Tow Dolly Maintenance and a caution!

[Peter_Crowl]

Just bought a used dolly. Mainly for moving disabled vehicles but with an eye toward using it behind our MH.

I've disassembled it down to the frame so I can clean and paint. I found the swivel plate has a grease fitting in the center by the bolt but nothing out at the wheel pads. The swivel wasn't swiveling - really at all.

What's my course of action when re-assembling? Grease under the wheel pads? Leave them dry? Is there a dry lube alternative that won't attract and hold dirt?

Ok - now for the caution.

When I took the swivel plate off I found a significant crack where the left ramp meets the frame at the wheel mount. There have been previous welds made at the ramp/frame joint on both ramps. This is something that could not have been easily seen with the plate on - or even with the wheels mounted. Only once it was taken apart. So...check your older dolly's and be cautious when purchasing an older used dolly!

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by Peter_Crowl

Just bought a used dolly. Mainly for moving disabled vehicles but with an eye toward using it behind our MH.

I've disassembled it down to the frame so I can clean and paint. I found the swivel plate has a grease fitting in the center by the bolt but nothing out at the wheel pads. The swivel wasn't swiveling - really at all.

What's my course of action when re-assembling? Grease under the wheel pads? Leave them dry? Is there a dry lube alternative that won't attract and hold dirt?

Ok - now for the caution.

When I took the swivel plate off I found a significant crack where the left ramp meets the frame at the wheel mount. There have been previous welds made at the ramp/frame joint on both ramps. This is something that could not have been easily seen with the plate on - or even with the wheels mounted. Only once it was taken apart. So...check your older dolly's and be cautious when purchasing an older used dolly!

Thanks for the heads up. I'll have a look at mine. Although mine was rarely used before I purchased it.

Yours wasn't a commercial variety like U-haul was it?

[Peter_Crowl]

I don't know the manufacturer but it's not a home brew job.
The ramps are fixed - they don't slide into pockets like the U-Haul.
I like that if only because there's less to rattle when going down the road.