Following on from my last post, I'm thinking about buying a towing dolly since they seem to be pretty cheap. Has anybody got any experience of using or are they a complete waste of time? The sort of dolly I'm talking about are the small ones which the front wheels of the towed car go onto, not 'A' frames where all the towed car wheels stay on the ground.
Also related, if I decided to go the trailer hire route instead, does anybody know what sort of company I'd have to hire it from, e.g. generic tool hire company / car hire company etc etc. I'm pretty close to Newcastle so if anybody knows of any companies up here that do the hire, or have hired one before, that would be useful to know.
Towing dollies or Trailer hire.
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fastandfurryous
- Posts: 1389
- Joined: 07 Jul 2004, 17:57
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If you do decide to get a towing dolly, make sure it is one that has brakes, as you cannot tow ANY trailer over 750KG without brakes. The cheaper towing dollies don't have brakes, and are really rather dangerous. I have towed with a couple of these, and I have to say, I don't like them. They're not very stable, and you end up driving VERY slowly. Reversing with one of these is practically impossible.
The best bet for flatbed trailers is just to call round places in the yellow pages. This *should* mean you get a trailer from a reasonably reputable company. Flatbed should cost no more than £60 to hire for a day/weekend. Be aware of towing weight restrictions on your car though, as any flatbed is 500-600KG unladen. Much better idea than the towing dolly though, and generally safer. You can also reverse these!
That said, I hired a flatbed from my local garage a few months ago, and had to repair the brake cables before the brakes would work! Mind you, I should have know better, as the time before that I hired it, a bit of box-section broke as I loaded the car (it was rotten) and I had to weld in a new section of steel! Oh, and the wheelarch came off and went through a tyre! Luckily that was on the return journey, so the flat tyre was left to go round anyway. The stench of burning rubber was fairly impressive!
So from that point on, I made my own a-frame, which operates the brakes on the car being towed. Workes on anything except a Diravi-equipped car. Only problem being that you cannot reverse at all with this setup.
The best bet for flatbed trailers is just to call round places in the yellow pages. This *should* mean you get a trailer from a reasonably reputable company. Flatbed should cost no more than £60 to hire for a day/weekend. Be aware of towing weight restrictions on your car though, as any flatbed is 500-600KG unladen. Much better idea than the towing dolly though, and generally safer. You can also reverse these!
That said, I hired a flatbed from my local garage a few months ago, and had to repair the brake cables before the brakes would work! Mind you, I should have know better, as the time before that I hired it, a bit of box-section broke as I loaded the car (it was rotten) and I had to weld in a new section of steel! Oh, and the wheelarch came off and went through a tyre! Luckily that was on the return journey, so the flat tyre was left to go round anyway. The stench of burning rubber was fairly impressive!
So from that point on, I made my own a-frame, which operates the brakes on the car being towed. Workes on anything except a Diravi-equipped car. Only problem being that you cannot reverse at all with this setup.
This is not a signature.
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Paul Mi16
- Posts: 64
- Joined: 15 Nov 2005, 18:23
I would go for the proper trailer option, It depends on how you need one, because if its occasionally then it would be better to hire. Me and a friend bought one between us, as he us uses it for his grasstrack racer and he has the room to keep it.
I don't feel towing dollies are that safe, they are better than nothing, but as has already been mention they sods to reverse and relies on the vehicle being towed having two wheels that turn.
Paul.
I don't feel towing dollies are that safe, they are better than nothing, but as has already been mention they sods to reverse and relies on the vehicle being towed having two wheels that turn.
Paul.
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Kowalski
- Posts: 2557
- Joined: 15 Oct 2003, 17:41
I've found out some things about towing dollys.
My information is as follows, they're very restricted in what they can do and are supposed to be for recovery only. They have speed limits imposed on them (40mph on motorways / dual carriageways, 20mph elsewhere) and the towed vehicle has to be taxed and insured. Unless you have a system to operate the towed vehicles brakes, you're limited to 750kgs even if the dolly is braked, since all wheels on a trailer have to be braked for it to be classified as a braked trailer. In short, its a no go.
I've also found a local company that will hire a decent flatbed trailer for £40 a day or £150 per weekend (Friday - Monday), so things aren't so bad. My Dad also has a second trailer that could be converted to carry a car but it is VERY heavy (twin axle), I'd have to borrow his 4x4 to tow it.
My information is as follows, they're very restricted in what they can do and are supposed to be for recovery only. They have speed limits imposed on them (40mph on motorways / dual carriageways, 20mph elsewhere) and the towed vehicle has to be taxed and insured. Unless you have a system to operate the towed vehicles brakes, you're limited to 750kgs even if the dolly is braked, since all wheels on a trailer have to be braked for it to be classified as a braked trailer. In short, its a no go.
I've also found a local company that will hire a decent flatbed trailer for £40 a day or £150 per weekend (Friday - Monday), so things aren't so bad. My Dad also has a second trailer that could be converted to carry a car but it is VERY heavy (twin axle), I'd have to borrow his 4x4 to tow it.
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yangreen
- Posts: 381
- Joined: 25 Jan 2005, 14:11
I'd go the proper route. Police may not bother you any other method but best not to think about what would happen in the event of an accident. Last thing you want is the insurance refusing to pay up.
I've got to fetch my 2cv from Lincolnshire at some point (about 110 miles away) and enquired about these classic car transport folk. One bloke offered to do it for £140 (plus £99 for the return which I don't need) which I didn't think was too bad. Saves me a hell of a lot of time and a one way journey with an empty trailer!
You have to hunt around though as most were in the £300 area which is just daft.
Ian
I've got to fetch my 2cv from Lincolnshire at some point (about 110 miles away) and enquired about these classic car transport folk. One bloke offered to do it for £140 (plus £99 for the return which I don't need) which I didn't think was too bad. Saves me a hell of a lot of time and a one way journey with an empty trailer!
You have to hunt around though as most were in the £300 area which is just daft.
Ian
1986 Citroën 2cv Dolly. 133k. All shiny again!
1994 Citroën AX 1.0 Jive - girlies' workhorse GONE
1994 Citroën AX 1.0 Jive - girlies' workhorse GONE