Single Axle vs. Tandem

[patoloco]

Rick - Do you have some pics of your trailer on the dollies? I was thinking of that setup for the winter to save some additional space in the garage. How do you get a tandem trailer up there? 4 dollies, back the trailer over them, or use a jack??

[jdarwin]

I realize that this solution depends on the brand of trailer, but in the past when moving a tandem trailer by hand I've found it helpful to lower the tongue jack all the way down. This raises the back of the trailer and puts less back tire in contact with the pavement. In some cases, it even gets the back tires off of the ground (depending on set up). My $.02

[SkiMatt]

Patoloco,

Here is a picture of my trailer on the dollies. I don't know if you have a Harbor Frieght Tools store where you live. I bought four of them for about ninety bucks at Harbor Frieght. They have steel wheels which I thought would be better than rubber or plastic. (I thought rubber or plastic would develop a flat spot if the boat/trailer was left on the dollies for a long period of time.) I jack up the trailer with a floor jack and slide the dollies under each wheel. I use the dollies so it's a little easier to move the boat/trailer into its spot in my garage.

[Rick]

That picture looks like it could be my boat as well... Right down to the wheels. I think I paid 78.00 for 4 on sale.

[patoloco]

Thanks for posting the pics! 4 total for only $90? That doesn't sound too bad.

How long do you leave them up on the rollers? All the time or just until you get it moved? Does it cause any damage to the garage floor, with that much weight centerd on each little wheel....my poor math skills tells me with a 4000 lb boat & trailer, 17 points of contact, including dolly....if all equal...about 230~ lbs pinpointed on each roller wheel?

On my old single trailer I could move the boat, with some work, into the corner of the garage for the winter, but not with a tandem...it would be cool to get the boat + 2 cars in again during the winter.....that is of course, until I can afford to build a house with a 1500 sq ft garage with a pull through bay!! haha

Thanks!

[SkiMatt]

Your welcome for the pics. I'm new to the dolly idea but my plan was to leave the dollies under the trailer on a part time basis. This winter I'll have the trailer on the tires just in case these high quality(joke) steel rollers give way. So far I haven't noticed any problems with the garage floor. Moving the Tandem on dollies still isn't much easier, but at least it is possible to move.

I'm with you on a huge garage. A drive through would be great. I thought my three car was good when I bought this house ten years ago. Now I'm trying to talk my wife into some land, a three car garage, plus a detached garage/shop. She isn't falling for it yet.