Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

[Hashi]

Backing in my 26' trailer into the driveway can be a very arduous task. The driveway into the side of my house where I store my boat has a sharp curve and I can never get it exactly the way I want it. Then I said to myself, "There must be a better way?". As I searched on-line I found these two sites:

http://www.powermoverinc.net/"

http://www.eztug.com/"

Does anyone use one of these and, how are they?

Thanks for your response.
Rich

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

they make a front mount trailer hitch. that way you can see where you are going, and the trailer is much easier to control. i had one on my trunks for 30 years. here's just one example "http://www.hitchesonline.com/front_mount_receiver_hitch.htm"

i think you will find it much cheaper, and you can use it anywhere. also works well on bad ramps.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

Car dealers use a similar device to move dead cars around a shop floor and they work very well. Private airplane owners also use similar rigs to move their planes in and out of hangers. I even thought about building one wo move my boat in and out of my garage but found my yard tractor (20 HP) works fine but I had to install an elevated ball mount. I think a chug with sufficient power (battery or 110 AC) would be great in your situation.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

they make a front mount trailer hitch. that way you can see where you are going, and the trailer is much easier to control. i had one on my trunks for 30 years. here's just one example "http://www.hitchesonline.com/front_mount_receiver_hitch.htm"

i think you will find it much cheaper, and you can use it anywhere. also works well on bad ramps.

Thanks for the link, tashasdaddy. But, I need to reduce the length of both truck and trailer because the angle which I have to maneuver is very tight. I kinda' have to drive onto my lawn in order to the make turn into the drive. I was thinking of buying a used bobcat, forklift, tractor or chug as suggested by silvertip but, they're kinda' pricey. More than double the cost of these movers in most cases. Guess I'll keep researching.

Thanks guys!

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

We have one of these in the shop at work.
I saw one an auction recently for $1000... it was rough looking but it worked and included the charger. You'd need a very smooth driveway and a bigger unit for a boat.
A good used Bobcat is $25,000 around here......

 

[Hashi]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

Hey kjdkjd...Pallet jacks are nice but won't work for me. I have stamped concrete driveway and a slight incline. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

Sorry guys...I just saw a past thread on trailer dollies (June and another in August 2007)...Thanks for your replies. Videos of motorized trailer dollies makes them worth looking into.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

I have the Power Caster. It works very well.

http://www.powercaster.com/

 

[Hashi]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

Hi Bruce,

Yeah, I'm leaning towards getting a power caster myself. They look more maneuverable and doesn't quite take up that much space. They're also more affordable than a small tractor or fork lift. The EZ Tug is battery operated and everything mounts onto the trailer adding more weight to the tongue/trailer.

"Peoples Republic of California"?! LMAO

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

Since you are from SF, you know why I say that!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

I have always used an old lawn tractor, I've used the tug style, they work fine so long as you have good pavement, but forget them on rough pavement or loose dirt.

I simply put a hitch ball on the back of any old 12 hp tractor and pumped up the tires a bit more and its done the job for years. I've been pretty surprised at what it will move. My entire yard is dirt and grass and I have a good incline to back up and around and between a garage and the house, its does absolutely fine. I had a larger tractor, but found it wouldn't maneuver around as well as the el cheapo model that I trash picked about 20 years ago. I tossed the deck and bypassed all the safety switches, so it's a pretty straight forward machine with one purpose. I have considered putting a hitch on the front too to make jockeying the trailers easier, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

Hey, thanks for the tip IR. Seems a lot of people here use small tractors to move their boat around and also serves a multitude of tasks around the yard/property...I've got to get me one of these.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Does Anyone Use A Motorized Boat Dolly

yep garden tractor works and is WAY more versitile.
Here is mine:
37 years old and still going strong.

 

[andymd]

I have a local company to me called Nu Star and they have a motorised boat mover. Any advice on the power caster model? Because i want something of decent quality but ideally these are local.

 

[SDSeville]

I have to back my boat across grass and into a very tight side yard. Made for many funny videos over the years.

Now I mount a HF winch on the cement on my side yard and pull my boat from the back of the trailer (use the transom tie-down holes) steering and controlling the winch with the remote from the front with a non-powered trailer dolly. Works great. The neighbors don't even come out to watch any more.

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard Andy: please take some time to review our forum rules particularly those rules regarding links and posting in topics over 90 days old.

If you want to ask some questions about motorized dollys, please start a new topic of your own.