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08-04-2020, 03:56 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Michigan
Posts: 542
THOR #9522
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Old thread but seems to be a good place to ask this question.
My Stehl dolly says not to tow empty more than 100 miles. Real issue or just lawyer speak? I may find myself needing to tow our dolly 500 or 1000 miles empty due to a situation where the toad and RV need to be separated a while.
Pete
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Pete and Carolynn Foss from Oxford, MI
2018 Four Winds 31W
1999 Aero Cub F-21 trailer
1977 Tioga 24 foot RV
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08-04-2020, 03:59 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: '17-Vegas 24.1
State: California
Posts: 2,227
THOR #13362
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I towed a dolly 400 miles without a vehicle.
I then purchased a vehicle and towed it home.
Not sure what they are sayin'
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'17 Vegas 24.1
Fallbrook, CA
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08-04-2020, 04:02 PM
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#23
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,767
THOR #1469
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The problem is without a load the tow dolly will bounce around and things may come loose.
My MasterTow manual stated that if I needed to tow the dolly without a load that the tires should be deflated to around 10 PSI to minimize the bounce.
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Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
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08-04-2020, 04:20 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Michigan
Posts: 542
THOR #9522
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EA37TS
The problem is without a load the tow dolly will bounce around and things may come loose.
My MasterTow manual stated that if I needed to tow the dolly without a load that the tires should be deflated to around 10 PSI to minimize the bounce.
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That's a great idea.
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Pete and Carolynn Foss from Oxford, MI
2018 Four Winds 31W
1999 Aero Cub F-21 trailer
1977 Tioga 24 foot RV
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08-04-2020, 04:32 PM
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#25
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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It might have something to do with the brakes being too aggressive for no load. They might lock-up every time they are applied. You might want to disconnect them in this instance. 
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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08-04-2020, 04:34 PM
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#26
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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I've pulled our Acme/cartowdolly.com dolly about 90 miles with no vehicle on it. It does bounce around quite a bit--I like the low tire pressure idea.
There isn't much to the Acme dolly so I can't see it getting damaged much from the bouncing...
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08-04-2020, 04:36 PM
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#27
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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As long as it isn't scaring the folks behind you! 
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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08-04-2020, 04:37 PM
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#28
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,767
THOR #1469
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I went and looked it up in the MasterTow manual. I sold the dolly a year ago but here is what the manual says.
"IMPORTANT: Since tow dollies are not built with a suspension, they are intended to be towed loaded so that the vehicle-in-tow's suspension will absorb the road shock and vibration encountered by the tow dolly. If you find it necessary to tow your dolly unloaded it is recommended that the tire air pressure be reduced to around 10 P.S.I. to reduce tow dolly bounce and vibration. Failure to do so will result in premature metal fatigue in tilt-cuff, fender and ramp areas. Continuation of this use will result in cracking and eventually failure in these areas."
__________________
Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
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08-04-2020, 04:40 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Michigan
Posts: 542
THOR #9522
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
It might have something to do with the brakes being too aggressive for no load. They might lock-up every time they are applied. You might want to disconnect them in this instance. |
Yup I take the brake controller out of the loop when it's empty. That's a case where my Curt Echo Wireless works great. Just unplug from the string when moving around in a campground, etc.
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Pete and Carolynn Foss from Oxford, MI
2018 Four Winds 31W
1999 Aero Cub F-21 trailer
1977 Tioga 24 foot RV
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08-04-2020, 05:18 PM
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#30
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Couldn't find anything on https://cartowdolly.com/ about unloaded towing.
Since it has surge brakes I doubt that they even come on when the dolly is unloaded.
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08-04-2020, 05:25 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Michigan
Posts: 542
THOR #9522
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieGeek
Couldn't find anything on https://cartowdolly.com/ about unloaded towing.
Since it has surge brakes I doubt that they even come on when the dolly is unloaded. |
Mine are electric brakes so I just leave the Curt out when unloaded. Otherwise they lock up as soon as I touch the brake pedal on the RV.
__________________
Pete and Carolynn Foss from Oxford, MI
2018 Four Winds 31W
1999 Aero Cub F-21 trailer
1977 Tioga 24 foot RV
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08-04-2020, 06:55 PM
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#32
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieGeek
Couldn't find anything on https://cartowdolly.com/ about unloaded towing.
Since it has surge brakes I doubt that they even come on when the dolly is unloaded. |
It's probably light enough to not activate them... under normal braking!
But in a hard stop: you'll probably generate enough force against the hitch to get their attention. 
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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08-04-2020, 07:09 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,326
THOR #6903
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I have a Stehl I use when towing the Escape instead of the F150
Several times I have towed the dolly empty from the lake house or to it, a 330 mile trip one way
Lowering the air pressure is a must and due to the poor condition of many roads the dolly will still bounce into the air leaving contact with the surface
Slow as much as possible and that is as you can do except dodging the larger pot holes
Couple thousand miles of empty towing and the Dolly still looks and operates like new
Dont forget to air the tires prior to loading next time
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08-04-2020, 07:44 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35m
State: North Carolina
Posts: 935
THOR #13505
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Love our Tow Dolly
Pull through are nice, don’t have to unhitch dolly.
Some places you put it next to your rig
Some places they have a place for you to store.
I put a flip down wheel on dolly to roll easy
I put a hitch on my toad so I can pull the dolly around and even back it up!
I bring toad up next to rig, drop wheel, roller over 4 ft from back of RV and hook it up!
I put adjustable hitch on RV with upper slot if I want to add bike rack or storage rack.
I carry yaks on my toad everywhere. Use the drain holes as main strapping points.
Get yak holders that can handle the weight!!
I put in straps before in drain holes before I put back on roof. Other straps for safety.
Your tow setup is behind your rig so keeps the wind down.
Pics attached so you can see our setup.
Happy Camping!
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Retired Squid who has a Retired Squid that drives him around in a RV!
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