A Car Tow Dolly offers an efficient means of moving vehicles without the use of trailers. Simply position the front wheels onto the dolly and keep the rear ones on the ground - no trailer needed!
Properly hook up a tow dolly by first placing your vehicle-in-tow in park with its motor off and parking brake set.
Axles
Car dollys can be useful tools in case your vehicle breaks down and towing fees become an expensive burden. Although car dollies may appear simple in construction, their engineering ensures that they can support the weight of a vehicle's front wheels while leaving its rear axle securely planted to the ground.
Before towing, always ensure the dolly is in good condition and all safety chains are safely fastened. Furthermore, check the tire pressure and brakes of your towing vehicle and center it. Be mindful when towing that it goes slowly to avoid accidents or damage to towed vehicles.
Flat towing vehicles often result in damage because drivers make sharp turns with an overloaded dolly, taking sharp corners can cause it to shift and can also pose a danger for other motorists on the road. Therefore, it is vitally important that you know how to calculate the curb weight of your towing vehicle prior to using it.
Calculate the curb weight of your towing vehicle by subtracting its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) from the total vehicle weight including driver and passengers. If you need help, reach out to a U-Haul representative. It may also be prudent to reduce load in trunk/cargo bed of towing vehicle to reduce risks of shifting and damages to dolly.
Wheels
A Car Tow Dolly can be an invaluable tool for anyone with an automobile. They make maneuvering the vehicle easier in and out of your garage or driveway for storage or emergency towing; plus they save money! While you could buy one off-the-shelf, making your own gives you greater customization over the size and shape while saving money by doing it yourself with only the basic supplies needed for assembly.
Start by gathering at least 4 feet tall and 8 inches wide of plywood. Cut it to size. Also acquire heavy duty casters capable of supporting the weight of your vehicle - these can be found online or locally at hardware stores.
Before transporting your vehicle, double check that the tow dolly is secure and check to see that its hitch-ball fits securely within its coupler, along with safety chains connecting properly. Also make sure that its handwheel is tightened securely for transport.
Your dolly's maximum load capacity must be determined by subtracting its curb (empty) weight from its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). To do this, calculate its empty weight by deducting driver, passengers and cargo weight as well as any additional equipment you may be carrying; multiply this figure by the number of axles on your dolly to reach a final number and begin construction of it. Once this step has been accomplished, construction can commence immediately.
Frame
Your DIY car dolly requires the appropriate frame. Your frame should support the weight of your vehicle while being strong enough not to bend under pressure. Luckily, creating your own frame with only a few simple materials is simple! This guide offers step-by-step instructions and patterns so you can build two dollies within 2 or 3 days!
Before using your dolly, it is a wise idea to conduct a comprehensive test run. Be sure to connect it to your vehicle and verify that the brakes work as intended before testing out its hitch to ensure it can support both vehicles and dolly simultaneously.
Make sure to secure both the tow dolly and vehicle being hauled with safety chains, which will help secure them to both. Attaching these safety chains will keep the tow dolly connected to its load if the coupler comes off of its ball or the hitch disengages unexpectedly. If you need assistance attaching the chains yourself, contact U-Haul for assistance.
Once you've assembled all of the materials necessary, it's time to build your DIY car dolly. Start by cutting four pieces of steel tubing to length, one of which should be 4 feet and three being 2 feet each. Weld these together into a square-shaped base. Make sure that its corners are smooth and rounded to reduce risk of vehicle damage; after welding has taken place tack weld a piece of box steel onto it for additional strength.
Casters
Tow dollies require sturdy casters in order to safely transport vehicles of various weights and remain smooth when moving them along their routes. Their placement must not interfere with brake pedal or other parts of the vehicle and allow enough room for tires to roll over them without contact.
Are You an Avid Car Collector or Dealer? For serious collectors or traders of cars, having a sturdy dolly that can support both weight and size is vitally important. A tow dolly is ideal for anyone who needs to transport their vehicle between locations - be it an RV with attached vehicle attached, race car being transported between events or just a regular passenger vehicle used on trips.
Once a tow dolly has been assembled and loaded, it's essential that it be tested. An experienced person should load the vehicle onto the tow dolly and drive backwards over ramps - this ensures no tipping or loss of control occurs with regards to towing vehicle-in-tow. Furthermore, all lighting connections on both tow dolly and vehicle should be verified as well as whether or not the locking pin has been re-engaged.
Once the test has been passed, your tow dolly is ready for use. If it will be used across state lines for transporting vehicles, registration may be required - in such a situation it would be best to contact a towing specialist for advice. Furthermore, always secure the trailer to its vehicle-in-tow using a chain or similar means to avoid accidents and subsequent fines from authorities.
Testing
Towing dollys provide an efficient and straightforward method for transporting vehicles. However, before using this tool it's essential that you take certain steps. First of all make sure the tow dolly is securely attached to your car's hitch with safety chains attached, check its weight limit and towing capacity limits as exceeding these may cause irreparable damage both to you and the dolly.
After setting up the tow dolly, test its function by moving it without placing any vehicles on it. This will ensure it moves smoothly and all components are functioning as they should. Also test out whether the casters can move in their full range. If they cannot, sanding may be required in order to create a smooth surface and eliminate flat spots on wheels.
Finally, load your vehicle-in-tow onto a tow dolly. This step is essential as failure to do so may result in side-to-side sway which is both hazardous and difficult to control with additional equipment. For optimal results always load your tow dolly facing forward for safe transporting of your load.
Before towing your car with a dolly, it is also imperative that the drive shaft or u-joint be disconnected as failing to do so could cause irreparable transmission damage and even total vehicle destruction. If unsure, professional assistance should be sought - click here.