A car tow dolly is used for towing a front-wheel drive car behind a camper or RV. It works by elevating the front wheels of the vehicle that is being hauled. There are actually three types of towing equipment to choose from: a tow bar is used for pulling a car with all four wheels on the road, a trailer is used for pulling a car will all four wheels elevated, while a tow dolly is used to haul a car with front wheels up and rear wheels down. Your choice depends on the weight and transmission configuration of the vehicle that is going to be towed, the amount of time you are willing to spend for the setup, and the amount of money you have.
Although tow bars are more favored these days, you will be surprised to know that many people still use tow dollies. One of the best things about this equipment is that it can be used for pulling an automatic transmission car. If you want to use a tow bar, you will have to install additional accessories on your car such as lube pumps and axle disconnects to protect the transmission system. The car tow dolly is also odometer friendly. On some vehicles, the odometer will still record the distance traveled while the front wheels are rolling even when the engine is off. To overcome this problem, you should use a car dolly.
As mentioned previously, you also need to consider the type of vehicle that is going to be hauled. Keep in mind that different transmission types require different towing equipments. Tow dollies are not suitable for four-, rear-, or all-wheel drive vehicles. If you insist on loading your four-wheel drive car on a tow dolly, the transmission of your car will be shot unless you disconnect the driveshaft beforehand.
You also need to take into account the weight of the vehicle that is going to be towed. A car dolly can weigh more than 500 lbs so it is more suitable for hauling small cars like sedans. For better safety, you can install additional accessories on the equipment such as onboard brakes, extra brakes, and lights. Before you hit the road, make sure that everything is in place and double check all the hook-ups. After traveling about 100 feet, check the safety chains, coupler, straps, bolts, cables, and tire straps, and make sure that they are still in place. Recheck these accessories after 5 miles and again every 50 to 100 miles thereafter.
