dlane83
MA
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Joined: 09/27/2008
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From the little information I have been able to gather on tow dollys, it appears that some have a swivel platform that is the width of the dolly and allows the wheels to follow the motor home while the front wheels of the car (which I assume remain locked) continue to point in the original direction until they eventually realign with the dolly wheels and the coach. One description was that the principle is similar to how a wagons we used to play on as children worked (the car being the wagon body and the dolly tow bar and wheels are the front wheels of the wagon). I have also seen that one manufactuer has something called auto-steer. Can anyone help explain how these dollys accomodate turns and whether one method (if there is more than one) might be better than another.
Don
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CG Dawson
Miamisburg, Ohio USA
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The steerable dollys track (follow) the rear of whatever is towing it. All others cut the corners when a turn is made which means you need to be very observant when cornering lest the dolly may hit or run over something like the end of a culvert etc. The wagon analogy is correct.
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Greg & Jackie
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faucet1
USA
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Don, I can't speak to the Dolly's that have wheels that steer(where the wheels actually turn to follow the tow vehicle), but I do have one that has the bed that moves as the Dolly turns. I can say that when I make a very sharp turn, the bed does not have enough swivel to follow my tow vehicle. The bed actually hits the Dolly frame which acts as a stop. Thus, there is some stress on the Dolly frame and I suppose on the auto steering as well. I try to hold sharp turns to a minimum, but as you know, sharp turns are a must sometimes. Hope this helps.
David
2002 Monaco Diplomat 40 PST Triple Slide
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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We have a Demco Kar Kaddy SS, with the steerable wheels. It tracks very closely to the rear wheels, unlike our first dolly with a turntable.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
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Skip and Norine
Fulltiming since Oct 2006
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If you MUST have a tow dolly, the ones with the ability to have the wheels track with the coach are the best, yet they are MUCH pricier.
Before I found out that tow dollies are a major PITA and before I started towing four down (which was a WORLD of difference better), I started with a dolly (Master Tow) on which the wheels did NOT track.
It was okay, but as another respondent pointed out, sharp turns are not advisable. Not only do the dolly wheels drag and scrape during turns (read: a blow out waiting to happen), but the control is not as great as it would be if the wheels were to track.
So......I bought a Kar Kaddy, complete with tracking wheels, folding hitch, brakes and everything. I bought it new because I couldn't find any non-rusted used ones. It ran me about $2,400 as I recall and it was MUCH nicer than the Master Tow.
This is my view. Yours will vary.
Traveling our country and seeing the sights, enjoying fun-filled days and campfire nights
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The rig: 2006 SportsCoach Cross Country SE
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The Captain: Skip
The Co-Captain: Norine
Furry passengers: Penny & Biscuit
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Xpltivdletd
WV, U.S.A.
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*Don't* lock the toad's wheel. Whatever that may take, don't lock that. No matter how the dolly may move underneath your toad's steer-axle, it will move the steering a little. Or if it can't it will beat the stuffing out of the parts that hold the toad's steering lock. One of those parts is usually a cast-metal housing that carries the ignition-lock, etc.--the first thing between the wheel & the dash that doesn't move when you turn the wheel. It isn't easy or cheap to replace that part if you break it, and locking the steering while up on a tow-dolly is a way to break that part.
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ronfisherman
SE Michigan
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Xpltivdletd wrote:*Don't* lock the toad's wheel. Whatever that may take, don't lock that. No matter how the dolly may move underneath your toad's steer-axle, it will move the steering a little. Or if it can't it will beat the stuffing out of the parts that hold the toad's steering lock. One of those parts is usually a cast-metal housing that carries the ignition-lock, etc.--the first thing between the wheel & the dash that doesn't move when you turn the wheel. It isn't easy or cheap to replace that part if you break it, and locking the steering while up on a tow-dolly is a way to break that part.
My Demco Kar Kaddy manual says to "Engage towed
vehicle parking brake. Shift loaded car into "park" and lock
steering wheel with front tires in a straight position. If the
car does not have a locking steering column the steering
wheel must be tied securely with front tires in a straight
position."
I have towed my Malibu Maxx over 20,000 miles this way.
2004 Gulf Stream Endura 6340 D/A
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1fastdad
mo.
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Before I bought a tow dolly A friend loaned me one with the turn table. It didn't turn as sharp as my MH could and when I was going through parking lots you could hear the wheels sliding. I bought a Demco KarKady SS and itgoes where I go And the steering has never hit the limits. You do lock the steering wheel. In my opinion this is the best set up.
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Buck62
Charleston, South Carolina
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ronfisherman wrote:Xpltivdletd wrote:*Don't* lock the toad's wheel. Whatever that may take, don't lock that. No matter how the dolly may move underneath your toad's steer-axle, it will move the steering a little. Or if it can't it will beat the stuffing out of the parts that hold the toad's steering lock. One of those parts is usually a cast-metal housing that carries the ignition-lock, etc.--the first thing between the wheel & the dash that doesn't move when you turn the wheel. It isn't easy or cheap to replace that part if you break it, and locking the steering while up on a tow-dolly is a way to break that part.
My Demco Kar Kaddy manual says to " Engage towed
vehicle parking brake. Shift loaded car into "park" and lock
steering wheel with front tires in a straight position. If the
car does not have a locking steering column the steering
wheel must be tied securely with front tires in a straight
position."
I have towed my Malibu Maxx over 20,000 miles this way.
Absolutely right, lock the front wheels on a Demco Kar Kaddy 460. The cars front steering wheels turn on the dolly bed to track with the motorhome so the dolly does all the work of turning with the motorhome. You do not want your towed car wheels moving at the same time the dolly is making turns. one thing to remember on the Demco Kar Kaddy 460 is do not forget to pull the pin that releases the wheel bed to allow it to turn. In my opinion the Kar Kaddy 460SS is the best dolly on the market, pricey but the best. I used one for two years before going 4 down and did not a lot of investigations into a two dolly's before choosing the Kar Kaddy.
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dbates
Marion, Indiana
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I second 1fastdad's comments. I have a Demco KarKaddy and have done as tight as possible 360 degree turns with no problem. Its follows right behind & the toad never gets near the MH. I do notice when parked very close to a curb and pulling away at a very sharply angle that the dolly tends to go in the opposite direction for a very short distance & its wheel will rub against the curb. Just make sure you allow reasonable distances from the curb and to pull away.
I’ve pulled with the KarKaddy for over 30,000 miles and as they recommend have always lock the front wheels in forward alignment when loaded.
Some complain that dolly wheel straps will come loose & mine did once on my 1st long trip (over some rough roads). Then I found a better way to strap down & have never had a problem since. Instead of parking the front wheels against the forward stop (as Demco suggests) I park them in the middle of the wheel plate. With the wheel against the front stop the straps will not slide over the top of the wheel as you tighten; thus, limiting tension behind the wheel. By parking at the mid-point it allows the wheels to roll forward maintaining equal tension on both sides of the wheel as you tighten.
That said, if I had a toad that could be pulled four down and planned to keep it for a VERY LONG time (cost too much when you change toads) I would pull 4 down. I’ve had no problems finding dolly storage in CGs and it doesn’t take much longer to load & unload. But as I get older & have more problems getting up & down to connect/disconnect the straps & chains (especially in bad weather) I’m thinking I might need to consider going 4 down.
Good luck with your decision.
Dave
Plus New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Nova Scotia
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