Camper dolly height.

[BMUS]

I am purchasing a fleet shell. I would like to know the height of the very bottom of the camper when it is off the truck and the camper jacks are at their lowest position?
This will help me determine how high I need to build a dolly as I have minimal clearance in my garage.

 

[Vic Harder]

I've had two different campers with two different final heights when at the bottom. Somewhere around 6-10" I think.

 

[PJorgen]

I've got a 2014 Hawk so might be different than yours, but FWIW, I can lower my Hawk to about 9" above ground level.

Can't imagine that you could build a dolly that low. I used 6" casters and 2x6 framing on my dolly so the overall height of the dolly is about 14".

 

[BMUS]

Thank you,
I would assume 12-13 inches would suffice and leave a little room for moving. Just a little lip from the driveway into the garage.

 

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

Just ask the seller to measure the distance from bottom of the jacks to the bottom of the camper......and or to the to of the camper itself.

If the jacks are mounted on the camper now it is a very straightforward thing to measure.....

 

[villageidiot]

i built my dolly using 6" casters, a 2x4 frame, sheeted with 5/8" ply and a 2x6 with the casters mounted to it, id estimate it to be about 14" off the ground.

i can't pop the camper up in my garage as i have a big beam running down the middle of it. i could pop the camper if i rotated the camper and got it in front of the beam, but it doesn't really matter much.

 

[BMUS]

Hey villageidiot,
Thanks, that's perfect.
Curious, I wouldn't think it's necessary to build one to cover the entire bottom of the camper? I will definitely make it so it will not tip either way when moving. There's not a lot of room in my garage and I would assume the campers are built tough enough so sag or warping would not occur?
This will help to save storage room for the dolly in garage when camper is on the truck?
Also, did you fill the lip between the pavement and concrete? If so what did/do you use?

 

[villageidiot]

Sag definitely can occur especially if your camper is older and run down (see my thread for the shape the camper was in when I started)

I’d just make it the size of the bottom of the floor, tipped up on its side and strapped to a wall for storage it doesn’t take up any more space

 

[BMUS]

Thank you,
Good to know.
I am picking up a brand new Fleet Shell in July 2020.
Did you happen to see the question regarding the lip entering the garage between the pavement and the garage slab.
Did you fill it? If so what did/do you use?
I have a pretty big lip/gap there and would like to fill it as I have to roll the camper into the garage by myself.
Could be problematic on the way in.

 

[villageidiot]

Thank you,
Good to know.
I am picking up a brand new Fleet Shell in July 2020.
Did you happen to see the question regarding the lip entering the garage between the pavement and the garage slab.
Did you fill it? If so what did/do you use?
I have a pretty big lip/gap there and would like to fill it as I have to roll the camper into the garage by myself.
Could be problematic on the way in.

Depending on the height of the lip, I think a 6” caster wheel will roll right over anything normal. It rolls very easily with the camper on. I don’t think it’ll be an issue.

I have a small bump up into my garage from the driveway, and when it was at work, there’s lumps all over that driveway and it doesn’t seem to mind.

 

[philos65]

One caution or caveat. I built a rolling platform that covered the whole bottom of the camper. I used 6" PNEUMATIC tires because my driveway is gravel/dirt. The resistance of the tires on dirt is pretty substantial. The U shaped mounts that connects the tires to the wood frame you bolt to the frame are bending. Moving the thing was pretty anxiety producing.

Also, I haven't moved the platform/camper in over a year and the tires deflated. I'll need to put the jacks back on the camper and raise it, and reattach the tires to their rims and inflate them. I looked a lot of places and if you want to move things around on dirt and gravel, it seems better to have a couple axles and bigger tires.

Just a thought or two...

Jeff

 

[Jsoboti]

Hi guys, newbie here waiting for my Hawk to arrive...

Any one have an idea of how tall the whole unit is when popped-up and sitting on a low dolly, I realize it won't be exactly the same heigh as my setup but I'm just looking for a ballpark figure. Right now I only have 85 in. of clearance from the floor to the bottom of my garage door motor but I can probably raise it up a 8-10 inches. Thanks!

 

[rubberlegs]

I have the same question about whether it fits under our garage door. Anyone?

 

[Charlie]

I designed my dolly to fit just under the central part of the Hawk, so the floor beams hang over the edge a bit. There is storage inside for the jacks and the tailgate, for use when the camper is on the truck, and I lift the dolly up on its side to minimize the clutter in the garage. The camper on the dolly fits under a 7’ garage door. It’s heavy to push around, especially on the 3 degree slope of our parking apron. But no problem for 2 sturdy people. I can share the plans if you PM me.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I designed my dolly to fit just under the central part of the Hawk, so the floor beams hang over the edge a bit. There is storage inside for the jacks and the tailgate, for use when the camper is on the truck, and I lift the dolly up on its side to minimize the clutter in the garage. The camper on the dolly fits under a 7’ garage door. It’s heavy to push around, especially on the 3 degree slope of our parking apron. But no problem for 2 sturdy people. I can share the plans if you PM me.

Nice, very nice! I’m out the door now, but will send a PM later

 

[ski3pin]

I designed my dolly to fit just under the central part of the Hawk, so the floor beams hang over the edge a bit. There is storage inside for the jacks and the tailgate, for use when the camper is on the truck, and I lift the dolly up on its side to minimize the clutter in the garage. The camper on the dolly fits under a 7’ garage door. It’s heavy to push around, especially on the 3 degree slope of our parking apron. But no problem for 2 sturdy people. I can share the plans if you PM me.

Great idea and very well done! Thank you for posting.

 

[rubberlegs]

Charlie, thanks for the beautiful drawings! Very impressive.

 

[57Pan]

My dolly is exactly 12" high. ATC Bobcat rolls into the garage no problem. Garage doors are just under 7 foot opening.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Charlie, thanks for the beautiful drawings! Very impressive. I

I concur! Thank you Charlie!

 

[Vic Harder]

that internal storage - including the tailgate - is brilliant.