Know Before You Tow – Dinghy Installation
06-26-2017
Author: in The Road Less Traveled
The last thing you want to do when traveling is use your RV as your primary vehicle. Therefore, it's a good idea to have a tow car (lovingly referred to as a toad or dinghy) in case you want to leave the campground during your stay. So, how does this work?
If your vehicle was manufactured after 2000, the vehicle owner's manual should specify the ways it can safely be towed. Make sure to operate within those guidelines. If you exceed the manufacturer's designated tow rating, you may inadvertently void any warranties. Next, research the states through which you'll be traveling, as the rules vary.
Trailer
The advantage of this most expensive option is that you aren't accumulating extra miles or wear on your toad or potentially damaging its transmission. You can also bring any vehicle you choose, as well as multiple vehicles in some cases. Plus, with its own set of brakes and lights, a trailer is—with some practice—easy to back up.
Install a Class III (or above) trailer hitch by bolting the assembly directly to the chassis of your RV. Park your trailer on a flat surface to make hitching and loading easier. Drive your vehicle up the ramp and secure it with chains or ratchet tie-downs. Then, make sure to plug the "pig tail" into the motorhome's 12-vold electrical receiver so your brakes and lights work.
There are several disadvantages with using a trailer to carry your dinghy. Initially, it's the largest investment. It greatly adds to the overall length and weight of your rig, which may be more than your motorhome can handle. The length makes it difficult to fit in smaller campgrounds. Plus, the weight of the trailer and the toad adds to your fuel expenses. Lastly, many RV parks require trailers to be stored elsewhere which may also add to the cost of staying there.
A great middle-of-the-road option, a dolly is a less expensive, 2-wheeled trailer that transports your toad with two of its wheels on the trailer and two on the ground. A tow dolly can be used for a variety of vehicles (including those that can't be towed with all four wheels down) and they don't put miles on your odometer. Plus, they often have electric or surge brakes, so they're legal in most states.
Bolt a Class III trailer hitch assembly to the chassis of your RV. Couple the dolly to the motorhome on a flat surface. Then drive the front tires of the toad up the ramps leaving the back ones on the ground. Secure the vehicle with ratchet tie-downs and/or chains.
Although they generally aren't as expensive as a trailer, dollies are still fairly pricey. Dollies, like trailers, usually need to be licensed, and you'll still likely have to find a place to store it when you get to your destination. The primary, additional inconvenience that you have with a dolly that you avoid with a trailer, is that tow dollies are notoriously difficult to back even for experienced RVers.
Tow Bar
The advantages of using a tow bar is that they're less expensive, smaller, and often collapsible making them easier to store. Plus, many RV manufacturers produce motorhomes with the mounted tow bar connected at all times, so you only need to hook up the toad when you're heading out.
The tow bar pulls vehicles with all four tires on the ground. The assembly usually consists of the tow bar itself and the base plate. The base plate is custom-made for specific vehicles and attaches to its chassis.
There are several disadvantages to using a tow bar assembly. First, since base plates are specific to a particular vehicle, if one doesn't already exist, you're looking at an expensive custom installation. Second, some vehicles can't even be towed like this without modifying the drivetrain. Plus, since all wheels are on the ground, mileage and wear accumulates when they're towed. Although the other alternatives come with lights and brakes, this method of towing requires you use a lighting kit to wire into the vehicle's own lighting system. Lastly, you absolutely can't back your RV while using a tow bar; the vehicle's wheels will turn the wrong way putting stress on the steering component as it's dragged along, causing serious damage.
After establishing your campsite, you probably don't want to pull up stakes just to run to the store for that important ingredient you forgot to pack. Towed vehicles make quick trips easier; and narrow, winding roads passable. (Not every destination is reachable by large motorhomes.)
Once you've properly hitched your vehicle, it's a good ide
If your vehicle was manufactured after 2000, the vehicle owner's manual should specify the ways it can safely be towed. Make sure to operate within those guidelines. If you exceed the manufacturer's designated tow rating, you may inadvertently void any warranties. Next, research the states through which you'll be traveling, as the rules vary.
Related Read: Choosing the Right Tow Vehicle: Understanding Weight
Last, when towing your toad, you basically have three options, a trailer, a tow dolly, or a tow bar. Each of these are decent alternatives and it's really a matter of personal preference.Trailer
The advantage of this most expensive option is that you aren't accumulating extra miles or wear on your toad or potentially damaging its transmission. You can also bring any vehicle you choose, as well as multiple vehicles in some cases. Plus, with its own set of brakes and lights, a trailer is—with some practice—easy to back up.
Install a Class III (or above) trailer hitch by bolting the assembly directly to the chassis of your RV. Park your trailer on a flat surface to make hitching and loading easier. Drive your vehicle up the ramp and secure it with chains or ratchet tie-downs. Then, make sure to plug the "pig tail" into the motorhome's 12-vold electrical receiver so your brakes and lights work.
There are several disadvantages with using a trailer to carry your dinghy. Initially, it's the largest investment. It greatly adds to the overall length and weight of your rig, which may be more than your motorhome can handle. The length makes it difficult to fit in smaller campgrounds. Plus, the weight of the trailer and the toad adds to your fuel expenses. Lastly, many RV parks require trailers to be stored elsewhere which may also add to the cost of staying there.
Related Read: 10 Tips for Boosting your RV MPG
Tow DollyA great middle-of-the-road option, a dolly is a less expensive, 2-wheeled trailer that transports your toad with two of its wheels on the trailer and two on the ground. A tow dolly can be used for a variety of vehicles (including those that can't be towed with all four wheels down) and they don't put miles on your odometer. Plus, they often have electric or surge brakes, so they're legal in most states.
Bolt a Class III trailer hitch assembly to the chassis of your RV. Couple the dolly to the motorhome on a flat surface. Then drive the front tires of the toad up the ramps leaving the back ones on the ground. Secure the vehicle with ratchet tie-downs and/or chains.
Although they generally aren't as expensive as a trailer, dollies are still fairly pricey. Dollies, like trailers, usually need to be licensed, and you'll still likely have to find a place to store it when you get to your destination. The primary, additional inconvenience that you have with a dolly that you avoid with a trailer, is that tow dollies are notoriously difficult to back even for experienced RVers.
Tow Bar
The advantages of using a tow bar is that they're less expensive, smaller, and often collapsible making them easier to store. Plus, many RV manufacturers produce motorhomes with the mounted tow bar connected at all times, so you only need to hook up the toad when you're heading out.
The tow bar pulls vehicles with all four tires on the ground. The assembly usually consists of the tow bar itself and the base plate. The base plate is custom-made for specific vehicles and attaches to its chassis.
There are several disadvantages to using a tow bar assembly. First, since base plates are specific to a particular vehicle, if one doesn't already exist, you're looking at an expensive custom installation. Second, some vehicles can't even be towed like this without modifying the drivetrain. Plus, since all wheels are on the ground, mileage and wear accumulates when they're towed. Although the other alternatives come with lights and brakes, this method of towing requires you use a lighting kit to wire into the vehicle's own lighting system. Lastly, you absolutely can't back your RV while using a tow bar; the vehicle's wheels will turn the wrong way putting stress on the steering component as it's dragged along, causing serious damage.
Related Read: Don't Let Your Loaded Bumper Hit the Road When You Do This Summer
In ConclusionAfter establishing your campsite, you probably don't want to pull up stakes just to run to the store for that important ingredient you forgot to pack. Towed vehicles make quick trips easier; and narrow, winding roads passable. (Not every destination is reachable by large motorhomes.)
Once you've properly hitched your vehicle, it's a good ide
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Author: Carrie Todd
