SusieQ
Global Moderator    
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 1,196
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Nov 8, 2013 14:18:51 GMT -8
Thanks, all. I do like the idea of heavy duty coasters. And I do have an electric winch (Mary Ann is used to doing things alone.) I am a little skeptical of the plywood wheels and I'm not sure that even with coasters I can clear the garage door, but I will measure and see. I have a Plan B if I absolutely can't get it into the garage.
Loflyte, I'm going to see if I can find your thread at the old site.
|
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator    
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 1,196
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Nov 8, 2013 14:50:55 GMT -8
Well, I did find this from smccusk (?) "Amazingly it fit. I dropped the tongue onto a floor jack to lower the front enough the get her in. Once the front was in I raised jack so the vent in the back would clear. When she move outside soon I'll leave the vent off just to be safe, install it outside." Maybe, just maybe that will work for me. Funny, when I posted this discussion, I thought I was the only one who had ever had this problem  . I figured most sane people would just say, "It doesn't fit" and move on.
|
|
|
Post by bigbill on Nov 8, 2013 15:52:44 GMT -8
SusieQ I thought everybody knew to raise and lower the tongue to get vents in and out. As far as coasters go they are fine if you have no lip going into your garage other wise they may catch and break. I have several sets of dollies that I use once I am in garage but I have broke enough of them going in that I don't use them any more as far as plywood wheels go you aren't towing it you are only going to roll it straight back into garage. people have been using them on cars for years to move them around in the shop while building/modifying them. if you are going to roll it in use a device under the front jack that will roll easy and if you are on level ground a couple of you should be able to push it in by hand. I am assuming that you have a smooth paved driveway. I use a tongue dolly and move my Shasta all over my drive by myself. Another trick you might need is many garage door openers don't raise the door all the way up, if you lack an inch or two you can pull the emergency release push the door on up and block it there with a small board inserted between the bottom of the door and the garage header. You may find that you don't even need to remove the wheels if you can raise and lower the tongue enough. If you use a floor jack be careful as some of them are easy to tip over with an elevated load on them. Also if you find you only need an inch or two just let some air out of the tires. Another thing is a set of twelve inch rims with no tires might give you the clearance you need. What part of the world do you live in? Also measure your actual trailer you may find it is a different height than you think, springs sag, tires are changed, many things can make a difference one of the people on the board even made there trailer six inches taller inside because they was tall. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN TELL YOU IS USE YOUR HEAD AND STAY SAFE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE A HEADLINE "OWNER CRUSHED BY TRAILER" . I have been doing this stuff for the better part of sixty years and there is a million different ways to do anything and at least that many people that think there is only one way to do it.
|
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator    
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 1,196
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Nov 8, 2013 16:19:40 GMT -8
SusieQ I thought everybody knew to raise and lower the tongue to get vents in and out. Hey, I have a teardrop, no problem with heights, even at the drive-thrus. I've never had a full sized trailer. You gave some great advice. I do have a paved driveway, concrete garage, no lip, just a slight rise where the concrete and pavement meet. Funny thing about the 12" wheels is that the seller put 12"'s on it to tow it to his place and he's replacing them (along with packing bearings) with the original wheels and some better tires. I was going to buy new rims and tires to bring it home and will will still definietly get new tires. I already have them picked out. But it was sitting too low for comfort to tow it home with 12"s. I wouldn't dare ask him for them now,  . It's aprox. 7 feet tall, is what the seller told me when I inquired before purchase but he is measuring it for me tomorrow.
|
|
61 Shasta
Active Member
 
Doing what I want as soon as she wants me to
Posts: 200
Likes: 38
Currently Offline
|
Post by 61 Shasta on Nov 8, 2013 19:46:35 GMT -8
At this point I am simply going to ask. Why not just buy an old set of 12 or 13" wheels, install them and roll her in,without tires? Seems a heck of a lot less work and a whole lot safer than doing all of the above. The only dilemma is, it is not a fun job to change tires on these compacts.
|
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator    
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 1,196
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Nov 8, 2013 20:04:55 GMT -8
At this point I am simply going to ask. Why not just buy an old set of 12 or 13" wheels, install them and roll her in,without tires? Seems a heck of a lot less work and a whole lot safer than doing all of the above. The only dilemma is, it is not a fun job to change tires on these compacts. I thought about that, too. And the biggest reason is I don't want to ruin our paved driveway or the garage floor. But I will not rule that one out, either. Thanks. At least I now have options. Always important to have a back up plan.
|
|
|
Post by bigbill on Nov 8, 2013 20:44:43 GMT -8
Roll the bare wheels on a thin plywood strip to protect your drive way.
|
|
Schatzi
Active Member
 
Posts: 113
Likes: 46
1959 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by Schatzi on Nov 9, 2013 5:09:54 GMT -8
We have a Shasta Compact with a standard garage door opening. We get the trailer as close to the garage door opening as possible and remove the wheels. We have tried dollies and they haven't held up. The seam between the driveway and garage was a problem. We took some a piece of laminate glued to some 1/4" paneling (a ruined piece from restoration) and put them under the axles. Pushed it into the garage and put the wheels back on. This has worked for years for us. When searching for options, I recently found a web site where a guy was building and selling "lowering wheels" to use. Of course, now I can't find it, maybe someone else will have some luck. The Compact is headed to California at Christmas time to retire. We now have a 59 Shasta Airflyte which won't fit in the garage. Next year, we may raise the garage door to get it in.
|
|
newmexicogal
Junior Member

Posts: 77
Likes: 25
Currently Offline
|
Post by newmexicogal on Nov 15, 2013 20:31:56 GMT -8
OK, I've got my little Compact all bundled up in a brand new gi-normous tarp and we are waiting out the current storm. I've got her windows all pulled and her back side open. It's killing me to think about her sitting outside in this weather. I would love to pull her into the garage and work on her this winter. I've measured her and my garage door multiple times. If I pull her wheels and disengage the garage door opener to gain a bit more height we have an inch of clearance. Am I kidding myself -- do we have a prayer of getting her inside for the winter? Shutzee, did you really *push* your compact into the garage? Is its little frame really tough enough to withstand that much pressure? 
|
|
Schatzi
Active Member
 
Posts: 113
Likes: 46
1959 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by Schatzi on Nov 16, 2013 4:52:20 GMT -8
My husband and I have done this for years. We put the scrap formica under the axle bolts to make it slide better. He grabs the safety chains in the front and I push from the back, moving the trailer from side to side. He has actually done this by himself. The first time we did it, we put the caps from liter soda bottles on each axle bolt. They are still on there. We keep our eyes on the vent and the garage door opener. Once we clear everything, the wheels go back on.
|
|
newmexicogal
Junior Member

Posts: 77
Likes: 25
Currently Offline
|
Post by newmexicogal on Nov 16, 2013 8:27:54 GMT -8
OK, We'd have never tried it without you guys but here we go! I'll let you know our outcome. 
|
|
mobiltec
5K Member
   
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,804
Likes: 3,721
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Nov 20, 2013 18:38:12 GMT -8
 Looks like the garage door will have to be removed also.
|
|
newmexicogal
Junior Member

Posts: 77
Likes: 25
Currently Offline
|
Post by newmexicogal on Nov 21, 2013 9:51:22 GMT -8
Yeah, we got her wheels off and had her gently set down on the floor and the recalcitrant gal was STILL too tall. We investigated further -- people had assured us we could get a Compact into a standard garage but it was a NO-GO! We now think she's wearing a non-standard wheel/hub/axle, so little coaster thingies have been ordered from Harbor Freight and PB Blaster has been applied to her leaf spring bolts. The big gal is coming DOWN! 
|
|
pathfinder3081
Active Member
 
Posts: 457
Likes: 138
1971 Shasta Loflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by pathfinder3081 on Nov 21, 2013 12:51:15 GMT -8
I know that its frustrating...It seems these compacts have like a little crown that rolls em' higher than my Loflyte. (hint Loflyte I imagine) Then you have the axle flippers.. Either way, you are going to have a hard time getting under 74 inches. 
|
|
newmexicogal
Junior Member

Posts: 77
Likes: 25
Currently Offline
|
Post by newmexicogal on Nov 29, 2013 17:43:32 GMT -8
 Well, upon a second attempt with a different jack and some little coaster thingies we got the Compact into our standard-sized garage. Yippee! Her axle and leaf springs are now on the front porch, along with some aluminum skin, vent and other parts. The neighbors must think the Clampetts have moved in. NOW I can get some work done on her this winter! SusieQ -- it can be done!
|
|