Towing Issues: RV towing with dinghy dollie, steering wheel locks, steering column lock

Question
I am new at RVing and have purchased a used two wheel dinghy dolly with ratchet straps to tow a vehicle behind my RV (32' Fleetwood Bounder).  I am unsure of how to secure the towed car ("dinghy") to the dolly.  I will be towing a '93 Explorer, rear wheel drive and will have the rear wheels off the ground on the dolly.  My Explorer owner's manual says I can tow it "backwards".  Thanks.

Answer
The best way to tie the tires down to the dolly is with a basket style wheel strap.  If the used dolly does not come with a set of them or the existing ones are worn, you can purchase new ones from a U-Haul store or any towing supply company.  Usually the basket strap is hooked into the dolly behind the wheel, draped over the wheel toward the front of the dolly, and racheted down on the front side of the wheel.  After the initial tie down, straps will seem to loosen up on their own. This is natural and caused when the tire settles into the dolly.  After a few miles pull over and tighten them down a couple more clicks and you should be good for the rest of the trip.

Towing your Explorer from the rear is the correct method. Make sure you have secured the steering wheel.  DO NOT depend on the steering column lock to keep the front wheels straight.  The column lock has been known to break causing the wheels to turn and swing the car into traffic.
Use a rope looped through the steering wheel and out the door.  Close the door on the rope and tie the two ends in a knot. Ask a tow truck driver to show you this method.  Manufactured steering wheel locks can be purchased but a rope performs the same function.

Good luck,

Vern