Implement Dollies

[fried1765]

I am wanting some dollies for my implements to sit on so they can be moved around the building easily. I am also wanting to work on my welding skills so I'll be welding them up. My question is does anyone have a strength chart for box tubing so I know what size tubing to get?

And if anyone has any photos to share that would be awesome also. I am looking to build some for box scrape, carry all, rear blade, FEL bucket and grapple.

Why not buy the Harbor Freight wood dollies?
They are cheap, and strong.
The larger size are rated for 1000 lbs. each.
I have everything on HF dollies (a pair of the small, 500lb. ones, for each implement).
My KK tiller, my KK box blade, my TSC brush hog, and I will also put 2 dollies under my new ETA deluxe scrape blade when it arrives.
I want to work on my welding skills also, but the HF dollies do the job just fine for me.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Like everyone else I make my dollies out of wood. Four pieces of 2x4 in a rectangle held together with deck screws holds most implements. Build it so that the caster is under the resting point of the implement and the wood doesn't really carry weight over any distance, it just maintains the caster spacing. A pallet with casters on the corner is quick and easy too, and safer for implements that are top-heavy.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Cool. How do you keep them from sliding out though?

When the chipper is on the floor there is plenty of friction from the weight leverage applied - no way they are coming out. Lift the chipper on the 3ph and they slide right out, or in.

gg

 

[rbtjr]

I can't post any pics right now but our dollies are all made of wood, 2 X 6s, 2 X 8s, some 2 X 10s, usually with simple cross-bracing with 2 X 4s. We used 5" or 6" casters, one on each corner of the rectangle. The dollies are all rectangles, generally sized to match the attachment. They work great. I bought the casters on Craigslist, all new. Most of the casters have brakes but I have never used the brakes. We do have two dollies made by joining together two Harbor Freight 1000 lb rated dollies that have 3" casters. They work well but the larger the casters the better, until you get to the point at which the attachment is being raised so far up that it interferes with the hook-up. One pointer I picked up from TBN is to lube the casters with Fluid Film. It lasts well. If I didn't use Fluid Film I was thinking of trying to work waterproof grease into the bearings.

 

[Wagtail]

Mates... the OP said that he wants to practice his welding skills.

That's the advice that being asked for, other than suggestions for the caster wheels.

 

[fried1765]

Mates... the OP said that he wants to practice his welding skills.

That's the advice that being asked for, other than suggestions for the caster wheels.

Yup....
The OP did say that.
The point here being, that he will likely spend 7-10 times more per dolly than what it would cost him to buy (HF), or build, out of wood.
If cost, and time spent, do not concern the OP, then he should certainly grab his wallet, buy square tubing at the steel yard, order a bunch of casters, and spend a couple days cutting, and improving his fabrication/welding skills.

The 1000 lb. 18" x 30" HF dollies are $15.99 ea. - 20% = $12.80 ea (when on sale, even less).
The 500 lb. 12" x 18" HF dollies are $10.99 - 20% = $8.80 ea (when on sale, even less)

 

[Oldoak]

Yup....
The OP did say that.
The point here being, that he will likely spend 7-10 times more per dolly than what it would cost him to buy (HF), or build, out of wood.
If cost, and time spent, do not concern the OP, then he should certainly grab his wallet, buy square tubing at the steel yard, order a bunch of casters, and spend a couple days cutting, and improving his fabrication/welding skills.

The 1000 lb. 18" x 30" HF dollies are $15.99 ea. - 20% = $12.80 ea (when on sale, even less).
The 500 lb. 12" x !8' dollies are $10.99 - 20% = $8.80 ea (when on sale, even less)

:thumbsup:

 

[Wagtail]

Yup....
The OP did say that.
The point here being, that he will likely spend 7-10 times more per dolly than what it would cost him to buy (HF), or build, out of wood.
If cost, and time spent, do not concern the OP, then he should certainly grab his wallet, buy square tubing at the steel yard, order a bunch of casters, and spend a couple days cutting, and improving his fabrication/welding skills.

The 1000 lb. 18" x 30" HF dollies are $15.99 ea. - 20% = $12.80 ea (when on sale, even less).
The 500 lb. 12" x 18" HF dollies are $10.99 - 20% = $8.80 ea (when on sale, even less)

Oh I agree wholeheartedly. Wheeled pallets or custom-made wooden dollies are the economical way to go... all of my implements utilise them.

However, it's a 'project' that he's asking advice on.

 

[Will_C]

Not to handy-I just buy the ones from Harbor Freight or Northern tool. I sometimes have to use 3 on an implement-probably could make a pair that would do the trick, but this works for me.

Will

 

[Otgaugres]

I utilized a couple solutions. On my carryall, I modified the frame to include integral castors. When I set it down in my building, I just wheel it where I want. Like many, I whipped up,a quick wooden dolly for my ballast box. Eventually I’d like to make them for most if not all of my implements. It sure makes organization of implements in the building easier. Overview of both in the following videos.

Tractor 3-Point Hitch Carryall - YouTube

Storage Dolly for John Deere Ballast Box - YouTube