More crappy Chinese stuff...

[alankulwicki7]

I bought a couple of sets of car dollys last summer from Harbor Fright and only put one set together until last Sunday. I needed to move my car (the one without the front suspension) so I quickly assembled the second set. After assembly, I put the new set under the back tires and started to push when I heard a 'Pop'. When I moved around the see what happened, I saw that one of the casters had busted clean off. Fortunately, nothing was broken other than the caster.

After I got done moving my car the rest of the way with my floor jack, I brought the carnage back to Harbor Fright. They were actually really nice about it and gave me my money back after more than 6 months and no receipt. I did have to laugh when the clerk asked if I wanted a replacement or a refund!

Just thought I'd share my story.....

BTW: Can anyone recommend some GOOD car dollys?

 

[AdamMopar]

I personally would probably just build a set.

If you want to buy though I hear these are some of the best. I've never personally used them but I have seen them in use.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_35107_35107

Adam

 

[jbilbo]

Great timing on the post! I was just logging in to see if anybody had a review of the HF version. Guess I wont be spending my 20% on that!

The NorthernTool product looks good. I little more than I wanted to spend but I guess you get what you pay for these days.

If I were to store a car for the winter, should I take it off the dolly? Or can I leave it on there for those few months?

Thanks for any info.

 

[bmwpower]

I take it that's $180 PER dolly?

 

[ol_scratch]

It seems to me that the reason most products any more have those outstanding exhange programs is because they need them. THey figure its easier to just exchange for another, than make a better product. Problem is it breaks in the middle of using it, and as it being a tool, what are you to do to finish - postpone till you get a replacement? That's often not possible. But the majority of people are more tha happy to deal with that for low prices.

I'm glad you're looking to go the other path.

 

[JMURiz]

Ah yes, the chinese steel-like substance. I have broken off heads of screws...screwing into wood with a hand screwdriver with all my 160lbs of force behind it. From now on I am weary of 'steel' that has a color closer to alumn.
Glad you got a refund!

 

[Bradley Miller]

Hmm -- never had a problem with my two dollies. That pic looks a bit odd -- if it was the stud that broke, I could go "ok . . . " but it looks like the stud wasn't even in the plate right? My wheels on mine are different also, I don't know that it's a HF, but maybe another brand. They're very low profile steel wheels and the center of my dolly dips down.

 

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

That *****, I have had the HF dollys for a looooong time and have had no problem with mine so far.

 

[Slatewear]

Hey Doug,

I couldn't help but notice your user name. I was a huge fan of Alans, especially since I grew up 10 miles away from where he did. My dad and his dad went to grade school together.

Now, I live out in the country, across the street from a former local racer. Turns out he was great friends with Alan. Alan even invited him to go south with him, as a mechanic, when he left Wisconsin. But my buddy was just starting his family and declined. Then, when Alan was scheduled to come back to Wisconsin for the Slinger Nationals, he paid to use my buddy's car. They painted the whole late model car in Hooter's colors and logos. Alan was killed a few weeks before the race and never drove the car.

He has been an inspiration to many.

Regards,
Brian

 

[EdNJ]

I also have a pair of HF dollies,haven't had problems either. I had to bring them to work one time to move a Lexus LX470 SUV with a locked up brake caliper.

Gojack makes nice adjustable dollies (have a pair of those too). Just don't let coworkers borrow it,someone bent one but wouldn't take the blame

 

[zman]

Go Jaks are really nice and work well. A quality tool... The Harbor Freight **** is, well, ****... I have a pair I got as a present and the they aren't up to moving a full size american car, even though they say they'll take 1000 lbs... They work ok on compacts though... If you get the Harbor Freight stuff get the lifetime replacement you'll need it.

 

[MarkH]

Depending on contracts, retailers will have a product sourced from multiple suppliers either serially or at different times. That makes a real problem of knowing what you are getting. May look similar one suppliers is great the other questionable.

Secondly many retailers are sold on a series of demo products which look pretty good. If they do not keep doing quality checks there are suppliers who will modify the specs to cut the costs. Even worse is when this is done with the retailers permission. Based on this many suppliers feel that the US is best place to get rid of the scrap, since for 10 cents we will bypass a good product.

So I look at all products very carefully, ones that can hurt me, are tested as best as I can. I look very closely at friend's versions looking for any small change to see if I can expect the same success. Think of how many times you have seen the assembly instuctions with different hardware, the above does it.

Still you can get stung. I picked up a small handwinch. Great for pulling except from the original design which had a pawl to release the load which was not on the one I got. Made it useless. Looked at the earlier production of the model decent tool, mine and ones I have seen since of the same model good for a paperweight only.

So shop carefullly. You are the one that can be hurt and the exchange is a minor salve when that happens.

 

[turboimpala]

I actually had a caster break off of a cherry picker engine lift while I was pulling the V8 out of my 96 Impala. That was not fun. I had to hang on the side of the lift to keep the lift and engine from falling and crushing my fender. I eventually got the engine lowered to above the radiator for some support then put some wooden planks from the front of the car to the ground and was able to slowly slide the engine down the planks. I replaced the caster with one I found at Lowes or Home Depot. I remember the strength or weight limits being labelled on them when I was picking them out.