років тому

      Because the ACME dolly unlike dollies with swivel decks do not pivot so the only way to properly turn is by letting the wheels of the car turn.

  • @davidzinsmeister4779
    @davidzinsmeister4779 4 роки тому

    Does anyone know where i can find these straps???

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  4 роки тому

      Straps depend on tow dolly type. Even ACME
      (the brand we have, has changed their straps multiple times). First path is to check with the manufacturer of the brand tow dolly you have, but you can likely find a selection of straps on amazon as well. -M

    • @davidzinsmeister4779
      @davidzinsmeister4779 4 роки тому

      RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett ive searched EVERYWHERE. For these 4 point snaps. I have the exact dolly in this video. Ended up getting 3 point basket and hoping it works

  • @HavegaswillTravel
    @HavegaswillTravel 9 років тому +1

    hay

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Have gas will Travel ?

  • @docyt
    @docyt 8 років тому +1

    Hate to see what happens when "It's just not enough" ;)

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  8 років тому

      +David Daugherty Can't imagine anything worse than the MINI sailing off that thing and causing an accident! :O Oh the horror!

  • @rickden8362
    @rickden8362 2 роки тому

    If one wheel wasn't perfect, couldn't you just attach the tie-downs, drive 30-40 meters and the tires would settle evenly, retighten the tie-downs.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  2 роки тому

      I often retighten after a short move too. It doesn't need to be perfect, but the better the initial line up, the better. -M

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  2 роки тому

      I often retighten after a short move too. It doesn't need to be perfect, but the better the initial line up, the better. -M

    • @rickden8362
      @rickden8362 2 роки тому

      @@Rvlove To elaborate a bit: tighten the left wheel(your point of view) very tight, attach the right wheel rather slack. Drive 30-50 meters and the wheel will even out...re-tightens, drawing the wheels tight to front stop bar. Drive another 20-30 meters, re-check, and you're done. This does away with repeated steps driving onto the dolly.

  • @fernandosotohenriquez9059
    @fernandosotohenriquez9059 8 років тому

    caterpillar

  • @mariost-jacques7490
    @mariost-jacques7490 6 років тому +1

    your towing vehicules has poor safety brakes cause everything moved once you got on your dolly and your ramps almost spun out from under your toad which can spell disaster for the front end . Your ramps should be structurally part of your dolly to avoid that...not a very good idea to do this on loose gravel with those ramps

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  6 років тому

      We towed with a dolly for 3.5 years with no issues but yes always optimal to do on a solid surface other than gravel if possible.

  • @larryhobbs4560
    @larryhobbs4560 9 років тому +1

    oh man, that looks like a huge pain in the butt! I'm sure you get good at it and become accustomed to it, but I'm tired just watching you. Is there a reason you don't tow 4 wheels down? I enjoy your videos because your rig is so similar to ours.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Larry Hobbs 4 down is easier for many reasons so that's probably best for you. It's personal choice. We specifically chose 4 down - reasons in our blog post www.rvlove.com/2015/08/11/faq-pros-cons-tow-dolly-4-down/

    • @larryhobbs4560
      @larryhobbs4560 9 років тому +1

      Thanks for the reply. You explained your reasons well in your blog. It's all what works for each of us. I didn't have a towed and had to buy one, so one of my deciding factors was that it had to be approved to tow 4 wheels down. We are heading to Red Bay next week to get a few things done at the factory. My wife's family is from there so we also visit them when we are there. Have you been there? Thanks for your videos. We really do enjoy them.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  9 років тому

      +Larry Hobbs Yes, absolutely - different solutions for every person and setup as our needs and requirements all vary so widely. By the way I meant 2-up not 4-down in my previous reply. We hope to visit Red Bay, AL in Feb/March, have heard it's amazing! Glad you like the vids... this one we wanted to do as it is exactly what we would have loved to watch and found helpful when deciding which way to tow... so we hope it helps other folks in a similar situation. But really, the blog post is a better place for them to start as it can also help them decide which way is the best way to go for them.

  • @CosgroveNotts
    @CosgroveNotts 7 років тому

    sounds like you are wrecking your car man

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому +1

      One of the reasons we bought an older, cheap car for towing is we knew it would eventually degrade being towed behind a big bus around the country... this is a 2006 so 11 year sold now, 112K miles, picked it up for a song... we will probably drive that thing into the ground but it's been a great reliable car and we love it and were willing to go to the trouble of a tow dolly to keep it off the ground. It sure isn't for everyone but it works for us and our current situation, what we are willing to spend on it etc.

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 років тому +1

      Oh and it's already been to all of the lower 48 states so we are getting our money's worth out of it! LOL

  • @stevenbarry9983
    @stevenbarry9983 10 місяців тому

    Unfortunately, you didn’t go over whether or not you leave the car ignition on steering unlocked

    • @Rvlove
      @Rvlove  7 місяців тому

      it depends on the tow dolly and vehicle. It's been a few years, but pretty sure with this dolly and car, the steering were unlocked.