Part 2 of 2 of the trailer dolly build. If you want your comments to remain, please do not use foul language. I remove comments with foul language, whether your comments intention's are good or bad.
Those two instructional videos at fast speed were Fantastic, because Im a visual learner not a reader, I got the whole thing down, straight away, it all looked so simple and straight forward, excellent, and little short cuts you did I didnt know of, like spot welding the tube to the table to weld it instead of clamping it, was great, I can wait to start my trailer Dolly, im planning to put an electric motor and battery on mine,, Great Work
Great video, had me on the edge of my chair all the way (until I nearly fell off). Very well presented too. I've gotta make a decent welding table first, then the great trailer dolly. Thanks kindly John, nice work.
Great project, very nice and useful! If you cut a gear with plasma cutter machine and weld it on one of wheels and connect with a chain on a small DC motor and a small battery you will push/pull easier the trayller. Congrats!!
Really nice job. Nice welding work. I have a small PWC trailer I have modified for a kayak. I'm 71 and as light as it is, it's a real pain to move from my side yard to the driveway when I want to work on it or hook it up to my truck to go fishing. This is exactly what I was looking for. Now all I need is a $100,000 shop to build it in. Anyway, thanks for posting.
This is so much better than the April Wilkerson "blah blah, look at me do this in my shorts with other people's money" stuff. You're a skilled craftsman. Thank you.
Just wanted to say this video was handy as a guide to build my own. I don't have a plasma cutter, so it just takes a bit longer to make the parts. All in was about 4 hours building it with a few beverage breaks thrown in. Thanks for posting it.
Shift the center of gravity forward or backward from the dolly wheels, add a heavy duty caster wheel. This will stabilize the dolly allowing you to spend less energy stabilizing the dolly and more on moving the trailer.
Great job. Video and the dolly. If you added a small DC motor with a two way switch that would make moving around even easier. As your not going around the block a small setup would work well.
I like the idea and will modify it with a third, swivel wheel in front and the ball offset slightly forward for stability, easier pushing and possibly using my small lawn tractor as a trailer tug.
Great build, really like the way you made the video go fast. Your attention to detail is excellent. I really like the smooth welds you lay down. What welder do you have? You are an awesome fabricator!
You could use those 'cosmetic holes' to attach a short foot for resting the dolly on the ground. That would help prevent dirt attaching to the towball and end up inside the coupler. Modifying one of those folding door stoppers found on places like Amazon might be a quick way of going about it.
Nice work. Just curious though, why you welded the handlebar to the end of the arm? It would be stronger if you drilled a through-hole through the end of the bar, run the round bar through, then welded it up and made a cap patch for the end. Just a thought. But it came out really nice, and great work on the video (though I did cringe when you set the spinning grinder down. ;-))!
if you were to build another one, a thought would be make the section that you can raise and lower, have a 1 7/8" ball on the other side so you could just flip the piece over. Not sure that would work but just an idea.
dang.. i had to pay $230 shipped to get what you miad.. you saved cash.. i wish i knew how to weld opens all kinds of possibilities... also the room to do it.
i did make one of this for 30 year's ago, i did also make one with 6 wheel's you cut put under a car behinde or infront, and 1 man cut lift up the car in one end, and coneckt it to the hug and drive away with both cars.
Nice Job on your trailer dolly. Looks like you've got some skills. Being I would guess about 40 years your senior, your methods reminded me of my self when I was your age. I enjoyed watching, but I would have done a few things differently, like running the single tube without the receiver tube. But you did point that out. Wish I had a plasma, but what can I say, I learned to use a torch, and I must admit, I was pretty good! Keep on keepin on young man. I hope to have as many subs as you do one day! Razor!
I just got one on 3/17/2020 for $39.99 + tax on sale from Harbor Freight with a coupon. The only thing the tires needed a little air. Could have came with a few more washers. Easy to put together. The ball is only a 1 7/8 ". I need a 2" ball.
Great videos. I'm definitely building one of these soon. I have two trailers and really need a dolly. What grey paint did you use? It looks great. Also, you mention using a wide wheelbase. Wouldn't anything larger cause interference with the A-frame of the trailer tongue? I suppose not only if it is jacked up high enough. I would think 24" might be overkill and takes up more storage space. I'd think maybe 18" would be ideal. Thoughts?
Rustoleum Hammered spray paint. It needs to be a little wider than this. Regarding the base, I would just measure out your trailer from the hitch to the jack. Make sure your wheel is wider than that
Wow, I am pleasantly surprise with the work overall, from cutting, bending and welding. I am not sure if the poster is in the welding business but it is clear he has plenty of knowledge on how to go about building a dolly and attaching its components. In spite of the snags he mentioned I wonder if wider diameter for the axel and bigger wheels from Marathon not Harbor Freight will give you a better and solid traction.
I made it. It was my very first welding project. I don't have a video on it, but here is a thread that shows the build: weldingweb.com/showthread.php?29776-Newb-First-real-project-(welding-table-of-course)
If you built the dolly to fit over the tongue jack without the wheel, the dolly would be more stable when you're pushing the trailer put an second jack that swings up and out of way to help lift the tongue.
The problem with the rims is that they're 2 pieces and bolted together. If you cut out a ring on your CnC and use longer bolts that should stiffen them up. That's if you haven't replaced them by now...LOl. They're meant for hand trucks and they are pretty weak.
I got rid of that trailer and have a bigger one now. I haven't had a need to build one yet, but if I did for my new trailer it would definitely need these upgrades (too big to move otherwise)
