Harbor Freight roller dolly

[TCEd]

I bought two pair of the roller dollys and set them under the vehicle wheels and it doesn't budge and the wheel locks are not set. I was expecting to be able to roll it around the garage into a tight storage position for the winter. Suggestions ? ed

 

[Living in the Past]

I bought two pair of the roller dollys and set them under the vehicle wheels and it doesn't budge and the wheel locks are not set. I was expecting to be able to roll it around the garage into a tight storage position for the winter. Suggestions ? ed

Have some too. Certainly not has easy as I thought they would be. I take the time to align all sixteen wheels in the direction I want to move the vehicle and that helps some. Mine is in a rural area and closest neighbor is 85. My wife is hundred pounds and not a lot of help. Figure two or three strong neighbors would make it a lot easier.

 

[Steamer]

Good casters ain't cheap. Those are. Good dollies are out there for the big $$$. Never had a need for car dollies but I've made some heavy duty dollies for axle assemblies and trannys and such. I use heavy duty steel casters with bearings on the axles as well as the swivels. With grease fittings also. I usually go overboard but the cost gets forgotten over time. And when I move them, I smile instead of cuss.

There's a few heavier ones here. "Car Dollies"

 

[Living in the Past]

Like I said my biggest issue is getting the wheel to like up. Personally this just a hobby and not looking to spend big bucks for roller I occasionally use. For transmissions and axles use the cheap HB furniture movers I can get for around ten dollars and around seven for the small ones. Use boards to help spread the weight and they work fine.

 

[TCEd]

Like I said my biggest issue is getting the wheel to like up. Personally this just a hobby and not looking to spend big bucks for roller I occasionally use.

Yes, like you i bought these for probably a one time use this winter to move the vehicle into a tight storage location in the garage since the engine is inop now. If I cannot move the vehicle I'll leave it where it is and park one of our cars outside this winter, $600 plus for a supposed better set of dollys is just out of my budget. ed

 

[Living in the Past]

I bought the 1,500# rollers. $90 per wheel for the ones with a jack you lift them was over kill for me. I also see seal failure result in them being worthless at that point. I line the wheels up in the direction I want to push the cruiser. Usually them move a little when I put weight on them. Use a large cresent wrench to move them back. Time consuming but it has worked for me.

 

[middlecalf]

I had my China Freight dollies under the whole truck (45) for a bit, then under just the frame/drive train/engine a bit also. They worked, but so did I moving them around my small shop. Now they’re used for moving my axle assemblies around, good for that, but hopefully not too much longer before getting bolted back on frame.

 

[shelfboy1]

i use a pipe or a bar under each dolly to move them around if its feasable i us my 4 wheeler to move the vehicle .i also have hooks in the floor so i can use the winch on the wheeler also

 

[73FJ40]

Unload the dollies and spray the thrust bearings and wheel axles with teflon lubricant (carrier evaporates, leaving it dry).

Before pushing it 180* back into the corner, push the front end 90* for a little, then the back end, to get the casters turned around halfway. Then when you push it back into the corner, the casters only have to turn 90* in the same direction.

If you just push it directly back 180*, the casters are likely to fight each other, some turning one way, some turning the other.

My theory anyway!

 

[S4Cruiser]

I have a couple pairs if the HF Metal dollies. They work decent enough for their cost. I did take each wheel apart and grease the ‘bearings’.

And like John mentioned, aligning the castor helps the most. Can also rock them back and forth to get them aligned and moving.

 

[4x4veteran]

Got a set of four wheel skates some years ago and while they are not top of the line work satisfactorily.
I have never had my FJ40 on them but I can move my X19 around by myself fairly easy.
My son's full sized van takes two people and my dune buggy project is practically a one handed job to move so weight is a factor.
You need a level clean smooth floor as a small nut or bolt caught under a dolly wheel can stop them instantly.

 

[x463]

I've had multiple sets of the cheap dollies...penny-wise and pound-foolish. Thought I'd use them very infrequently but once you have a set you'll be amazed how useful they are. About that time - the cheap ones will break. Sometimes after only a couple uses. Get GoJacks and be set for life. There really isn't anything to maintain/leak/break w/ the design. You can find them used for a decent price if patient.

 

[TCEd]

Finally got it moved. I disassembled the wheels and greased the axles and sprayed silicone into the flimsy pivot bearings. Used a comealong anchored to a workbench to get it moving and all the wheels in the right orientation and then it pushed easily, just needed that initial tug to get it rolling. Hung a tennis ball for my wife to hit and stop when she pulls in. Now we can get both of our daily drivers inside plus I have walk around room for the FJ40. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. ed

 

[4x4veteran]

I've had multiple sets of the cheap dollies...penny-wise and pound-foolish. Thought I'd use them very infrequently but once you have a set you'll be amazed how useful they are. About that time - the cheap ones will break. Sometimes after only a couple uses. Get GoJacks and be set for life. There really isn't anything to maintain/leak/break w/ the design. You can find them used for a decent price if patient.

"I've had multiple sets of the cheap dollies...penny-wise and pound-foolish. Thought I'd use them very infrequently but once you have a set you'll be amazed how useful they are."

Got that right. I only have a set of four but a couple of times I wish I had another set.

A word of caution;Those dollies have pointy corners.
I am a natural born klutz so have barked an ankle on the dollies more than once.

Some of you will say you have had worse paper cuts but just today crawled under my X19 while it was on the dollies and banged my head on the corner of one.

say what you will but it hurt.