Powered trailer dolly instead of an RV garage?

rvshrinker wrote:
The problem is the trailer is also our guest room, so storage isn’t a great choice. We could haul it over when we have guests, but the kids also like to have sleepovers in it, etc. But I suppose it is an option.

Do you have an ATV? This is a lot cheaper than a powered trailer dolly.

Tow Tuff weight distribution trailer dolly

Regarding the structure-did you look at the portable garages that are soft sided? Much cheaper, relatively easy to assemble, and might fit in your desired location. I have 2 (truck and 5er) and find they work well. I also don't think concrete is necessary if you want to cut the cost down-I have a 3/4in granite rock base and it stays dry.

The problem is the trailer is also our guest room, so storage isn’t a great choice. We could haul it over when we have guests, but the kids also like to have sleepovers in it, etc. But I suppose it is an option.

colliehauler wrote:
Another idea is a storage facility. I faced a similar situation because my driveway is between two telephone poles, extremely hard to back in. I keep the trailer equipped with everything except food which I purchase on the road.

Another benefit is people don't know when I'm gone because the trailer is not home. I don't have to pay additional taxes on the property. Covered storage is around $60. a month here, way less then payments to build a new building.

Only you can decide what best suits your needs, just throwing out another idea.

When relocating to a new region, I was faced with a similar issue. Many towns simply refused to allow RVs parked at home unless you have a very large lot, and have the ability to satisfy two pages of requirements.(paving, fencing, shrubbery, set-backs, etc...) Others would allow it, IF you have the room to install a paved parking area on the side of, or in the back of, the home. Bottom line is that, the whole issue was really limiting availability, during our search for a new home, and best case would of resulted in finding a home that needed at least $6-8K in work to make onsite RV parking legal. I bought a place that will not allow RV parking, and found a great storage facility, where it sits for $50 a month.

Having spent decades with a big lump of a trailer, or motorhome sitting in my rural yard, I was surprised to find I actually like not seeing it every day, or having it in my way.

azrving wrote:

It all depends on how much you want to spend. The tractors I'm talking about are the old school, cast iron engines and transaxles. I wouldnt build on the lightweight"lawn" tractors with stamped sheet metal type frames. You can probably buy a nicer larger size and just plan on selling it someday. Maybe you have other uses for it such as tilling or mowing even if it's overkill for those jobs

Sorry, I don't consider a riding lawnmower a tractor...so yeah a $1200 riding lawn mower isn't a great option.

But you can find small used tractors pretty cheap and they have lots of other uses.

I used a small electric boat winch to pull my pop-up into a tight spot for a few years.

A front mounted hitch on your truck may solve your problem but without the layout of the property and knowing the angle of the slope, It's difficult to advise. If the mauevering is done on flat surface, a tow dolly may be just the right tool.

FWIW, I've moved my old pop-ups with a garden tractor. It's possible but on flat surface only. For a small bit I had an electric tractor. That thing could tow anything.

rvshrinker wrote:
I have a 27’ TT and have been exploring building an RV garage. However because of the layout of my property it’s a big project and the cost is astronomical, several times the value of the TT and it doesn’t really fit right.

I can build a cover off the side of my garage and it will look better and involve way less concrete, landscaping, etc. However the angle of the driveway means there is no way I could park the TT using my truck. I would have to be able to manually maneuver it using a powered dolly, like this:

https://parkit360.ca

Comments, thoughts? I really can’t justify a high five figure garage to house a $30k trailer. Other ideas?

I have the Trailer Valet XL manual powered with cordless drill attachment. It was just over $600 and works well, even on my 5% grade driveway. Needed it due to 2” of clearance on each side of my RV gate next to my house. Also trimmed the roof eaves for room. It is only used at home.

Anyway I mounted a switch to the handle wired to the trailer brakes & use that since the Valet brake is awkward to use on a slope. Also I operate it sitting on my shop creeper stool so no bending over-a common complaint about these.

For my needs It’s paid for itself already, very happy. Only complaints are the weight of it & not able to disengage the drive mechanism while rolling it to the trailer.

valhalla360 wrote:

azrving wrote:
I looked at those tow dollies for a utility trailer but never bought one. I have used an old John Deere 112 lawn tractor to move a medium sized boat around on my property. It has an old school cast iron kohler engine, rear wheel weights, tire chains and a large stack of plastic covered weights from a home gym system fastened to a rear frame which also holds the ball. It could use front end weights and it would be easy to weld up a frame work and add just about anything as weight. Front weight would be needed as I could see the front end coming up when you put that much tongue weight on it.

It depends on your mechanic and welding abilities and availability of cheap used equipment in your area.

If you are using one of those dollies on dirt and grass it may do better with tire chains.

Forgot about tractors. A ball on a 3pt hitch is near perfect.

It all depends on how much you want to spend. The tractors I'm talking about are the old school, cast iron engines and transaxles. I wouldnt build on the lightweight"lawn" tractors with stamped sheet metal type frames. You can probably buy a nicer larger size and just plan on selling it someday. Maybe you have other uses for it such as tilling or mowing even if it's overkill for those jobs

2 possible options ?

1. I welded a metal support and trailer ball onto a snow blower that I used to move a TT. The support transferred some trailer tongue weight to the blowers wheels for traction. It slipped on gravel but got the job done on a level driveway. I used a second person to block the tires as needed. Snow blowers lack brakes. Use the TT emergency break-a-way if needed. It was not a problem on a level driveway. The trailer never ran away.

2. Building a structure involving permits and addition insurance vs a used small diesel tractor.
We used one at a seasonal campground to move all size TT's, it worked well because the extra weight of the diesel engine help balance the tongue weight.

* Rider lawn movers and ATV's usually are not a good choice for a TT that big . They are too light allowing the front tires to lift off the ground when the trailer tongue weight is applied.