[gator412]

Hey Guys,

I would like to make a set of wheel dollies to move my truck around on. I have seen homemade ones of wood and store bought ones made of steel. I can figure out the plate/wood the tires sit on but need info on the wheels of the dollie itself. What rating would each one of the four wheels (4 wheels on each dollie) need to be? Is 4 of them rated at 200 lbs each enough...or 300 lbs each...etc.
Thanks,
Gator

[schnitz]

Tough call here, but I'd look at the total weight capacity of each of the dollies. Say 1,000 lb cap. each. Divide that 1,000 lbs. by 4 (or the # of caster wheels you plan on using) and you get 250 lb. capacity wheels. To be on the safe side, I'd double that figure. Or more. I thought about doing the same thing, until I priced the wheels. $8.50 each for 16 wheels put it over the top for me. Homier tool has them for $40 for a set of two.


In a while, Chet.

[Rob Keller]

or here

http://www.harborfreight.com/
type in
32052 3VGA # 39.99 FOR TWO
OR
389595VGA

YOU CANT BUILD THEM FOR LESS

SR66

__________________
I'm not prejudice, I hate everyone

[gator412]

Thanks for the thoughts!

[advanced design]

Gator,

I have a set of furniture moving dollies made from heavy lumber purchased used years ago. Don't know what the caster's are rated at but they have given me years of trouble free service. Very inexpensive and great for cabs, front clips, powertrains, etc. providing a freedom of movement around the shop.

[gator412]

Great idea!

[LanceM]

Just finished a set of my own. I got the casters at www.surpluscenter.com, they are used 1 13/16" wide wheels, grease fittings, and can probably hold a 1000 pounds apiece for $2.99 each. The angle iron was stuff I had laying around. I have about $70 in the set of 4 and I should be able to put anything I own on them. They are the best money/time I have spent in the shop, I can move the car around with one hand, I gained back a third of my shop space just by being able to move it so easy, wish I would have made them years ago!

[schnitz]

Lance, great link to those wheels, and for posting the pics of your set. If my welding skills keep getting better, I'll be making a set of those, too.


Thanks again, Chet.


Added on** How would they be if the cross-bars were flipped the other way? Would they bow out?

[LanceM]

Nothing much to making them the way I did. The sides are 12" long, the crossmembers are 10", this width will fit any tire I have in use. The only thing I would do different now is space the crossmembers further apart. I would suggest welding one on then lay it on top of a tire and move in the other crossmember so that the flats of the angle are against the tire equally. Mine were made with a "that looks about right" method and they are a little too close, the tire rests more on the points of the angle iron than the flats. Probably not good for the tires but in this case it is of little matter as these tires will never see the road again.

Chet, just saw your edit, not sure what you mean by the other way?? The tire rests on the crossmembers, I have a good inch of space on either side of the tire and the side pieces.

[schnitz]

Originally Posted by LanceM

Nothing much to making them the way I did. The sides are 12" long, the crossmembers are 10", this width will fit any tire I have in use. The only thing I would do different now is space the crossmembers further apart. I would suggest welding one on then lay it on top of a tire and move in the other crossmember so that the flats of the angle are against the tire equally. Mine were made with a "that looks about right" method and they are a little too close, the tire rests more on the points of the angle iron than the flats. Probably not good for the tires but in this case it is of little matter as these tires will never see the road again.

Chet, just saw your edit, not sure what you mean by the other way?? The tire rests on the crossmembers, I have a good inch of space on either side of the tire and the side pieces.

Well, the tires I'd have on my car to roll it around would be just like yours.

What I meant by the other way is turn the cross bars so that the flats of both the sides and the cross bars would sit on each other. Basically it'd be like having your same problem, only with the tire contacting 4 points instead of 2.


Like this....

yours...


/_____\______________/_____\





Mine...

|_____ ________|
---------------------------------



Hopefully that explains what I mean. The legs on the drawings are short, but I think you can follow what I mean if you add height to the upright parts. I see too, that you boxed the crossmembers. I'd do that too, but by laying the crossbars sideways, I could bolt the square parts together prior to welding it.


Thanks again, Chet.

[LanceM]

Chet, I get it with the example Probably dosen't matter a whole lot, just I figure if you have them spaced right the way I made them the tire is sitting on two 1 1/2" wide flats, no narrow edges to press into the tire. With the way things go around here you have to think long term, this car has been waiting for me to finish it for 20 years or so, I have big plans on having on the road this spring, but then so did I last year and the year before and...

[gator412]

LanceM...Thanks for the pics and link to the wheels. I just ordered the wheels and will build my car dollies when the come it. I know somebody had done this already!
Thanks,
Gator

[LanceM]

Gator, I'm glad to have been a help You're going to love having those dollies when they are done!

[ChevelleSS_LS6]

I think this is one of those threads that will be remembered for a long long time.

Kinda like my "what kind of compressor do you have" thread.

[302 Z28]

Stay away from the HF ones, I have a set and when I place my full size Chevy truck on them you cannot move it. Yes they have cast iron casters, but those cast iron casters do not have ball bearings, just a steel sleeve for a bushing. As long as the total weight is under 3000lbs they work fairly well.

Vince