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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Tow Vehicles -> Tow Bar or Tow Dolly?
Post Info TOPIC: Tow Bar or Tow Dolly?
breckrider


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Tow Bar or Tow Dolly?
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I want to start towing my 2005 Honda Element EX behind my Class A and need opinions on whether to use a tow dolly or tow bar.  I assume there are pros and cons to each.

Thoughts?

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Terry and Jo


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Virginia,

First of all, check to see for sure whether the Honda Element will tow "4 down".  I looked at the 2010 Motorhome Magazine's Dinghy Guide and didn't see them listed for that.  If it can't tow 4-down, then you would have to go with the tow dolly.

If you use the tow dolly, you will save a lot of miles on the drive train, but you'll have to find something to do with the dolly when you are camped.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
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breckrider


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I'll check with Honda. I read several places that it will but you have to do something with the transmission first.

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Old Snipe


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I believe the 2005 Element is listed as towable 4 down, after 2005 Honda no longer said it can be towed 4 down.

However, according to the Remco towing site, all Elements up through 2011 can be towed 4 down, 2 or 4WD, stick or auto.  Honda continued to use the same engine/transmission package for all those years.

Now, if you decide to use a dolly and your Element is a 4WD model, you can't do it, you will destory the transmission.  If it is a 2WD, then you can.

I have a 2003 Element EX 4WD and tow it 4 down.  I have towed it over 30K miles and driven it another 120K miles and it still rides and drives like new.  I have changed the transmission fluid every 20K miles.

If you tow 4 down, follow the instructions in the owners manual to the "T" or you will damge the transmission.

Best Regards!

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Paul D
2007 Winnebago Journey 39K, Cat C7
 AKA "R-SANITY III"
2003 Honda Element 4WD Toad
 AKA "JRNYZ-END"
www.rsanityrvtravels.blogspot.com
breckrider


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That's excellent news! Thanks Paul.

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Old Snipe


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I'll post the towing set up proceedure for the transmission.

Start engine.  Go down through the gears, pause a second or two at each gear. 

Proceed from Park - Reverse - Neutral - Drive - 2 - 1, then back up from 1 - 2- Drive, then stop at Neutral and let engine run for  a minimum Three minutes. 

After that, shut engine off and leave steering wheel in unlocked position.

I cycle through the gears (wtih engine started) at every fuel or other stop.  You are supposed to do this every 8 hours.  (Who has a bladder that can go that long?).

Your top speed is 65 mph.

This is what I do and it all works fine.  Again, proceedure is in owners manual.  2006 and up proceedure will be in the "Emergency Towing" section.

Best Regards!

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Paul D
2007 Winnebago Journey 39K, Cat C7
 AKA "R-SANITY III"
2003 Honda Element 4WD Toad
 AKA "JRNYZ-END"
www.rsanityrvtravels.blogspot.com
breckrider


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Awesome!

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Roz


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Like Paul,

We have a 2003 Element EX, identical setup.  We use a Blue Ox tow bar and base plate.  We follow the protocol that he described to the letter.  We, also, have over a hundred thousand on the odometer and at least 40,000 towing.

The car's name is Watson.  After all, "It is Element my dear Watson". Elements are built on the same platform as the CRV, just look like bread trucks!

We love it!

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Ethel & Charles Henry, Itasca Horizon DP/Honda Element Toad
Traveling with our furry-snouted, four-legged children.

"Each of us must take part in making this a better world for all people."
breckrider


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I'm looking at the StowMaster tow bar. What's the difference between that, the BlueOx and a tow dolly?

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breckrider


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OK..I know the difference in the tow dolly....I guess I'm asking if one system is better than the other.

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bjoyce


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Most everyone who starts with a tow dolly ends up going to a tow bar after a while because of these issues:
1) It takes longer to set the car up and take it off and you have to check the straps often.
2) You have to find a place to put the tow dolly when in camp. Sometimes this is a hassle.
3) You have to license the tow dolly in many states.

Advantages:
1) The tow dolly probably has brakes, which is an additional cost with for a tow bar. I highly recommend brakes.
2) For front wheel drive vehicles you can backup the combination with a tow dolly, but not with a tow bar. (Yes, people do back up with tow bars for short distances, but complications can happen fast and cause damage when the cars front wheels rotate like a shopping cart.)

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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
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bobojay


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I have no affiliation what so ever with this tow dolly company, but this is a NICE unit for a good price.

http://towbartowdolly.com/index.php

We're considering one this spring for our towing needs. Way cheaper than a tow bar setup as far as I'm concerned. Worth the little extra hassle of the dolly...

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