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Old 07-06-2021, 06:57 PM   #1
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Towing Information Request

So we bought a used 2020 Sunseeker 2550DSLEF with 400 miles this spring. It didn’t come with any manuals. We’ve decided to use a tow dolly to transport either our Mazda 3 or Toyota RAV-4. Click image for larger version

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Am I limited to towing 5,000 pounds? Does a tow dolly have a weight distributing hitch option? Between the tow dolly and the car I’d be about 5,000 pounds. Can anyone recommend a tow dolly?
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Old 07-06-2021, 07:23 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Strut21 View Post
So we bought a used 2020 Sunseeker 2550DSLEF with 400 miles this spring. It didn’t come with any manuals. We’ve decided to use a tow dolly to transport either our Mazda 3 or Toyota RAV-4. Attachment 258619
Am I limited to towing 5,000 pounds? Does a tow dolly have a weight distributing hitch option? Between the tow dolly and the car I’d be about 5,000 pounds. Can anyone recommend a tow dolly?
I don’t see anything on that hitch label about 5000 pounds so I don’t know what you’re asking in that regard.

Please post the truck chassis you have. Is this a Ford E-350, E-450? If you have, for example, an E-450, the chassis can handle the full 7500 pound tow rating that the hitch is rated for.

A weight distributing hitch is unnecessary for a tow dolly, as the tongue weight will be light.

What you need for a manual is the Ford E-series (if that is what you have) chassis manual, which you can easily download from Ford’s web site, in case you don’t have the manual.

Again, please post what truck chassis you have, so people don’t bombard you with misleading information.
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Old 07-06-2021, 07:31 PM   #3
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I don’t see anything on that hitch label about 5000 pounds so I don’t know what you’re asking in that regard.

Please post the truck chassis you have. Is this A Ford E-350, E450? If you have, for example, an E450, the chassis can handle the full 7500 pound tow rating that the hitch is rated for.

A weight distributing hitch is totally unnecessary for a tow dolly, as the tongue weight will be light.

What you need for a manual is the Ford chassis manual, which you can easily download from Ford’s web site, in case you don have the manual.

Again, please post what truck chassis you have, so people don’t bombard you with misleading information.


It’s an E450. I thought the tongue weight was 10% of the towing capacity. That is why I assumed 5,000 pounds. I got no info at all, but the holding tank was full!
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Old 07-06-2021, 07:32 PM   #4
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If you have a Ford, look in the glovebox for the manual. There is a shelf on top in the glovebox that the manual is stored in. It’s easily missed if you just glance in it. The manual is in a black zippered pouch.

If you have an E450 you can tow either car without worry.
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Old 07-06-2021, 07:56 PM   #5
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It’s an E450. I thought the tongue weight was 10% of the towing capacity. That is why I assumed 5,000 pounds. I got no info at all, but the holding tank was full!
Don’t read more into the hitch label than what is there. A manual is not going to tell you anything about the hitch beyond what is on that sticker. The hitch tow rating is 7500 pounds. The tongue weight limit is 500 pounds without a weight distributing hitch, or 750 pounds with a weight distributing hitch. That’s it for the hitch rating. There is no 5000 pound weight rating there. Don’t assume anything.

The E-450 has a 22,000 pound Gross Combined Weight Rating, and a 14,500 pound Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. As long as you’re not exceeding the GVWR, which you should not be, the chassis can tow the 7500 pounds that the hitch is rated for.

As a totally random example, if your car and dolly weighed 6000 pounds, and your tongue weight was 300 pounds, you would be OK.
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Old 07-07-2021, 06:53 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Strut21 View Post
So we bought a used 2020 Sunseeker 2550DSLEF with 400 miles this spring. It didn’t come with any manuals. We’ve decided to use a tow dolly to transport either our Mazda 3 or Toyota RAV-4. Attachment 258619
Am I limited to towing 5,000 pounds? Does a tow dolly have a weight distributing hitch option? Between the tow dolly and the car I’d be about 5,000 pounds. Can anyone recommend a tow dolly?
BehindBars has you completely covered on your hitch questions…….as much as I hate to admit he’s right.

As far as your towing vehicles, make sure you read the specifics for each vehicle for dolly towing, especially the RAV-4. If the Toyota is front wheel drive, I’ll bet there’s no problem. However, MOST of not ALL vehicles that are AWD or FWD cannot be dolly towed. Make sure you know for sure.
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Old 07-11-2021, 10:14 AM   #7
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I tow a 2012 Ford Escape on my tow dolly. Been 1,000's of mile with no issue.
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Old 07-11-2021, 06:06 PM   #8
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I tow a 2012 Ford Escape on my tow dolly. Been 1,000's of mile with no issue.
Is your Escape FWD or AWD……you didn’t say.
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Old 07-11-2021, 06:08 PM   #9
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FWD. Can't tow AWD on a dolly.
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Old 07-11-2021, 06:10 PM   #10
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FWD. Can't tow AWD on a dolly.
That’s right. Just wanted others to know that AWD can’t be on a dolly.
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Old 07-12-2021, 03:36 PM   #11
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Just FYI, the EZE-TOW dolly has a surge brake model. We used one for a few thousand miles towing a 2007 RAV4 FWD.
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