andeecat@gmail.com
Nevada
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Joined: 10/29/2009
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We have a 29 foot Coachmen freelander and are going to start towing one of our vehicles behind on trips.We have both a 1997 Toyota Corolla and a 2006 Honda Civic both automatics.We plan on using both cars at different times.my sister seems to think that a tow bar is the best way to go but I am thinking a tow dolly.I have heard that with the bars you not only have to add brackets to the cars but modify the transmissions in some way.i was thinking with the dolly all you would have to do is drive the car on.Are there any opinions or experiance with this subject?Thanks
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fisher60
Plant City, Florida
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Joined: 03/23/2006
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Me personally, I would go with the dolly. Granted it takes a little more to load & unload, but sure is a lot less expensive. And...you can't back up much in either case.
'01 Dutchman Express 28A, Master Tow, '06 Tuscon, '05 Honda VTX 1300
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ron.dittmer
I Will Be Dancing With The Stars On 1/23
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Can both cars be towed with all 4 wheels down? That is the first question to get answered by Toyota and Honda. If they can by simply putting the cars in neutral, then I vote for getting them equipped with tow bars. Otherwise, I would buy a tow dolly.
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dicknellen
Northern Nevada, USA
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Joined: 09/28/2004
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You may want to post in the Dinghy forum to get more response. Also check these sites Toad/dingy guide at bottom of page on Goodman Chev has guides back to 1997.
http://goodmanchevrolet.com/brochures.html
http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/dinghytowingguide/
Also check www.remcotowing.com
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AstroRig57
near Tehachapi, CA
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Joined: 01/15/2009
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The main advantage to towing four down, as opposed to with a dolly, is that you are not adding any tongue/hitch weight onto an already heavily laden chassis.
You will have to consult the specifications for both the motorhome, and the prospective toads, to see what is, or is not, possible.
Here's the CLICKY for the Motorhome Magazine Dinghy Guide
Motorhome Magazine Dinghy Guide
2005 31' Coachmen Freelander 3150SS, Stargazer II - Mobile Astronomy Unit
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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Joined: 09/04/2003
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Toyota automatics not recommended. Only Honda recommended is CR-V. Many tow Hondas and seem to get by, but once in awhile somebody gets caught and it's pricey. There's REMCO Lube Pump, and again, many do well with it. Yet there are transmission failures on the pump, and then a lot of denial and finger pointing between Auto Maker, REMCO, and Owner.
I'd say Dolly, get one with brakes. One benefit is you get to choose which of your cars you take with you. The other benefit is cost of one dolly vs. two vehicle setups. Downside is inconvenience of loading and parking the dolly.
Some claim dolly towing is easier on the car than four down. From a logic standpoint, I'd agree.
But we tow four down. Two manual transmission vehicles approved by manufacturer for flat towing. Roadmaster baseplates and a shared Brake Buddy.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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wgander
San Diego
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Towing four down is the way to go if your car can do it. You'll need a tow bar, mounts on the car, a brake in the car and wiring for the car lights. If you have to add a transmission pump the cost goes way up.
Towing on a dolly with brakes means only adding a trailer hitch and brake controller to the motor home. It's a little more work to hook up and disconnect, but not too bad.
2000 Four Winds Five Thousand 28A (Chevy 3500), Master Tow Dolly, 2006 Scion xB TOAD
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delaware95
Akron, OH
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Let me suggest another approach. Why not replace the old Toyota with another vehicle approved for four down towing. I tried towing with a dolly and it was a real bother. The dolly added weight, required maintenance, was costly to buy (but there are many used units available), and loading and unloading the car in wet or cold weather is a real chore. I purchased a 2003 4X4 Chevrolet Tracker with less than 39,000 miles on the ODO for under $8,000. I purchased a Roadmaster tow bar, adaptor for the Tracker, and a Brake Buddy on the internet for about $1,100. I purchased a pair of magnetic tail lights from Harbor Freight for about $20. Installing the adaptor on the Tracker was a simple bolt on operation with no modification needed for the vehicle. I ran a four lead cable (available at Wal-Mart) along the frame to the rear compartment and spliced in a connector for the magnetic lights. I installed a socket behind the front license plate for the power line from the motor home. The set up was completed in less than one day. When towing, I put the transfer case in neutral, put the transmission in park, leave the key in the ignition to unlock the front steering and put the magnetic tail lights on top of the Tracker. The tracker is very light (about 3,000 lbs.) and towing, it does not seem to reduce my gas mileage. I get 9.5 to 10.5 MPG with or with out the Tracker. Send me a PM and I'll send you pictures of the set up.
Another point, the way you use the motor home can be a consideration. If you make seasonal trips and the rig is parked for an extended period of time then using a dolly would be OK. However, if you make frequent short trips or long trips while making frequent one or two day stops then the constant loading and unloading the car on and off the dolly is a real bother. I must add that many people are very satisfied with dolly towing so in the final analysis how you tow and what you tow is just a personal choice
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Stennis
Starkville, Mississippi
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Honda in the past has not approved towing BUT they provided the procedure to tow. I know the hybrids with a CVT transmissions (or whatever they are) will not tow. There is one older Civic that had the CVT and it could not be towed. It was a special model - not a standard model.
I have towed two Civic's with automatic transmissions - for one over 10,000 miles on one trip - never a problem. Some say go through the preparation procedure once a day, some say every eight hours if you last longer, but I tried to crank it up and go through the procedure more often - probably every two hours when we were stopping.
You almost certainly already have a car you can tow four down - just as long as it does not have the CVT transmission. It is my guess you are looking at close to $2,000 to hve someone prepare the Civic for towing - without a brake for the FROG. Just wonder why one would want to do that twice.
I also had a AWD automatic transmission CRV and towed it with no problems. I now have a Honda Fit. In the owner's manual, they give you the procedure for towing. I have finished installing all of the towing equipment but have not hooked it up yet so I cannot say how it will tow but one could not ask more of any of the others. I do not know about new models but the two door Civic was below the weight requirements for brakes in almost all states - I have not used brakes on any of them. I also do not drive as fast as many I see.
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