14 replies to this topic

[Wandering Sagebrush]

It’s time to start thinking about building a dolly for the Cougar.  Does anyone have a recommendation for solid castors that work well in gravel?  

[Bosque Bill]

I bought my solid rubber castors from harbor freight. 6", one pair swivel and one pair not. Work great on concrete, I don't know about gravel, I'd guess it depends upon how compact it is.

[TacomaAustin]

I built my own out of 2x6 lumber and used 6" steel casters for an ashpalt driveway with lots of embedded pebbles - but for gravel wouldn't a Harbor Freight trailer be a better platform.

[Stray Dog]

I did replace a wooden dolly with a Harbor Freight trailer.  While my camper sits on concrete I have had the dolly on a 3/4 inch crushed gravel drive a number of times.  It is very maneuverable on gravel.  I think, as Austin says, much better than a solid wheel castor.

 

I bought the trailer utilizing a couple of the coupons HF has available and paid about  $250.00 for it.  In the end, I think I actually saved money over the cost of materials for building a new dolly....

[JaSAn]

For any loose, moveable, rough surface:  the bigger diameter and wider the footprint the better.

[Jon R]

I have 1200 lb rated 6x2 polyurethane casters on my dolly for my 1700 lb Grandby. They work well on the smooth garage floor. They are barely usable on asphalt and every pebble causes a problem. I can’t imagine trying to use this type of caster with this weight on gravel even if it was 8x2, at least for pushing around by one or two people. I would suggest pneumatic tires on gravel.

[buckland]

I built my own out of 2x6 lumber and used 6" steel casters for an ashpalt driveway with lots of embedded pebbles - but for gravel wouldn't a Harbor Freight trailer be a better platform.

Same here ...I built mine and then gravel was a pain so I bought a 1800 lb load 4x6 trailer with a fold up hitch wheel. So easy to move around. 

[LuckyDan]

Pneumatic, (Air Up) casters are available. I would suggest finding the biggest and widest you can and not consider solid wheel casters.  That typed, I too have my Grandby sitting on a trailer.

 

Good luck with your endeavor.

[Jon R]

The nice thing about a dolly versus a trailer, if it works for you, is maneuverability. I can get my Grandby into a corner of the garage within 2 inches of the walls, giving me more garage space.

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[rubberlegs]

We just used our newly built dolly for the first time last week. Our asphalt alley has a slight grade, but the real problem is a lip and a dip just before going into the garage. My wife and I could barely get it in there (we are both pretty small though). 6" solid wheels. The swivel wheels kept swiveling to 90° which made for some interesting language between us as we muscled it into the garage. Methinks we need bigger wheels or more work in the gym.

Edited by rubberlegs, 06 December 2022 - 12:59 AM.