Camper Dolly

[DirtyDog]

Sure. Just put something like these on instead of the casters:
View attachment 1399

or these: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200336328_200336328
I have the same problem with the gravel drive. I contacted Rieco Titan about it since they advertise that they do custom dollys and this was their response:

The problem is that in order to roll over and thru gravel and/or small rock, a large pneumatic tire is required. The second problem is that there are no small pneumatic tires that can hold 1000 lbs. or more. In your case, we could try small trailer wheels. I don't know of any that swivel and/or lock. Also, the engineering and custom fabrication would make this very expensive. Perhaps, you can build one yourself.
The wheels linked above have a weight capacity of 450 lbs. Seems that the most cost effective alternative would be to pave the drive

 

[brett13]

I have the same problem with the gravel drive. ...The wheels linked above have a weight capacity of 450 lbs. Seems that the most cost effective alternative would be to pave the drive


Those wheels are 450lb capacity each. That's 1800# capacity for the dolly in total- plenty!

 

[DirtyDog]

Those wheels are 450lb capacity each. That's 1800# capacity for the dolly in total- plenty!

Yeah I thought that too but based on the email from Rieco I thought that there would still be some issue there. Maybe not though. Whats the worst that could happen, a dolly flat!

 

[brett13]

Yeah I thought that too but based on the email from Rieco I thought that there would still be some issue there. Maybe not though. Whats the worst that could happen, a dolly flat!

I'd give it a try. Your putting less than 275# on a 450# wheel which can probably carry more anyway.

 

[Gormley Green]

Here was my solution, similar to many others. 2x6 frame and 16" spaced cross members, 1/2 OSB on top, 2x4's across bottom ends to mount casters.

Definitely overkill on strength and weight, but this baby is built to last and serves its purpose well. I really don't have to move it around very much, basically when I unload I move it to the corner and pull it back out when I want to load again.

The jacks aren't on the floor, I just leave them as far down as I can get away with!

 

[leadsled9]

The small trailer at Harbor Freight is on sale for $189. And it doubles as a trailer too.


I like the trailer idea....then I can hook up my atv and drag it where ever I want it....and gravel won't bother it either.

 

[billharr]

I built a steel dolly with 8" wheels. I drop it all the way down so it can not be seen behind my fence. I use a cordless drill with the attachment that came with my camper. I raise and lower it about 3 to four inches at a time on each corner. Does not take long and never break a sweat.

Sorry I do not have a picture of the camper setting on the dolly put the jack are about 3 inches from the cement when it is on the dolly. Moves very easy with the big wheels. Working by my self I can move the camper from the dolly to the truck and have it ready to leave in under 45 minutes.

Pictures are from construction is now painted.

Bill in Stockton

 

[Silvertip47]

Lots of good ideas. I'm going to have to do this soon to get mine in the garage for roof repair, paint and AC install. I wish I could weld, I would do like Bill.

My problem is my camper is 6' tall. My garage door is 6'11" so I don't have a lot of room to play with. This will be a one shot deal. The dolly will turn into firewood when I'm done.

I looked at some 6" fixed casters with hard rubber tires at HF rated at 450# each. A 2x4 frame on top of that will reach a height of 9 1/2". 1 1/2" to spare!!!!

I will also have to winch it up my sloped drive.

 

[pods8]

Just a follow up on the gravel situation, 10" pneumatics will not roll over my gravel on the side of my driveway with the camper on.

 

[Silvertip47]

Just a follow up on the gravel situation, 10" pneumatics will not roll over my gravel on the side of my driveway with the camper on.


Ouch!! How expensive was that lesson!!!!

 

[pods8]

Ouch!! How expensive was that lesson!!!!


Under a $100. Just used some harbor freight units, think they were running about $20 when I bought them. Onsale for $17 right now: http://www.harborfreight.com/10-inch-pneumatic-swivel-caster-38944.html

I'd rather have used these for a better strength/built quality (on appearance) but I was going for larger over the gravel. As it is it still doesn't roll well on gravel, digs in/turns wheels, so some plywood strips would be needed under the wheels to make it happen. http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-x-2-inch-heavy-duty-swivel-caster-41565.html

The rest of the cart was just a cheapie quickly slapped together form some 2x4s to test it out, I'd built a better/stronger one for long term.

 

[MANXMAN]

Used some of the ideas from this thread and combined with some of my own, built this dolly. It rolls very easily and will be high enough for getting in and out of easily when doing the interior build this winter but low enough to clear my shop's ceiling lights when popped up.

 

[billharr]

Nice looking dolly. Get a little jealous every time I see a flat bed camper.

Looking forward to your build. Take lots of pictures we love pictures.


Bill

 

[smlobx]

Wow!
I looked at this thread a couple of weeks ago and didn't see much response.
Thanks to everyone for reviving this!
I still have to decide how to do it. In my case I have a flat driveway and don't have any height issues so I'm trying to to figure if i can build one 2 to 3 feet tall....

 

[longhorn1]

Wow!
I looked at this thread a couple of weeks ago and didn't see much response.
Thanks to everyone for reviving this!
I still have to decide how to do it. In my case I have a flat driveway and don't have any height issues so I'm trying to to figure if i can build one 2 to 3 feet tall....

The higher the dolly, the less lowering and raising you will need to do. Storing in your garage will obviously need to be taken into consideration, so that you can just roll in for storage. jd

 

[Lighthawk]

I built a plywood dolly that's just low enough that I can pop up the camper in the garage. I also adjusted my garage door to retract an extra inch or so which allows me to drive truck with camper inside garage. Depending upon the ceiling height of your garage, you may not want to build too tall of a dolly.

 

[ski3pin]

I built a plywood dolly that's just low enough that I can pop up the camper in the garage.

<snip>

This is a big plus and we did this also.

 

[Dusty Roads]

I looked back over this thread. Way back several years ago, someone used the 1170 lb capacity Harbor Freight trailer. I am thinking about doing the same. I need to go over some gravel in the drive and wondered how the trailer worked out. Anyone else using the HF trailer? Looking for current experiences. I realize there is a trailer with more capacity (1720 lbs) but I have an old Grandby (24" overhang) that is a shell and I plan to keep it that way. This trailer will only be used to get the camper into the garage and back out to the driveway.

Thanks.

 

[Dusty Roads]

FYI: The Harbor Freight trailers are on sale this month.

 

[Seth]

...Anyone else using the HF trailer? Looking for current experiences....

I have an old FWC Eagle on such a trailer right now. It was a temporary measure, as the trailer is usually used for yard debris (lots!).

It's as easy to maneuver as any other small trailer. I did put a $20 HF wheeled jack on the tongue (my trailer is an older model, don't know if new comes with a tongue jack, but you need it!) I also put a car jack stand under the rear rail of the trailer to assure that it wouldn't see-saw if I stepped into the back of the camper.

The only disadvantage is the height - I can't pop the camper open in the garage. I'll probably build a low dolly for this reason, and, the yard debris is accumulating!

BTW, I have old-style cable jacks for the camper, and the trailer wheels were a close fit between the jack bases.