kris0atl
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Post by kris0atl on Mar 4, 2019 10:27:36 GMT -8
I am looking to purchase a 1973 Shasta 1400. Our backyard is a little tight so I'd like to tow it to general location driveway, unhitch it, turn and back into position.
I thought a trailer dolly might make this possible. Specs indicate the tongue weight is 200 lbs and it has a 2 inch ball.
Has anyone used a trailer dolly? If so is there one (not the $850 trailer valet) you might recommend?
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kudzu
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Post by kudzu on Mar 4, 2019 10:55:51 GMT -8
Not what you asking but I am seriously considering adding a front mount hitch to my Jeep just because it makes backing trailers in tight spots sooo easy. I have several utility trailer I use a lot. Always needing to move one to get to another s that confidence convenience would be high for me.
Not every vehicle can take one and it will not help you much out of the road. So I still recommend finding an empty parking lot and working on backing skills. You are always going to have to backup your trailer and sooner or later you are going to be situation where you have to deal with a tight spot. It is going to happen! It is much better to learn to back up now in a parking lot than in the real world situation.
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kris0atl
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Post by kris0atl on Mar 4, 2019 11:35:43 GMT -8
We are definitely going to be doing a lot of practice.
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PT
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1964 Aloha & 1962 Holiday House
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Post by PT on Mar 4, 2019 14:28:30 GMT -8
I would look at the offerings on Amazon and read the reviews for each one. There are quite a few different ones available and users describe their capabilities in some detail. Key considerations are how level is the area you will be moving over and what kind of surface are you operating on. They work well on level pavement but slopes and soft/uneven surfaces can make things more difficult or impossible.
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kirkadie
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'69 Serro Scotty Hilander
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Post by kirkadie on Mar 4, 2019 14:44:41 GMT -8
I've been using one I got at HF on sale for about $40. Two years old, no problems if I ignore the horrible smell the tires had until I washed them in Dawn. Works to tow Scotty in and out of the barn, even across our flat lawn.
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Mar 4, 2019 14:47:36 GMT -8
I tried a dolly with our 1100 pound Compact and a 2500 pound Forester.
On smooth cement the Compact was moveable but when I reached the gravel part of the driveway it was not easy at all. The Forester was really too heavy for the dolly. Have you considered a tug? I've never used one so I can't say how they do with more weight than the photo above.
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mel
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Post by mel on Mar 4, 2019 14:47:40 GMT -8
I borrow my friends Harbor Freight one all the time, works great! Its a 2 person job, one person pushing the trailer while the other pulls and steers the dolly.
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Post by bigbill on Mar 4, 2019 17:44:49 GMT -8
I use a hand dolly like the one at HarborFreight on my concrete drive and can move about anything up to a twenty footer BUT if I am going off solid pavement I use a hitch on my lawn tractor or my truck but I have 60+ years experience backing trailers.
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chriss
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Post by chriss on Mar 17, 2019 7:15:04 GMT -8
I move my camper and utility trailers around the yard with an old lawn tractor.
Be sure you have good tires and stay off slopes. My tractor doesn't have good brakes.
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studeclunker
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Post by studeclunker on Mar 27, 2019 12:50:33 GMT -8
Well, if you are dealing with a relatively flat area or a relatively hard or compacted surface, I would go with the Harbour Freight special. That's what I use to move my small stuff around. However even with my truck-bed trailer, it gets stuck from time to time and I have a devil of a time getting it out. I like the idea of the hitch on the front and have seen quite a few of them. Personally, I'd do a reciever-type though. Your knees and shins would appreciate it.
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windborn
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Post by windborn on Mar 29, 2019 5:34:53 GMT -8
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