Tow Dolly vs Car Trailer: Which Should You Use?

Short answer: a tow dolly lifts only the front wheels of the car you’re towing, while a car trailer (car hauler) carries the whole car off the ground. A tow dolly is lighter, cheaper and easier to store, and it usually works well for front-wheel-drive cars. A car trailer is heavier and costs more, but it’s the safer bet for rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive and 4×4 vehicles, and it’s much easier to back up.

Both get a car from point A to point B. The right choice depends on what you’re towing, what you’re towing it with, and how far you’re going. Here’s how to decide.

How a Tow Dolly Works

A tow dolly is a small two-wheel trailer with a platform for the towed car’s front tires. You drive the front wheels up the ramps, strap the tires down, and the car’s rear wheels roll on the road behind the dolly. Most dollies have a pivoting platform so the car can follow the dolly through turns.

Because the rear wheels stay on the ground, the towed car’s drivetrain matters. On most front-wheel-drive cars the drive wheels are up on the dolly, so nothing in the transmission is turning. On rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive and many 4×4 vehicles, wheels connected to the drivetrain would be spinning on the road, which can damage the transmission unless the manufacturer says it’s allowed or the driveshaft is disconnected. Always check the towed vehicle’s owner’s manual for its towing instructions before you put it on a dolly.

How a Car Trailer Works

A car trailer, also called a car hauler or auto transport trailer, is a flat deck with ramps. You drive all four wheels onto the deck and secure the car with straps or chains at each wheel or at the frame. Since no wheels touch the road, drivetrain type doesn’t matter: front-wheel, rear-wheel, AWD and 4×4 vehicles can all ride on it.

The tradeoff is weight. A car trailer plus the car on it is a lot heavier than a dolly plus the car, so you need a tow vehicle that’s rated for the combined load. Many car trailers also have their own brakes.

Tow Dolly vs Car Trailer at a Glance

When a Tow Dolly Makes Sense

• You’re towing a front-wheel-drive car and its owner’s manual allows dolly towing.
• Your tow vehicle has limited capacity. A lighter setup keeps you further from your limits. Run the numbers in our towing capacity calculator first.
• You need something easy to store or you’re renting for a one-way move.
• Your route is mostly forward driving with pull-through parking and fuel stops.

When a Car Trailer Is the Better Choice

• The car is rear-wheel-drive, AWD or 4×4 and you don’t want to disconnect a driveshaft.
• The car doesn’t run or can’t steer or roll freely.
• You’ll need to back up at a campsite, driveway or job site. A car trailer backs like any other trailer; see how to back up a trailer.
• It’s a long trip or a car you care about. Keeping all four wheels off the road means no tire or bearing wear and less risk to the drivetrain.
• Your tow vehicle can handle the weight. Check your truck’s tow rating, GCWR and hitch rating before you hook up. Our guide to towing capacity explains each number.

Why You Shouldn’t Back Up a Tow Dolly

A dolly gives you two pivot points: the hitch ball and the dolly’s turning platform. When you reverse, the towed car’s front wheels can turn on the platform while the dolly swings the other way, and the whole setup can jackknife within a few feet. Many dolly instructions tell you not to back up at all. Plan your route so you can pull through, and if you have to reverse, the usual advice is to unload the car first.

A car trailer has a single pivot point at the hitch, so it backs up the same way a utility trailer or travel trailer does.

Safety Checks for Either Setup

1. Confirm your weights. Add the trailer or dolly’s empty weight to the towed car’s curb weight and compare it to your tow vehicle’s ratings.
2. Load the car facing forward on a car trailer so the engine weight sits ahead of the axles, giving you proper tongue weight. Too little tongue weight is a common cause of trailer sway.
3. Strap the wheels tight and re-check the straps after the first few miles, then at every stop. Tire straps settle as the car moves.
4. On a dolly, set the towed car up the way its manual says: usually the parking brake off, the steering unlocked, and the transmission in the position the manual specifies.
5. Cross the safety chains under the coupler and connect the lights. Our safety chains guide and pre-trip towing checklist cover the full hookup.
6. Drive slower and leave more room. Both setups add length and stopping distance. Make wide turns and brake early.

TowPro Academy was built by Jeff McDonough, founder of TowPro Academy, who has 10+ years and more than 250,000 miles of towing experience. If you want to learn hitching, loading, braking and backing step by step, start with the free lesson or enroll in the full course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put an all-wheel-drive car on a tow dolly?

Usually not, because the rear wheels would turn the drivetrain while on the road. Some manufacturers allow it under specific conditions, so check the owner’s manual. When in doubt, use a car trailer.

Is a tow dolly or a car trailer safer?

Used correctly, both can be safe. A car trailer is more forgiving because it works with any drivetrain and can be backed up, while a dolly demands careful setup and forward-only driving.

Can you back up with a tow dolly?

Only a few feet at most, and it’s best not to try. The dolly’s pivoting platform makes it jackknife quickly in reverse. Plan pull-through stops instead.

Do I need a bigger truck for a car trailer?

Often, yes. A car trailer weighs more than a dolly, and the full weight of the car rides on it. Add both weights together and check them against your tow vehicle’s towing capacity and GCWR.

Related Articles

Trailer Breakaway Switch: How It Works and How to Test It

Read More →

4-Pin vs 7-Pin Trailer Plug: What’s the Difference?

Read More →

Weight Distribution Hitches for Flatbed Trailers Guide

Read More →