Dollies, best/cheapest choice

[Arne]

I'm thinking about builing no. 2.... I do not want to get/build a trailer base till the tear is built. I know others have used dollies, but I have some special requirements.

I will probably use 3, but I want them at a workable height, not 4 inches off the floor. I'm thinking dollies that I can put milk crates on, either one or two high, so I can make it higher when working on floor of tear, then remove one milk crate as I start walls, etc.....

Floor of trailer would be built first and used as 'table' to build walls.

So, anyone have a source (or home built ideas) for some dollies that actually roll without spending 150 bucks just on casters? I'd like to have casters big enough to move it over the garage door lip (1" or so) to get it outside on nice days....

[Chris C]

Furniture dollies are available at Harbor Freight Tools. I use them in my shop a lot.

[Arne]

Chris, do you like them, or just tolerate them?/g/

[Chris C]

They work great for my needs. If you'll look at the pictures of my furniture, you'll see a desk that takes two pretty hefty guys to carry around. I put it up on dollies and could put it anywhere in my shop I needed, by myself................easily too, I might add.

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

arnereil,
If you want it to be adjustable height wise how about an atv jack you could rig it up to support the tear body. Then you can adjust the height as needed.

[Chris C]

The HF dollies will work just fine with milk cartons..............and you can't beat the price at only 16 bucks! (KISS!!)

[Arne]

Yes, once I get done, I'll have several dollies without much to use them for, so milk crates will be good enough. If I was going to need/use them for years, I'd get more complicated, but this will be a one time shot, then will probably sell them (no room).... sounds like a sound idea (I just had to put it that way, sorry)....../g/

[asianflava]

Chris, do you like them, or just tolerate them?/g/

heh heh, I definitely just tolerate them, and that is on a good day.

[Gaston]

ask around the local supermarkets and find out what they do with busted shopping carts ... they make great shop dollies.

[purplepickup]

Arne, most everything in my shop is on wheels. I get these 5 inchers from HF when they are on sale.

If you screwed two of them to 2 strips of 3/4" plywood large enough to set a saw horse on (mine are height adjustable), then connect the two strips with a couple of 2x4's, you've got a fairly stable mobile base. Another sheet of plywood on top will give you a "bench top" or you could just build your trailer directly on the sawhorses.

Here's a dolly I made with some ingenuity and part of a handicap ramp a friend didn't need anymore. I sold the car and it is now a very handy rolling workbench.

[Arne]

George, I've looked at getting just casters and build my own... for my needs only need 3 on each..... but am still considering the furniture dollies..... I like the bench idea.... right now, when working outside, I use old TV dinner trays..... wow, does anyone else remember "TV trays"? ... I have 2 that are old and beat up and have zip ties to keep legs in place... but very handy..

I check the harbor freight sales areas for casters, etc.... I keep getting h/f store brochures, when I don't have a store within 300 miles of me.... and they have some great bargins....

When in New Orleans last year, I actually found a h/f store and I was like the kid in a candy store thing....... wow... wish I had one near me.

I've actually thought about getting 4 swivel casters and mounting each on a 1 foot square piece of 3/4 ply... Once it is under something flat, it can't fall over..... but not sure about that idea..... yet. The good thing is once done, I could make a really nice dolly with the 4 casters for other uses...

[cracker39]

If you had a HF store nearby, the dollies would be the thing. I like to make things, but for $16, I'd buy. I have some HF castors that I put on a work stand and they are smooth. I'll probably get another set as I am building a router table, and it will be too heavy to easily pick up and put on a work bench. I need to make a simple stand from 2x4s to mount it on.