Powered Trailer Dollies

[macsfriended]

I am seeking your real life experiences and recommendations in using a powered trailer dolly to move approx 4000 lb total weight I/O boat and trailer in / out winter storage shed. Kind of a tight spot to manuver into. Level ground with 1 inch rock surface. Any specific models that are good or bad??

I'm gotten pretty good at using a compact tractor with a front mounted hitch receiver to do this. I'd like to add a front end loader to this tractor and am concerned that then too much risk of damage(s) to boat, other contents, or shed bldg.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

may be able to do it on flat level ground, however for a 4000 boat, you will want a heavy tow vehicle to move it around if there is a grade. I have seen too many people try to move a boat with a lawn tractor. it got moving really well, then when they tried to slow down, stop or turn, the boat kept right on moving.

what is wrong with a truck?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

For what a powered dolly costs, you could buy a whole 'nother used tracter or 4 wheeler and they'd work a ton better in the gravel. The power dollys are great on concrete, instantly stuck on anything else. And you'd have more fun riding the 4 wheeler when it's not pushing the boat around...

 

[lamphega]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

No experience with powered dollies but I put a front mount hitch on my truck and that has helped much with storage movements.

 

[RoyR]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

This looks pretty interesting...

http://www.powermoverinc.net/htmls/pmaccarts.html

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

I have a pretty tight spot on my side yard (about 10 inches on either side of the boat) and have to back across grass to get there. I used to tear up my lawn and make a spectacle of myself in front of all my neighbors.

Now it is easy. I mounted a winch to the cement on my side yard (behind where the boat goes) and pull the boat across the grass from behind with the winch and steer from the front with a regular (non-powered) trailer dolly.

Maybe you could mount a winch on the other side of the shed and pull it back in.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

I have the power caster:

http://www.powercaster.com/Products.html
I use it on concrete moving the boat in my signature. It works well but not sure how well on a softer surface. I would be leary using them on any grade because once they get going, you can't stop them. For example, if you have it in reverse and you want to go forward, it has to come to a complete stop before switching to forward does anything. I wish mine was the 2 tire model.

It definitely can maneuver a trailer into a tight spot and it moves super slow so you have tons of control. They are pricey though...around $1K

Here are some plans for an interesting one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRAILER-MOV...anuals_Literature&vxp=mtr&hash=item3f0fc930a9

 

[oops!]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

a power mover wont work on gravel......we have one at the shop and it is never used,,,,,,we switched to a fork lift however it too has its problems in soft gravel.

a tractor (and not a lawn mowing tractor) is a far better solution

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

An older Garden tractor (don't mistake for lawn tractor) should have no problem, be plenty maneuverable, and far cheaper than one of those movers. I recently sold a 1978 Wheel Horse with rotted deck for $100 to a guy for exactly this use (moving a camper and boat into his barn twice a year).

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

He said he has a compact tractor (read Kubota/Ford/John Deere), that ain't no Garden/Lawn tractor. He should be fine using that. You can install a hitch ball on the front end loader if you like, I've seen that done many times. It's actually more convenient than using the 3-point to hitch up to. I don't think a power dolly is the right tool on anything other than a smooth concrete surface. A winch would be my next suggestion, but you'd need to fasten it to something sturdy, and rig up a system to pull evenly on the rear of the trailer.

 

[Kgorman]

Re: Powered Trailer Dollies

We don't use a power mover for our boat, but we do use a powercaster brand mover for moving our 32' enclosed race trailer. It's about 5k unloaded but we keep tools and a car in there when we move it. So it's about 7500. It moves it fine on our relatively flat shop/driveway area. If you are worried about stopping there is a kit that allows you to activate the trailer brakes via a switch on the power caster. The Powercaster brand mover is really nice and they have great support. The trick is to make sure your tongue is weighted up because that gives the power mover grip.