Trailer Dolly

[BC_Explorer]

As I noted in my previous post, my trailer is here and I will probably pick it up on Monday or Tuesday.

One of the reasons I went with a 6x10 V-nose is partly due to the limited parking pad length I have. I originally wanted to go with a 6x12 but it was just too long at 16' overall.

With the 6x10, V-Nose, the overall length is 14' which on the parking pad, leaves just enough room so that the hitch and tongue stays back in the confines of the pad length and out of way of the alley traffic.

Due to the shortness of the parking pad and the 14' trailer length, even opening the back doors is going to require moving the trailer forward a foot or so to get the doors to swing open then I can push the trailer back a bit. In doing this, I don't want to have to hitch up to the truck every time and I highly doubt that the trailer is light enough for one person to move by manually lifting the hitch and pushing/pulling back and forth, especially once the interior and subsequent weight gets added.

Also getting into the parking pad is tight as it is and I will have make use of the neighbor's double wide parking pad across from me to swing the truck and trailer around so that I can then back in the trailer relatively straight. That said, if the neighbor ever decides to get another vehicle or put up a fence, jackknifing the trailer into my parking pad will not be easy (but ultimately can be done but would be real PITA) due to the width of the alley and a small ditch on one side so I will need some method of manually pushing the trailer into the parking if and when ever needed.

I was thinking of getting one of these type of trailer dollies which a local store has them for about the same price. Has anyone had any direct experience with these dollies? From the research I have done online, most people have a generally positive experience with them.

[Goatdog]

As long as your parking pad is a smooth hard surface, a trailer that size shouldn't be hard to push around with a wheel on the front jack. It usually either comes with a trailer or is about $15 at trailer outlets, Northern Tool, Harbor Freight, Tractor Supply, etc.

It will probab;y be much cheaper than a dollie.

I hope I understood your dilemma correctly.

[BC_Explorer]

@Goatdog:

The parking pad is fairly compacted gravel/sand mix which would be alright in dry weather, however here in the PNW, we receive a lot of rain which softens up the gravel/sand mix. This would be my concern with using the single trailer jockey type wheel that the one wheel, whether solid or pneumatic would not be enough to counter the soft ground. Also I forgot to mention, this would also apply off-road where many times, the rudimentry campsites are on soft ground and backing trailers into a lot of them is very restricted by narrow spots, trees etc. I thought that with the double wheel type of dolly, it would be a better solution for overall needs?

[pmowers]

I have had a similar dolly that I bought from Homiers (think Harbor Freight that comes to you) for a number of years. I have towed my camp kitchen as well as my 6x10 around the yard, on gravel and on concrete. It has held up pretty well, and well worth the money. Harbor Freight has a similar dolly. My friend has used his to move his 19' TT around and not had any problems. I used to have it mounted on the back of my kitchen trailer, and we would use it to help move the boat around, the dolly wheel on the boat trailer would dig into the gravel- with the dolly, no problem.

[pete42]

I have had a similar dolly that I bought from Homiers (think Harbor Freight that comes to you) for a number of years. I have towed my camp kitchen as well as my 6x10 around the yard, on gravel and on concrete. It has held up pretty well, and well worth the money. Harbor Freight has a similar dolly. My friend has used his to move his 19' TT around and not had any problems. I used to have it mounted on the back of my kitchen trailer, and we would use it to help move the boat around, the dolly wheel on the trailer would dig into the gravel- with the dolly, no problem.

I'm glad you posted because I too ordered one from Homiers years ago for around $20 I forgot the name of the place.
I used it to move my 1500 1800 pound scamp 16 footer around on a large size stone gravel drive not as easy as pavement but it works very well.
I use to take it with me to maneuver the trailer around when camping.
If you had one it would make moving your trailer very easy, I say go for it some have installed a wench in their garages to help pull their trailer up a small incline.

pete

[Wolfscout]

I have a trailer dolly http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200437627_200437627 I bought from Northern tool about two years ago. I will pull my 6x12 around on flat ground. Gravel or pavement is not much problem, soft ground is a no go. It comes in real handy for moving other trailers I have around the property too. I adapted a garden tractor trailer as well... nice to not have to use the mower to do some work with that and steadier than a wheel barrow.

[BC Cargo]

BC...This item comes and goes at our favorite store.
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product ... iler-Dolly

[BC_Explorer]

@BC Cargo:

Thanks for the link. That trailer dolly looks interesting but those very small wheels look like they would not work too well on anything but smooth concrete.

I think I will purchase the trailer dolly like the one in the link I posted yesterday. If it does not work as advertised, the dolly will be returned and I will come up with some other idea if need be.

[Wolfscout]

that's the same dolly I posted but $30 cheaper on the Northern Tool link.

[BC_Explorer]

Wolfscout:

I live in Canada so the shipping and custom fees are far more then purchasing locally for $30.00 more here.

[drcurran]

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=86772[img]

I took off the single wheel (had trouble making it turn) and made this little "jig" to help move the CT. Doubled up a couple of pieces of 3/4" plywood and attached 4 heavy duty casters. Works pretty well, but of course only on a hard smooth surface. BTW the "mover" comes off when the CT is attached to the tow truck. [/img]