tow dolly questions

[leadsled01]

I want to build a tow dolly. I have a really nice straight axle with electric brakes. Question is "do I really have to make the platform pivot?" or can I get buy without the pivoting platform and just unlock the steering of the towed vehicle. I have seen older dollies like this but all the newer ones pivot. I do relize that I need to cut and drop the axle so the rear bumper does not drag. Any ideas would be great.

 

[Brian]

A tow dolly has to have some means of turning, either a pivoting platform or turning wheels such as on a steering axle. A vehicle on a dolly essentially becomes a 4 wheel vehicle. Picture it going through a turn. The tow vehicle is pulling the front of the towed vehicle sideways. without some means of turning the tires on the dolly will be dragged through the turn scraping on the ground.
Unlocking the steering will do nothing.

 

[leadsled01]

A tow dolly has to have some means of turning, either a pivoting platform or turning wheels such as on a steering axle. A vehicle on a dolly essentially becomes a 4 wheel vehicle. Picture it going through a turn. The tow vehicle is pulling the front of the towed vehicle sideways. without some means of turning the tires on the dolly will be dragged through the turn scraping on the ground.
Unlocking the steering will do nothing.

I understand what you're saying, but how did the old dollies that don't pivot work? Or is the pivoting style just way better and I would be an idiot for building a dolly without it pivoting?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

It makes sense that leaving the steering unlocked would allow the car to pivot on the dolly and eliminate the dolly pivot. Problem is, most cars have power steering and this would push lots of fluid back to the pump and resv. and possibly overflow it depending on the vehicle. Beyond that, it would leave the rear end of the vehicle on the dolly to wander about while being towed, not sure I'd like that.

With a pivoting tow dolly, you have something akin to a 4 wheel hay wagon.

Charles

 

[OldCarGuy]

Might consider building just a tow bar…

I always tow my Chevy Tahoe behind my motor home or Avalanche using a tow bar with all four wheel down. The mounts on the towed car are easily removable, leaving no telltale sign of brackets. It less weight to pull behind you and you don’t have to bother getting another license plate, little or no maintenance, or another cumbersome gadget to find a place to store. I do

http://www.blueox.us/Towbars/towbars.htm

 

[leadsled01]

Might consider building just a tow bar…

I always tow my Chevy Tahoe behind my motor home or Avalanche using a tow bar with all four wheel down. The mounts on the towed car are easily removable, leaving no telltale sign of brackets. It less weight to pull behind you and you don’t have to bother getting another license plate, little or no maintenance, or another cumbersome gadget to find a place to store. I do

http://www.blueox.us/Towbars/towbars.htm

I have considered the tow bar, but you can't use them on newer cars or my 66 electra due to the front bumper is pointed in such a fashion that it interfears.