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My car stopped running. It sits in the driveway. It is rainy season in FL and I need to roll it into the garage. it doesn't roll easy. May be due to my age but I can't push it around like I once could.
I am building a garage with concrete driveway and floor that will connect to my existing driveway.
How can I best move my car (enlist my buddies to push/pull?)? I am leaning toward getting dollies to put under each tire and wheel it into the new garage.
Please, no disparaging remarks. If it is better to have a few younger, stronger guys muscle it into the garage, so be it. But, if dollies are a good solution, then I appreciate it.
I saw a garage the other day, the owner had a bracket bolted to the floor at the rear. He used a hand cranked winch to pull non-running cars into the garage. He used that same winch to pull cars up the ramp onto his car trailer when he went car shopping. I bet it cost less than 4 car dollys.
I hear you on the older and weaker Ted! I purchased a 12 volt winch from Harbor Freight and mounted it on the floor at the back of my garage. When I push my non running 69 out into the driveway, I use the winch to pull in inside when I am done. I also add a couple pieces of ¾" plywood at the lip to make it easier to get the car inside. I use one of my 12v battery jumpers to power the winch. I have s pair of cloth straps with D rings over the lower control arms that I connect teh winch to. Been doing it this way successfully for several years.
FWIW,
I have a cheap set of Car Dollys from Harbor freight. They will not roll on anything other than flat concrete. As stated above, a lip in the transition into the garage will stop my set from rolling.
However, once in the garage they roll great on a clean floor. By myself I can spin my car completely 180 degrees. Not super easy but not hard at all. I rarely use them but when I do they are worth their weight . . . .
The car dollies that you talk about have pretty small wheels....ANY uneven or rough surface they won't go. ESPECIALLY the ones with the solid steel wheels.
Additionally, you have to jack up the side of the car, and put BOTH left side dollies under. Then go around to the right and rinse and repeat.
So polished floors are a must for dollies.
Cheap older man's way: "Hey guys, there's a 12 pack here....help me push my car!"
the 15 inch wheels with air in the tires will roll better than anything smaller on a surface that is not perfectly flat. the advantage of dollies is you can go sideways.
the 15 inch wheels with air in the tires will roll better than anything smaller on a surface that is not perfectly flat. the advantage of dollies is you can go sideways.
The advantage of a C-3 is you can go sideways too!
U have dollies under the 69....the metal wheel ones....otherwise I'd never be able to get the doors open!
you can also pump up the tires to 39 psi...they'll push easier!
Cheap older man's way: "Hey guys, there's a 12 pack here....help me push my car!"
Unkahal
I have to agree with L46man, especially if this is a one-time occurrence to get the vette into the new garage. I know if anybody on the forum that was within 30 minutes of my house put out a request like that, I would surely give a helping hand and sit down for a beer afterward.
My main concern with having buddies help push my vette is…where do they grab hold of it? There’s really not that much real estate on a vette to grab hold of, especially if you don’t want the plastic and/or fiberglass cracked.
Id lean toward a recessed anchor point in the floor in the back of the garage ( or SECURELY mounted into studs in the wall) and then use a 12v electric winch like the one I purchased from tractor supply to load my vette onto a car hauler trailer when I purchased it in non-running condition.
Just my .02.
I have a man door at the back of my garage. I simply mounted one of the HF 12V winches to a 4x4 that spans the door opening and use that to pull the rolling frame or car on dollies up the driveway and into the garage. I imagine it'd work with a hand cranked winch or come-along too.
This is powered by a small 12V garden tractor type battery and has a remote control for easy one-man operation while guiding the car.
I have the Harbor Freight dollies as well. I ground the inner part of the foot tab off for better tire clearance, but you can't beat them for the price. I bought them on sale for $65/each.
My main concern with having buddies help push my vette is…where do they grab hold of it? There’s really not that much real estate on a vette to grab hold of, especially if you don’t want the plastic and/or fiberglass cracked.
Id lean toward a recessed anchor point in the floor in the back of the garage ( or SECURELY mounted into studs in the wall) and then use a 12v electric winch like the one I purchased from tractor supply to load my vette onto a car hauler trailer when I purchased it in non-running condition.
Just my .02.
Ya know there's a good thread question in here; 'Where do a bunch of know- nothings push my fiberglas car!???'
The following places are permissible by year group;
1968- 73
1. Front A-pillar windshield frame, near the bottom. This is the main place!
2. Chrome bumpers LATERALLY, proximal to the bumper brackets. (don't push DOWN on the bumpers!)
3. T-top frame
4. Gently on the steering wheel...laterally again!
1974-82
1.
2. Ends of urethane bumpers ,spread the load out and along the eggcrate bumper bar.
3.
4.
Spread about 4 guys across these points with pumped up tires and it's relatively easy.
Yeah, the old saying about jacking up a C-3 applies;
"YOU DON'T JACK UP A C-3, YOU PUSH THE EARTH AWAY FROM IT!"
I move my cars by myself by pumping the air in the tires to 40 psi and use wheel chocks. I push and chock the wheel. It may be easier to move the car via one of the tires. I have had my 68 for 50 years, so I am up there as far as age goes. Where do you live in Tampa? My son benches 400 lbs. He could probably push the car across the Howard Franklyn bridge . Jerry
Need a Car Dolly Set
. Jerry