Tire Dollies?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 895
Likes: 4
From: whitman massachusetts
Tire Dollies?
I will be finishing up brake work,soon, on a 71 roadster frame off. I want the ability to move the frame around my shop easily, so I plan on buying some of the dollies that mount under the tires and pivot/roll in any direction, easily. Where is the best place to buy these? I have never seen them at any of the stores I go to. Any info is appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
I bought a set via internet a month ago. These were about $125 for a set of four. They are good quality. I have my 72 (intact) on them. I can push the car alone but it is not easy. The weight of the car definitely makes a difference. I would say that a lighter item such as a frame would easily move around on this setup.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 692
Likes: 69
From: Juneau AK
If I had it to do over again I'd go with the aluminum type.
Mine were painted red... the paint lasted about 15 minutes before it started coming off when they were knocked together. Truth is, the paint was coming off before I got them just from banging around in freight. And as we all know (especially in the rain forest) when the paint goes, the rust comes. What I ended up doing was dropping them off at a friend's place who was spraying a bed liner into a pickup. He had some leftovers and I hosed it onto the dollies. So far so good.
My REAL first choice would be Go-Jacks, but the last time I checked a set of 4 was around $800.
kdlp
Mine were painted red... the paint lasted about 15 minutes before it started coming off when they were knocked together. Truth is, the paint was coming off before I got them just from banging around in freight. And as we all know (especially in the rain forest) when the paint goes, the rust comes. What I ended up doing was dropping them off at a friend's place who was spraying a bed liner into a pickup. He had some leftovers and I hosed it onto the dollies. So far so good.
My REAL first choice would be Go-Jacks, but the last time I checked a set of 4 was around $800.
kdlp
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Maumelle Ar
The harbor freight ones worked great for me. I just put my 81 in my unfinished downstairs and had to role it around a couple of posts. Not fun. Have you ever fit your Vet through a golf cart garage door? Had about half inch on each side of the car. Did not get a single scratch though. Now I have the engine pulled and deciding what I want to do with it.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 466
Likes: 71
From: West Chester PA
I had the same problem with the ones I bought at Harbor Freight. Very poor quality, made in China. I would never buy them again. Suggest you buy a better quality set. Where did you get good quality casters that work?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
Also bought a really nice set with upgraded casters from lakeshore wheel and tire. A little pricey ($ 294.00 including shipping) but I can push the car by myself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Buy the best dollies you can afford. The cheap ones like HF have small wheels and don't "caster" well. You will bust a gut trying to get the wheels to change direction. I've had 3 or 4 different sets over the years and these are the best. Got them from Summit, have ball bearing 3" wheels with grease fittings.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,353
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
Buy the dolly's. They come with 3 1/2" casters. One row over they sell individual casters. They have big 5"+ steel ones with the same bolt pattern for $7 each. You'll spend $90 for the bases plus $112 for 16 big casters.
Last edited by jim2527; Nov 29, 2007 at 07:32 PM.