Motorized Dolly for tight spaces?

[BurnMac42]

Anybody use a motorized (or non-motorized) dolly to position their boat nice and tight into their garage? We are building a 3 car garage on our new home however the 3rd bay door won't be wide enough to back the trailer in so my thought was to get a trailer dolly, back the boat in at an angle, and swing the front around so it tucks nicely into the 3rd bay....anybody else do this?

[UNSTUCK]

Get wheel dollies for each tire. Then you can push it sideways. But really, there is no way I would build a garage that didn't work. Do what ever it takes to make the garage wider.

[BurnMac42]

Get wheel dollies for each tire. Then you can push it sideways. But really, there is no way I would build a garage that didn't work. Do what ever it takes to make the garage wider.

Dude I would LOVE to do that but the builder we are using isn't a full up custom builder and it's the floor plan that the wife likes the absolute best.....I had to pick my battles on this one....

[Captainkurk72]

I agree with Unstuck but been where you are and know how those builders are. The single bay garage door should be wide enough if you take the trailer guides off. It will be very tight but possible. Just make sure garage is long enough and you have at least 8' tall opening. That said I store mine in a friends shop and use wheel dollies to push the boat into a corner of the shop. Its not easy if you buy cheap dollies but can be done with a 2-3 guys. I have seen a neighbor use eye-bolts in his garage wall for the front and back and then use a come-along (wheel dollies too). It worked but takes longer than if you get a few guys.

[Stingreye]

Power caster was local to me, I went to but one but the handle is too short. On the short walk from the shop to my car, it was uncomfortable enough for me to decide I wanted one with a longer handle so I returned it. I never bothered to buy another one.

I have a friend that loves his and has had it at least 10-15 years. He needs it to get his travel trailer around corners and it seems to work well. I likely would not have returned the one I bought if the handle was long and more comfortable.

Remember to use a floor jack to relieve tire pressure if you are turning sharp. Before I added a place to park my boat, I had a sharp turn and needed to jack up the tires to relieve the pressure on them.

As others have mentioned the go jacks work well too. I have never used them but I think Dom said he uses it on the boats and cars to maneuver around their shop. That will likely be the easiest, back it straight back into the double side then put go jacks under it and push it over.


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[JohnnieMo]

I used 4 of these and it was easy to move.



If you have a bigger wallet and less time to screw around, these also work, but they aren't quite as solid.



If you are planning this for winter storage it would work, but if you want to use it in-season it would be a nuisance.

[Bryan]

Another vote for wheel dollies... We have a set under each of our classic cars so they can be moved around with ease.. Just get a good set and they should last you years

[chpthril]

If I can swing this off season and find some good plans, im interested in building one for the shop. Its a bi-atch to use the truck to jockey 2-3 boats around.

[kerry2]

I bought a power dolly a couple years ago and I use it for my travel trailer and my Tige, the boat fits in my garage but just.... The dolly makes it so much easier!!
The one I have is made by parkit360.ca
It's not cheap, but it is good.

[sandm]

3rd stall garage doors are typically 9ft wide, even in "tract house" subdivisions. if you have a true 3car apron at the street, should not be an issue. pull guide poles off and away you go. it'll be tight but bet you can get it to fit. maximum trailer width without permit is 8'6" which is what most wakeboats are when parked on the trailer. should give you a couple inches each side allowing for trim installation.
my supra was 8'6" on the trailer and I had no issues parking in the 3rd stall. it was close but fit. I have only backed the tige in the 2car side in the last 2 houses due to garage length being longer on the big side than the 3rd stall side.

[cday76]

Anybody use a motorized (or non-motorized) dolly to position their boat nice and tight into their garage? We are building a 3 car garage on our new home however the 3rd bay door won't be wide enough to back the trailer in so my thought was to get a trailer dolly, back the boat in at an angle, and swing the front around so it tucks nicely into the 3rd bay....anybody else do this?

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Standard garage doors should be wide enough. I was gonna use a motorized dolly for this tandem garage, but I was able to get it in there. I took the Rz2 out almost daily from this garage and never had an issue. I have a Z3 now and it will fit width wise in a standard garage, however the standard height is not tall enough. Good thing I don't live in this condo anymore.

If the builder can't make it any wider I would see if another contractor could make the garage wider. I haven't seen many house plans that a garage couldn't be made wider. If you lack just a few inches you can change the trim around the garage door to a thinner board. They generally use a 2x8 and the garage door is wide enough to still work with a thinner plate.

[BurnMac42]

I'm gonna stop by the model home today and have them pull the plans again...I can't remember if he said the width was 7.5ft or 8.5ft.....I jogged thru the neighborhood yesterday and should have brought a tape measure, onlyproblem is none of the houses going up with now have a 3rd bay being built so I would have to be a creeper and measure someones garage when they weren't paying attention....

I'm going to get in touch with the builder and push as to why I couldn't at least get 1 foot wider...I know they make them on different homes and my plot of land can support it....plus they aren't excavating below the 3rd bay for the basement so it's just slab they would be pouring...

[Ewok]

If you are building make it at least an 8' garage door height. I'm thinking about raising my garage door to 10-12' high (the ceiling is 13' inside) so I can pull the boat in without folding the tower.

[BurnMac42]

Anybody use one of these to jockey the nose of the trailer?

[chpthril]

Something like that seems to me that is be difficult to push the boat.