ok..wat is the best way to tow a small pick up truck? Also ...roughly..how much does it cost?

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wat is the best way to tow a small pick up truck?

We towed a Toyota pickup for years with a home made bar. It had an auto trans, so I disconnected the driveshaft each time. Got pretty quick at it.

Now, we tow a Toyota 4WD with a manual trans, so it is easier.

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Also ...roughly..how much does it cost?

If you mean the bar, a bar like my home made one can be bought for around $50 at a Jeep shop. If you mean in fuel cost, the cost varies with the terrain. If mountains are involved, it costs us around 2 mpg, but our toad is heavy and I don't slow down for hills. A lighter vehicle would be 1 mpg or more better, depdending on your throttle. We also used to tow a Saturn, which was pretty light. I can't recollect the exact numbers, but it cost less gas.

i asked a guy at a campground how much it cost to get the tow rig up for his Saturn and he said it was a couple thousand dollars? Does this sound right or was he just taken for a ride? I akso had a guy stop me at a gas station and ask me if i was interested in his lightly used tow bar...he said it was 1500 bucks new and he would sell it to me for 500 because he sold his winnebago.

You have two choices, a tow bar or a tow dolly. We use both depending on what we are towing and where we are going. Very few Automatic transmission cars can be towed four down (with a tow bar) without major modifications. The best thing about a tow dolly is you can tow almost any front wheel drive vehicle. Just drive it on the dolley and strap it down. Another good thing about a tow dolly is it can have electric surge brakes that are a must when towing with a Chevy P30 Barth. The draw back is dealing with the tow dolly at camp sites and the extra maintenance. We also tow a convertable SAAB with a BLUE OX tow bar. Very simple to hook up and the bar stays with the Barth not the SAAB when unhooked. The tow bar is much easier to use, just pull up close to the Barth and hook it up, It takes 5 min. You would need to buy some kind of braking system for the toad if using a tow bar. These can cost up to $1000 new, I am still looking for a good used unit. I would tow the SAAB with the tow bar all the time but the wife does not like to drive the 5sp SAAB. We tow her Mazda Tribute with the tow dolly and alway use the tow dolly when in the mountains because of the surge brakes. One day I may buy a car with an A/T that can be towed four down but for now the tow dolly works fine. Nether can be backed-up very far so be carefull.

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Originally posted by Kris & Tina Jones:
i asked a guy at a campground how much it cost to get the tow rig up for his Saturn and he said it was a couple thousand dollars? Does this sound right or was he just taken for a ride? I akso had a guy stop me at a gas station and ask me if i was interested in his lightly used tow bar...he said it was 1500 bucks new and he would sell it to me for 500 because he sold his winnebago.

$500 for a used bar may good price depending on the brand and if it comes with every thing you need to do the job. You would need to buy the correct mount for the truck you plan to use it on. I made a mount for my SAAB. Is your truck manual or automatic, 2wd or 4wd? Remember, you will still have to get brakes on what ever you tow so make sure a braking system comes with the tow bar. I good used tow dolly can be had for less than $1000.
Neil.

I think $500 is way over priced. I bought a new Roadmaster Falcon a couple of years ago for $400 at Quartzsite. Add a base plate which for our Suzuki Vatara was less than $200 over the internet about 3 years ago. Add the electric cable and the safety straps and it still come in under $800.

I have been towing for 25 years and have never had or wanted a dolly. I just make sure what ever I buy can be towed 4 down.

But the above being said you have to decide what you are going to tow and go from there.

Sorry, I just realized you said small PU. Since PU are rear wheel drive they don't work well with a dolly.

If you have an automatic you need to find something else to tow. If it is 4 wheel drive you need to be able to put the transfer case in neutral. Also some of the imports are not approved for 4 down towing even if they are manual transmission.

Good, motorhome mounted Tow Bar: 700 - 900
Brackets 300-400
Installation of brackets:100-400 Pick-ups are usually around 200
Tow wiring kit with light bulbs:60
Installation or lighting: 150
Spiral Umbilical for wiring(Optional): 30
SMI 900 or M&G Braking system: 600 or 900
Installation: 350
Remco Driveline disconnect: 800 - 1200
Installation of Remco: 300
Without exact application info, I am only speculating. Send P/U & Motorhome info for an exact quote. Then you can go shopping
Billy T

I just set up my rig for towing this spring. I used a Roadmaster Sterling All terrain tow bar, Roadmaster base plate, roadmaster ligting kit, and roadmaster proportional tow brake system. I installed all of the 'stuff' and saved about (quoted) $700. Everything cost about $2500, and I have been towing with this rig all summer and am very pleased with its operation. I am towing a Ford Ranger XLT extended cab 4x4 manual transmition.

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You have two choices, a tow bar or a tow dolley. Neather can be backed-up so be carefull.

Our two Toyotas 4-down can be backed fairly well, if you don't turn too much. It's tricky, but the shorter the overhang, the less tricky it is. But you need to do it slowly with a watcher, as things can go wrong real fast.

towing a jeep with tow bar ! $50. behind regency I never want to backup.. well i dont even like backing up without the jeep! not running brakes just lights .. cant believe a little jeep would help stop a 40 ft. regency !! if its wet it wont even stop itself with the mudtires on!

Thanks for all of the helpfull info one and all.
I do have a electric brake actuator installed and have verified that it works properly. I have a class 3 receiver and it is in good shape, and i hope to pull a 2003 gmc sonoma regular cab step side pick up with a manual transmission. I have been told I should be able to tow with 4 down...would you folks agree? Also, is there a way to activate the sonomas brakes via the brake actuator when I hit the brakes in the barth?

Re: towing without brakes on the towed vehicle - check the state-by-state requirements listed in the first item on this thread.

It's not that the toad brakes are there to help the coach stop, it's that the extra ton-and-a-half, or more, of the toad reduces the coach's stopping power. The heavier the toad, the bigger the problem.

If one wishes, one can risk a ticket or causing injury, or generating a lawsuit for problems generated by failing to comply with the law, but the thousand bucks or less that a toad brake costs is a wise, and possibly life saving investment.

2003 GMC PU

Base plate $229 for exposed unit and $338 for hidden. $450 Falcon 2 6000 lb motor home mounted.
Plus shipping. These are current internet prices.

Plus electric cable and safety chains.

I bought a used brakemaster on ebay for $200 last winter.

Note these are prices for the DIY type.

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Originally posted by Kris & Tina Jones:
Thanks for all of the helpfull info one and all.
I do have a electric brake actuator installed and have verified that it works properly. I have a class 3 receiver and it is in good shape, and i hope to pull a 2003 gmc sonoma regular cab step side pick up with a manual transmission. I have been told I should be able to tow with 4 down...would you folks agree? Also, is there a way to activate the sonomas brakes via the brake actuator when I hit the brakes in the barth?

As far as I know no one makes a toad braking system that works with a trailer brake actuator. (I dont know why, It seems like a good idea to me). You would need to buy a self contained toad braking system, You can find them used on Ebay. Personally I would not tow a toad behind a P30 with out a supplemental braking system. You may be able to get away with it on a big bus with air brakes but a P30 braking system could easily be over worked with heavy braking. The braking system will also give you a "brake-away" feature that will stop the toad if it comes loose front the Barth. This is mandatory in most states. I use my tow dolly in the mountain because if needed, I can manually use the electric brake actuator to help stop the extra load. It can also be used to help stop if you loose that pesky belt that control the power steering and brakes. You could also tow this truck with a tow dolly with no problem at all. I must have 20K miles on my tow dolly towing every thing you can think of from auctions in Florida and never had a problem.

Neil.