Power Dollies?

[Buoy]

I know most of you guys are running rigs too big to think about even trying one of these...
That being said, my 24' Pantera would be a good candidate for one. Have a very tight alleyway, and the 12' gate only opens 10'.
It was tricky (to say the least) getting it into the backyard here at the doublewide.
I've seen plans for these for sale on E-bay, and to buy one from one of the Manufacturers is about 1k.
I'm not looking to buy one tomorrow, but thought I'd get a little info on them if this is something that I should put on my "wish" list.

If you're not sure what I'm talking about, they are a powered dolley that helps moving the boat/trailer around detached from the tow rig.

 

[JupiterSunsation]

I looked at them briefly when I was looking to buy a warehouse with a narrow alley. The alley wasn't wide enough for the truck and trailer to manuever (32 ft boat, crew cab GMC 2500). I ended up buying a different warehouse so I never bought the dolly.

 

[2112]

I too have been interested;

Here is a link; www.powermoverinc.net

I gravitate towards the gas powered unit but I assume the electric units have great torque.

 

[Buoy]

I too have been interested;

Here is a link; www.powermoverinc.net

I gravitate towards the gas powered unit but I assume the electric units have great torque.

I was thinking the same thing about the electric vs gas thing.
It seems like it would be pretty easy to build something and use something like a lawnmower engine (I'm saying that because I have two of them laying around).
But, I'm not an engineer, and don't know if something like that would work for this application.

 

[Trim'd Up]

Why not just go buy a an old lawn tractor? I use mine to move the boat all of the time. One of the boat shops around here use a little 12hp old wheelhorse to move all of the boats around, and they are alot cheaper than $1000.

 

[cigdaze]

Go find yourself an old golf cart axle and motor and build one. It would be easy.

 

[MarylandMark]

I looked at these a while back.

I was going to buy a park model RV (trailer...) and the access is on the drivers side vs the passenger side on a 5th wheel or travel trailer.

12' gate only opens 10'? Sounds like you have 2'- what do you need this for again? :rofl:

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

I have a mechanical one that works great, even on YOUR boat... I just used it to parallel park Bad Temper behind my house...

I'll take a picture of the dolly tonight and send it to you.

 

[Buoy]

12' gate only opens 10'? Sounds like you have 2'- what do you need this for again? :rofl:

Backing in from 90 degrees, in a tight alleyway.
You must have missed that part.

I have a mechanical one that works great, even on YOUR boat... I just used it to parallel park Bad Temper behind my house...

I'll take a picture of the dolly tonight and send it to you.

Cool!

 

[waterboy222]

we have an electric one that we use to move the Cessna up and over the 2 ridges at the door of the hanger and up the slope.. PLENTY of torque and power..

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

Here you go. Made locally in the '70s. Maybe someone still has one kicking around in their garage?

 

[duunoit]

Is that how you did it?

 

[Buoy]

Here you go. Made locally in the '70s. Maybe someone still has one kicking around in their garage?

That thing looks rigged as hell, but that would be AWESOME.
So, do I understand that it's geared so that you can move the trailer around by cranking the winch handle?? with the boat on it?
I like the idea that is has the hand brake.
Can you actually move the whole boat, or just push the tongue over and basically leave the rear trailer wheels in place?
I'm gonna need to move the whole boat, would this do it?

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

I use it to push the boat backwards up a small hill over uneven concrete. If it was flat ground, it would be no problem. There are 3 different gear reductions and also you can lock or unlock the wheels so you have one wheel peel or posi. I pushed my boat up and back into a parallel parking spot with it.

I get close with the truck, then move it 5 - 6 feet. No problemo.

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

I have a mechanical one that works great, even on YOUR boat... I just used it to parallel park Bad Temper behind my house...

I'll take a picture of the dolly tonight and send it to you.

This is a 34' space with walls to the street on each end. It's a pain, but cheaper than storage!

 

[Buoy]

OK, so all the gear reduction is done on the winch handle, kinda standard.
Whats the purpose of the chain? I don't see where it would be useful for anything.

How does it independently lock wheels?

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

OK, so all the gear reduction is done on the winch handle, kinda standard.
Whats the purpose of the chain? I don't see where it would be useful for anything.

How does it independently lock wheels?

The chain goes across the top of the trailer tounge and locks it on there more securely. The wheel locking is done with that lever down at the bottom. Just sort of an in and out pin.

 

[MarylandMark]

Backing in from 90 degrees, in a tight alleyway.
You must have missed that part.

:moon:

 

[Bobcat]

some more hand dollies from dollies r us these have a 600 pound tongue capacity and are all under 200 bucks, another option would to buy a used pallet jack and manufacture a tongue on it .

 

[Buoy]

cool find Bob.