7 Best Tow Dollies for RVs
Discover the top 7 tow dollies with electric brakes for small RVs. Our guide covers the safest, most reliable options trusted by nomads for secure towing.
Pulling a heavy toad vehicle behind a motorhome can transform a stressful highway drive into a seamless exploration of remote backroads. However, choosing the wrong towing setup often leads to costly transmission damage, white-knuckle highway sway, or campsite storage nightmares. Finding the right tow dolly requires balancing weight capacities, braking systems, and storage footprints to match your specific RVing lifestyle.
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Demco Kar Kaddy SS: Best Premium Choice
The Demco Kar Kaddy SS is the undisputed gold standard for RVers who refuse to compromise on space or engineering quality. Its standout feature is a clever folding tongue that reduces the dolly’s overall length from over eleven feet to just under seven feet. This design allows you to tuck the dolly neatly behind your motorhome at tight campsites rather than paying extra for storage spaces.
Beyond its compact footprint, this dolly features a steerable axle that tracks beautifully behind your RV, drastically reducing tire wear. The hydraulic surge disc brakes provide smooth, self-adjusting stopping power without requiring a brake controller in your motorhome cab. Additionally, the galvanized finish ensures that this unit will resist rust and road debris damage for years to come.
High-end engineering always comes with a premium price tag, and this is one of the most expensive dollies on the market. The folding mechanism also adds mechanical complexity and overall weight, making it heavy to maneuver by hand when uncoupled.
Who it is for: If you have a generous budget, value premium engineering, and frequently camp in tight RV spaces where storage is at a premium, this is the absolute best dolly you can buy.
Acme EZE-TOW Surge Brake: Best Lightweight
The Acme EZE-TOW breaks the mold by eliminating heavy steering linkages in favor of a lightweight, rigid-frame design. Weighing in at just about 400 pounds, this dolly is incredibly easy to maneuver by hand across gravel campsites or paved driveways. Instead of a pivoting platform, it relies on the towed vehicle’s own steering column to turn, which simplifies the mechanical design and reduces maintenance needs.
Storage is another area where this lightweight champion excels. You can actually store this dolly vertically against a garage wall or behind your RV, saving valuable ground space. The built-in surge disc brakes offer reliable stopping power without adding unnecessary weight or complex electrical wiring to your tow vehicle.
The trade-off for this simplicity is that you must leave your towed vehicle’s steering wheel completely unlocked while driving. If your vehicle has a steering column that locks when the key is removed, you will need to leave the key in the ignition in the “accessory” position, which can drain your car’s battery over long journeys.
Who it is for: This is the ideal match for owners of smaller gas motorhomes who need to conserve towing capacity and want a lightweight, low-maintenance dolly that can be stored vertically.
Master Tow 80HD: Best Heavy-Duty Workhorse
The Master Tow 80HD is built like an industrial utility trailer, designed to handle wider and heavier front-wheel-drive vehicles with absolute confidence. Its extra-wide 80-inch ramp width easily accommodates mid-sized SUVs, crossovers, and wider passenger cars that would squeeze other dollies. The heavy-duty steel frame is finished with a durable powder coat designed to withstand harsh road salts and gravel impacts.
Loading is exceptionally simple thanks to the tilt-bed design. The platform tilts backward to create a gentle ramp angle, eliminating the hassle of carrying and securing loose ramps. Once your vehicle is loaded, the platform automatically locks back down into its horizontal towing position.
However, this industrial strength comes with a heavy physical footprint. It does not fold, it cannot be stood up on end, and its heavy weight makes it a chore to push around a campsite by hand.
Who it is for: If you tow a wider crossover or small SUV and need a rugged, no-nonsense towing solution that prioritizes heavy-duty durability over clever storage tricks, this workhorse is for you.
Stehl Tow ST80TD: Best Value with Brakes
The Stehl Tow ST80TD offers a rare combination of robust construction and essential safety features at a highly competitive price point. Unlike many budget dollies that cut corners by omitting brakes, this model comes equipped with reliable surge disc brakes as a standard feature. This makes it a highly attractive option for safety-conscious travelers working with a strict budget.
This dolly utilizes a pivoting turntable platform that allows your towed vehicle to track smoothly behind the RV during tight turns. The heavy-duty steel ramps are secured with simple, reliable pins, and the overall construction is remarkably straightforward to service.
The paint finish on value-priced trailers can sometimes be prone to early rusting if not cared for, and the factory straps can feel a bit stiff during your first few hookups.
Who it is for: This is the perfect option for budget-conscious RVers who refuse to compromise on highway safety and want a fully braked, durable towing system without paying a premium.
American Car Dolly: Best Complete Package
The American Car Dolly stands out in a crowded market by delivering a complete, road-ready package right to your driveway. It includes a built-in electric brake controller mounted directly on the dolly tongue, which is a massive advantage. This unique feature means you do not need to install an expensive, permanent brake controller inside your motorhome’s dashboard.
The construction is incredibly robust, featuring heavy-gauge steel and a wide stance that provides exceptional highway stability. The company also includes heavy-duty tire straps and a high-quality winch system, saving you from having to purchase essential accessories separately.
Because it uses electric brakes, you will need to ensure your RV has a standard 7-way round electrical plug to power the system. Additionally, the heavy-duty build makes this dolly quite heavy to move when it is not hitched to your coach.
Who it is for: If you want a complete, ready-to-use towing package with an onboard brake controller that can easily be shared between different RVs, this is your best choice.
Roadmaster 2000-1: Best for Heavy Vehicles
The Roadmaster 2000-1 is engineered specifically for travelers who need to tow heavy, full-sized front-wheel-drive vehicles over long distances. It features a heavy-duty steerable axle that utilizes a unique steering linkage system to match the turning radius of your RV perfectly. This active steering reduces tire scrub and prevents the dolly from clipping curbs on tight right-hand turns.
The build quality is exceptional, featuring built-in ramps that slide smoothly into the frame for storage. The visual yellow guide markers on the deck make centering your vehicle during loading incredibly easy, even when parking on uneven ground.
This is a premium, heavy-duty piece of equipment, which means it carries a high price tag and requires a significant amount of storage space when uncoupled.
Who it is for: If you are towing a heavy luxury sedan, a large crossover, or a small truck and want a premium towing system with unmatched tracking accuracy, this is your ideal match.
Demco Kar Kaddy 3: Best Mid-Range Tow Dolly
The Demco Kar Kaddy 3 bridges the gap between ultra-premium folding models and basic budget dollies. It retains the elite tracking performance and hydraulic disc brakes of the top-tier Kar Kaddy SS but utilizes a rigid, non-folding tongue to lower the purchase price. This gives you top-tier towing dynamics and stopping power at a more accessible price point.
The galvanized finish provides industry-leading rust protection, ensuring the frame looks clean and performs safely after years of winter driving. The steerable axle tracks beautifully, making highway lane changes and tight fuel station maneuvers feel completely controlled.
The obvious tradeoff here is storage. Because the tongue does not fold, you will need a full eleven feet of storage depth at your home or campsite to park this unit.
Who it is for: If you have the physical space to store a full-sized dolly but still want the elite tracking, galvanized durability, and premium braking performance of a high-end Demco model, this is your smart financial sweet spot.
How to Choose Between Surge and Electric Brakes
Deciding between surge brakes and electric brakes is one of the most critical decisions you will make when purchasing a tow dolly. Surge brakes are completely self-contained and operate using the physical momentum of the dolly pushing against the tow vehicle. When your RV slows down, the trailer coupler compresses a master cylinder, which automatically applies hydraulic pressure to the dolly’s brakes.
- Pros of Surge Brakes: No wiring is required inside the RV; any vehicle with the proper hitch ball can tow the dolly immediately; low maintenance.
- Cons of Surge Brakes: You cannot manually apply the brakes from the RV cab; backing up can sometimes lock the brakes unless a lockout key or solenoid is used.
Electric brakes rely on an electrical signal sent from a brake controller mounted inside your RV cab or on the dolly itself. When you press the brake pedal in your motorhome, an electric magnet inside the dolly’s wheel hub activates the brake shoes.
- Pros of Electric Brakes: Highly adjustable braking force; allows for manual override from the driver’s seat to control trailer sway; works consistently in reverse.
- Cons of Electric Brakes: Requires an in-cab controller or a specialized on-dolly controller; complex wiring that can be prone to road corrosion.
For most casual RVers, surge brakes offer the easiest plug-and-play experience. However, if you frequently travel through steep mountain passes where manual braking control is crucial for safety, electric brakes are well worth the extra installation effort.
Essential Safety Tips for Loading Your Tow Dolly
Loading a vehicle onto a tow dolly requires strict adherence to a specific safety sequence to prevent highway disasters. Always perform your loading process on level ground with the tow dolly securely coupled to the RV and the RV’s parking brake engaged. Never attempt to load a vehicle onto an unhitched dolly, as the tongue will instantly pitch upward and cause vehicle damage or severe injury.
Once the vehicle is driven slowly onto the ramps and centered on the platform, engage the towed vehicle’s parking brake before stepping out. Secure the wheel straps tightly over the top of the tires, ensuring they are centered on the tread. Drive a short distance‚Äîapproximately one to two miles‚Äîand then pull over to re-tighten the wheel straps, as tires settle and straps stretch during initial movement.
| Step | Action | Safety Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hitch Dolly to RV | Ensure coupler is locked and safety chains are crossed. |
| 2 | Align and Load Vehicle | Keep wheels centered on the ramps; drive slowly. |
| 3 | Secure Wheel Straps | Tension straps tightly over the center of the tires. |
| 4 | Attach Safety Chains | Secure chains to the towed vehicle’s frame, leaving slack for turns. |
| 5 | Recheck After 2 Miles | Stop and verify strap tension; tighten if loose. |
The steering wheel configuration is another critical safety point. If your dolly has a pivoting turntable or steerable wheels, you must lock the towed vehicle’s steering wheel. If you are using a rigid-frame dolly like the Acme EZE-TOW, the towed vehicle’s steering wheel must remain unlocked so the front wheels can turn with the road.
How to Maintain Your Tow Dolly for Long Trips
A tow dolly is subjected to immense road vibrations, extreme heat, and moisture, making regular maintenance essential for trouble-free travel. Wheel bearing lubrication is your primary defense against roadside breakdowns. Check your hub temperatures at every fuel stop by gently touching the wheel hub; a hot hub indicates failing bearings or a lack of grease.
Trailer tires are designed to run at their maximum rated cold inflation pressure, which is typically much higher than passenger car tires. Check your dolly’s tire pressure every single morning before hitting the road, as under-inflation leads to rapid heat buildup and catastrophic tire blowouts. Additionally, check the lug nuts for tightness regularly, especially during the first few hundred miles of a trip.
- Grease the hubs: Use a high-quality marine-grade grease every 3,000 to 5,000 miles to protect bearings from moisture.
- Inspect the straps: Look for fraying, UV damage, or cuts in the webbing, and replace them immediately if wear is detected.
- Test the lights: Verify that turn signals, brake lights, and running lights function perfectly before every departure.
- Check the brake fluid: For surge brake models, inspect the master cylinder reservoir level and check hydraulic lines for leaks.
Regularly cleaning road grime and salt off your dolly will prevent premature corrosion of the frame and electrical connections. A small investment of time in pre-trip inspections will save you from incredibly stressful and expensive delays on the shoulder of a busy interstate.
Investing in a high-quality tow dolly is one of the most practical ways to bring the convenience of a personal vehicle along on your motorhome adventures. By choosing a model that aligns with your RV’s towing capacity, your storage constraints, and your mechanical comfort level, you can travel with absolute peace of mind. Prioritize safety, maintain your equipment diligently, and enjoy the ultimate freedom of the open road.
