another towing opinion

[stainless 40/45]

Has any one here ever used a tow dolly to transport there 40. I have towed plenty of them with my tow bar and it sucks and I was wondering if I should go for a trailer or can I get away with just a tow dolly. In any case I will buy new just want to get a few opinions before I do.

Thanks

 

[Cruiser Clint]

I have done it twice, and really didn't like it either time. The first was when I bought my 40 and towed it with a dolly behind my 80. I blew through a couple of stop signs before I realized I needed to start stopping WAY ahead of time. The second time was behind a diesel Dodge 3/4 ton, and while it was better the 40 barely fit on the dolly with 33" tires. The dolly was slightly tweaked after that trip.

IMHO a full size trailer w/electric brakes is so much easier if it's within the budget. I currently tow my 40 behind my FJC and am very happy.

Clint

 

[Weedhopper]

I would get the 40 off the ground onto a trailer. But it also depends on how far and how often you travel. There is zero wear on the drivetrain and if you ever had a breakdown on the trail your only challenge would be to get the rig onto the trailer deck.

One panic stop with a good trailer with electric brakes (and it will happen) will make you very happy you were not using a dolly.

 

[mike@dw]

I have done it twice, and really didn't like it either time. The first was when I bought my 40 and towed it with a dolly behind my 80. I blew through a couple of stop signs before I realized I needed to start stopping WAY ahead of time. The second time was behind a diesel Dodge 3/4 ton, and while it was better the 40 barely fit on the dolly with 33" tires. The dolly was slightly tweaked after that trip.

IMHO a full size trailer w/electric brakes is so much easier if it's within the budget. I currently tow my 40 behind my FJC and am very happy.

Clint

FJC with or without a electric brake trailer? I have an 07 Pathfinder that I would like to be able to tow my 40 with and I would think an FJC and Pathfinder have similar towing capabilities. I tried the Pathfinder with just a standard flat bed trailer and that did not work well.

 

[60fj25]

I have towed several times from New Mexico to California and back with a dolly behind my motorhome. The land cruiser still had the tendency to push the rear end of the motorhome around at times. My dolly didn''t have brakes although some do which would help. I had to make new, larger wheel straps because the stock ones wouldn't fit 33s but even on rough dirt roads the cruiser stayed on the dolly just fine. You still should remove the rear drive line as the rear tires still turn. DON'T try towing with the rear on the dolly and the front following. You are really asking for trouble. The biggest advantage of using a dolly vs. flat towing is that you can turn a bit sharper without the front wheels binding and you may have brakes if the dolly is so equipped.

I now have a trailer for longer trips but flat tow otherwise.