Community Forums

Louis R · 04-13-2003, 04:53 PM

Anybody ever considered making a dolly to roll your camper in the drive-way. I don't have an RV pad, so I keep the camper in front of the garage door. Pain the rear if I need to get the boat out. I have to jack up the camper, put it on the truck, then move it over one space.

I bought some heavy duty wheels (rated at 900 lbs each) and I was thinking about making a dolly that fits under the camper (4'x8'), then slightly lifting the jacks off the ground and roll the camper over 8 to 10 feet.

What do the camper manufacturers to when they are building campers? They must have some way to move them around the factory.

Does this sound do-able or am I full of ____?

Anyone have any good ideas or have done this before?

Thanks.

2003 Eagle Cap 950 w/slide, 2003 Dodge 3500 QC HO, 1994 Reinell BRXL

Louis R · 04-13-2003, 04:53 PM

Anybody ever considered making a dolly to roll your camper in the drive-way. I don't have an RV pad, so I keep the camper in front of the garage door. Pain the rear if I need to get the boat out. I have to jack up the camper, put it on the truck, then move it over one space.

I bought some heavy duty wheels (rated at 900 lbs each) and I was thinking about making a dolly that fits under the camper (4'x8'), then slightly lifting the jacks off the ground and roll the camper over 8 to 10 feet.

What do the camper manufacturers to when they are building campers? They must have some way to move them around the factory.

Does this sound do-able or am I full of ____?

Anyone have any good ideas or have done this before?

Thanks.

2003 Eagle Cap 950 w/slide, 2003 Dodge 3500 QC HO, 1994 Reinell BRXL

MTNHNTR · 04-13-2003, 08:20 PM

I built a dolly for a camper some years ago and it worked fine. The camper wasn't as heavy as yours however-probably half your weight. I used a 4x8 sheet of plywood laid over a frame of 2x4's and used wheels that I believe were solid rubber and about 4" in diam. I would suggest heavier capacity wheels for yours-say 1200-1500 lbs. and a beafier frame.
Another option, but more expensive is to check with your camper manufacturer. On my Lance, I think the factory sells a dolly that allows you to move the camper around. Good luck.

2001 Lance 10-10 Camper. 2000 F-350 SC, 4x4, SRW, PSD, AT, Camper Package, Air Bags.

roadranger · 04-14-2003, 06:45 AM

I'd use 6 of those 900lb wheels to roll it around on, built on a 2x6 framework.

Hope your driveway is level, otherwise you'll have fun chasing that camper when it rolls out into the street!

I've got the same problem you have, but my driveway is pitched so much I can't roll the camper around when off the truck.

'01 Dodge 2500 4x4 QuadCab HO Cummins 6 spd. pickup, slightly BOMBed.
'01 Lance 810 slide in, SOON to be traded on an EAGLE CAP 950 with slide-out dinette.

Tow-6x12 Interstate Cargo trailer (steam train)
-6x8 Buck Dandy utility trailer (track speeder)

Semper Fi RVN

roadranger · 04-14-2003, 06:56 AM

Whoops!
Signature update...

'01 Dodge 2500 4x4 QuadCab HO Cummins 6 spd. pickup, slightly BOMBed.
'03 EAGLE CAP 950, NW pkg, slide out dinette, A/C, TV/VCR, microwave, rear awning, EU2000 generator.

Tow; 7000lb Cargo trailer

Semper Fi RVN

Dave Pelletier · 04-14-2003, 08:11 AM

Yep, its do-able. I just had my camper on a dolly last week when I replaced the jack brackets in my shop. The tables we use are for skids of sheet metal, up to 4700 lbs. We use heavy duty casters rated for 1000 - 1500 lbs each and make a welded table from 3"x2"x3/16" HSS tubing, c/w the appropriate gussets, etc. Camper is actually fairly easy to move around in this fashion. It's best to have two people do it though. Roadranger's sloped driveway caution is a point well taken. I wouldn't want my camper on a dolly on any sloped surface.
Dave

Bigfoot 25C9.5, 2001.5 Dodge 2500 Cummins, Wells Cargo EW1622 partially camperized.

jmtandem · 04-14-2003, 05:06 PM

Louis,

If you have any slope to your driveway at all, you are flirting with the possibility of a runaway camper. If it gets away from you it is extremely doubtful that you will be able to control it.

2001 Dodge, Cummins, 4x4 quad cab, 5-speed, driftwood, 285 tires, camper shell and Alaskan cab over 8 foot center dinette Camper.

FJ40 · 04-17-2003, 06:57 AM

I have a friend who puts his camper on a dolly made out of metal. He then uses the winch on his Jeep in the garage to pull it up his driveway! He pulls it up front first so it won't flip over on its nose. He drilled wholes in the wheels and runs a cable lock to be sure it does not take a trip in the middle of the night.

Dan

99 Ford F-250 PSD SWD SC
2001 Real-Lite 10.8
97 Lotus V8 Turbo Esprit
77 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser
2001 Car Trailer 16'
Empty 6,580 Lbs., With camper wet, 9,740, rear axel 5880

cfoye · 04-22-2003, 06:42 PM

I bought, actually was given, an airport baggage cart. Called around some baggage operations facilities at the airports and aquired a retired baggage cart. I had to cut the top off but, it's rated for 5000lbs and it seems to work pretty well for me.
Couldn't hurt to make a few phone calls.

Chris

rowboater · 04-23-2003, 03:58 AM

I also use a baggage cart.I work for an airline and picked it up free (surplus).Cart came with tongue for towing and also a tongue brake to stop it.The carts are made heavy duty and have fully pivoting front wheel casters for great mobility.I think you would be hard pressed to come up with a better solution.These carts are built like a tank,highly mobile, have a braking system and are free.Baggage carts are frequently replaced and if anyone lives near the Philadelphia,PA airport and is interested please let me know.