Could The Tow Tower Be The Replacement For A Car Dolly?

In this video, you'll see a demonstration of the Tow Tower, a device that attaches to a motorhomes trailer hitch and, depending on the model, uses either an electric motor or hydraulics to lift a tow vehicle's front wheels off the ground.

Since I flat tow a Jeep Wrangler with all four wheels on the ground, I have no experience towing a front wheel drive vehicle behind a motorhome. I've seen other motorhome owners using tow dollies to tow in this fashion and I am to understand that one of the headaches is what to do with the dolly once you've arrived at the destination.

So, I'll ask: What's your thoughts on the Tow Tower?

[TheGadgetGuru]

I'm seeing a few common questions on this thread and thought I would attempt to answer them. Please note, I just ask the questions in my videos and am not affiliated with this product in any way, nor am II a towing expert. I'm simply a motorhome user who has a background in reporting on new products. As always, no consideration or payment of any form was provided to me for the production of this video. .

While the Tow Tower provides an alternative to towing front wheel drive cars and in some cases can replace a tow dolly, it's best compared to a tow bar as it connects to a motorhome's trailer hitch and then to the vehicle. Because it's not a tow dolly that (sometimes) incorporates brakes and lighting, this product connects these features in a similar manner as a tow bar. To accomplish this, a braking system (such as an Air Force One) would need to be installed in the vehicle and connected to the motorhome's air line. Lighting a car's tail lamps would also require a connection between the motorhome and the car.

In terms of tongue weight, yes that appears to be a limiting factor as it seems it's designed for larger motorhomes and possibly, smaller, lighter vehicles.

One question that came up after I posted this video is how to access the motorhome's engine bay doors when the tow dolly is attached to the motorhome. I don't have that answer.

I've received PM's asking if I will be doing a hands-on test of this product and the simple answer is: Not at this time. I flat tow my vehicles using a Blue Ox Tow Bar and after 10, 000+ miles of flat towing two different vehicles, I am happy with the setup I'm using.. I don't own a front wheel drive vehicle so there's no motivation on my part to do more than simply allow the manufacturer to tell his story and provide a demo.

When it comes to the manufacturer's claim that the mounting brace doesn't violate the manufacturer's warranty, I can't say that I was 100% satisfied with the response provided as it sounded (to me) that his dealer didn't have an issue working on his car with this device attached. There's a difference between a dealer and manufacturer. I have no reason to doubt this claim.

After we completed shooting this video, I asked if he had the proper liability insurance in place and the answer was affirmative.

The bottom line: This product could be an alternative to requiring a dolly or trailer to tow some front wheel drive vehicles. However, that will depend on the specific motorhome and vehicle in the equation. This is a first generation product and I can only guess this company will be looking at improvements and possibly additional offerings in the future.

[switz]

It seems like a great alternative to a dolly or trailer. I have used both plus towed all four down. It is nice to see a guy reinvent a way to do something. While it is not for everybody, it will be for some. Nice job.

[dreux]

THank you for an interesting idea. A driving demo and safety chain hookup may have helped also. I know you were demonstrating the hitch but no mention of electrical hookups for brake lights.

[foretravelman]

Nice looking IH 45! I believe that hitch is rated for 20k! Not sure if people will opt to spend that much vs the tow dolly. For one thing, less weight on the receiver hitch with a tow dolly, since the weight of the car is on the dolly, not on the hitch! Just my opinion!

[DawnNLN-eekh]

Wow! He gave me an idea, my motorhome has hydraulic for the generator slide, with a simple transfer valve I can use the same system to run a hyd cylinder in the rear with quick disconnects, and boom, I got a rear lift that can be attached to my reese hitch, . A simple "t" bar under my car and I have my lift! Thanks guy!

[adriannurse]

Love this new idea. I look forward to a future update on it.

[robertomorelli]

Interesting looking product, but the host need to clam down and allow the speaker to finish talking !!

[Riker-eqyv]

As a new subscriber to you channel I’m amazed at the amount of usable information you deliver. I’m now trying to catch up on your videos which are like reading a great novel that I can’t put down.

[MrOlddave]

Nice. Huge advantage being able to back up. I have had to drop my toad when I tried to uturn in a parking lot and couldn't make it. Just being able to back up 10 feet would have saved the day. Most 2 inch receivers are rated 10k with a tongue weight of 1k. Going to need to make sure they move up to a 2 1/2 receiver to be on the safe side.

[southjerseysound]

Its a cool idea but you can get a real wheel lift installed for not much more money and by wheel lift I mean like on a tow truck.Then you can tow just about anything without touching the car.

[cmcconn]

This seems like a good idea for someone that owns a 45' bus, but I can't see this working with most small to medium size motorhomes because of tongue weight restrictions on the tow hitch. I would have liked to see the bus in driving configuration because as shown the front wheels on the towed vehicle would have certainly bottomed out every time you went out of a gas station, etc.. I like the idea of not needing a tow dolly and being able to backup...but this wouldn't work for us.

[murraymadness]

Clever idea, a lot simpler and lighter than other options. But frankly, a lightweight folding full trailer might be better choice. If you look at my channel I have a 900lb rampless trailer design that might be made to fold too, as I understand the problem with a trailer is once the vehicle is off it, you have to store it somewhere.

[dongordon]

I add these comments since I've seen several owners discussing this in the forums as a great option for their average size, light duty truck chassis, single rear axle motorhomes. Less than 1% of motorhomes have a hitch that will allow more than 1, 000 pounds of hitch weight. Most of the others are rated in the 500-800 pound hitch weight with many less than that. This car places 1, 600 pounds of weight on the hitch. We're NOT talking tow capacity here...we're talking downward weight on the hitch ball. Many professionals in the hitch business state, " horizontal extensions to the hitch receiver will reduce the hitch capacity by 50%". The bar that attaches to the car is considered an extension. Hitches are rated by the industry at a measurement 4 inches from the face plate of the fixed, hitch receiver. Another consideration is the negative forces of the up and down bouncing down the road, which will reduce the weight on the steering axle of the motorhome and can momentarily nearly double the downward weight on the hitch. Many motorhomes are single rear axles and the overhang is huge between the axle and the rear of the coach...much more than this tandem diesel pusher in the video. This product should come with serious disclaimers in RED INK...enough so that the average user can understand the disaster fixing to happen with nearly any car they try to tow with it...unless they own the true commercial bus chassis type set-up as in the video. Nice concept...will not work in the real world...especially with the hitches most manufacturers install on the average motorhome today. OK...I'm done and can sleep well tonight.

[Mdydaf]

Gadget Guru as usual bringing wonderful material to the public. Thank you so much. And as far as this product is concerned I would wait. I certainly wouldn't be the the first one in line. Wait to get some real-world reactions, the pros and cons. The idea is fantastic though, maybe needs a little polishing

[brokenot]

At 8:51 "You could tow with probably four wheels down with this. We haven't done this yet. We've done it in testing."

[FunDuude]

I think this would be a must have for those Super C's. Personally I wouldn't contemplate this if I didn't have a Tag Axle. JMHO.

[hoss]

Great product.. The tow bar coming out from under car and the bar holding the C- clamp hitch, each one needs to be a few inches longer. That would make it easier to insert tow bar on car and give a better turning radius. Hooking up the chains and cables would be a non issue. Great Guru Gadget..

[jerryjarnagan]

You might want to take this video down. It appears that this is no longer a thing. Website has been down for over 2 years and no Facebook comments for 2 plus years.

[ronfeinberg]

Great informative video as usual. Thanks!

[sen_pen]

You know what funny, I was just watching you on the drone side yesterday and now you're in RV section.