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Posts: 910
Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | Anyone have any experience with any of the power trailer dollies out there? Or how about the EZ Tug set up that replaces the trailer jack with a jack that has a 12V motor driven wheel?
To get my boat out from the back garage I need to bring it up past the house, where I only have 3 1/2" clearance on each side if perfectly centered between the fence and a wall of sliding glass doors. I cant hook up to the truck and pull it through since there is a jog in the driveway and I cant make the turn and get straightened back up in order to fit along the house. Have been using a hand dolly which is a 2 man job, looking for something that will allow me to get it in and out myself.
Those power dolly units are a little spendy when a guy is not real sure what he's getting or how they work! |
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Posts: 4266
| We used to use a battery-operated dolly to move 2,000 pound bags of carbon around at the water plant that I worked at. Very easy to use and more power than we ever needed. Not sure what they cost, but I remember talking to a co-worker about how nice it would be to "borrow" it to hook up my boat trailer. Save your back and use technology.....if you can afford it. |
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Posts: 291
Location: Minneapolis | I've got one from Power Movers. I've had it about four years. It's really slick for precise movements in tight places, and it's got plenty of power. It's also slow, about 1 foot per second.
You will definitely be able to move your boat by yourself!
They are expensive. Sometimes Power Movers has used ones for sale. I decided it was cheaper than back surgery. I can't back all the way into my garage. I either have to push by hand or use the dolly. If it's late and I'm tired and by myself, the dolly is a real back-saver.
Here's the web site: http://www.powermoverinc.net/htmls/pmaccarts.html
The prices are slightly lower now than they were when I bought mine.
Edited by rpike 3/12/2009 2:27 PM
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | I have employed a 12 volt trailer winch ($80 +/- @Pep Boys Automotive)anchored (But still removable when needed) to the floor in the back of my gararage to pull my boat in rather than me pushing it in. I have a dedicated battery (an old trolling motor battery). The cable is over 30' long (The spool looks like it has room for more). It came with an 8' corded remote switch. I spliced in an extension cord and now have about 48' of cord for the remote. I back up the boat near my garage and hook the winch cable to the back end of my trailer. With remote in hand I go to the bow of the boat and use ther remote to allow the winch to do the heravy lifting portion of the job and steer the trailer manually by pushing the bow left or right. I would not be able to push the boat in solo as the apron to my garage is pitched too steeply to allow it. Two people even have dificulty. Its also in a city alley and there is no swing room for the truck AND trailer so I can not back my boat into my garage as the alley is too narrow. My boat is not quite parallel to my garage door when I hook it up to the winch. Its about at 20 degrees when I unhook the hitch from my truck. The winch handles the rest . It is slow but I have absolutely no problem with it. It takes about 2 minutes to get her in all the way. I'll hook the battery up once every other month depending how many times I'm in/out. Necessity.... the mother of invention.
Perhaps a winch and a block (pulley) somewhere near the jog in your drive way to run the cable trhough you can engineer something. let us know how you work it out. I love seeing how people overcome obstacle like this because you never know when you'll need a similar idea. As I ve been typing so long I thought of a friend who now employs two of these winches to make a turn. each anchored strategically in points to allow the turn.
Good Luck.
Karl |
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | You really got me thinking now.
garage/estate sale two stage snow blower. Remove the auger and drum and chute, weld on a ball hitch and there you go. I have seen some machines where the engine and chasis are still good. I'm thinking this this would work. In stead of electric its gas. just brain storming and thinking out loud.
Maybe a nice quad runner with a hitch on the fron or back would shorten up your overall length to allow you to make the bend. Ive seen many a boat launched with a quad.
"Honey? We NEED to buy a quad runner. C'mon just hear me out.........."
Karl
Edited by KARLOUTDOORS 3/12/2009 5:12 PM
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Posts: 1453
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Wow, Karl...that is quite a set up...now that is dedication...just curious...what kind of boat? |
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Posts: 31
Location: Fairfield, IA | Saw this in a magazine yesterday --- www.powercaster.com. Looks like $895 to $1,200 plus S&H.
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | Alumacraft Tournament 185 w/200- E-tech.
http://alumacraft.com/tournament-series/tournament-sport-185.php
My problem arrises with the sloped apron to my garage and the fact that I'm in a city alley and have no swing room for truck AND trailer.
Karl
Edited by KARLOUTDOORS 3/19/2009 12:06 PM
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Power trailer dollies???