Towing cars with 4 wheels down! Which are cars best for this!

[Gordalder]

Originally Posted by BobHanke

Just like safety chains, most states require a braking system for towed items above a certain weight. Tow dollies and four-wheel-down vehicles would definitely fit into those regulations. Our Blue Ox Patriot Braking System includes a wireless remote display and control plus a break away switch. I only see the brake activate during hard stops.

Hi, you are correct. Based on the research I have done, of all the states and provinces I will be travelling in the Fiat is light enough to tow without a breaking system; except for one state. My question was to the original poster so I could determine if they used a braking system on the very light Fiat, and if so did they notice any differences. I have just purchased a Fiat 500 and am wondering if I need the braking system.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Gordalder

Hi, you are correct. Based on the research I have done, of all the states and provinces I will be travelling in the Fiat is light enough to tow without a breaking system; except for one state. My question was to the original poster so I could determine if they used a braking system on the very light Fiat, and if so did they notice any differences. I have just purchased a Fiat 500 and am wondering if I need the braking system.

Your sig does not say...what type of motorhome do you have? That will determine how safe it will be to tow the Fiat.

Food For thought: We have the big mac daddy Berkshire with disc air brakes and are towing "just" a Jeep Cherokee (we have a 15K tow rating). Even so, I opted for aux braking for 2 reasons:

1. You can never have enough brake pads when you absolutely positively need to stop
2. In the event of an accident--at fault or not--I do not want Snuffy the ambulance chaser trying to build a case against me on the arguement that "if he had a aux brake system, the accident could have been avoided" (also the reason I have a dashCam )

[PenJoe]

Originally Posted by BamaBob

Your sig does not say...what type of motorhome do you have? That will determine how safe it will be to tow the Fiat.

Food For thought: We have the big mac daddy Berkshire with disc air brakes and are towing "just" a Jeep Cherokee (we have a 15K tow rating). Even so, I opted for aux braking for 2 reasons:

1. You can never have enough brake pads when you absolutely positively need to stop
2. In the event of an accident--at fault or not--I do not want Snuffy the ambulance chaser trying to build a case against me on the arguement that "if he had a aux brake system, the accident could have been avoided" (also the reason I have a dashCam )

The one other reason is the use of the break away in the event the toad separated from the TV. Not likely, but possible. Even though a Fiat is small, it could be a liability if it wandered off without brakes.

[knoddy]

For your information
Just had the wiring harness installed. Was covered under safety bulletin warranty a couple of years ago, not now . Kit price is about 150. Install time was nearly 4 hours. Due to another issue the dealer absorbed the kit price.

Also have installed the blue oxen base plate . No issues at all. To do is the wiring kit and battery charger

[ace911]

Back when I had a Class A coach we towed a 1987 Suzuki Samurai Hardtop with a custom boat rack for a 12ft aluminum boat. That rig we could hardly tell we were pulling. Then later when more kids arrived, we towed a 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara with a Blue Ox Alladan tow bar, with hidden quick release. Both of these cars towed like a dream, easy to hook up. No transmission de coupler or funky switches to install. I was pleased with both cars as toads, worked really well.

[radman]

The first car we towed was a 1997 Suzuki 4 door Sidekick. It was a great car for towing and did real good in 4 wheel drive for off-roading.

[757Dave]

We just returned from our first trip towing the 2017 Grand Cherokee 4 down. We traveled to visit family in West Virginia. Happy to report that the Sunseeker did a fantastic job going up and down some 6% and 7% grades.

Very, very pleased.

We were a bit worried about getting the larger Jeep, but glad to know that the Ford E450 handled it without an issue.

[757Dave]

Forgot to include photo...

[EricNJ]

Just for budgeting purposes what are the approximate typical costs of setting up a 4 down Toad vs a dolly?

[CAT-RN]

Probably about the same. If you buy a new dolly. $1500 or so. Depending how fancy a tow bar and if you have brake system.

Russell

[BigHomey]

Originally Posted by EricNJ

Just for budgeting purposes what are the approximate typical costs of setting up a 4 down Toad vs a dolly?

If you can do the base plate, brake and wiring installation yourself, then probably at least $2K. If you have to pay someone to do it, then at least another $1K.

AL

[lacrawgator]

If you are not dead set on a Jeep, I really love toeing the Ford Edge and it has a lot of nice features. We test drive the Cherokee and felt that the edge can us more room and had a better ride. Love the power seats, heated seats, power lift gate, and sunroof. Good luck.

[RudysWorld]

Originally Posted by EricNJ

Just for budgeting purposes what are the approximate typical costs of setting up a 4 down Toad vs a dolly?

I had mine installed with a Roadmaster braking system and it was +/- $3,000, Blue Ox tow bar and base plate.

[AudiDudi]

Originally Posted by EricNJ

Just for budgeting purposes what are the approximate typical costs of setting up a 4 down Toad vs a dolly?

I was quoted about $3500 for a ready brute elite installed. I picked up 2015, used twice, ACME dolly with surge brakes for $1000 and have towed a Chevy Sonic RS Hatchback behind our 2016 Prism about 1800 miles in the last couple months with it. Twice I've reserved pull thru spaces and then not gotten them when we showed up. At least with the dolly, it is not that hard to back up - something you can't do with a tow bar.

[PenJoe]

Originally Posted by RudysWorld

I had mine installed with a Roadmaster braking system and it was +/- $3,000, Blue Ox tow bar and base plate.

Purchased a Blue Ox base plate to fit a 2012 Jeep Liberty for $370 on Amazon and a lightly used Blue OX Patriot proportional brake controller along with a Blue Ox Aladdin tow bar for $600 on craigslist. Installed it myself. Also purchased a iBrake battery tender that ran the total to just over a thousand. If you are handy and search for good used, it can be fairly reasonable. The brake controller was less than a year old.

[Dalin]

I'm sure lots of folks want the comfort of a car ride and maybe you have more than 2 people, my first tow vehicle was an 82 S10 truck with 4 cyl and 4 speed manual, no issues at all with it. I disconnected the battery, put the trans in neutral and went. I also for my personal use, installed a trailer wiring harness from the grill back to the taillights where I installed a lamp inside each tail light housing, took a total f maybe an hour one Saturday. I plug the 4 pin trailer connector into the receptacle on the back of the motorhome and I'm good with signals and brake lights, the wire rolled up stores inside the grill without any issues. My newest S10, a 1998 model, I did the same thing with it. With the battery switched off and in neutral with key turned on, it follows me everywhere I go and doesn't weigh much....I hope this at least helps someone who might be wanting to use something a little less expensive to procure.

[aemail4sue]

Originally Posted by 757Dave

Forgot to include photo...



Attachment 154581

Saw your post and had to do a double take. We have the same setup a Sunseeker pulling our white Jeep Grand Cherokee behind. The other coincidences we have family in West Virginia also. Love love love our setup we did have the same concerns before getting the Jeep Grand Cherokee but have not had any problems. Great minds think alike LOL

[757Dave]

Originally Posted by aemail4sue

Saw your post and had to do a double take. We have the same setup a Sunseeker pulling our white Jeep Grand Cherokee behind. The other coincidences we have family in West Virginia also. Love love love our setup we did have the same concerns before getting the Jeep Grand Cherokee but have not had any problems. Great minds think alike LOL

That's just uncanny! You're correct, "Great minds do think alike!!!"

[aemail4sue]

Originally Posted by 757Dave

That's just uncanny! You're correct, "Great minds do think alike!!!"

What yr is ur Sunseeker ours is 2012

[Carl17]

2016 equinox blue ox tow bar