homemade wheel dollies

They work great! I use 'em for all kinds of things. Right now I've got some of the wheels in use on other things, but when I get my chassis back together the dollies will go back under it.

I hate to say it, but the cheapos from Harbor Freight might be a better deal, unless you have access to 16 good casters real cheap or free. The cost of 16 new casters is a killer. Know anybody that works for a moving company that can gift you four broken furniture dollies?

 

Thank you, Ron.

About five or six years ago I went looking for casters to use on my engine/tranny stand. Searching locally and online for casters was a sobering endeavor; those things were just as you stated: expensive! Then lo-and-behold, after some searching, I found a great deal on some used industrial casters (Ebay). I purchased four static and eight swivel roller bearing, 600lb capacity (each) casters with zerk fittings.

Unfortunately these heavy duty casters stand about eight inches tall. So they aren't really ideal for using on a vehicle dolly.

Actually, I do have a set of the Harbor Freight dollies. The last vehicle that I had them under was a '56 Chevy 1/2 ton. And that truck was a bear to move. Of course the curb weight on that truck was about 2000 lbs more than the typical universal. But these HF dollies are slated for my MD.

I'm considering my options for a -second- set to fit under another universal. Not terribly impressed with the performance of the HF dollies, and trying to keep expenditures down, I'm thinking that I might just as well build a set. Now ideally I'd go out and buy a set of hydraulic/mechanical lift dollies, but it doesn't appear that a -good- set can be had for under $600.

Keeping it inexpensive and functional is the objective.

Your dollies sound like they'd do the trick. HF does sell small, 800lb capacity, wheel-sized furniture dollies that I could probably utilize. So I may begin there, building a platform on top. Those dollies are typically $10-15 each.

Thanks again for the photos and input!

 

Keep in mind that the smaller the wheels, the harder it'll be to roll around. Four inch wheels would be the shizz. I thought about the HF movers dollies, but the wheels on those are just too chintzy.

Seriously, my wheels all came from professional movers dollies, and a few from Home Depot. I used to know a guy that worked for a United Moving and Storage outfit, and he gave me several broken dollies, and a few good ones too. Might try asking around at the local moving companies, when those things break they don't try to fix them, they just get new ones. Business expense deduction, time/cost, etc., they aren't gonna pay one of the flunkies to fix them or salvage the wheels. I've also been known to dumpster dive on occasion, thrift stores, junk shops, flea markets, etc.

I place great value on casters, everything in my garage is on wheels. My bead blaster, parts washer, motorcycle lift, work table, all are on skates. I even made a platform for my Jeep tub, it's standing vertical on the firewall, and I can roll it around the shop. The engine/tranny/t-case assembly out of my Willys is on a furniture dolly, all still assembled. Yep, it rolls around too.

My Jeep frame is on two sawhorses, which are each mounted on skates, tied together with 2x4's, then a piece of plywood on top of the boards for a platform. I can pile all kinds of crap on that and wheel it around the garage. My work table is a cheapo banquet table sitting on a plywood platform, on casters. I can pile the platform full with stuff, and the table too, and still roll it around.

I have so much crap in my garage that I couldn't get to anything. By making the piles mobile, I just move it around so I can get to whatever I need to. When you're a packrat with a small 2-car garage, ya gotta make do! Ugly67 came by a couple weeks ago to pick up an old Kayline top I had, he can tell ya about all the stuff in my garage on wheels. At least the stuff he could see!

 

Ron and Cary -- you guys speak my language.

Danke!!