Thinking it's about time to purchase a Vehicle Positioning Wheel Dolly or ?

[MF RED in MT]

I'm sure there are many of you that change out your summer vehicle tires with a complete set of winter studded tires in the fall, and again repeat this in the spring.

I have always performed this task myself, but lately I have been struggling to install the tire back on the vehicle (lining up the lugs with the rim holes).

I have for the last decade been using a 2 x 4 with about a 3 foot pry bar for leverage to lift the tire.

I know I could drive 6 miles to town and have 1 of the 2 shops take care of this for me, but for some reason I just need to do this myself, money is not the issue.

I am about to purchase a HF wheel dolly, they have 2 available, and I like the yellow one the best, link for these will be below.

Now my question to those that can help, am I missing a simple way to accomplish this task, as many times it can be real simple or just something I missed.

Thanks for the help and thoughts on this subject.

KC

125 lb. Capacity Vehicle Positioning Wheel Dolly

52 Lb. Max Vehicle Weight Ultra-Mobile Self-Loading Dolly

 

[workinonit]

That should work. I don't think it lifts the tire but a few inches but that should do it.

 

[bcp]

1. Get a piece of 3/4 inch plywood about 1 ft by 3 ft. Mount a handle on one end to lift with. Slide it under the axle about 8 inches. Roll the wheel onto it. Lift the plywood by the handle to raise the wheel onto the studs. You can use a 2x4 block under the plywood to keep it up if needed.


2. Get a piece of 3/4 inch plywood about 1 ft by 3 ft. Mount a 2x2 crossways in the center. Roll the wheel onto one end. Kneel on the other end to raise the wheel to the studs.

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

A shovel works pretty good for lifting tires on a vehicle.

 

[MF RED in MT]

That's a good idea Bruce, but as every year goes by and the older I get it's just taxing me out to lift and line up the holes/studs.

I am hoping with this dolly I can rotate the wheel a little without holding the tire up and in place.

Didn't mention it but am fully disabled with neck surgery 13 years ago and can only lift,tug, and pull about 35% of the younger me use to do.

KC

 

[workinonit]

Sounds like the wheel lifts are what you need.

 

[zzvyb6]

What I have done is keep a piece of threaded rod handy that fits the rotor/drum. Then I can keep the tire on the ground and just push the wheel onto the threaded rod using any one of the holes in the wheel.

Now the wheel is not on the pilot, but now all you need to do is rotate the wheel slightly (shovel suggestion is a great idea) and it will climb onto the pilot. Then add a few real lug bolts and remove the threaded rod. I remember dozens of years ago wheel as had pilot holes and drums had a piloting pin.

 

[homesteader13]

That's a good idea Bruce, but as every year goes by and the older I get it's just taxing me out to lift and line up the holes/studs.

I am hoping with this dolly I can rotate the wheel a little without holding the tire up and in place.

Didn't mention it but am fully disabled with neck surgery 13 years ago and can only lift,tug, and pull about 35% of the younger me use to do.

KC

We used these in our shop quite a bit over the years but I think there's a misunderstanding as to what they actually are.

With a set of four, one goes under each tire and then you jack the vehicle up so you can move the vehicle laterally or sideways in the shop to maneuver around.


Or if you have a vehicle with a bad bearing, broken ball joint or suspension or sitting on brake rotor or flat tire, (how they come in on the wrecker) you put one under that corner and then you can roll the vehicle in and out of the shop with it.

Hence the weight ratings of 1250 lbs and 2500lbs each and not 120 or 250lbs. They are for jacking up a car and moving it.

The 'roller' tubes do not spin, they sit stationary with weight on them.

You might be better off with a brake drum Dolly. They jack up and the tire sits in a flat V groove that you can then rotate the tire on once it was up to height.

My other no-cost suggestion before I read your last post is this, at almost 50 years old I still use this on 35 and 37 inch tires, is to sit on my butt with my knees under the hub and roll the tire onto my thighs and pull your feet toward you lifting it the couple inches up to the hub and wiggle it on. Its a one step process and doesn't require near the strength or multiple fulcrum, rotation points, as everything is held close.
That may or may not help depending on size and weight of tire and physical limitations, but I can't squat and lift a 35 inch tire up a few inches at arms length and align it, but I can lift it like this and place it like it is lighter than one of my grandchildren bouncing on my leg!

 

[homesteader13]

And not saying you can't make them work for what you want to do with them either, and harbor freight has a liberal return policy as well.
If you want some other positive, negetive input, ideas, feel free to msg me and I can shoot you my number, I'd be happy to help.
And are you a Massey owner in Montana as well?

 

[workinonit]

I have wheel dollies. So the pedal on these is there so you slide the dolly into the tire and step on the pedal to clear the tire off the ground? Then it's just a wheel dolly? With mine I have to jack the wheel off the ground and lower it on the dolly.