Car Tow Dollies Suck

Подписаться 222 тыс.

Просмотров 98 тыс.

50% 1

I recently had to tow my 2008 Acura TL from Indianapolis to Cincinnati. The most affordable solution for that was a car tow dolly. I love that car tow dollies are so affordable, but I feel less positive about them when I use them. In this video I talk about the pros and cons of using car tow dollies.
What are your experiences with car tow dollies?
Thanks for watching!
#ETCG1Video #ETCGBlackura #ETCGDadsTruck
Subscribe to my other channel EricTheCarGuy: ru-vid.com...
Become a Premium Member of EricTheCarGuy.com: www.ericthecarguy.com/why-bec...
My Patreon Account: / ericthecarguy
The best place for answers to your automotive questions: www.ericthecarguy.com
EricTheCarGuy FAQ Page: www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/
Info
Car Dolly vs Car Trailer: www.move.org/trailer-vs-dolly/
Tools (affiliate link)
Wheel Dollies: amzn.to/3kYqp1H
Related Videos
2008 Acura TL Update, Was it Worth $200?: • 2008 Acura TL Update, ...
First Time Towing with Dads Truck: • First Time Towing with...
First Time Towing with Airbags: • First Time Towing With...
How To Install and Connect a Trailer Brake Controller: • How To Install and Con...
How To Install “Helper” Airbags on Your Suspension: • How To Install “Helper...
I’m Losing My Shop: • I’m Losing My Shop
How Much Did My $200 Acura TL Actually Cost?: • How Much Did My $200 A...
The Value of a Reliable POS: • The Value of a Reliabl...
How Much Should a Cheap, Reliable Car Cost?: • How Much Should a Chea...
2003 Honda Pilot Inspection, This Thing Needs Help: • 2003 Honda Pilot Inspe...
#ETCGHackHawk Playlist: • 2003 Honda Pilot Inspe...
Type R Playlist: • EricTheCarGuy Gets an ...
Dads Truck Series: • #ETCGDadsTruck Build I...
The Fairmont Project: • ETCG Gets a New Car! -...
**Answers to your automotive questions found here: www.ericthecarguy.com/faq
Social Network Links
Facebook: EricTheCarGu...
Twitter: / ericthecarguy
Instagram: / ericthecarguy
Wanna see more stuff like this from ETCG? Information on Premium Membership: www.ericthecarguy.com/premium...
Stay Dirty
ETCG1

Авто/Мото

Опубликовано:

21 ноя 2021

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 570

@66towing99 2 года назад

No Sharp turns, no backing up, a little of planing ahead and Dolleys are life savers.

@1Hope4All 5 месяцев назад

Not in my case! My car was towed by a dolly! It messed up my car! The steering wheel is crooked while I'm driving straight!

@realdeal9436 4 месяца назад

@@1Hope4Alljust get an alignment

@damnoldguy 2 года назад

The dollies I've used had a locking pin on it that would keep it from pivoting which made backing up fairly easy. A trick for loading a non running vehicle is to apply the parking brake and or blocking the back wheels, put the vehicle in neutral and back the dolly under it. It's a bit tricky but it does work. Of course it helps to have the locking pin.

@toddmccarter45 2 года назад

To back up one that doesn't lock, always start with the whole rig in a straight line. Back very slowly, and any time the car starts to go off course pull up, with some practice you may be able to correct it a but, but either way theres gonna be a lot of pulling up

@patrickmoodabe9728 2 года назад

@@toddmccarter45 in other words. No 😂

@timothykeith1367 Год назад

If I modified a tow dolly to lock so it would not pivot , then I could back up ?

@damnoldguy Год назад

@@timothykeith1367 Sure, I've seen them with a hole drilled in it and a bolt in the hole.

@miketuch 2 месяца назад

OUTSTANDING COMMENT!!!

@JohnnyTalia 2 года назад

40+ years ago I had a '74 Honda Civic shred a timing belt in the middle of Michigan's upper peninsula. On Memorial day. Back then, getting a Honda serviced in the UP was like trying to get a UFO rebuilt. I borrowed a car from a relative (a 318 Dodge Dart), rented a dolly, and towed the car 450 miles back home in the middle of the night. I don't remember how we got the car on the dolly, but I never even dreamed of trying to back up with it. The Honda was a 5-speed and it was easy enough to push around onto and off the dolly.

@Xtroll1738 2 года назад

About 35 years ago a coworker's Ford Escort had his timing belt go out on him in Manistique MI in the UP. He hired me to take my truck, rent a UHaul dolly, haul the car back and change the timing belt. Fortunately for me, I had a 3 ton chain come-a-long and had grown up on a farm where I was taught how back up a wagon (same thing as a dolly) so it wasn't a big deal for me.

@nighthawkj30A4 2 года назад

Lol 😂 yeah because was so new back then technology was ahead of its time

@BruceLyeg 2 года назад

That's amazingly similar to my story. I bought a 74 Honda Civic while on vacation on the east coast of Canada and towed it home to western Canada on a dolly with my 74 Challenger with a 318. A 3608 KM drive (2241 Miles)

@JohnnyTalia 2 года назад

@@BruceLyeg Seems like those early '70's Civics all had one odd thing in common: Many of them ended up on a tow dolly behind a 318 Dodge for hundreds of miles. At least the ones that didn't rust themselves into dust beforehand.

@BruceLyeg 2 года назад

@@JohnnyTalia I looked into getting an early 70's Civic and restoring it for fun. They aren't that hard to find, but parts are impossible.

@doctorno988 2 года назад

I’ve never used a tow dolly, but my general experience towing is that the shorter a trailer is, the more annoying it is to backup.

@mtrefethen1 2 года назад

Very excited to announce that my birthday will be on a Monday next year, so after all these years, I will finally get a digital cake! 🎂

@rngwrm 2 года назад

i have to wait until 2023

@nopenottalib4366 2 года назад

I got my digital cake last year. So, it's probably going to be at least 6 years before I get another one.

@STREETRACEN4U Год назад

what do yall mean? I dont get the reference lol

@ajuggas 2 года назад

I will say erick is a stand up guy. my wife reached out to him hiddenly to see if he would give me a personal birthday shout out. without questions he did and as it caught me off guard, It showed me a great deal about his character. as a fellow mechanic, I always enjoy watching both channels during my down time to relax and see the struggles as it makes me feel like good at least I am not the only one. Again a great thx to erick!!

@questioner1596 2 года назад

I've backed successfully a short distance by making sure tow vehicle, trailer and towed vehicle we all in a straight line, then kept my steering perfectly straight while backing. This saved me having to unhook when what I thought was a drive through car wash bay had its other door broken.

@Do-UR-Research2749 Год назад

I just towed my brand new Toyota from Northern Ohio to South Florida. (About 1300 miles). Things to be mindful of. Check tire pressure, check straps within the first 10 miles, and at every stop. Do the same with the chains that attach the vehicle to the dolly and check for excessive wheel bearing heat. It's also very important to lock the steering wheel, I used the column lock as well as used the seat belt. This helps keep the trailer tracking straight and give you a little better turning radius. My trip was thankfully uneventful.

@MrTheHillfolk 9 месяцев назад

I thought Florida whacks the crap out of you on fees and taxes for bringing in a vehicle from out of state

@Do-UR-Research2749 9 месяцев назад

@MrTheHillfolk I paid Florida sales taxes at the dealer, and they forwarded it to the state. I paid for a Florida title / tag (under $500), and that was it. I saved a bunch of cash buying out of state. I can't provide all the details because I don't recall them. At the time, the best quoted here in FL was $43.5k OTD. I paid $43k OTD for the same vehicle, but with almost $4+k in additional options.

@MrTheHillfolk 9 месяцев назад

@rayhernandez2749 good deal. Heh that tells me what I heard was BS. And that BS was that Florida tries to discourage bringing in out of state vehicles because they want you to buy one there. Edit :what part of neo? I worked pretty much anywhere across the state from rt30 northward.

@Do-UR-Research2749 9 месяцев назад

@@MrTheHillfolk if you're asking where I purchased it from . It was from Premier Toyota in Amherst Ohio.

@mt9372 Месяц назад

You say to lock the steering wheel, yet the video from the manufacturer of my dolly specifically states to UNLOCK the steering wheel. So, I guess it depends on your specific dolly. Or, you're wrong ; )

@animal16365 2 года назад

When backing up something with 2 pivot points can be extremely difficult. There's a very few truckers that can back up a set of doubles.

@ETCG1 2 года назад

3 actually. Remember the steering wheel has some movement as well.

@SoulTouchMusic93 2 года назад

@@ETCG1 well with a trailer you steer towards the thing you don't want to hit so i suppose with one of those dollies you steer away but the chasing you gotta do after the first input is gonna be nuts! sincerely, a trucker and no i haven't had the opportunity to try some doubles.

@jonathanrabbitt 2 года назад

@@SoulTouchMusic93 Dollies have a very short effective wheelbase, so they respond very quickly. Speed (or very much lack thereof) is everything.

@GeorgeLiquor 2 года назад

@@ETCG1 tie off the steering wheel with the seat belt

@alecb8509 Год назад

@@GeorgeLiquor It's not the steering wheel that turns. There is a pivoting table that the car sits on. I use to own a dollie before and the key is to always plan on pulling out foward.

@zackarymcclain164 2 года назад

You very well analyzed the benefits and down sides of dollies. I keep a come along in my truck specifically for towing disabled vehicles. I have even towed rear wheel drive vehicles with mine. I pulled the vehicle up on the dolly and then pulled the drive shaft so I wouldn’t damage the transmission. Be aware that awd or 4wd vehicles are going to be a pain because you’ll have to remove a driveshaft to prevent damage. I liked tow dollies so much I bought a uhaul one from uhaul because they retire them after they are done with them and sell them for a really fair price.

@wo4689 2 года назад

I have a set of hubs that you can mount on rear wheel drive cars so the tires freewheel. You just need to make sure the bolt pattern works.

@jtjones4727 2 года назад

That's what my neighbor did. He bought a swanky new MB Sprinter based RV, and he got a used dolly from Uhaul, then brought it to me to paint it and fix it up a little bit. But he pulls his car around behind his RV, all over the place.

@cliffclark6441 2 года назад

My small dolly is a x uhaul . I bought it at a auction when uhaul replaced all there dollys with the new ones which has brakes. If i remember correct it has a 3500 pound axle. I got another dolly it don't tilt. But you can carry 1 ton trucks on it and it has breaks.and 6000 pound axle.

@blakethesnake1555 Год назад

Can you tow a rear wheel drive vehicle backwards? By backing it up onto the dolly? Also, how do i find one of these uhaul auctions. I’m interested in getting a used dolly. Thanks

@zackarymcclain164 Год назад

@@blakethesnake1555 you should never tow a rwd car backwards. For one the weight is not on the tounge which can cause trailer sway and the steering axle can come loose and cause the vehicle to swerve into another lane. Just pull the drive shaft or buy a car hauler. You can lookup uhaul sales and see if you can find a used dolly. They were clearing out their old dollys without brakes because of federal laws with trailer brakes. There might not be any left.

@gadget73 2 года назад

When I needed to haul a car the trailer was only about 30 bucks more. Car I was buying is an auto RWD with really really old tires, so the extra money was worth it to me. Not having problems backing up was a bonus.

@johnaclark1 2 года назад

Most car dollies have placards on them that say "Do not backup." They're not designed to back up with a car on them. I've towed them across the country before and you just plan your trip with that in mind.

@shreddder999 Год назад

Or just shift the dolly into reverse 🤣😂

@richduzenbury1066 5 месяцев назад

Just purchased a master tow and indeed the manual says that they aren't built for backing up.

@dirtracingfan8742 2 года назад

You know what sucks more than a car dolly..... a tow bar. People if you have the means always go the route of a full size trailer even if it’s a few more bucks. Car dollys and tow bars are always going to be inferior to damn near every kind of full size trailer. And Eric’s advise about checking anything you rent over is absolutely correct. Be smart and don’t be in a hurry to do ANYTHING!

@johnwolf1475 2 года назад

Please send your info so you can supply us with the cash needed!

@LisaDeeRealtor Год назад

The price of a car dolly is under $100 around me, the trailer WAS around $200 (could say double the cost is worth it) but now it's over $400 just a day later! Is it worth it?!

@elvism684 Год назад

@@LisaDeeRealtor That's crazy. I think at U-Haul it's around $50 for the full size trailer and $40 for the dolly per day where I'm at. So I go with the full size since I believe it's a lot safer. My truck can handle the trailer but most people get the dolly due to weight. The trailer it self is around 2'000lbs from what I remember.

@Grumpum 3 месяца назад

I was a coast to coast truck driver for nearly 30 years and Im glad you mentioned inspecting the dolly. Packing and scheduling everything I hadn't time to think about the inspection. Thank you for putting it at the forefront of my mind.

@kugo146 2 года назад

I rented a car dolly and the tire blew on the way to pick a vehicle up thank god. Checked tire date and it was 13 years passed expiry. Make sure to check the dates of the tires to avoid a major accident

@LongIslandCityLayout 2 года назад

Last year, when I was doing road maintenance, I had to tow one of those flashing arrow signs behind a pickup. The trailer was super light and bounced around pretty well at just 30 MPH, it didn't help that the sign itself made the whole thing top heavy. With the short wheel base, backing it up was difficult, any little depression in the asphalt of the yard would make it go askew when trying to park the thing. I was tempted to unhitch it and push it myself. A supervisor told me - the shorter the trailer, the more annoying it is to back up.

@maingun07 2 года назад

Very true. Any little correction is multiplied by the inverse of the distance between the hitch and the trailer axle. My 8 foot utility trailer is the best $500 bucks I ever spent, but backing it is a lot more difficult than a 16 or 20 foot.

@sjfk1306 2 года назад

Letting air pressure out of the tires will stop the bouncing.

@schutzhund3933 2 года назад

Those flashing arrow board trailers are a pain to back up, especially if your driving a bucket truck!!

@Tracert-mc1hu 2 года назад

@@maingun07 I have a 10' utility trailer with a fairly long tongue and it seems to be the sweet spot. It doesn't react too quick, but it is still small enough that it is maneuverable in parking lots and other small places meant only for cars. It also is easy to back into my driveway from a 2 lane road.

@Embermist69 2 года назад

Shorter is more of a pain then longer. Just sliding tandems on a 53 ft semi will change it up. Crazy, but true and fun.

@HaroRider03088 2 года назад

I honestly can't wait for the TL diag video. Thanks for the great videos Eric.

@edwardglowacki4495 2 года назад

My first experience with a tow dolly was back early 80 's . Yes it bounces a lot when empty , but stays firm when loaded . I rented it from U HAUL and their max speed is 45 MPH . As far as driving straight there is no issue backing as you said is a challenge to say the least. I also have to emphasize that your turns have to made wide , a jackknife is very easy . I maneuvered a tight turn and the front of my VW van hit the bumper of tow vehicle, a 1970 Chrysler Newport BTW . The next time I rented, no mishaps but I was extremely careful and had the experience. I was also told once by someone that rented a full trailer for their car that the towed vehicle has to be registered if not has to a full trailer . Never checked to see if accurate or not but something to definitely look into before you rent one for a tow.

@emellina1 2 года назад

My experience with backing up a vehicle on a tow dolly...small inputs in the steering wheel. You "loose the car" faster with larger inputs. Then it gets into the "jacknife" position real fast. My first time backing a car on a dolly vs a 45' trailer...was a real humble experience.

@davisjohnson3621 2 года назад

It’s like a hay wagon, steerable axle. Need to counter-counter steer.

@fearofchicke 2 года назад

It’s more like backing up a double but you can’t see the middle trailer.

@descorpionprince1 2 года назад

I kinda agree. Though I never tried a car dolly, seems the same principle of steering for a tractor with attached trailer will apply in this case.

@VeritasEtAequitas 2 года назад

Yeah we all know how to back a trailer by countersteering but this kind of dolly is something else

@snoopdogie187 2 года назад

It would be similar to a hay wagon. The other experience I have with this is pushing 3 nursery / plant carts. When going backwards with that, you have to use the first cart to change the directions of the second cart, which is controlling the direction of the 3rd cart. There are double trailers out on the roads also, and some on youtube. Those guys learn to control the 2 trailers, but they have to back those things up often enough.

@jakdalton7342 2 года назад

Great, IMPORTANT info! Thanks for caring & sharing!

@simonatkinson1107 2 года назад

If it’s a rigid ‘T bar’ style Dolly trailer one trick is to engage the steering wheel lock on the raised vehicle. This stops the steering on the raised car from acting as a second steering pivot. It should then behave as a normal trailer.

@pgs8597 2 года назад

Unfortunately that won’t work, the towed vehicle front wheels rests on the dollies turntable this turntable is what is causing the problem.

@Wipsplash 2 года назад

Worst dolly mistake I made was towing a car with an automatic transmission in neutral with the drive wheels rolling. Trans was burnt up by the time I got home. That was 20 years ago. Lesson learned. The best I can do backing up a car on a dolly is about 40' before I give up.

@maingun07 2 года назад

Towed my 66 Skylark on a tow dolly once. Only once. Not only did I have to pull the drive shaft, but I had to drain the transmission because it would have all spilled out the tail cone. Plus, the back end now sat so low that every little bump caused the exhaust pipes to drag.

@walterhubicki5207 2 года назад

Ooo, excited about the move!! Nice teaser. Thanks for the content!!

@walterhubicki5207 2 года назад

I just watched the video that I missed about the shop.... Sorry about that but 5K sq ft is pretty at. Blessing?

@jacquesroux9319 2 года назад

A few years ago I towed a Toyota Yaris across the continent from Montreal to Vancouver behind my Frontier and along the way learned all the drawbacks described here , no backing up, extra long braking distance etc. Needed mostly luck and some planning at all gas stations, restaurants and hotels. Made it but would not repeat. Later I sold a Civic with a blown clutch. The buyer arranged to pick it up with a dolly. Fortunately I had brought a 'come along' otherwise we couldn't have pushed it up. I would consider one again for a short distance but would definitely choose a full trailer if available. Anyway I enjoyed reading about everyone else's experiences.

@ecmjr 2 года назад

Yay! Finally got my ETCG Birthday cake! Thanks Eric!

@ETCG1 2 года назад

Happy Birthday!

@questioner1596 2 года назад

I live in a rural area, hundreds of km from the nearest dolly rental, so I bought my own. It allows me to tow it behind tiny cars (such as a Mitsubishi Mirage), so I have been able to drive alone in the van towing the car, drop off the van, and drive back in the car while towing the dolly. Mine has surge brakes, so I don't need to have a brake controller in each vehicle. It also only weighs 300 lbs, so I have been able to tow a Honda Accord while inside my minivan's 3500 lb towing capacity.

@matthewevans8469 Год назад

Hey ETCG, I enjoy your youtube content. I also have a love hate relationship with tow dollies. Like everything with options, there are pro's and cons to each. Tow dollies are great for a vehicle that fits on it well and is at least drivable (even if driven badly. Also great for longer tows like cross country since the towed application is lighter, lower to the ground, and has less wind drag. revers is truly the bane of tow dollies. Having both available is ideal but so impractical for many people...

@CountryMusic527 2 года назад

Thanks for the video. I was just thinking about these.

@dsimp765 2 года назад

I bought a Mastertow 80" heavy duty car dolly in 2017, and it has an inertial braking system which I think is a must especially if what you are towing is close to the weight of your towing rig. As far as backing up.😳It's not easy, less steering is better, I have the same trouble backing up my jet skis trailer down a long boat ramp. It takes very little steering input to effect a lot of trailer turn, and yes if you turn to sharp in my case cracking a fender on the dolly can happen. I don't use it enough to get good at it. But I love your shop wheel dolly idea 💡. In my case I bought it to tow a 73 Buick Riviera cross Country which weighs close to my 03' Tundra. Add that, the weight of a full size car hauler and it exceeded my trucks safe towing, and class hitch capacity. The other advantage is no title hassles, no registration fees. I have a bill of sale with a VIN equivalent and that's it. Thanks for all your great videos 🎂

@vijayantgovender2045 2 года назад

Thank you for sharing your wonderful videos I love watching your videos Eric I am watching from South Africa

@paulh9301 2 года назад

My first trailer I rented from uhaul. I was curious to see what the tire pressures were set to bc it was handling kind of weird with lot of sway. About 200 miles later down the road. They were set to 25 psi when recommended was 60.

@craiglinn2782 2 года назад

Definitely check your dollys! I rented one and a moving truck from budget and the lug nuts were loose on one side. I’m glad I realized that 3 miles down the road because that would have been a bad time. 😬

@505fastlife6 Месяц назад

I just towed a GMC Acadia on a tow dolly with my Ford Expedition from Phoenix to Albuquerque. That is damn near 500 miles. I learned my first lesson when pulling into a gas pump. The car jackknifed and hit the wheels of the dolly. The straps came off as well. After i realized no sharp turns everything went smooth. Just make sure to adjust the straps if needed and tighten them at every gas stop.

@tree_carcass_mangler 2 года назад

Thanks for the heads up! Thumbs up!

@maingun07 2 года назад

Had to rent one on more than one occasion and compared to a transport/flatbed trailer, they suck the big green weenie. On top of everything Eric said, towing a rear wheel drive vehicle is even worse. I had to tow my 66 Skylark on one once. I had to pull the driveshaft so the auto transmission didn't get fried. Then I had to drain the transmission fluid so that it all didn't spill out the tail cone. Plus, now the rear end of the car sat so low that the exhaust pipes dragged over every little bump in the road. For the last 15 years or so, I've always paid the extra to get a transport and never regretted that decision. I've got still more cars to move around now so I'm in the market to buy one. The new ones don't cost that much more than a decent used one, around 5 or 6 grand compared to around 4 for the same weight class and features, so that's what I'm going with.

@Zeeangelofdeath 4 месяца назад

First time towing today And the dolly was my first experience. Hooked up everything and figured out really fast that I couldn’t back up straight Had to unlock the load, back out without a load and pull up in front of the vehicle beside the sidewalk then hook everything back up again. It was definitely a learning experience.

@hdfxrs9121 2 года назад

Oh yes, the tow dolly. First time I used one was towing a car behind an RV. Wish I had a locking pin at the time, but what I ended up having to do (more than once) was take the car off the dolly, drive it where I needed it, then drive the RV past it then hook the car back up. I got pretty good at doing that. I have since learned to look for large parking lots and the like where I can pull in and drive out in a roughly straight line.

@pinicle544 2 года назад

I knew you had Those car wheel Dollie’s and had suggested using them excellent made things a bit easier. As for backing up a single axle dolly, well as a truck driver for over 30 years and hauling tandem trailers it can take some time to learn to back one up, so many pivot points to think about. Normally backing up a trailer you would counter steer towards trouble, but with an extra pivot point or articulating arm it’s the opposite to counter steer away from trouble and with such a short wheelbase you take slow small quick adjustments. It takes time, frustrating and a lot of patience

@m.pav.8397 2 года назад

Thanks for the great info

@zchats 2 года назад

I used to move around AGPU's when I was in the Army. They have a super short wheel base and pivoting front wheels. Near impossible to back them up unless you do a very large, gradual turn, or else it gets away from you. Only thing you can do is put your hand on the top of the steering wheel, look back and turn it the way you want the trailer to go. With a regular trailer, put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and do the same... turn the direction you want to go. In turn if you want it to go right and you push your hand (with your hand at the bottom) to the right you're, actually steering left. Any short trailer is a beast, especially one with an articulating front end that you can't lock. Thankfully the AGPU's have a self power mode so you can get them into those tight spots. Car dollies, I think you did the best you could... they're a beast. I drive semi-trucks for a living, pulled 2 vehicles on car dollies in the past and if ever given the chance, I'll pass and pay the extra for a full trailer if going a significant distance.

@HotRod-wv4vm 2 года назад

Can’t wait for the next video 👍

@jamesterrill1938 Год назад

I look forward to your videos. I have a 2018 Honda Ridgeline that has a trailer reciever and hitch and have pulled a 10ft single axle trailer that I haul my JD Gator on and it does very well..

@NamesGolden 2 года назад

In the RV world everyone prefers to flat tow, but that doesn't work for every vehicle and requires modification to the towed vehicle. We bought a large RV and I wanted to be able to tow any old shitbox, so I researched dollies fairly hard. I wound up with one that has hydraulic surge brakes. It has a sliding coupler that engages the brakes so no 7pin/brake controller required. This makes backing impossible, but allows me to tow the 06 Odyssey if necessary. I spent $1100 on the eztow dolly, used. The tires were fine and good straps/chains/ramps. I've loaned it out to friends and towed my vehicles when broke down, it's nearly paid for itself in my mind. That said, you should add roadside assistance to your vehicle insurance. It's a minimal cost per year and would have more than paid for that $200 tow.

@jfruser 10 месяцев назад

A buddy rented a car dolly in high school and I resolved never to use one, it was such a nightmare. When I towed my Nissan Hardbody, I rented a U-Haul trailer that got all four wheels up off the ground. But, it turns out the wiring was ate up so I spent an hour with my Leatherman and a roll of electrical tape getting it serviceable. Tires, too, were underinflated.

@darrylm3627 2 года назад

Good Stuff, Great Tips👍🏿😀

@dadtype2339 2 года назад

Imagine what it's like doing this behind a 40+ foot Diesel pusher RV!!! I've seen them go down the road and I think, Bet that's fun to back up with! I liked when you showed the TL up on the casters and you pushed it like a Boss! All jokes aside I'm sorry for the trouble but what an interesting mini adventure EC! PS: if I can't have the Keg, can I have a digital keg? Lol. Be well and be safe Brother, and Happy Turkey day to you and the Fam!

@Super_64 2 года назад

I had to use a car Dolley one time… the trick we used to get my car on it was to lock the ebrake and put the car in neutral and then back the truck up forcing the dolley under the car… worked perfect…

@ETCG1 2 года назад

I tried that but it dug into the pavement and wouldn't move. Hence the reason I used a ratchet strap. Thanks for the comment.

@Super_64 2 года назад

@@ETCG1 yeah it just seemed to work in our favor… I wouldn’t have thought about it until my dad mentioned it

@jeffreymurdock8366 2 года назад

Had to rent a truck and tow dolly to get my truck home when it broke down about 45 minutes from home. Distributor failed so it wouldn't run and the back of the truck was full. Used 2 3500lb ratchet straps to pull it up onto the dolly. Took about 20 minutes to do that. Had to stop and get fuel because there wasn't much in the truck. Had to back up but it was only a couple of feet and the dolly had a lock point on the part that swivels the wheels so I locked those swiveling platforms and it was way easier to back up.

@MyLifeThai371 Год назад

I love U-haul car dollies. We pulled my Bronco II behind my brother's pickup on a 350 mile trip. Pulled great down interstate at 70 mph. They are easier on fuel and just drop the dolly off at the nearest u-haul dealer when you are done. We used a come-along to pull the vehicle onto the dolly. I think we paid $216 to rent it back in 2004.

@stephenwilliamson4556 2 года назад

On topic, I don’t know if you can even get car dollies like the one shown in this video in Australia, I’ve personally never seen one. Off topic. Thank you, I finally got a happy birthday from Eric the Car guy! The last time 22 November was on a Monday was 2010, and I didn’t discover your channel until 2013, so 8 and a bit years I’ve been waiting. My parents who live cross country also made a cake for me and consumed it on a zoom meeting in front of me, so I can appreciate digital confections!

@jdhern9078 2 года назад

Great video Erick

@ykmalachi 2 года назад

I've towed hundreds of cars with a beat to death old dolly. It has a ton of idiosyncrasies that other trailers don't. But once to get them down..... they are great. All dollys bounce and sway on road if the road is wonky. Backing up is only possible ly for very short distance and if you have a non-locking steering wheel... impossible. Always plan for escapes wherever you go. Plan way ahead pulling into anywhere for wide turns. Use your chains to hold car from moving back on dolly. Tighten straps after 1/2 mile and a couple turns. They WILL loosen. Mount a $25-30 winch from Harbour Freight onto them for solo loading.

@JustKillHem 2 года назад

Came here for your happy birthday message, thank you, and hot great advice as well

@ETCG1 2 года назад

Happy Birthday!

@JVHShack 2 года назад

Thank you Eric for this video. I was thinking of buying my own trailer or car dolly next year. I think that I will just get a 16ft trailer with low rails as an all round "one size fits all" and forget the stupid dolly now. One thing that would help with a car dolly would be if there were a pin that you could drop a pin into the articulation mechanism to stop that from happening when you are trying to back your rig up. I'm not sure who uses black fenders on their equipment like the one shown in this video, but iirc, the [orange and white furniture moving equipment rental company] tow dollies do have a way to lock the articulation mechanism as I previously described.

@ETCG1 2 года назад

In my view the best option is an aluminum car hauler. Expensive, but worth it.

@justinmacumber Год назад

When car dollys are not in use the tire pressure is dropped to 20 - 30 psi. When hauling an empty dolly you only want low pressure to keep it from bouncing all over the place. When you go to load add air about 50 - 55 psi and then load your vehicle. When stored always have at least 6psi in the tires.

@troymattingly3071 2 года назад

Thank you, Eric!

@rickbone3906 3 месяца назад

thanks for the heads up, will be towing my sons car from jacksonville to fort myers, fl.

@brian96597 2 года назад

Used a tow dolly twice for trips about 1000 miles apiece. No issue towing, but both cars ran. Never tried to back up. I'm thinking if you get too involved with trying you could end up bending front suspension components of the vehicle being towed. Let it also be known if towing a RWD vehicle it is always wise to remove the drive shaft to keep the transmission from spinning.

@badass1g 3 месяца назад

Why not just put it in neutral?

@brian96597 3 месяца назад

@@badass1g Because the transmission oil will not lubricate the top part of the transmission. Parts still spin inside the trans even when in neutral. I say that because I didn't know any better, towed my RWD car 800 miles and ended up having to rebuild the transmission a week later. Expensive lesson. :)

@millerfawaz151 2 года назад

Uhaul has two different sizes of tow dollies depending on the vehicle you claim to want to tow. The larger one definitely has surge brakes, at least the one in my area (SE Michigan) does. Also, for loading cars that do not run/drive, come-alongs can work, although finicky. I like using a spare boat trailer winch. Most have u-bolts that are the perfect size for the dolly tongue, making it centered and not relying on the truck as an attachment. They also have a whole lot more cable length than a come-along.

@pancake7408 Год назад

oh hey, another TL owner. Gotta find a way to tow mine from North Carolina to Utah when I move, UHaul + Dolly is my main option at the moment. Thanks for sharing, I'll be saving this

@mavericknj357 2 года назад

Only once did I rent one. It was badly maintained, rusted through out the frame after reviewed the contract . I found if something wwent amiss I would fully financially responsibl. So I returned it to company. Went down the street and brought a full size trailer. Used for few years and donated it to a church.

@SmittySmithsonite 2 года назад

Never used one of those. In '09 I was lucky enough to find a Dively 18' dovetail full-deck flatbed trailer on eBay for $2,000! Thing has paid for itself 300x over. I do remember renting a U-Haul trailer back in '99 when I moved from central MA to Phoenix, AZ. Both tires were nearly flat on that, too, and the lighting was screwed up, because U-Haul hooked the harness to the wrong wires on my '86 Grand Marquis, lol. Left and right blinkers were backwards. I did make it there on what little grease was in the wheel bearings at least. :)

@KT_One 2 года назад

When I last moved I passed on the dolly and went full car trailer for both cars. Best decision ever, especially since I had to back up several times due to people parking directly in front of me.

@ahill007ny 2 года назад

Today is my Birthday!!! Thanks Eric

@HotRod-wv4vm 2 года назад

Happy thanksgiving to you and yours and everyone on this thread

@ETCG1 2 года назад

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

@jreeder6168 2 года назад

I towed a car 700 miles once with a U-Haul dolly with no problems. I do not recall the pivoting or sharp turns being a problem. My first time using one. I did check the air pressure on it.

@crawfordoverton2059 2 года назад

I tow behind my coach for year with my Demco tow Dollie this one in my opinion one of the best for backing up. I got away from it years later because many camp grounds had no room for them. then I went to wheels down more more money to do it .

@oldsranch 2 года назад

the only people that can back them up are farmers that have spent decades backing gravity wagons into barns.

@williamirizarry1113 Год назад

Valuable information. Love that 08 Acura TL. But I'm done with that dream and moved on. Thanks!

@bunning63 2 года назад

Used a car dollie over here in New Zealand about twenty plus (make that thirty) years ago a number of times. Guy built it himself and hired it out. He was a mechanic and hired stuff out It was wide so it would take wide vehicles without worrying about hitting anything, apart from the width you had to watch. It was really well built with a winch and he maintained it prior to hire. Had no issues. I know it was around for many years, might still be, it was super solid. Got photos of it somewhere. Half the battle is hiring stuff that's not maintained. His stuff was always A1.

@jondrew55 Год назад

We towed our Murano/Honda CRV for several years behind our motorhome with a car dollie. No real issues except the one we had used some odd sized tires and I did have a blow out and would have been screwed if I did not have a spare since I was not going to find a spare at Walmart. My unit had surge brakes and yes, it is impossible to back them up. Also, some dollies are articulated and some are solid. I forget which is which, but if I recall correctly you have to make sure your steering wheel is unlocked on the solid connection ones like I had. And of course, you need to be towing a front wheel drive car. Most AWD cars cannot be towed on a dollie. I suppose you could tow a rear wheel drive car backwards, and lock the steering wheel with some sort of lash. All in all, I'd be inclined to rent a car trailer with 4 wheels up if I were in your situation. Good point about needing something to get the car up on the dollie if it's completely dead. I'd definitely be wishing for an electric winch for that, especially on a car trailer since it would be almost impossible to push a car up. I'm also not so sure about towing a car with your Pilot. Long ago we pulled a tiny pop up camper with our Mazda MPV. It did not have a trans cooler, and even though the trailer weight we within the MPV's towing limits, we went over a fairly steep bridge one day, the car started bucking, and by the time we got to the other side our camper had gotten a nice bath of red transmission fluid when our trans boiled over. No permeant damage, but I always tow now with vehicles that have plenty of margin Good Video!

@cullenmiller8170 2 года назад

I used to have a car dolly and it did okay. backing up can be tricky and I always made sure I had my truck, dolly and towed vehicle in a straight line before backing up. Than use small steering inputs. With rear wheel drive cars that were loaded backwards I used a helper at times. I had them steer the car and just follow with the dolly in the vehicles track.

@YungEBT 2 года назад

thanks for the information brotha

@Myrrapen 2 года назад

Yep. Multiple pivot points on the car dolly made it almost impossible to back in to driveway and park a dead car in my garage for teardown. Luckily my neighbor has his CDL and was able to, after several attempts, get the car inline with the garage. Won't do that again. Next time I'll get a flat bed instead.

@joecool509 2 года назад

great advice!

@monsterq6 2 года назад

Such a good video. nice tips. Good to throw a tire pressure gauge in the glove box or trunk just to have.

@888johnmac 2 года назад

My experience with car dollies .. I'm in the UK & ( i think ) they're illegal unless you're a licenced recovery driver doing a short distance recovery .. That says it all really

@WBatte1 2 месяца назад

I actually own a tow dolly. I don't use it now as much as I did when I first bought it 25 years ago. But it doesn't take up much room and does come in handy when it is needed. Honestly if I were going out to retrieve a dead vehicle I'd probably take one of my car haulers because they have winches. But there are places where my big truck just won't fit with a 20' trailer. As far as backing up with one, I've learned how to do this. A little control imput equals a lot of correction. It takes some getting used to. Now that I am older and have more resources than I did as a young man, I have backup cameras in my trucks. That makes it a lot easier.

@Mister006 2 года назад

Yay! I can't wait for my 50th birthday episode! 🎂

@guyforlogos 2 года назад

I own a dolly and a couple trailers. Backing up an empty dolly is difficult because it’s so short, which probably, along with the articulation, why it is impossible when I have a vehicle on it. I love the dolly because it’s so light when empty, easy to haul around and easy to move around by hand. I have a “dolly” bag that has the straps, a come along, a rug, a couple wrench’s and my winch bar for cranking down the straps. Grab and go! With my trailers, the long trailer, very easy to back up, the short trailer is more twitchy, short trailer behind my longer truck, very twitchy when backing up.

@covinomartinez6048 2 года назад

I worked at an F.B.O. back in the early '80's. We would hook up an Alternating Power Unit (A.P.U )to the back of an airplane tug. We would practice backing up the power unit, which was the size of a golf cart. Because of it small size, it was extremely difficult to back up. Fortunately, we never needed to back up one of these units. There was plenty of room to drive up to the Airplane ✈ Wing for service. 👍

@dorothyharp9275 Год назад

Another couple hints to help you out. I have a Master Tow dolly - widest one available - with electric brake. There is no 'locking pin' for backing up. I deflate the dolly tires to about 10 psi when towing empty. Just before loading the vehicle, air them up to 42-45 psi. Metal cable come-alongs work best when loading (preferred method even if the towed vehicle runs). Backing up - forget it unless 10 or 15 feet will do the trick. Even so, the entire rig has to be perfectly straight. Determine beforehand if the towed vehicle restrictions are worth using a dolly. It may be a speed restriction (AUTO TRANNY), OR in the case of my mustang with a T-5 manual, had I known prior to towing, the T-5 gets ruined even when in neutral. I could'nt bust loose the u-joints with the tools I had. Also, if you decide to drop the driveshaft, determine ahead of time whether the rear tranny seal is going to hold in the ATF fluid. Finally, do not tow with vehicle facing rearward, even if the steering wheel locks. Your speed will be limited to around 40-45 mph before it starts swaying.

@JOEZEP54 2 года назад

Good safety warning tips! Stay safe, Joe Z

@_Teddy_The_Bear 2 года назад

The come along is what I used with mine to load a dead car as well. I always thought about a hand crank boat winch, but didn't ever try one. Some of the Tow Dollies also have brakes on them. Things to think about if you ever buy your own instead of renting.

@dennisferron8847 2 года назад

I fabricated a flat tow rig for my Preludes (would probably fit other Hondas too). Instead of bolting to the crash bar, my setup bolts to the tow hook plates location and also ties into the front subframe/crossmember bolts. Having towed the same car with either a dolley or flat tow: flat tow is way better. It's so much more reassuring having a solid line of connection.

@mstover2809 Год назад

Flat towing is impractical for nearly all vehicles with an automatic transmission, and some with a manual.

@michaelallen2501 2 года назад

All of these reasons and then some, are why I only rent the car haulers with fenders and a surge brake. I want all 4 off the ground. I want trailer brakes. I want tire straps. Next step is to buy one of these and attach a winch and battery to it so I can recover vehicles that can't move under their own power, all by myself.

@billziegmond4943 9 месяцев назад

I borrowed a car dolly from a friend. Like you said Eric. I had to completely replace and rewire the lights. Rebuild the fender braces. Grease the pivot table. I have towed everything from small boats to 36ft travel trailers and can back them anywhere I want. Without locking the pivot in position I can''t back them up.

@230910bella 2 года назад

Eric, if you ever need anything towed again, I’m a professional tow truck operator and I live less than 5 minutes down the road from your shop. It’d be an honor to help you out. I wish I saw this happened sooner or I would’ve offered then. If you reply to this I’d be happy to give you my number just so you have it.

@76horsepower 2 года назад

The secret to backing something that double articulates is to use a steering knob. It’s common for farmers to have to do this sort of thing and my dad could back not one but two linked hay wagons back in the day (though I could only back one). You won’t find many utility tractors on a farm without a steering knob.

@ETCG1 2 года назад

Keep in mind the steering wheel of the towed vehicle can also move slightly creating a 3rd point of articulation. Thanks for the comment.

@wo4689 2 года назад

I have had good luck with tow dollies. I agree backing up is near impossible. I use a 2001 Odyssey and have done 5 or 6 toes up to 300 miles on mostly level roads. I do have a come along for loading vehicles and a set of lights I put on the rear of the car that plug into the 4 pin harness. I do give room both driving and stopping. I also run the tires low when empty to reduce bouncing and fill them just prior to loading the car. Width of vehicle vs dolly needs to be checked also. You made some great points Eric.

@ne2i 2 года назад

Yes they do. Had a car fall off at low speed. You really need to tighten it very often and check it often. You cannot back one of these.

@Xtroll1738 2 года назад

I can back up a dolly and have a few times. No different than a grain or hay wagon on the farm I grew up on.

@Wythegoodsense 2 года назад

I haven’t received a notification from you in Ute a while. Welcome back.

@ETCG1 2 года назад

Make sure they are turned on. I post every week and have been for some time. You might have a lot to catch up on. Thanks for watching and for the comment.

@shoonger001 2 года назад

I don't remember to many problems with a tow dolly, but I remember trying to load it. It's just as hard as loading a flatbed car hauler.

@ericohman 2 года назад

In Sweden it is only allowed to drive 20 mph with dollies, by law.

@1974UTuber 2 года назад

Never seen anything like that in Australia. We just get to rent full size car trailers which usually have their own brakes as well.

@drek67045 4 месяца назад

I love using a 2" ratchet strap to load with. Key is to use 2 side by side. You can use one until it strokes out. The use the other one until it strokes out. Reset the first one and go at it again. Takes up a lot less space and if someone decides to steal your dolly straps it can double for that (using the dollys ratchet). Wrap up the tail and throw it into the vehicle being towed. As far as lights you can get the magnet ones and put them in the back of the vehicle in tow and no worries about them falling off down the highway.

@vulcanbespock 2 года назад

Well addressed information

@truckerharold1151 2 года назад

Max speed limit with those dollies and car haulers is 55 mph per U-Haul. When backing up a trailer, go slow and place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and make small adjustments. The trailer will go in the direction your hand is going. 65 mph is way to fast that's why the trailer was swaying (getting away from you). I back 53 ft trailers everyday and I can put one in some tight spots like it was childs play.

@geraldscott4302 2 года назад

I used a car dolly for several years to get my race car to the track. I didn't have room to store a trailer. And it was only about 12 miles there and 12 miles back. The car also ran, but was not really drivable on the street. No, I couldn't back it up. And I have driven 18 wheelers. But the thing about those are that the rear tandems are at the very rear of the trailer, not in the middle, so the trailer does not pivot. My biggest issue with the car dolly is that my car was RWD, and to tow a RWD car on the rear wheels, you have to disconnect the driveshaft. I didn't have to completely remove it, just disconnect the rear U joint, I had installed a bracket under the car to prevent the driveshaft from moving rearward and pulling out of the transmission. A front wheel drive car wouldn't have that issue. I have seen motor homes towing cars cross country.