Towing dollies... Any good?

[Lankytim]

Hi all,

 

Iv'e been offered a swap for the Citroen AX I have, it's one of those old ex RAC jobbies with four small wheels in the middle, it looks nice and low, very sturdy and has a weird steering arrangement with track rods and the like, it could do with a lick of paint but looks OK. I don't think it's braked.

 

Anyway,

 

Are these dollies any good? I used to have a towing dolly years ago and it was mega useful but things have moved on. Are they more plod friendly than an A frame?

 

Any advice on this kind of shite appreciated.

[KruJoe]

Tim, you've prolly done more A-framing than I have, but I don;t know how any dolly with wheels in the middle could have ANY advantages over a good solid A-frame and tow car, especially if it's un-braked.

How can it be as stable? I know which I'd choose.

 

I have read about the legalities of dollies, but can't remember!

 

I'd only consider a dolly if it was braked, had low 'wheel cradles' and had its own wheels wide apart:

 

 

Four wheels would be even better. Oh, and it must have a turntable arrangement, so you can actually turn corners!

 

Despite the shite, this looks WRONG:

 

 

'Looks sturdy' and 'tows stable' are two different things.

[Faker]

'Looks sturdy' and 'tows stable' are two different things.

That one above uses a pivot arrangement, and does not use a track rod steering assembly. We would really need a pic. Non braked a frames or dollies are only lawfully permitted for recovery use, to move a vehicle from a place of danger, at a maximum speed of 40mph.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I had a towing dolly like that one under the Subaru there. I thought it was OK till I got an A-frame, at which point i released the dolly was actually shite. the wheels and tyres on it (which seem to be a standard fitment on crummy towing dollies) were more like wheelbarrow efforts and were totally unsuitable for the weight for a start. Plus unless you get the car absolutley bob-on 100% centred on the dolly it essentially 'crabs' along, no problem apart from the fact that it will wear its tyres out in 300 miles. And the centre of gravity is much higher of course so that does not help wiht the stability of the whole thing. And, once the car is on it you can't reverse at all and you also can't temporarily detach it to manoeuvre your towing car into the right orientation etc like you can with an A.

 

Having said that I think a braked, 'low slung' dolly like the thing Kruj is showing would be the 'Rolls Royce' of towing gizmos and would pwn an A-frame in a comparison of stability, legality, likelihood of getting past a continental european copper etc.

[Faker]

The fast deployment trailers the AA & RAC use are fantastic, but bloody expensive.

[overrun]

The fast deployment trailers the AA & RAC use are fantastic, but bloody expensive.

I believe the R does not stand for 'Fast'.

They are the cooler than The Fonz's swingers, mind.

 

As for dollies with tiny inboard wheels, fuck that noise.

 

A-F(TW)RAME all the way.

[Lankytim]

I'll have to dig out a pic, but this particular type has 4 wheels hidden under the centre in a single row, the whole thing looks like a cross between an armadillo and something from robot wars. It's much lower than the one pictured.

 

I thought the main advantage over A frames would be the transport of damaged and automatic cars.

[nigel bickle]

I own one of those 4 wheel ex RAC jobbies;-and as a dolly, its damn good.  I use it to move cars with 'rolling' issues -autos, seized axles, missing rims etc, or very heavy loads; (I brought my J7 Camper back from France- for example)  BUT I'd defer to the A frame every time. I use it only as a last resort.

 

Problems? The inner  wheels don't have enough clearance to come off complete- they have to be built up in situ. So the tyres will almost certainly be borked. The ramps are bloody steep- so the winch needs to be good. I've chewed through 3 separate winch's -all appropriately graded. The steering pin is difficult to remove after the cars loaded (DONT do it before!) often resorting to hammers & crowbars unless the setup is 100% straight (it wont be).

The bar across the back of the wheel is set too high  -which can make unloading a dead car difficult.  Under those circs, I end up jacking the wishbone up to get a wood block under the wheel.  Unnecessary hassle. There are other problems, but all relatively minor.

 

However, they are immensely strong, tow well (when you get used to the car looming large through your rear window!) & store on their arse, taking relatively little space. Mine sits outside -and can fill with rain (so needs emptying occasionally) but copious paint seems to keep rust at bay -and they are certainly well built.  Having tried the smaller one, twice, this feels a good deal 'safer'. But its heavy & antiquated.

 

If it helps I can find some pics?  My personal choice would always be A frame, lightweight trailer (if I had the space) dolly, heavyweight trailer.

[nigel bickle]

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But perhaps -not like this!

 

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[Mr Livered]

First pic is insane!

 

Second pic would be great in the cars and girls thread.

[nigel bickle]

Insane? Why?

 

The second was interesting in that we were collecting via a Court order. He had sold it to me -on Ebay, then welched when the  winning bid was too low. I pursued him via the Courts and  this was the outcome (rules are different now;  motoring bids were also binding then).

My Mrs is 'doing all the work, although actually it was as light as a feather!) because I & the Bailiff were 'dealing' with the thoroughly pissed off owners! 

 

And all for a car going straight to my French mate!  Currently regularly seen in & around Alencon!

[Mr Livered]

Good on you for taking it right to that conclusion!

 

I used the word "insane" in the context of my status as a great admirer of your motorcar purchase and collection activities

[Lankytim]

That's exactly like the one i've been offered. It's a big old thing! I'm still undecided, apparently it needs a couple of tyres- I've no idea how much they are or how easy they are to get hold of. I recon it's deffo more saleable and worth more than my AX though so I may just go for it!

[Lankytim]

Nevermind, the cripple on Swapz has changed his mind now.