Trailer dolley - garage

[lfunk11]

I should be able to back my boat into my garage, but then I need to turn it 90? around a support beam to get it stored correctly so I can fit my wifes SUV. I am going to try to get just the trailer in there this weekend with help, but I doubt I will be able to to do it by myself with the boat on the trailer. I am going to build a detached garage in the spring so I only need to get the boat in once to store it for this winter so I can work on it.

Will this one work? Its a concrete floor with no slope and I only need to get the boat in once and then out in the spring

Its a 19' Crownline 192 BR - sorry, I do not have the weight of the boat and trailer. The trailer is a single axle Prestige trailer

Trailer Dolly

 

[jtw37]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

This is what I have on my trailer. Works pretty good for moving the boat and trailer.

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/pics/P/S/PSEJ10000101_tn.jpg

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

Why would you need the dolly? Seems a lot harder than just pushing the boat around on the landing leg wheel. If your landing leg has a bad wheel on it then upgrade to a dual wheel setup.

I push my 195 around to get it in and out of the garage every time I use it - not possible to back it into the tight position that it needs to be in.

 

[lfunk11]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

I have one of those on the trailer. I just thought it might be easier with the dolly since its going to be a back and forth struggle to get it turned and then out of the way so my wife can get her truck in. Trying to be prepared since I want to get it in the first time and don't want to mess with it too much.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

I have one of those on the trailer. I just thought it might be easier with the dolly since its going to be a back and forth struggle to get it turned and then out of the way so my wife can get her truck in. Trying to be prepared since I want to get it in the first time and don't want to mess with it too much.

As long as your concrete is smooth, it is pretty easy to push around a 3500lb boat (unless you have a tandem axle trailer)

 

[lfunk11]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

As long as your concrete is smooth, it is pretty easy to push around a 3500lb boat (unless you have a tandem axle trailer)

really smooth floor and single axle - I should be good to go. Thanks.

 

[moi]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

It will depend on the size of the garage, (length and width) and where the support beam is located.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

I have a Proline 17 and use the dolly--from HF--(i also have the trailer wheel). I find the dolly very easy to use. One word of caution....when using the dolly KEEP A HAND ON IT. Because of the design, when the weight is on the ball, it will flip up and if you happen to be in the way...it can really leave a mark. It could also damage you boat..which would be worse.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

I have a 110V "Power Caster" by Power Caster, Inc. Google them.

It's a dual wheel model. Similar to your unpowered unit but does the same thing, only POWERED. It will push up to 5K#. There are also plans and units, on the internet, that are 12V powered with a battary attached.

When I bought it, it had a hitch ball extension (up) of about 6". That proved to be pointless. Without weight on the unit, the tires just spin.

Once I modified it to bring the trailer tongue weight down on the unit-it works very well. It allows me to, very pricisely, move the trailer around, in the garage. No tugging or pushing. Just a switch-back and forward. Nice!

I found mine, locally, on Craigslist, for $300.00.

What a back saver!

 

[BigDfromTN]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

If you have a real tight space you may want to invest in the cradle type things with casters for the trailer tires as well. With that you can move the entire boat and trailer in any direction. Even sideways to get it up tight to a wall etc. I can see that saving a bunch of wiggling back and forth to get it in place.

Good luck!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

If you have a real tight space you may want to invest in the cradle type things with casters for the trailer tires as well. With that you can move the entire boat and trailer in any direction. Even sideways to get it up tight to a wall etc. I can see that saving a bunch of wiggling back and forth to get it in place.

Good luck!

We use those on our twin axle pontoon trailer since its storage space requires that it be driven in the door and then pushed straight sideways 8 feet. I use the same things to move my streetrod around in my 2 car/1 door shop. However, they are a pain to change directions with so if you can make the move without them it is much easier.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

The dolly will make it a little easier, but with just the trailer jack wheel and a couple of extra strongbacks you can do the same thing.
If spending $60 to save 5 minutes on a one time job is not an issue for you ... your decision!

I use one to get my boat up the side of the house every week.
I need to run the jack wheel over the grass for a short distance to make the turn. The Dolly helps a lot on the grass.
Be sure the tires are FULLY inflated.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

be real lazy Powrtouch :: The remote controlled motorised caravan mover This also works for people who can not reverse the truck to the hitch you can just bring the trailer to the truck.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

... I am going to build a detached garage in the spring so I only need to get the boat in once to store it for this winter so I can work on it... Its a concrete floor with no slope and I only need to get the boat in once and then out in the spring...

Lets not over engineer a ONE TIME move!

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

I've tried a number of ways to move my boat, none of which is really ideal for me. I have a marl driveway with a slight slope so others with a harder surface or no slope don't have the issues I seem to have.

I'm dealing with approximately 300 lbs of tongue weight so just manning up and pushing it around on the jack's single wheel is only good for a very short distance. I bought one of the Harbor Freight dollies like in your link and it works pretty well except for pushing the boat uphill is still a lot of work. One thing I'm surprised nobody mentioned was that the HF dolly comes with the smaller trailer ball. I swapped it out for a 2" ball to better match my trailer's hitch. Also, the tires on the dolly go flat over time so a couple of times a year I have to give them a squirt of air to keep them inflated properly.

I actually bought a $300 hand cranked Trailer Valet to move it around and while it works great on concrete or asphalt, it's an abject failure on my marl driveway: it just digs a hole with its two tires instead of moving the boat. That was an expensive lesson. It also rusts way too quickly in the salt air around here.

So, if I had to do it all over again, I'd buy another HF dolly and just swap the ball for the appropriate size.

 

[lfunk11]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

So I literally need to get it in once and out once. Hopefully I will have a garage built next year that should fit it, but I guess there is a chance that I might need something for a tight turn to get into the new garage since I haven't really figured out where I want the garage to be on our property.

I measured the trailer tonight and I have about 1-2" max space on either side to fit the trailer in the garage door opening :facepalm: I have towed a trailer once and that was bringing this trailer up our road. Its a barely 1 lane road with large drainage ditches on either side so hopefully no one ever comes on the 3 mile trip while I have the trailer on since there is about 1-2' max on either side of the trailer It will be interesting - I don't think I can back the trailer up the driveway since its narrow and gravel with drop-offs for drainage. I have to pull straight up and figure out a way to turn the truck/trailer around to back into the garage. I will practice with just the trailer this weekend - luckily my dad will be down this weekend and he has driven 18 wheelers for the past 30 - 40 years

 

[lfunk11]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

just to be clear - I will get the boat into the garage and then will figure out how to move it in the garage. Its basically our basement with a garage door. This is old and I don't have a pic of the inside, but once I get it through the garage door the inside opens up with one support pole I need to work around

 

[gtochris]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

Invite a friend over for 10 minutes.... We have pushed ours numerous times through my in-laws pole barn (with concrete floor). 2 people it's easy.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Trailer dolley - garage

I have a 1000 pound PWC on a single lightweight aluminum trailer. It's even more than I want to deal with unless I have mechanical help.

I move my trailers around with an ATV in tight places. A good lawn and garden tractor can also move'em around.