Trailer Dolly

[mf01]

If you've read some of my other posts, I've been storing my 94 SPN outside for about two months. My garage has my car and a bunch of other tools, etc in it. My parents just bought a new house with a 3 car garage, one side being tandem. They live a mile from the ramp and are nice enough to let me put the boat in the long side of the garage.

Now to the point, the tandem side is about 40ish feet long. When backing the boat in, so my mom's car can fit, the truck has to pull in the garage. It is really tight on one side of the truck and I have to fold the mirror down with maybe an inch to spare. I would like to be able to move the boat 10-15 feet on my own power. My boat probably weighs about 4000lbs and is on a single axle trailer. Since it is in the garage, there seems to be no incline. I am thinking about trying to use one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37510 to push it the 10-15 feet. Has anyone used one?

[wake_fun]

RE: Trailer Dolly

If your boat gets away from you while your using that.....you are SCREWED!!!!!! Have someone with you with wheel chocks in their hands.
I bought a used John Deere mowing tractor and built a hitch on it. Now I can mow the yard and move my boat.........

[FLlongball]

RE: Trailer Dolly

I have a similar problem and have been trying to find a solution. How big is the tractor that you bought and how does the hitch work? Can you post a pic?

[wake_fun]

It's a small lawn tractor. John Deere LT133. I custom built the hitch. I will have to take pictures......I'm at work now :mrgreen:

[ag4ever]

There should be no problem using the dolly. Just be careful the first time and have an assistant there to help if you have a problem.

[azwakeboarder]

I have a similar problem, but use the wheel dollies instead. They are great since you can move the boat sideways too. If it starts moving to fast just stomp the lever and it returns to the ground.


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94682

[mf01]

There should be no problem using the dolly. Just be careful the first time and have an assistant there to help if you have a problem.

I don't plan on turning the boat at all. I was worried about being able to pull or push the boat straight. The ground seems completely flat, but I will have someone ready with the chocks at least the first time.

[mf01]

I have a similar problem, but use the wheel dollies instead. They are great since you can move the boat sideways too. If it starts moving to fast just stomp the lever and it returns to the ground.


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...f?Itemnumber=9
4682

So those actually jack the boat up too?

[Hlymons]

I have a tandem garage and came across the same problem. I bought a 12 wench from Harbor Freight and use it to pull the boat in and out of the garage.

[ag4ever]

You really don't even need the tongue dolly if you have a wheel on the trailer jack and a couple guys.

Just drop the jack down and each take a side and just push the boat back mannualy.

I moved my boat many times like this on smooth concrete floors. As long as you are not turning you don't even need the dolly.

I also have the wheel dollies so i could move the boat sideways as I had a side-by-side 3 car garage I put the boat in. It took 2 1/2 half stalls and had to be swung in there. It was a tight fit, but it fit fine. I had an 11' sail boat a four person paddle boat ona trailer and my SANTE all in that garage. It was like a jig saw puzzle fitting it all in.

The next house will have a "barn" so I can store all my vehicles and other crud in there. I am thinking 30' X 50' at a minimum with 12 - 15' ceilings.

[scottrob]

can you post your john deere rig-up? I have one and would love to be able to do it....but I don't want to tear up my tractor.

[mf01]

Well I tested out the harbor freight dolly, which was $39 + tax. It surprised me. I could pull the boat with one hand. Pushing it back in was a little harder, but with two guys it was no problem. The dolly sits up a little high, so I have to back the boat in the garage with the truck. Otherwise the folded down tower will hit the garage frame.

[wake_fun]

Here are the pictures of my John Deere set-up. I didn't drill any extra holes in the frame, I used existing holes.

[FLlongball]

Did you have to have the hitch custom made? Where did you have that done?

[wake_fun]

Made at home........went to the junk yard and found an old Chevy Suburban with a class 4/5 hitch. Bought it for $30. Cut the width to match (flipped it upside down) and cut/flipped the side brackets to work (that's the C-channel pieces). I only added one new piece that you can't see, a C-channel welded to each side piece (under the gas tank). This new piece is what is bolted to the tractor on the rear and the side C-channel is bolted to the tractor on the sides (total of 4 bolts holding hitch on).