Tow dolly vs flat towing. Pluses or negative

[MagnusBjorn]

I do that in my 2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ but got a push button start in my Maverick

I have a push button in mine, and I can lock the doors and take the key while towing.

Sponsored

 

[Dave O]

I have a push button in mine, and I can lock the doors and take the key while towing.

Perfect I figured but thanks for the confirmation

 

[PhillyGuy]

Harry - I have been talking with Demco and RoadMaster since before I took delivery and decided to purchase the RoadMaster baseplate and a new RoadMaster Nighthawk Tow Bar as well as the lighting kit and charge wire I ordered this last Tuesday it will all ship on 3/21/2025

RoadMaster sent me all the instructions and photos prior to placing my order

I was looking to go with Demco but they are still waiting on a donorer truck to complete their engineering as of last week

Thanks for the heads up on the Roadmaster. I have the Blue Ox baseplate on order since I have a Blue Ox towbar.

Is the Roadmaster less destructive to the front of the Lariat - from what you can see?
Thx!

 

[Dave O]

Thanks for the heads up on the Roadmaster. I have the Blue Ox baseplate on order since I have a Blue Ox towbar.

Is the Roadmaster less destructive to the front of the Lariat - from what you can see?
Thx!

I can’t say for sure if it’s less destructive since I haven’t seen the finish product from BlueOx I am sure BlueOx reviewed their design after all the issues they’ve had with prior Mavericks. I currently have BlueOx equipment to flat tow my Jeep but wanted a fresh start with my new Maverick

I will say I have been disappointed with the level of service I have gotten from BlueOx recently I requested two separate request for a baseplate for a 2013 Fiat and it never happened and then again a lack of response from them when i inquired about my new Maverick so something has changed since they started their dealer distribution network they were a much better company before out-sourcing their customer service - I wish you luck and would love to see your photos after your install

 

[Suzukiridr14]

I have used a tow dolly a couple of times but never behind an RV. My only experience w/ them in the RV world has been w/ friends who've used them and have hated the things, usually hatred w/ a passion. Their dislike was largely aimed at the hassle of strapping the tow'd securely to the dolly and then the hassle of having to store and secure the dolly while at their destination. They always said that in the long run, expense wise, they ended up not saving much money over the setup for the flat tow. They also complained that their state required a separate registration (license plate) for the dolly, though I guess not every state requires this.

Our 5th wheel and big truck have gone and the next expenditure will be a motor home. The Mav will be our tow'd and it'll be flat towed for sure.

My $0.02 worth, probably worth less than that.

I have a question, if you tow on a dolly, does the truck mileage stay the same as when you started your trip, and if you flat tow, do you wind up with thousands of miles on a truck that has never been driven?

 

[Dave O]

I have a question, if you tow on a dolly, does the truck mileage stay the same as when you started your trip, and if you flat tow, do you wind up with thousands of miles on a truck that has never been driven?

I don’t know about dolly towing but if you flat tow the tow vehicle accumulate zero miles

 

[RideSolo]

I have a question, if you tow on a dolly, does the truck mileage stay the same as when you started your trip, and if you flat tow, do you wind up with thousands of miles on a truck that has never been driven?

The speedo runs through the transmission and a FWD vehicle w/ the front wheels up on the dolly wouldn't be turning the transmission so no miles logged. In that situation those rear wheels are just coasting along; yes, adding a little tire wear, probably very little, and a little bit of up n down on the suspension but, otherwise, just along for the ride.

 

[TopDawg]

I have a question, if you tow on a dolly, does the truck mileage stay the same as when you started your trip, and if you flat tow, do you wind up with thousands of miles on a truck that has never been driven?

No mileage on dolly tow

 

[Suzukiridr14]

The speedo runs through the transmission and a FWD vehicle w/ the front wheels up on the dolly wouldn't be turning the transmission so no miles logged. In that situation those rear wheels are just coasting along; yes, adding a little tire wear, probably very little, and a little bit of up n down on the suspension but, otherwise, just along for the ride.

That's what made sense to me, imagine towing your Maverick behind your motor home while vacationing for a few years, and running up the mileage so you are out of warranty before your first oil change!

 

[Dave O]

That's what made sense to me, imagine towing your Maverick behind your motor home while vacationing for a few years, and running up the mileage so you are out of warranty before your first oil change!
[/QUOTE I agree I imagine towing my Maverick behind my Motorhome for 5 years and still have under 20,000 miles

 

[Lil mav]

I have a 24 Maverick Hybrid that I flat tow behind our motorcouch. I would flat tow every time here out just in pre and set up 10 min, tow dolly 1 hour. Stop every 150 miles to check straps, and check the tires on the dolly. Flat tow hands down, 10 minutes and you are ready. The only disadvantage is within the 6 hours of flat towing you have to do a few steps before continuing with towing.

 

[Lil mav]

I have now done both. The bottom line to me is how easy it is to flat tow my Maverick. It can quickly be connected, put in neutral tow, or disconnected. If it wasn’t for the camera I wouldn’t even know it’s back there.

When flat towing your Maverick have you notice your millage increasing? I now they say irs not going to increase but I have an extra 600 miles on my truck because of flat towing.

 

[PhillyGuy]

I can’t say for sure if it’s less destructive since I haven’t seen the finish product from BlueOx I am sure BlueOx reviewed their design after all the issues they’ve had with prior Mavericks. I currently have BlueOx equipment to flat tow my Jeep but wanted a fresh start with my new Maverick

I will say I have been disappointed with the level of service I have gotten from BlueOx recently I requested two separate request for a baseplate for a 2013 Fiat and it never happened and then again a lack of response from them when i inquired about my new Maverick so something has changed since they started their dealer distribution network they were a much better company before out-sourcing their customer service - I wish you luck and would love to see your photos after your install

Hi Dave,
Any update on the Roadmaster baseplate? Curious if you received it yet? No update on BlueOx yet.
Thanks!
Harry

 

[Dave O]

Hi Dave,
Any update on the Roadmaster baseplate? Curious if you received it yet? No update on BlueOx yet.
Thanks!
Harry

Hey Harry I’m on the road but everything arrived from RoadMaster and my neighbor secured everything for me so I’m excited to get back home and do the installation I have seen a few older Mavericks being towed behind some RVs and spoke with the owners they love towing the Maverick and they told me it was a great decision to flat tow them

 

[PhillyGuy]

Hey Harry I’m on the road but everything arrived from RoadMaster and my neighbor secured everything for me so I’m excited to get back home and do the installation I have seen a few older Mavericks being towed behind some RVs and spoke with the owners they love towing the Maverick and they told me it was a great decision to flat tow them

Outstanding - I hope the installation is trouble free for you. Glad that there is an option available for us and also pleased to hear from others that it tows well.
Best,
Harry

Sponsored