| Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing [message #234533] |
Tue, 31 December 2013 00:30  |
BobDunahugh
Messages: 2465
Registered: October 2010
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Karma: 11
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I've toad with a 24 ft enclosed trailer, 22 ft open trailer, tow dolly, and flat towed behind our 78 Royale 403. The trailers were the most expensive to pull. And created the most issues at camp sights. If your gone for a long time. the enclosed trailer provided great storage. But my GVW was at 20,000lbs. The open trailer improve MPGs by 2. The dolly MPG was better then flat towing. But it was a very small amount. As far as storage at the camp sight. The dolly was left outside with a lock in the hitch on the dolly. The tow bar had to be stored inside to prevent theft. For me. I could get the dolly ready to hit the road in just under 10 mins. The tow bar was just over 15 mins. The dolly had it's own brakes and lights. The tow bar with brakes and lights restricts you to just one dedicated toad. Towing seemed to feel the same with the bar, or dolly. Pick what fits YOU. I use all four. Depending on what, and were I'm going too.
Bob Dunahugh78 Royale
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| Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing [message #234581 is a reply to message #234533] |
Tue, 31 December 2013 12:22  |
Hal StClair
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
Karma: -12
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I have all three (trailer, tow dolly, tow bar) and find the bar the best for me. It's a 5 minute hookup and I leave the bar on the coach with a locking pin. You can also buy bars that stay with the towd if you prefer. I find the trailer the best for backing but a pain to store when parked. Not all places have pull through lots and you can get pretty long with the trailer or any combo for that matter. It's a simple matter to unhook the car with the bar to get parked. The tow dolly is almost impossible to back although the tow bar is nearly as bad but I have backed straight line a little a few times. The bar is much easier to handle, especially if you use an aluminum bar. The dolly will add 4 or 500 lbs to your combination and a trailer normally 1500 or more.
There are many options for towing four down. A number of automatics are flat towable and pumps/kits by Remco can be bought or copied to tow others. Most all sticks and most 4x4's (part time) can be towed four down.
Just my thoughts anyway,
Hal
"I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane."
1977 Royale 101348,
1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout,
Rio Rancho, NM
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| Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing [message #234608 is a reply to message #234581] |
Tue, 31 December 2013 17:00 |
Ron77
Messages: 91
Registered: August 2012
Karma: 0
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Just had a thought. I have a complete Remco driveshaft disconnect kit for a
2004-6 Lexus GX 470 or similar year Toyota Forerunner. I have no use for it
anymore, so I would happily sell it. I also have Roadmaster tow bar brackets
for that vehicle. If anyone is interested, call me a six one
nine-733-569zero or email to ron at bigyohns.com
Ron Johnson
77 Eleganza II
Escondido, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Hal StClair
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 10:23 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing
I have all three (trailer, tow dolly, tow bar) and find the bar the best for
me. It's a 5 minute hookup and I leave the bar on the coach with a locking
pin. You can also buy bars that stay with the towd if you prefer. I find
the trailer the best for backing but a pain to store when parked. Not all
places have pull through lots and you can get pretty long with the trailer
or any combo for that matter. It's a simple matter to unhook the car with
the bar to get parked. The tow dolly is almost impossible to back although
the tow bar is nearly as bad but I have backed straight line a little a few
times. The bar is much easier to handle, especially if you use an aluminum
bar. The dolly will add 4 or 500 lbs to your combination and a trailer
normally 1500 or more.
There are many options for towing four down. A number of automatics are
flat towable and pumps/kits by Remco can be bought or copied to tow others.
Most all sticks and most 4x4's (part time) can be towed four down.
Just my thoughts anyway,
Hal
--
1977 Royale 101348,
1977 Royale 101586,
1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
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| Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing [message #234641 is a reply to message #234639] |
Tue, 31 December 2013 20:58 |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
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I am adding electric brakes to my tow dolly to get the on-demand auxiliary braking capacity that Gary just mentioned. All of the necessary parts are available at Northern Tool, brakes with backing plates, drums, and the controller.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing [message #234643 is a reply to message #234639] |
Tue, 31 December 2013 21:14 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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| Gary Berry wrote on Tue, 31 December 2013 19:38 |
Hal just reminded me the other good reason for a tow dolly. If you get
the right one it can have either surge brakes or electric brakes. Nice in
the mountains. Some states require an auxiliary brake system and I think
some tow bars do not come with this feature.
--
Gary and Diana Berry
73 CL Stretch in Wa.
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Yes Gary, tow dollies can have no brakes, surge brakes, or electric brakes. BTW, tow dollies are not required to have brakes regardless of what is on it. There are a couple of exceptions in Canada, however most laws do not allow inter state or provincial laws to impede cross country travel. Tow bars have no "on board" brake mechanisms. All tow systems have pros and cons and personal taste is a big factor. Tow dollies are light, don't need registrations or plates, are almost impossible to back up, are extremely stable and especially suited for front wheel drive vehicles. Tow bars require external braking systems, are light, compact, need specific hardware for the vehicle being towed, can be backed up if your good. Trailers are heavy (sometimes as heavy as the vehicle that is on it), stability is loading sensitive, require plates and registrations, are more work to secure the vehicle, can accomodate all drive types, and require brakes if over 3000# loaded. My personal favorite is to not tow at all.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing [message #234699 is a reply to message #234533] |
Wed, 01 January 2014 10:15 |
tgeiger
Messages: 518
Registered: February 2006
Location: kansas city
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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Thanks for the info Bob...this info helps. Yeah I was leaning to the Dolly as well for some of the reasons you listed. I wanted to have flexibility of vehicle tow and also thought it would be better if I went to another RV. May be a bit before that happens but thought in the big picture of things for me, it would fit the best. If this kind of tow helps the stability and helps for front wheel drive, even better.
I have a couple of XB's myself for tow vehicles. A 2008 thats manual and a 2006 that is a automatic. It appears that the Kar Kaddie is a pretty good one's to consider. Any other one to consider?
Tom Geiger
76 Eleganza II
KCMO
[Updated on: Wed, 01 January 2014 10:18] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Question on toad towing [message #234712 is a reply to message #234699] |
Wed, 01 January 2014 11:52 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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| tgeiger wrote on Wed, 01 January 2014 09:15 |
Thanks for the info Bob...this info helps. Yeah I was leaning to the Dolly as well for some of the reasons you listed. I wanted to have flexibility of vehicle tow and also thought it would be better if I went to another RV. May be a bit before that happens but thought in the big picture of things for me, it would fit the best. If this kind of tow helps the stability and helps for front wheel drive, even better.
I have a couple of XB's myself for tow vehicles. A 2008 thats manual and a 2006 that is a automatic. It appears that the Kar Kaddie is a pretty good one's to consider. Any other one to consider?
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Being in the business, we make our own. They are built to last decades and are heavy. On the retail side, the Kar Kaddy is a good one.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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