rgk6868
Michigan
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Joined: 10/27/2007
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any thoughts on using a car trailer to haul a car around? It seems easier than mounting brackets on every car you want to tow. It also is possible to back up.
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C5man
Maggie Valley, NC
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Joined: 10/17/2006
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Problem is, when you reach your destination, mostly likely a CG, you have three units to park -- MH, toad, and that humongous trailer. Some CGs have separate, extra vehicle parking; few have RV sites where all three will fit. Towing flat is as easy as it gets, eliminating a dolly or trailer. Now if you need to transport your Ferarri from one high-end RV Resort to another, where you meet your chauffeur with the Bently, maybe that's a different story. 
* This post was
edited 09/01/08 06:06pm by C5man *
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Southwind98
Maryland
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Joined: 01/27/2007
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Agree with C5man "Towing flat is as easy as it gets". I can unhook in a couple of minutes and back the RV into the site (if it is a back-in site) and park the jeep in front of the RV.
Will & Michelle
2008 Fleetwood Bounder 38P
1990 Jeep Wrangler
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Vet Man
Ct. & Florida
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Joined: 09/28/2003
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I tow my Pontaic Soltice on a flat bed trailer and have never had a parking problem. Campgrounds have been willing to provide me a place to park the trailer. This car is rear wheel drive 2 seat sports car and was my best and only way to take it with me. I also have a 4x4 chevy Colorado that I tow 4 wheels down. It is quicker to hook-up. I do like the ability to back up, the trailer and having elect brakes rather than a Brake Buddy or other Toad brakes. If I had the vehicle that could not be towed 4 down, I would considered the flat bed as a good option.
2008 Itasca Sunrise 35A
2006 44ft Breckenridge
2008 Honda CRV Toad
2007 ZR1 Colorado Toad
2008 Pontiac Solistice GXP "Brazen Orange"
2008 26ft Car Mate-Car
"We Traveled To Alot Of Different Places While On Vacation, Until The wife Asked Directions"
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bacollins
Lawrenceburg, IN
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Joined: 11/21/2004
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For me, the problem is dragging around the extra weight of the trailer. With flat towing there is no tongue weight on the hitch and far less weight to pull. Besides that, the trailer weight can push the GCVWR of the MH over the limit.
'92 Itasca Sunflyer P series Chevy
'99 Wrangler Toad
'99 Cherokee Toad
'00 Yamaha WR 400
'05 KTM 450 EXC
'92 Honda 750 Nighthawk
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kalynzoo
Los Angeles , California
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Joined: 12/30/2005
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Yes, and No. I used a dolly for 20 plus years, permitting me to use different cars for different trips with the family. Large car, small car. But the dolly is hard on the back and knees, and it does have to be stored. Some campgrounds require it be stored off site, in a storage yard (not many but Outdoor Resorts and a few others). A dolly with surge brakes cannot be backed. A dolly without surge is dangerous on hills. And backing with a dolly is a no no as you cannot control the direction of the car. If you plan to change cars every year, or it is a leased car, a dolly is great. As you age, you will appreciate a tow bar.
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Badeye
Bonaire GA
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Joined: 03/06/2003
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I use a 21 ft. overall, 17.5 ft. bed Featherlite aluminum flat bed car hauler to haul either my truck or PT Cruiser or maybe the Camry. That is the beauty of it, I can carry which ever one I need for that particular trip. Have not had any problem parking the trailer so far. Just completed a 5600 mile, two month trip and had to disconnect three times on the complete trip. No problems backing the trailer with the motorhome using the backup camera and the mirrors. This is something you cannot do with a dolly or flat towing. I know the advantages of flat towing and appreciate them. However, I also know that there are also advantages to the trailer. I have four wheel electric brakes on the trailer that I know work and not some added on system that was not designed as part of the vehicle. I can continually monitor the connection of the brakes and the braking force being applied. I also do not have to worry about destroying the front end of my vehicle or the front tires, both problems that I have seen on flat towed vehicles. To each his own, but I will put up with the extra couple of minutes required to load or unload the car/truck on the trailer for the added safety and protection for my vehicle.
Badeye
"No one can guarantee success, only effort."
Bob & Fran
2005 Coachmen Sportscoach Elite 40 ft DP
2003 PT Cruiser
Featherlite Car Hauler
FMCA F324606
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Gary Franks
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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When I first started RVing in my motorhome, I went without a toad for awhile and studied other RVs and how they pulled their toads. At the time, I had a front wheel drive Nissan and a rear-wheel drive Lincoln Town Car.
I kept the Nissan for awhile, thinking that I would put it on a front wheel dolly and tow it. The first time that I saw someone hook up their car on a front wheel dolly, I knew that wasn’t for me.
Then I thought that I might get a flatbed trailer for the Lincoln. Then I watched someone unload their Cadillac from a flatbed trailer; that wasn’t for me either.
Since my travel partner is not able to help with such tasks, I needed something easily done by one person.
Therefore, I decided to bite the bullet and equip the Lincoln for flat towing. I had to add the Blue Ox baseplate, a Remco disconnectable driveshaft and the U.S. Gear Unified Tow Brake to the Lincoln.
It wasn’t cheap. I think I spent more on hooking up the Lincoln than I got out of selling the old Nissan.
But I’m glad I did. I feel secure in towing. It’s easier to hook up and disconnect.
Sure, I can’t back up. There has been a three or four times over the past three years (of full-timing) that I’ve goofed up and had to unhook to turn around.
I just bought a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and I had a Blue Ox baseplate put on it and I will be adding a Unified Tow Brake to it also (I kept the Lincoln so I couldn’t move that brake system).
For me, the only advantage to towing on a flatbed trailer would be the ability to have the toad completely covered to keep it clean while being towed (but then I’d have to wash a trailer too).
'05 Fleetwood Bounder Diesel 39Z | Datastorm F2 Satellite Internet | Toad1: '03 Lincoln Town Car | Toad2: '08 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited 4WD
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