Building a towable trailer dolly

carpenter · Jan 1, 2014

I want to build a dolly such as are used to move trailers around by hand except this one will have road spindles and a 2 inch ball hitch.

To be used to move around trailers with maybe 500 or more pounds of tongue weight with small vehicles or a garden size tractor.

Has anyone done this? Any advice or thoughts?

I have searched it and only see hand ones or big ones for like a fifth wheal.

showcrop · Jan 1, 2014

I made one out of the back end of a riding lawn mower from the transfer station.

carpenter · Jan 1, 2014

Fine idea however I want it to handle more tongue weight and have road tires and spindles.

willL · Jan 1, 2014

This one was made for a gooseneck. Tongue pull would be similar. Pretty straight forward.

SBogusta · Jan 1, 2014

I"m not sure what that is for, Why wouldn"t you just tow the trailer with your pulling vehicle?

Leroy · Jan 1, 2014

To be able to move them when the tow vehicle is not avaible. Or as with garden tractor to get into more confined spaces.

carpenter · Jan 1, 2014

Yes its pretty straight forward.
Mine is for a bumper pull so I must be more concerned about clearances.
No springs in yours so that helps a lot.
How far forward of the axle is your ball?

showcrop · Jan 2, 2014

If you know where any "midway" companies, the people who supply rides and concessions to fairs are located, you could ask to see theirs. They all use them to get the trailers into the tight spots.

rustyfarmall · Jan 2, 2014

Like this?

Mike M · Jan 2, 2014

Your not going to be able to turn very sharp with a bumper hitch and trying to get tongue weight ?
typically you want 10% of your total weight on the tongue.

rustyfarmall · Jan 2, 2014

(quoted from post at 08:16:42 01/02/14) Your not going to be able to turn very sharp with a bumper hitch and trying to get tongue weight ?
typically you want 10% of your total weight on the tongue.

If you make the tongue long enough, you CAN turn short. The hitch ball on my homemade rig is located AHEAD of the axle, just the same as the hitch ball in my truck.

NoNewParts · Jan 2, 2014

with the price of steel today,
you might be money ahead to buy one of
those little 4' road trailers, cut the back off, mount a ball on the center crossmember and be done.

type this into harborfreight site
"1090 lb. Capacity Utility Trailer"

also, you didn't say what garden tractor you have.
I have tough old Wheel Horses, and just made a frame extension off the front with a hitchball on it. me and sometimes a counterweight on the back, and it moves my heavy tongue bumper pull trailers fine.
and I can see very well for tight spots

Determined · Jan 2, 2014

Before you start building.
How good are you at backing up a hay wagon?
As soon as you add another pivot point to the equation things get real fun.
Other concern with moving a heavy trailer with a garden tractor is going down even a slight incline you will be pushed all over the place.
Would it be an option to put a heavy duty swivel wheel under the tounge to handle the weight then just use the hitch on the garden tractor as the muscle to move it around?
I don't know if you are trying to move an empty or a heavy loaded trailer so options would vary.

carpenter · Jan 2, 2014

Yep. Just bought one with a 25% of coupon. lol.

I think the back of the springs might be in the way.

Those are new parts by the way.

carpenter · Jan 2, 2014

some experience backing up two hay wagons together with an A john deere in deep muddy ruts !

Will try to never back up with truck or things I cant see it all with.

carpenter · Jan 2, 2014

yes like that sept for a bumper trailer.
I think it is important to mount ball ahead of axle like yours so as not to be beheaded if you unlatch the ball.

JD Farmer · Jan 2, 2014

Why?

I just use an A-frame I built for the 3-point hitch on a tractor, back up to it raise the hitch and trailer and move it....don't even need to mess with the trailer jack.

rustyfarmall · Jan 2, 2014

(quoted from post at 12:27:00 01/02/14) Why?

I just use an A-frame I built for the 3-point hitch on a tractor, back up to it raise the hitch and trailer and move it....don't even need to mess with the trailer jack.

Not all of us have a 3 point hitch on our tractors.

Building a towable trailer dolly

carpenter

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showcrop

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carpenter

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willL

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SBogusta

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Leroy

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