..We just purchased an Acme EZE tow dolly, its sitting in the driveway now, just waiting for a MH to pull it (MH will be here in 2 weeks, woohoo!). Really like the way this dolly is built, and what it offers. It is indeed exactly as advertised, as far as I can tell at this point.
Anyway, after moving it around some in the driveway and playing with it, I have decided we need to attach a wheel to the tongue of the dolly, to make it easier to move around when camping. Specifically, so we can push most of the dolly under the MH after we've parked.
Here's the dilemma I have: Anything that sticks up above the top of A frame will not work because it will make the dolly too tall to go under the MH when parked.
That pretty much rules out installing any kind of tongue jack. I really do not need a jack, anyway, as the dolly tongue is too light to need one.
What I need/want, is a way to mount just a wheel to the bottom of the tongue for moving the dolly by hand. The wheel would need to be able to be easily removed, as it would have to come off and be stowed when towing.
Right now, I'm leaning toward having a welder weld on a small 2" piece of pipe to the bottom of the dolly tongue, that a trailer tongue wheel like THIS could slide into. Already have the tongue wheel sitting in the garage, just need a way to mount it to the dolly.
Another option, is to mount something like THIS caster plate to the bottom of the tow dolly, and have the wheel slide into/attach to that. It too would have to be welded, though, as the bolt holes on that piece are too far apart to bolt to the A frame piece. Don't want to drill/bolt onto the A frame if I can avoid it, anyway.
Downside to both those aproaches: Both would mean there'd be a piece of 'pipe' extending down from bottom of tongue all the time about 2". That much less ground clearance, and better chance of scraping. This dolly already has low ground clearance, only 5.5".
I've also been thinking of various ways to try and mount a short piece of pipe on side of dolly tongue, and wheel would slide into that. That would prevent losing any ground clearance.
Any thoughts/ideas, creative suggestions, etc? All our welcome, and appreciated.
Will & Angela
2 children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2012 FR Georgetown 351DS on F53 (V10) Chassis Our Rig
How about bolting a caster wheel to a hinge that could swing down or up out of the way with a latch or bolt to secure it in each position. Use a good sized hinge. The hinge would be closed with the wheel down and then swing about 180 degrees for towing. Perhaps you can even U bolt the hinge to the dolly arm.
I would use one of these with a stop that would let you turn it so the wheel does not come all the way up in one direction (wheel still usuable) and in the other direction it stows parallel with the tongue. Might be able to drill another hole in the pivot to make the wheel still usuable without the stop.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Ivylog wrote: I would use one of these with a stop that would let you turn it so the wheel does not come all the way up in one direction (wheel still usuable) and in the other direction it stows parallel with the tongue. Might be able to drill another hole in the pivot to make the wheel still usuable without the stop.
I have a similar jack on my Demco dolly. When folded it allows tongue to drop down and give clearance to fit under motorhome.
Make a caster plate like the one you have a link to, but make the base plate a rectangle. Offset the 2" pipe to one side. Place the plate on top of the tongue pipe down. Use two u-bolts (like those on leaf springs) or make up a couple by bending some threaded rod. These go around the tongue up thru the rectangular plate. You only reduce clearance by the nut height and plate thickness.
Hope I was able to explain good enough for you to understand.
Steve
97 Beaver Patriot 40'
3126 CAT, Allison 3060
Aqua Hot
CA Traveler wrote: How about bolting a caster wheel to a hinge that could swing down or up out of the way with a latch or bolt to secure it in each position. Use a good sized hinge. The hinge would be closed with the wheel down and then swing about 180 degrees for towing. Perhaps you can even U bolt the hinge to the dolly arm.
I'm thinking a few stock hardware items.
Hmmm, I kinda like this idea! With this approach, the caster wheel would stay right there on the dolly, wouldnt have to be stowed away somewhere.
Only problem is, most of the 'caster' wheels I've seen that bolt to a flat surface like that, are made for indoor use. Same thing with most hinges (indoor use). Not sure how long they'd last being outside, exposed to the elements. Not to mention the nonstop beating, bumping, etc. they'd take going down the road.
Anyway, thanks for all the responses, keep them coming.
Will
* This post was
edited 02/23/12 06:30pm by willald *
You want something like this mounted on the tongue. Mount it so that when unhooked and you drop the tongue down the wheel hit the ground before the tongue. Lift it up and the wheel will still be out of the way for turning.
Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming. Still not sure what route I'm gonna go with this. Got another month or so to decide and get it done.
StevenH - I understand what you're saying. Your idea definitely is a good one, only problem is that a caster plate like you're referring to would probably have to be fabricated by a welder, which would make that approach a bit cost prohibitive.
1995brave - I would love to just permanently mount a pneumatic caster wheel like that under the tongue and be done with it. Problem is, due to the low ground clearance of this dolly (only 5.5"), leaving it on there when towing would be an issue. It would hit ground, and would push on the frame of the dolly in places it weren't meant to be pushed on. If you know of a caster wheel anyone makes that can be easily mounted and unmounted (and made for outdoor use exposed to the elements), I'd be all ears.
If you are going to the welder just have a hitch ball welded to a non-swiveling caster wheel. To use it put it in the hitch of the dolly. The ball will act as the swivel.
* This post was
edited 03/02/12 08:22pm by Big_D_SD *
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