Electric powered trailer mover/dolly.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, I seem to be needing a powered trailer dolly for my trailer. Would like to hear both the good and bad (experiences) about powered trailer dollies that you either own or have used. I only want to learn about these and how they have worked for you. Please don't post on this thread, comments bashing, the companies who make and sell these. Right now, I leaning towards a Powermover AC-10.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

DiskDoctr wrote:

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:

🙂 Hi, well I bought the Powermover AC-10. Looks like the best bang for the buck and should be quite stable. I heard that some (trailer dollies) can be flipped, if not careful. Now the only problem that I have is that my trailer is about 900 miles away from my dolly.

Looks good! I was going to remind you to consider traction, as many movers have a single wheel and are fine for level, paved surfaces. But it looks like you have that covered 😉

The only problem I see is it may take you 3 YEARS to drive that all the way to get your trailer and back! 😛

🙂 Hi, I didn't do the math, but you might be right about the three years. :S

[DiskDoctr]

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:

🙂 Hi, well I bought the Powermover AC-10. Looks like the best bang for the buck and should be quite stable. I heard that some (trailer dollies) can be flipped, if not careful. Now the only problem that I have is that my trailer is about 900 miles away from my dolly.

Looks good! I was going to remind you to consider traction, as many movers have a single wheel and are fine for level, paved surfaces. But it looks like you have that covered 😉

The only problem I see is it may take you 3 YEARS to drive that all the way to get your trailer and back! 😛

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

the_happiestcamper wrote:

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
🙂 Hi, I seem to be needing a powered trailer dolly for my trailer. Would like to hear both the good and bad (experiences) about powered trailer dollies that you either own or have used. I only want to learn about these and how they have worked for you. Please don't post on this thread, comments bashing, the companies who make and sell these. Right now, I leaning towards a Powermover AC-10.

I have that exact model. There is NO way I could have both the boat and TT in the backyard without it. Sometimes it is hard to get started if the trailer has been sitting in the grass for awhile - the 5 tires just start digging a hole. I can sometimes get it going if I get the kids to help push - once the trailer tires are out of their ruts, it works fine. Last week I was trying to move the TT, and me and my sons could not get it to move. Just hooked up the TV and pulled it about a foot, then put on the AC-10, and it worked fine.

🙂 Hi, well I bought the Powermover AC-10. Looks like the best bang for the buck and should be quite stable. I heard that some (trailer dollies) can be flipped, if not careful. Now the only problem that I have is that my trailer is about 900 miles away from my dolly.

[the_happiestcam]

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
🙂 Hi, I seem to be needing a powered trailer dolly for my trailer. Would like to hear both the good and bad (experiences) about powered trailer dollies that you either own or have used. I only want to learn about these and how they have worked for you. Please don't post on this thread, comments bashing, the companies who make and sell these. Right now, I leaning towards a Powermover AC-10.

I have that exact model. There is NO way I could have both the boat and TT in the backyard without it. Sometimes it is hard to get started if the trailer has been sitting in the grass for awhile - the 5 tires just start digging a hole. I can sometimes get it going if I get the kids to help push - once the trailer tires are out of their ruts, it works fine. Last week I was trying to move the TT, and me and my sons could not get it to move. Just hooked up the TV and pulled it about a foot, then put on the AC-10, and it worked fine.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

4Jeeperz wrote:
Hey Bob,
We have a PowerCaster AC2. We have a skinny driveway and the trailer needs to make a 45 degree turn rt, then 45 left to park. Impossible moves with tow vehicle. Bought the tongue attachment and it is very easy to maneuver. Sometimes we even need the mover to get the trailer into the driveway from the street if cars are parked on both sides.
We even had to cut off 4' of the garage and angle off the corner to make it even possible.
Envious of those on RV.Net with acres not feet of property!:)
We live in L.A. so we picked up unit to save shipping.

🙂 Hi, 4Jeeperz; You definitely need a trailer dolly to park your trailer. Looks like a nice place to park it though. (Had to cut the garage?)

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

neschultz wrote:
My son and I made one like flyweeds also (the HD version) from the eBay plans. Worked well on level ground and very gradual turns. Sharper turns you had to hang on tightly or it wanted to overturn. And I can answer the question about rolling down slopes (6" in 6'). Our TT rolled faster than the dolly, making it overturn and uncouple as the TT kept going down the slope on the tongue jack. I had even mounted a electric brake controller to it but did not have time to throw the switch. Luckily, no one was hurt nor was the TT. The dolly has been disassembled and I now use a JD compact tractor to move the TT.

🙂 Hi, neschultz; Being able to stop the trailer is a valid concern. Glad no-one was hurt.

[4Jeeperz]

Hey Bob,
We have a PowerCaster AC2. We have a skinny driveway and the trailer needs to make a 45 degree turn rt, then 45 left to park. Impossible moves with tow vehicle. Bought the tongue attachment and it is very easy to maneuver. Sometimes we even need the mover to get the trailer into the driveway from the street if cars are parked on both sides.
We even had to cut off 4' of the garage and angle off the corner to make it even possible.
Envious of those on RV.Net with acres not feet of property!:)
We live in L.A. so we picked up unit to save shipping.

[neschultz]

My son and I made one like flyweeds also (the HD version) from the eBay plans. Worked well on level ground and very gradual turns. Sharper turns you had to hang on tightly or it wanted to overturn. And I can answer the question about rolling down slopes (6" in 6'). Our TT rolled faster than the dolly, making it overturn and uncouple as the TT kept going down the slope on the tongue jack. I had even mounted a electric brake controller to it but did not have time to throw the switch. Luckily, no one was hurt nor was the TT. The dolly has been disassembled and I now use a JD compact tractor to move the TT.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Bruce H. wrote:
I have a Powermover AC5 low profile model that I use to move my boat up a slight incline into the garage. It is a tight fit and I wouldn't be able to do it without the Powermover. Also used it with my previous tt, a lightweight Chalet folding trailer. Have not used it with my current tt as I keep it at a RV and boat storage facility, and just use my tv to back the trailer into its garage.

I see a mention of electric brake controller on the website's description of the AC5. Don't know what they mean by that. I can say that with my model, the mover has to come to a complete stop before it can be switched from forward to reverse or reverse to forward. Sometimes I have to lean into it pretty hard to get it stopped if the momentum is going downhill.

A couple of years ago the tires started losing traction and slipping.
I noticed that the tires had pretty low pressure. After inflating them to the correct pressure, the traction returned to excellent.

The AC5 is well-made. Pricey too.

Bruce

🙂 Hi, Bruce; The Powermover does have a brake switch on it. It uses the trailer brakes. Seems like the small tires (bicycles, hand trucks, Etc) lose air pressure over time. At least mine do.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

flyweed wrote:
I built one myself to move around my 32 foot TT. It works great. It took me a couple weeks to round everything up, cut it and weld it up, and there is some light fabrication..but if you can follow directions, you can build it.

Cost me about $300 to put together.




the guy sells plans to build these online.

🙂 Hi, flyweed; I think I saw the add for the plans on E-bay. Your trailer is bigger than mine. How well do those fat tires hold the tongue weight on your trailer. Mine is about 900 lbs. (Nice job building it)

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Seymore wrote:

pasusan wrote:
Hi Bob -- We were also looking into them because we have an awkward and uphill approach to our barn where we keep the trailer. We installed a front hitch on our truck a few years ago and now putting away the trailer is painless. Don't know if that would work for you...

My Father In Law did that on his 76 F150 and works great.

🙂 Hi, Seymore; Same as previous post.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

pasusan wrote:
Hi Bob -- We were also looking into them because we have an awkward and uphill approach to our barn where we keep the trailer. We installed a front hitch on our truck a few years ago and now putting away the trailer is painless. Don't know if that would work for you...

🙂 Hi, pasuan; A front hitch was a thought. My tow vehicle is two wheel drive so it didn't come with factory tow hooks in front. Therefore it doesn't have the threaded bolt holes that would be used. Could possibly be drilled or welded. I also have to watch out for a power box, 120/240 volts, that I have to get around. Worse yet; I plan to buy a larger tow vehicle, maybe, next year.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

RoyB wrote:
This is probably what I would use around here if needed... This would fall under the category of using what you already gots...

A Sears LT1000 has many uses...


Roy Ken

🙂 Hi, Ken; Neat idea, but I think my trailer would crush a lawn mower.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I bought one of these to move a 16' trailer converted to a mobile showroom for my solarium business.

It works quite well, but with a couple precautions:
Tight turns and then straightening it out can encourage the 3 wheeled dolly to want to overturn. You have to be careful of this and take your turns gently.

Overall, this 12V electric dolly has served me very well. The trailer I use it on is fairly light, about 3500 pounds or so.

The caster wheels it came with were junk. They tore apart with minimum load. I took them off, went back to Princess Auto and expressed my concerns. They very willingly offered to upgrade them to a more robust wheel, which has worked well for me.

I use this dolly to wiggle my display trailer into tight places and it works very well.

🙂 Hi, Bob; I haven't seen one of these before, but it is too small for my 6,300 lb GVWR trailer.