Tow Dolly Rentals - Robinsons Hardware

Tow Dollies

Tow dolly rental

Designed to move a registered vehicle with a larger towing vehicle. The dolly hooks on to the towing vehicle using a 2" ball and standard "four flat" wiring connection. You slide the ramps out and drive (or push) the vehicle to be towed up onto the dolly. You cover the tires with the tire webbing and ratchet it down until tight. You also connect the safety chains to the frame of the vehicle being towed.

Specifications

Overall Width: 101"
Overall Length: 132"
Wheels: 14 x 5.5
Radial Tires (BSW): ST205/75R14 "C"
Weight: 580 lbs.
GVWR (unit weight plus maximum carrying capacity): 3500 lbs.
Towed Vehicle Tread Width (minimum - maximum): 42" - 76"
Maximum Towed Vehicle Body Width: 76"
Axle Capacity: 3500 lbs.
Coupler Rating: 6000 lbs.
Finish Coating: Powder coat painted and Galvanized
Surge Brakes and Actuator: No

Total Towed Vehicle Weight:
(front wheel drive) 4500 lbs
(rear wheel drive) 4800 lbs

IMPORTANT DO'S AND DON'TS
Read the towing instructions in the towed vehicle�s owner�s manual.
Use a 2", 5000 lb. (or greater) capacity ball for a Tow Dolly without surge brakes and a 2", 6000 lb. (or greater) capacity ball for a Tow Dolly with surge brakes.

Make sure the towing vehicle�s parking brake is fully engaged before starting hookup, loading, unloading or unhooking of the Tow Dolly.

Do not load the towed vehicle onto the Tow Dolly until the Tow Dolly is completely and properly hooked up to the towing vehicle and setting on a level surface.

Always drive the front wheels of the towed vehicle onto the Tow Dolly. Do not load backwards.

Tail lights and stop lights must be hooked up and operating properly at all times.
Do not load a towed vehicle that exceeds the weight or size limits onto the Tow Dolly.

Always have someone safely guide you when driving the towed vehicle onto the Tow Dolly.

Be sure the tires of your towed vehicle and the Tow Dolly are in good condition and inflated to the proper pressures. Tire pressure may increase during travel - do not bleed off this increase in pressure.

Do not back up your towing vehicle when the Tow Dolly is attached. The Tow Dolly swivels both at the coupler and at the car platform. If you must back up, unload the towed vehicle first, disconnect the Tow Dolly and move the vehicle and tow dolly separately.

Play It Safe�park where you can pull ahead when leaving.
Do not exceed 45 miles per hour, or any lower posted speed limit.

Avoid sharp turns or swerves.

Braking distance increases when using a Tow Dolly. Use caution and always allow sufficient distance for braking.

Do not transport passengers or cargo in the vehicle being towed.

Do not unhook the Tow Dolly from the towing vehicle until the towed vehicle is completely unloaded from the Tow Dolly.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Customer Responsibilities
Towing a vehicle is the customer�s responsibility and it is the customer who must ensure that the weight and size limits of the Tow Dolly rented will not be exceeded by the vehicle being towed. Any injury or damage that results from exceeding weight or size limits is the sole responsibility of the customer.

TOWING VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS
Some considerations for the towing vehicle include:

The towing vehicle's weight being at least 1000 lbs. greater than the weight of the tow dolly and the towed vehicle.

Compliance with towing restrictions as stated by the towing vehicle�s owner�s manual and/or manufacturer.

The towing vehicle having, as a minimum, a Class 3, 5000 lb. hitch and hitch ball for a Tow Dolly without surge brakes. Or a class 3, 6000 lb. hitch and hitch ball for a Tow Dolly with surge brakes. (Hitch ball must be 2". Do not use any other size hitch ball.)

The towing vehicle being in good condition.

The towing vehicle having a current federal and/or state inspection where applicable, and complying with any applicable laws.

Make sure all lights are properly hooked up and operating at all times.

The towing vehicle�s hitch being approximately 20 inches to the top of the ball. Make sure that the hitch and the hitch ball are in good condition and not rusted, loose or stripped. Both the hitch and the hitch ball must be securely attached to the towing vehicle.

The tow dolly may only be used with a vehicle that is equipped with a 2", 5,000 lb. capacity ball. When used properly, the tow dolly can provide a safe and effective means to transport a vehicle within the following limitations.

WARNING: Read all Tow Dolly instructions and load limitations before using Tow Dolly.

IMPORTANT

Tow dolly must be attached to the towing vehicle before loading the towed vehicle onto the tow dolly. Do not back the vehicle with the tow dolly attached, as this will damage the towed vehicle and tow dolly. If in a situation where backing is necessary, disconnect the towed vehicle from the tow dolly, and the tow dolly from the towing vehicle and move separately.

HOOK-UP OF THE TOW DOLLY
1. Loosen coupler loop nut. Place the coupler of the tow dolly over the 2" hitch ball on the truck. Be sure the coupler is fully seated down over the ball.

Tow dolly Coupler

Make sure that the hitch and hitch ball are in good condition and not rusted, loose or stripped. Both the hitch and hitch ball must be securely attached to the towing vehicle.
2. Completely tighten the coupler loop nut. Pull up on the tow dolly tongue to be sure it is properly secured.
3. Connect the color coded wires from the tow dolly to the corresponding color coded posts on the towing vehicle's electrical box.
4. Crisscross the safety chains under tongue and secure to towing vehicle frame. Allow some slack in the chains for movement during turns made by the towing vehicle and tow dolly.

HOOK-UP OF THE TOWED VEHICLE TO TOW DOLLY

1. Be sure that the towing vehicle and tow dolly are straight and on level ground.

2. Make sure that the tow dolly platform is straight.

Tow dolly Ratchet Tie Down

3. Lift ratchet handle to full extended position and unroll straps from ratchet. Return ratchet handle to the down position.

4. Lay straps along fender side of tow dolly, off of tow dolly platform.

5. Allow tow dolly platform to tilt back by releasing the locking pin.

6. Slowly drive the front end of the towed vehicle onto the tow dolly until tires on the towed vehicle are resting against the tow dolly wheel stops. The platform will go into upright position.
Make certain that the towed vehicle is centered on tow dolly platform since the platform swivels during turns. Adequate space is required between the tow dolly fenders and towed vehicle.

CAUTION: NEVER BACK A TOWED VEHICLE ONTO A TOW DOLLY.

7. Locking pin on platform must go into the locked position.

8. For safety reasons, engage the parking brake of the towed vehicle (see item #13) and place transmission in low gear (standard) or park (automatic).

9. Center the tie down ratchets in front of the towed vehicle tires and pull the tow dolly tire straps forward over the tires.

10. Tighten each strap securely by pulling up and down as many times as necessary on the tie down ratchet assembly handle until the tire flattens slightly against the tire stop. Place handle in down position.

Vehicle on Tow Dolly

11. Hook up safety chains from tow dolly platform to the frame of towed vehicle directly above the area where chains are mounted on tow dolly. Allow slight slack in the chains to provide for suspension movement on the towed vehicle.

12. Disconnect the drive shaft on the towed vehicle if rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. Consult your dealer if you are uncertain of above.

TOWING ABOVE VEHICLE WITHOUT DISCONNECTING DRIVE SHAFT WILL DAMAGE TOWED VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION EVEN IF TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN NEUTRAL.

13. Release parking brake on towed vehicle and be sure the steering is LOCKED in the straight position. The towed vehicle must have lockable steering. Remove keys from ignition and lock vehicle.

14. Check the towing system after hook-up, tow about 100 feet, then stop and perform a safety check. Check the bolts, chains, coupler, ramps, tire straps, and other items to make sure they are in the right position and secure. Repeat the safety check after the first 5 miles and then every 50 miles thereafter.

15. Towed vehicle is now safely connected and ready to be towed.

CHECK THE TOW DOLLY BOLTS, COUPLER, SAFETY CHAINS, ELECTRICAL HOOK-UP, AND TIRE STRAPS AFTER 100 FEET, AFTER THE FIRST 5 MILES OF TRAVEL, AND THEN EVERY 50 MILES THEREAFTER.

DO NOT EXCEED 45 MILES PER HOUR OR ANY LOWER POSTED SPEED LIMIT.

UNLOAD TOWED VEHICLE FROM DOLLY

1. Park towing vehicle and tow dolly straight and on level ground. Apply parking brake of towing vehicle.

2. Fully apply towed vehicle parking brake.

3. Install drive shaft on rear-wheel or four-wheel drive towed vehicle.

Unloading Vehicle from Tow Dolly

4. Remove wheel straps and safety chains from towed vehicle.

5. Release tow dolly platform locking pin.

6. Release parking brake on towed vehicle.

7. SLOWLY back towed vehicle off of tow dolly to prevent bottom of vehicle from contacting ramps.

CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL ON TOWED VEHICLE IF DRIVE SHAFT WAS REMOVED AS FLUID MAY HAVE LEAKED OUT DURING TOWING.

8. Return tow dolly platform to the up position and engage locking pin.

9. Take up excess slack on tow dolly straps in ratchet assembly.

10. Store all safety chains in storage position.

11. Wrap tow dolly electrical wires around tow dolly tongue handle.

Information courtesy of Croft Trailer Supply

Trailer and towing Safety

Primary Service Area
We serve the Massachusetts communities of Hudson, Framingham, Marlboro, Southboro, Northboro, Shrewsbury, Clinton, Bolton, Berlin, Acton, Ashland, Boylston, Harvard, Holliston, Hopkinton, Lancaster, Leominster, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Milford, Natick, Sherborn, Sherbon, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Upton, West Boylston, Wayland, Wellesley, Westford, Weston and Worcester, MA and the zip codes 01701, 01702, 01749, 01752, 01772, 01532, 01545, 01510, 01740, 01503, 01720, 01771, 01505, 01451, 01746, 01748, 01523, 01543, 01773, 01460, 01754, 01757, 01760, 01770, 01564, 01775, 01776, 01568, 01583, 01778, 02481, 02482, 01886, 02493. 01601, 01602, 01603, 01604, 01605, 01606, 01607, 01608