I have 99 F250 2WD V10. This weekend I have to go across the state and snowy pass with dolly to pick up a car to bring it back. 5hr drive at @70mph.

What would you guys advise as far as should I put any weight in the bed, speed, what gear, OD or Not...


Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

take your time! towing here in cali limits you to 55mph...not sure about your state. also here only the right two lanes are legal...when towing I try to stay 55-60 unless it's wide open flat then maybe up to 65. Remember when towing it takes longer to stop and emergency stops can be alot more exciting when your dragging something behind you. Use OD when your trans is hunting for gears or on the hills...
watch out when taking sharp turns in town (swing it wide). as far as weight in the back and snowy passes i'll let someone else with more experience answer that, no snow here in Socal...but the universal answer to newbie towing questions is, take it slow!
if you have to back up at all I learned a easy trick, grab the bottom of your steering wheel with one hand and if you want your trailer to go left move your hand left...simple and made backing up easy for me...thats one thing that got me when I first towed always screwed up reversing.
also planning ahead when pulling in somewhere like a gas station or parking lot is a good idea! before pulling in give a quick look for an easy way through or exit....can't just turn around easily if needed.

good luck!

 

Thanks, brother. Great help.

 

I've done a fair amount of towing and I still wouldn't feel comfortable towing in snow. I can't say I recommend cutting your towing teeth on snow, especially with a 2wd truck. You might want to consider rescheduling your trip or finding someone to drive for you (if you trust anyone driving your truck).

 

Just a couple of quick notes.

I've towed several vehicles with dollies and trailers and my preference has always been a trailer. However, if the dolly is what you have, it's not a problem.....use whatever you're most comfortable with.

Be careful taking really tight turns. Not all dollies turn as well as others and you can run into problems with the fenders of the dolly hitting the sides of the car on tight turns.

Backing can be a little more of a challenge with a dolly versus a trailer. I try to make sure that I don't get into a situation where I have to back it up. Try to find open areas / lots where you can pull forward to get out instead of having to back up.

If you're going to be traveling where there's definitely going to be ice or snow, I would look at possibly adding some weight in the bed of the truck before you go. The dolly isn't going to transfer a lot of hitch weight onto the rear of the truck depending upon the design. Most dollies carry the weight of one end or the other of the towed vehicle right over the dolly wheels, thus not putting much hitch weight onto the two vehicle. Add weight if you think you'll need it for traction.

Of course, it's a good idea to check your straps, hooks, etc. before you leave in case anything is worn and needs to be replaced prior to the trip.

After you hook up, check your straps and then re-check them after about 25-30 miles. Then I re-check them each time I stop or about every hundred miles thereafter. I'm guessing the dolly has lights on it. Check your wiring and connections at hookup and each time you check your straps.

Check the tire pressure in the dolly tires also. And if you don't have a spare for the dolly, at least keep a tire plug kit, portable air compressor, and/or a can of Slime or fix-a-flat with you. Good idea to keep some emergency triangles, road flares, flashlight, gloves, etc. with you just in case as well.


ON EDIT: Onug made a good point about towing in the snow. I've towed stuff since I was old enough to drive and that's been many moons ago. I still don't like towing in the snow to this day. If you're uncomfortable towing in the snow, like he said, reschedule the trip if necessary. Especially if you're not used to towing in it. Most of the dollies I've used had some type of surge brakes on them and some had none at all. That poses its own challenges without throwing bad road conditions on top of everything else. The surge brakes are going to lockup, more than likely, in any kind of snow and the towed vehicle isn't going to be braking to help slow you down.

 

This thread was originally posted in the Super Duty forum but I copied it here for all of you towing experts to speak up and post some advice for the OP.

Thanks in advance!

 

It's already been mentioned about braking but I learned that with snow and towing don't be afraid to be 'very cautious' on downgrades or approaching intersections, traffic lights, off ramps etc. Many times I'll drop to a lower gear instead of braking harder than I think is safe on approach's when it's slick and my speed allows it. Sometimes a lower gear will help you maintain a safe speed on downgrades without having to brake at all.

Only other thing that I don't think has been mentioned, which may sound stupid but, always remember the dolley's a little wider than the tow vehicle. Stay in your lane. You don't want to be clipping snow banks, parked vehicles or forcing someone to swerve because the wheels are in their lane. It's very easy to forget, especially bobtailing.

 

Nothing really to add here. Take it slow so you can control the load. Rember that tow dolly does not have any brakes so if you slide then you really have a problem