72 replies to this topic

[pods8]

Ouch!! How expensive was that lesson!!!!

Under a $100. Just used some harbor freight units, think they were running about $20 when I bought them. Onsale for $17 right now: http://www.harborfre...ster-38944.html

I'd rather have used these for a better strength/built quality (on appearance) but I was going for larger over the gravel. As it is it still doesn't roll well on gravel, digs in/turns wheels, so some plywood strips would be needed under the wheels to make it happen. http://www.harborfre...ster-41565.html

The rest of the cart was just a cheapie quickly slapped together form some 2x4s to test it out, I'd built a better/stronger one for long term.

[MANXMAN]

Used some of the ideas from this thread and combined with some of my own, built this dolly. It rolls very easily and will be high enough for getting in and out of easily when doing the interior build this winter but low enough to clear my shop's ceiling lights when popped up.

 

 

 

[billharr]

Nice looking dolly. Get a little jealous every time I see a flat bed camper.

 

Looking forward to your build. Take lots of pictures we love pictures.

 

 

Bill

[smlobx]

Wow!
I looked at this thread a couple of weeks ago and didn't see much response.

Thanks to everyone for reviving this!

I still have to decide how to do it. In my case I have a flat driveway and don't have any height issues so I'm trying to to figure if i can build one 2 to 3 feet tall....

[longhorn1]

Wow!
I looked at this thread a couple of weeks ago and didn't see much response.

Thanks to everyone for reviving this!

I still have to decide how to do it. In my case I have a flat driveway and don't have any height issues so I'm trying to to figure if i can build one 2 to 3 feet tall....

The higher the dolly, the less lowering and raising you will need to do.  Storing in your garage will obviously need to be taken into consideration, so that you can just roll in for storage.  jd

[Lighthawk]

I built a plywood dolly that's just low enough that I can pop up the camper in the garage. I also adjusted my garage door to retract an extra inch or so which allows me to drive truck with camper inside garage. Depending upon the ceiling height of your garage, you may not want to build too tall of a dolly.

[ski3pin]

I built a plywood dolly that's just low enough that I can pop up the camper in the garage.

 

<snip>

 

This is a big plus and we did this also.

[Dusty Roads]

I looked back over this thread. Way back several years ago, someone used the 1170 lb capacity Harbor Freight trailer. I am thinking about doing the same. I need to go over some gravel in the drive and wondered how the trailer worked out. Anyone else using the HF trailer?  Looking for current experiences.  I realize there is a trailer with more capacity (1720 lbs) but I have an old Grandby (24" overhang) that is a shell and I plan to keep it that way. This trailer will only be used to get the camper into the garage and back out to the driveway.

 

Thanks. 

[Dusty Roads]

FYI: The Harbor Freight trailers are on sale this month.

[Seth]

...Anyone else using the HF trailer?  Looking for current experiences....

I have an old FWC Eagle on such a trailer right now. It was a temporary measure, as the trailer is usually used for yard debris (lots!).

 

It's as easy to maneuver as any other small trailer. I did put a $20 HF wheeled jack on the tongue (my trailer is an older model, don't know if new comes with a tongue jack, but you need it!) I also put a car jack stand under the rear rail of the trailer to assure that it wouldn't see-saw if I stepped into the back of the camper.

 

The only disadvantage is the height - I can't pop the camper open in the garage. I'll probably build a low dolly for this reason, and, the yard debris is accumulating!

 

BTW, I have old-style cable jacks for the camper, and the trailer wheels were a close fit between the jack bases.