Info on Tow Dollys

[LR Max]

I am a member of a Sports Car Club here at school, and they've got 2 club cars that are not street legal. I've got a truck with a reciever hitch and can tow short distances (which is all that is required).

I'd think I could find a tow dolly for a reasonable price, but all the prices I've found were so high, I could get a trailer cheaper! The club has some

Any suggestions on a place to get a used tow dolly? I'm in South Carolina, so anywhere in the vicinity is good enough.

Any thoughts on the subject??

[SilverZuk]

I am not a fan of them.
I used one to tow about 200 miles.
Broke a rear axle and my spare had a bearing that was rough (that is why I used it for a spare – to get off the trail).
About 70 miles on the way home it let go.
Fortunately, my buddy had a spare and we replaced it and went on home.

During the tow, some of my camping junk in the front seat of the Suzuki fell down onto the t-case shifter and knocked it into 4-high. The hubs were unlocked, but it vibrated enough to shake my front d-shaft bolts loose about the time I got to the house.
After that, I wouldn’t use one unless it was an emergency.

[Mechanos]

Screw the dolly..... get the trailer.

[demonranger]

The are farily expensive to buy new 800ish is what I found when I was looking at them. I 've used them for distances up to 500 but alwasy pulled the driveshaft even for the short, read under 50miles, trips. Check your local rules some states, don't know carolinas rules, say it has to be registered to have wheels on the ground. though you should't get harassed too much unless you're visiting cali

Another option is to build the dolly if you've got fab skills and a shop avail, you can easily build one for a few hundered, the most expensive piece will be the drop spindles (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LLCategoryDisplayView?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&productId=560743&categoryId=166843) from some place like www.northerntool.com and the other pieces you'd have to buy form a place like www.etrailer.com

[DRM]

I owned an X-UHaul tow dolly for a few years before getting my trailer. I have towed a Jeep behind an Explorer from Nashville, TN to Pensacola, FL then back home empty. I have towed hundreds more miles with it over the years as well.

Yes - they are expensive. I bought mine for like $600 and sold it for the same price when I got my trailer to replace it.

They really do work well, especally when using regular-duty tow vehicles to pull relatively light vehicles.

As for finding one - just keep your eyes open. Truck Traders, use car lots, and rental places replacing their stock.

[Po' riggity]

You mean the Dolley's of Death? Ive had one too many bad experiences with them..

[LR Max]

Hmmm. Kinda my feelings too. I've towed using a real trailer and I think its the way to go. This reinforces my beliefs that the vast majority of the sports car club members are very......ignorant.

Disco Stu. Back away....

[n9emz]

About the best price on a good one I've seen on eBay is around $550. I've used them a number of times and pulled vehicles over a thousand miles with no problems, but I've never done it with much enthusiasm or confidence. I feel the same way about towbars, regardless that millions of miles are routinely racked up with them dinghy towing.

Personal feeling is too damned much can go wrong and there are too many immutable laws of physics at work. I spent some time searching for a tandem trailer and got a "godfather" deal on one.....less than your average price on a used towdolly. Now I wouldn't even consider using a towdolly again.