Adjustable rolling axle stands

[isb cornbinder]

I have most of the machines in my shop on casters. When I need something, I can pull it out like a drawer and push it back out of the way after. So, why not do the same with the vehicle being worked on. I made a set of adjustable axle stands with 4 casters, two with brakes on each unit. The rolling stands are open on one side to accommodate a floor jack.
Earlier this year, I bought a set of wheel jacks with castors. I do not think the $1000 I spent for the premium set was money well spent. My concrete floor is smooth and the rolling resistance is too much for me alone.

 

[joe49]

Nice idea.

 

[Keyblazer]

Me Likey!

 

[James-W]

I like it!

 

[jloehlein]

Sweet! What are the details on the casters and where did you get them?

I built a set of wheel dollies with some 6" casters. They roll okay once they are pointing the same direction, but getting them going with a > 3000lb car requires multiple people.

 

[isb cornbinder]

The casters are All GOOD made in Canada. There are several caster shops in this area. Try Google for your area. I bought some German casters for my shop wheeled chair. They said 25% more money and 3 times as good.
I prefer phenolic wheels because they don't flat-side, low rolling resistance and phenolic resists chips getting stuck in the face. These casters are about $30 each.
I put four of the German casters on a Snap On roller that follows me to where I am working. I must be careful because the toolbox can roll out of the shop and change postal codes in a New York Minute.

 

[Jazz1]

I would put brakes on those considering your location. Would not want the car rolling out when the BIG ONE comes.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Brakes, good idea. Thanks

 

[skipnay]

That first three pictures would work awesome for me. I can easily put axles in and rear tires on for the rearend. The front isn't done and have been trying to figure out how to do the front. I was just going to use a jack and a 2x2 square but It is just a little high for the jack!!!

 

[isb cornbinder]

I would put brakes on those considering your location. Would not want the car rolling out when the BIG ONE comes.

Jazz!, HMMM? I wonder if he........................ Maybe not, but then

 

[eyeball]

Thanks for the inspiration. That looks like exactly what my son and I need for a 1970 Nova restoration we are starting.

Couple questions if you don't mind:

(1) Any links to the casters you settled on? Casters can get expensive and I am curious about what specs and expected costs for a box full to roll our Nova around.

(2) It looks like trailer hitch tube for the jack stand portion. What did you use ti construct the rest of the frame?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[isb cornbinder]

The main body is 2 inch tube with a 1/4" wall. The casters are ALL-GOOD and I think they are made in Canada. I bought the casters at Caster World ?? My best advice is to buy good casters with phenolic or castiron wheels. I run the bearings dry so media blasting material does not stick. I huff the bearings every so often and they are good to go.
Divide the weight of the vehicle by the number of casters and add a little extra capacity to your caster choice.
I have never regretted building these units. The mobile stands are being used to transport DANA 44 axles right now.
Don't forget to put wheel brakes on one caster on each end.

 

[BMW Rider]

Not my stands, but it is my car at the paint shop.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Another good design.
What happened to all of those Fox Body Mustangs. They used to be everywhere like the VW Beetle. Now it is a rear moment, for me, to see either. I have owned a half dozen VW Beatles but I have never been in a FB Mustang. I bought a new orange Mustang GT, 289/271 FB in 1966 My wife drove a yellow 67 289 Automatic. We used to drive the 67 in auto-cross.
I see you are from Calgary. I went to Henry Wise Wood. 75 Avenue and Elbow Drive. I was in grade 10, 57 years ago. (1960)

 

[Movover]

Another good design.
What happened to all of those Fox Body Mustangs. They used to be everywhere like the VW Beetle. Now it is a rear moment, for me, to see either. I have owned a half dozen VW Beatles but I have never been in a FB Mustang. I bought a new orange Mustang GT, 289/271 FB in 1966 My wife drove a yellow 67 289 Automatic. We used to drive the 67 in auto-cross.
I see you are from Calgary. I went to Henry Wise Wood. 75 Avenue and Elbow Drive.

Probably rusted out, most of the ones in Maine are really nice kept up garage ones or in a field and you cant make out what it is.

 

[Strouty]

I like yours, they look nice and rugged. I am going to be making something similar, I saw these on the net, but I am going to make mine more adjustable.



http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349260

 

[BMW Rider]

Another good design.
What happened to all of those Fox Body Mustangs. They used to be everywhere like the VW Beetle. Now it is a rear moment, for me, to see either. I have owned a half dozen VW Beatles but I have never been in a FB Mustang. I bought a new orange Mustang GT, 289/271 FB in 1966 My wife drove a yellow 67 289 Automatic. We used to drive the 67 in auto-cross.
I see you are from Calgary. I went to Henry Wise Wood. 75 Avenue and Elbow Drive. I was in grade 10, 57 years ago. (1960)

Still lots of them around, but the nice ones are now becoming summer driven classic cars so not seen a lot out on the streets.

Mines a 79 coupe that started life as a plain-jane 2.3L 4cyl. Now its becoming an autocross/track/street car with a 68 J code 302 that's punched out to 307. There are a few web forums that cater to the Foxes, I frequent the FourEyedPride site as it is focused on the early four headlight cars.

I'm a few years younger than you and not a native Calgarian, but close. I grew up north of here in Carstairs. I was in grade 10 at Hugh Sutherland School in 1980. Been living in the city for 18 years, worked for the city for 27 as a firefighter.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My brother and I bought a 1939 Ford Coupe in Carstairs, that was 1961 and we paid $15.
To get the 1939 home, we decided to tow it behind Dad's new 1961 Chevy Pickup. We had a length of rope between the two vehicles. The Ford brakes were not working but the engine was seized tight. We towed slow and to stop the Ford, my brother had it in low gear and he engaged the clutch and the Ford stopped. We made home OK.
That could never happen in 2017 in Calgary and certainly not here in Vancouver, BC. We might hit by a speeding Lamborghini.