| tow or dolly? [message #261092] |
Sat, 06 September 2014 16:40  |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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I can tow the little Ranger pickup four down, I easily mounted the tow clips on it. Getting a baseplate fitted to the Kia is going to run me $400+ if I have a shop mount it, plus abouut the same amount for the plate itself. After a look at the front end, and what has to come off and go back without busting any plastic and making everything fit correctly, I don't think I'll DIY it. It wants someone who has learned on someone else's Kia. I'm looking at used tow dollies. I can have a new one for ~~800 bux, roughly the cost of a tow plate and installation. Plate and install works for the Kia only, dolly is universal so I'm leaning in that direction. I am scouring for a used one as well. Anybody got one they want to sell?
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261098 is a reply to message #261092] |
Sat, 06 September 2014 17:58  |
werewilfs
Messages: 329
Registered: July 2012
Location: Rappahannock County, VA
Karma: 0
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Problem with the used ones is they typically don't have brakes or they are pieces of junk. I went down the "looking into used dollies" road and didn't like the options out there. We finally decided on this...
http://cartowdolly.com/
Has surge brakes, 100% welded, only weighs about 500 lbs and is easy to load/unload.
Picked it up in North Carolina directly from where they made them for $1200 out the door.
Would recommend this in a heartbeat if you can't flat tow or want the flexibility of towing different cars. We tow our Civic Hybrid with this.
Jared & Stefanie Kohl
Rappahannock County, VA
1973 Painted Desert "Onslow"
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261100 is a reply to message #261092] |
Sat, 06 September 2014 18:00 |
stick miller
Messages: 1036
Registered: March 2010
Location: Americus, Georgia
Karma: 0
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I didn't like the tow dolly, but it is the cheapest way to go. I bought a used dolly for $200 or $250. It was rough, but worked OK. I sold it for about the same amount.
The Jetta had a plastic panel that went underneath the engine compartment. First time I pulled it off the dolly, I left the plastic on the ground.
I spent a lot getting the plate installed on the Jetta. Col. Ken and I (well, mostly Col. Ken) put the baseplate (about $375) on the CRV. It required some daring on my part seeing as how we were pulling the front end off my wife's brand new car. I think 5-6 hours between the 2 of us and it looks great.
Bottom line. If you want a dolly, shop around.
Stick Miller
'78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
'76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie" Sold
'84 Bluebird Wanderlodge - "Past Tents"
Americus, GA
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| Re: [GMCnet] tow or dolly? [message #261117 is a reply to message #261100] |
Sat, 06 September 2014 20:44 |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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We just changed from the 09 Honda FIT to a newer Honda CRV this spring. Took about 3 hours to put the tow frame (Roadmaster) on the CRV and about 5 hours to install the lights and braking system. The necessary plastic pieces that needed to come off took about 15 minutes having done it before on the FIT. The rest was fitting the brackets, drilling one hole in the frame and reinstalling the front plastic. The CRV was much more friendly when is comes to running the necessary wiring for the lights and braking system. Because we already had Roadmaster towbar we just needed to change the mounts and that was under $400 including shipping.
It can be a PITA at times, but it does offer you options when you want to tow something else.
JR Wright
78 Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion
Michigan
On Sep 6, 2014, at 7:00 PM, Stick Miller wrote:
> I didn't like the tow dolly, but it is the cheapest way to go. I bought a used dolly for $200 or $250. It was rough, but worked OK. I sold it for
> about the same amount.
>
> The Jetta had a plastic panel that went underneath the engine compartment. First time I pulled it off the dolly, I left the plastic on the ground.
>
> I spent a lot getting the plate installed on the Jetta. Col. Ken and I (well, mostly Col. Ken) put the baseplate (about $375) on the CRV. It required
> some daring on my part seeing as how we were pulling the front end off my wife's brand new car. I think 5-6 hours between the 2 of us and it looks
> great.
>
> Bottom line. If you want a dolly, shop around.
> --
> Stick Miller
> '78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
> '76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie"
> Americus, Georgia
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261138 is a reply to message #261098] |
Sat, 06 September 2014 23:19 |
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Jerry Sitzlar
Messages: 206
Registered: February 2013
Location: Lenoir City, TN
Karma: 4
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werewilfs wrote on Sat, 06 September 2014 18:58Problem with the used ones is they typically don't have brakes or they are pieces of junk. I went down the "looking into used dollies" road and didn't like the options out there. We finally decided on this...
http://cartowdolly.com/
Has surge brakes, 100% welded, only weighs about 500 lbs and is easy to load/unload.
Picked it up in North Carolina directly from where they made them for $1200 out the door.
Would recommend this in a heartbeat if you can't flat tow or want the flexibility of towing different cars. We tow our Civic Hybrid with this.
I have the same tow dolly as Jared. It is a great dolly, easy to handle, and the disk surge brakes is what really sold me. I pulled a Suzuki Forenza station wagon with a Chevy G20 Van across the Appalachians in NY state and I never felt the dolly and car push against me coming down the mountains.
Jerry
Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath...... Lenoir City, TN (near Knoxville)
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261152 is a reply to message #261092] |
Sun, 07 September 2014 07:01 |
mickey szilagyi
Messages: 273
Registered: January 2013
Karma: 0
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If you get a spare tire for the dolly does it mount on the dolly somewhere or do you have to carry it somewhere else? The most likely spot if not on the dolly would be in the towed vehicle trunk.
How do surge brakes work going down a steep incline? Can you set the sensitivity? Do they have some sort of anti-lock or will they lock up if you really hit the brakes?
Mickey
1977 Kingsley, 403, Lansing, MI
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261167 is a reply to message #261092] |
Sun, 07 September 2014 09:48 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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I've had surge brakes on boat trailers and they work just fine. Ones I had were fixed, I never skidded the trailer but I suppose it would have if you really got down on it. About all you can't do is back them uphill. With a car on a dolly, you can't back up to amount to anything anyway.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261226 is a reply to message #261152] |
Sun, 07 September 2014 19:05 |
LNelson
Messages: 335
Registered: December 2008
Location: Springfield, MO
Karma: 0
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mickey szilagyi wrote on Sun, 07 September 2014 07:01If you get a spare tire for the dolly does it mount on the dolly somewhere or do you have to carry it somewhere else? The most likely spot if not on the dolly would be in the towed vehicle trunk.
How do surge brakes work going down a steep incline? Can you set the sensitivity? Do they have some sort of anti-lock or will they lock up if you really hit the brakes?
I have pulled heavy boats on trailers with surge brakes....to FL (and back) up and down Monteagle and the trick is to NOT drive like a madman going DOWNgrade. Slow down from the git-go. I think having your brakes catch fire going down a hill would be something I would not want to experience....BUT...you would not be having 9,000# pushing you from behind either. I like surge brakes, all in all.
Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261264 is a reply to message #261226] |
Mon, 08 September 2014 00:24 |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
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I'm putting electric brakes on my tow dolly so I will have an extra braking system that I can engage whenever I want and have full control of the amount of braking applied. All the parts are available from Northern Tool (drums, brake assemblies on backing plates, and controller), and quite inexpensive. They won't depend on the coach to push against for them to work, and they will be automatically or manually applied via the brake controller. I can also set up a breakaway switch in case the hitch or coupler come apart for any reason.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
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| Re: tow or dolly? [message #261365 is a reply to message #261092] |
Tue, 09 September 2014 06:42 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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I went and looked at a dolly a guy is trying to sell. Homemade, well put together. Tires are shot - dated 1998 - surge brakes don't work, shock absorber on the brake actuating system is shot. I told him new tires, working brakes, replacement shock absorber, I'll pay his asking price, but I imagine someone else will take it as it is. I've too many projects. Still looking.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/for/4641238883.html
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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