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Tow dolly
Tow dollies and chassis dollies are used to transport cars with blocked wheels or otherwise undrivable cars, without causing damage. The recovery dollies have a lifting mechanism for lifting the blocked wheel and talking over its turning function. Different models are available from ProLux: for short distances and for transporting vehicles over longer distances.
Using car recovery dollies for towing
These tow dollies are mainly used by recovery businesses for towing cars or other vehicles with wheels that can’t turn because of a mechanical defect. A tow dolly can also be used in situations where a vehicle cannot be moved because of technical blockages at its axles caused by automatic transmission or all-wheel drive. Recovery dollies are available to cope with loads of up to 1950 kg.
Efficient recovery with a car recovery dolly
Car dollies for towing are not subject to any restrictions with regard to the length of the towing distance. They have large, pneumatic tyres that can cope with uneven road surfaces and they are capable of travelling at speeds of up to 90 km/h (but please remember to refer to the applicable regulations in your country). Tow dollies can also be completely dismantled so they are easy to fit into the towing vehicle. However, they are also easy to assemble by just one person, so the broken-down vehicle is ready to be moved within in a few minutes. ProLux offers different versions of recovery dollies with different load capacities and galvanised surface designs.
Performance and load capacity
A normal tow dolly has four rigid wheels and a mechanism that enables the blocked wheel to be lifted; the tow dolly therefore takes over the turning motion of the vehicle’s wheel. They can handle wheels with a diameter of up to 24 inches and a width of 325 mm. These tow dollies are permitted for short distances (from the breakdown location to the nearest garage – max. 10 km) and speeds of up to 60 km/h. In Germany, speed is limited to 25 km/h. Because of their compact, ready-to-use design with a weight of 22–27 kg, they can very quickly be mounted onto the wheel and can cope with wheel loads of up to 950 kg per dolly.
We have already described the benefits of tow dollies; they have a load capacity of up to 1950kg per axle. The fact that they can be dismantled into four parts so they are easy for one person to handle makes up for their heavier weight of 80–90 kg.
Applications and correct use of car recovery dollies
Tow dollies are used for towing vehicles with a blocked wheel axle. Depending on the model, they can be used for short or longer distances. For this purpose, they must be used with recovery vehicles with an underlift system.
When using tow dollies, it is important to ensure that all mechanical locks on the tow dolly are secured after lifting the wheel and that the wheel is secured to the tow with a suitable wheel-tie down strap. To make towing safer, ProLux has developed matching mobile lane lights, known as tow dolly lane lights. This clearly increases the visibility of the recovery dolly for other road users and also helps the driver with orientation.
You will find a practical selection of tow dollies in the ProLux online shop. Special versions with high load capacities are available for towing lorries or buses. Get in touch! We’ll be happy to help.
