Car Tire Dollies

[D45]

Off the wall question, I know.......

I am soon buying a roller, 1967 Ford Fairlane

It will be years before its moving under its own power, and some have suggested to buy four car "tire dollies" to put under each tire

Are some better than others?

Do some have features others don't?

Thanks!

 

[pacemade]

How are you going to turn it if you put dollies under the front tires? Working in the shop we grab a couple hands, you can even do it yourself. Put a floor jack under the rear diff. pull the car where you want it with the jack, even pushing or pulling the rear where you want it to go. make sure the cars in neutral so the front wheels can roll.

 

[zcar751]

You need to look at the casters on the dolly and some you can slide around the tire and jack the tire on to it instead on lifting the car and setting the dolly under the tire. Check out Northern tool they carry both.

 

[D45]

Swivel casters at all four corners, on each dolly

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_automotive+wheel-dollies

 

[AldeanFan]

There was a thread on this recently.
Basically you get what you pay for. I have the dollies that lift the car so you don't need a jack, and they have plastic wheels that roll very easily. Expensive but they work really well.

My dad has the cheap Harbor Freight ones and it's really had to get them rolling.

If you're moving the car frequently get the good ones, you won't regret it.
If you won't be moving the car very often the cheap ones may work for your.
If you're going to push it in to a corner and leave it there for an extended period of time I'd just use the floor jack to get it where you want it and let it sit.

 

[aka Larry]

Swivel casters at all four corners, on each dolly

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_automotive+wheel-dollies

FWIW, I have a set of these and the tiny-*** casters ****. LOTS of effort is required to to move a Miata (with no engine or transmission) around in my shop.

 

[pacemade]

Great answer Aldean, I tend to do things the hard way and on a cheap budget. I didn't know about the dollies that lift the car.

 

[58Yeoman]

I've got a set that look like the $59 on Northerns site that you posted. I got mine at Big Lots years ago, and they still work fine. One time I did have to clean and oil the casters. I have a huge 41 Pontiac on mine, and I can move it by myself. A smooth floor really helps.

 

[jayoldschool]

Buy these:

Not these:

 

[mygarageone]

I have a set of the elcheapo units and here's what I have found . The cheap one's have no bearings in the wheel . The better units will have wheel bearings and it makes all the differance in the world.
Mine cost me $130.00 for 4 , the better sets cost over $200. For a set.

 

[finn]

I've got a set of ~ 15 year old aluminum dollies that are really nice, and a set of the HF grey diamond plate units that don't roll as well, but cost significantly less.

If I ever get another set, it'l be the gray HF because they are a better value.

If money was no object, I'd get the jacking dollies.

Unfortunately, for me, money is a limiter as to what I need vs what I want, and the HF dollies are adequate, if not outstanding. Grease helps.

Also, I store the cars on the dollies, so once they are under the wheels they stay there. The jacking dollies take alot of room if removed from the car.

 

[DPG]

There was a thread on this recently.
Basically you get what you pay for. I have the dollies that lift the car so you don't need a jack, and they have plastic wheels that roll very easily. Expensive but they work really well.

My dad has the cheap Harbor Freight ones and it's really had to get them rolling.

If you're moving the car frequently get the good ones, you won't regret it.
If you won't be moving the car very often the cheap ones may work for your.
If you're going to push it in to a corner and leave it there for an extended period of time I'd just use the floor jack to get it where you want it and let it sit.

Great answer Aldean, I tend to do things the hard way and on a cheap budget. I didn't know about the dollies that lift the car.

Well said Aldean. I have the cheap harbor freight ones. They work but you have to make the effort to get them moving.

 

[finn]

Buy these:

Not these:

Don't buy either, get the gray diamond plate ones ( if they still offer them)

 

[holdover]

I have these, a bit pricey but you can turn donuts with them. 10X better than the cheap ones (bought a set of them first), just oil them well and the vehicle just about moves on its own. Only down side is you have to jack up car/truck to place them as opposed to some others.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200349393_200349393

your mileage may vary

 

[justanengineer]

Buy these:

Not these:

+1. You dont want to leave a vehicle on dollies, but you will want them easily installed/removed. We've got a set of the first, the wife can install them inside of a minute and move any of our vehicles easily by herself without so much as getting dirty. By far, one of the best things Ive bought for the garage and only $160 for four.

 

[Astro-t]

Don't buy the hydraulic ones they leak fluid.....just bought a set! not happy with them staining my new floor! Get the ratchet one!

 

[D45]

Staining a garage floor isn't a concern..... It's a garage and its a floor

I'll look into finding a used set maybe, pawn shops or Craigslist

I don't need or want anything fancy, just something that rolls and moves the car easily

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I have a set of these made by Merrick and US made. They work very well and able to move cars around with help. Good price from Tooltopia and free shipping.

http://www.tooltopia.com/merrick-machine-m998002.aspx

 

[Buck Merrill]

I have the Merrick's as well. I've needed to move my project around 6-7 times over the last 5 years- they've made it easy for me to do solo. I would get them again.
http://theautodolly.com/

 

[scooz14]

ive got a set of 4 go-jacks. they cost a pretty penny but really are awesome. extremely easy to move cars around the shop. the casters are bearings are top notch. i just wish they came in a color other then purple

 

[58Yeoman]

Wimps.

 

[gungatim]

I have a friend that has the 4 HF tire dollies and he hates them. tires get flat spots and difficult to turn he says...somewhere, probably on the HAMB, I saw a guy that made his own from plywood drilled and bolted to the hub in place of the wheels, but I don't recall exactly how he affixed the castors...maybe do a search over there if you want a cheap DIY solution...

 

[LuvAZ]

Lot's of good suggestions here so far.

I built mine, but they were for a one time use, for a car that I built.

So which ones are better? It really depends on what you're looking to get out of them.
Long term storage w/occasional tinkering?

Are you looking to restore/build other cars after this one's done?

What surface area are you dealing with?



HTH,
Will

 

[whitetrash1]

My wife got me the black harbor freight ones for my birthday. They work fine.

 

[herbet99]

I have the cheap HF ones and they worked great. I think the most important question is how smooth is your flooring. I had a new, perfectly level concrete floor. But if you have anything less than that, the cheap ones may not work for you.

 

[Off-Street Parking]

Also, I store the cars on the dollies, so once they are under the wheels they stay there. The jacking dollies take alot of room if removed from the car.

+1. You dont want to leave a vehicle on dollies, but you will want them easily installed/removed. We've got a set of the first, the wife can install them inside of a minute and move any of our vehicles easily by herself without so much as getting dirty.

Yeah, those are two very different use cases.

I typically put a few cars away seasonally, so they are not leaving the garage for the duration of the winter from the first road salting in the fall until after the third big rainstorm in the spring. I usually do it with floor jacks to slide them into position, but will probably use the dollies this year. I'm considering picking up a set of BOTH styles... The rounded metal ones for a long-term project car to avoid flat spotting the tires, and the slide-outside-and-lift style for quick positioning of the "drive on nice days" cars.

 

[Off-Street Parking]

somewhere, probably on the HAMB, I saw a guy that made his own from plywood drilled and bolted to the hub in place of the wheels, but I don't recall exactly how he affixed the castors...maybe do a search over there if you want a cheap DIY solution...

There are at least several non-DIY versions of those too.

 

[D45]

I just need/want ones that the bald and flat tires will sit into and move easy

Nothing special and nothing fancy

Thanks for all the input, time to shop

 

[raffaelli]

I have the grey diamond plate from HF. Keep my race car on them all the time. Perfect. Except the wheel caster wheels do mar the floor slab. If that is not important to you....go get them.

 

[Off-Street Parking]

I just need/want ones that the bald and flat tires will sit into and move easy

If the tires won't hold air, maybe you might like the rolling jack stand type better?

http://74.218.115.58/backyardbuddy-Easy-Access.html

 

[Pluribus]

I have a set of these made by Merrick and US made. They work very well and able to move cars around with help. Good price from Tooltopia and free shipping.

http://www.tooltopia.com/merrick-machine-m998002.aspx

I have the Merrick's as well. I've needed to move my project around 6-7 times over the last 5 years- they've made it easy for me to do solo. I would get them again.
http://theautodolly.com/

Merrick Machine Auto Dollies for me as well. Moved a 3,650# car by myself on them. Only downside is I had to bang the casters with a 2x4 to point in the direction I wanted to move the vehicle to get it going. With a helper or a smoother floor, that probably wouldn't be necessary. For me, it's an infrequent use, so the extra work isn't an issue. Forking out the dough for some of the Go Jacks isn't in the cards. If I was doing it professionally and on a regular basis, maybe they'd make sense.

 

[ms fowler]

I, too, am considering this purchase. I think I will the early poster who said he used a floor jack to lift the rear diff..simple, elegant and cheap. ( Even cheaper than HF. How often can you say that?)

 

[az45]

I have the Merrick's as well. I've needed to move my project around 6-7 times over the last 5 years- they've made it easy for me to do solo. I would get them again.
http://theautodolly.com/

I use the Merrick's on 4 cars, they work great and I my shop floor isn't exactly glass smooth. The cars get stored on the jacks, so its easier and safer than the floor jack which takes one at each end every time you want to move something.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I like the back yard buddy rolling jack stands. No price on the page though. I might try to make a set. That would solve flat spot issues and you can work on brakes, suspension etc while on them. I could have used those recently for my 4 wheel brake job in my cramped garage.

 

[Mr onetwo]

I have the Merrick's as well. I've needed to move my project around 6-7 times over the last 5 years- they've made it easy for me to do solo. I would get them again.
http://theautodolly.com/

Plus 1 on the Merrick's. I have 8 of them and use them constantly to move stuff.Very high quality. I may try getting a set of larger diameter casters to see if that makes the rolling easier.

 

[86turbodsl]

I'm just stopping in to give you a thumbs up for the car. I own two 67 Fairlanes myself.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I just bought the HF gojaks. Seem very nice, but haven't used them yet. I got them for the vette's winter storage. Hoping to roll her around a bit for snow removal equipment.

 

[D45]

I just bought the HF gojaks. Seem very nice, but haven't used them yet. I got them for the vette's winter storage. Hoping to roll her around a bit for snow removal equipment.

Cool let me know how they work out.
With some online coupons, they can be scammed for a pretty reasonable price

 

[G McKay]

My problem is: My garage floor is really rough. It (the slab) used to be outdoors (before I set a garage on it) and after 50 years, it is pretty rugged. It isn't cracked, just extremely rough. Do you guys think these dollies would roll around on my garage floor as rough as it is? Thanks for any input.

 

[rsnip988]

i have 4 of the Gray diamond plate ones from HF as well, my 55 Chevy has been rolling around on them for about 2 years without too much effort...
Then again I'm 6'3 and 285lb of mostly muscle, so maybe it just seems easy to use them for me... I grease them or WD40 them occasionally, but thats it for "maintenance"