Anyone built their own electric trailer dolly?

[Instigator]

Still adapting to my new 40’ long shop and getting my 25’ twin OB Checkmate tucked in.

W/only one car door in the center of the barn I can only get it so close to the side wall and out of the way when hooked to the truck.

Can pickup a bunch of space if I could push the tongue over, another 2 or 3’.

Trailer is tandem axle w/450 lb tongue weight so yah ain’t doin it by hand.

They are available new but they look pretty basic and may build one.

Motor size, speed, capacity would be key.

Thx for any info you guys may have.

[XstreamVking]

I didn't build it but I saw a cool one built by a guy at a marina to move big boats. He used a car starter motor with drive sprockets and heavy chain. It had 4 wheels, 2 on a solid axle, two that pivoted and a ball in the center. Battery on a tray. Long T handle to steer with. Had switches mounted on the handle. it was heavy duty! About 2'x2' 10'' tires. Would handle the gravel boat yard surface pretty good.

[LakeFever]

I saw a very cool one this summer too. I meant to take pics of it but we had stopped at a sand bar and my phone was in the boat. Anyways very slick unit it was about 3’ wide by 4’ long. 4x4 with golfcart turf track tires on it. Ran on four large 12v batteries. The owner said it works fine with two but having four gave it better traction. It was run by wireless remote and it had a tractor type sulky seat on it. The frame was a basic rectangle shape. No suspension. Dual chain drive ( front and back ) with a single drive shaft using two sprockets. I didn’t take too close a look at the steering but it was servo controlled of some kind. The ball mount was near center of the dolly. He drove that thing a few hundred yards from the parking lot over to the sand bar dragging his 18’ inboard over some terrain a 2x4 truck would not travel. I was very impressed by it. He said it was entirely home built and inexpensive. It didn’t have an expensive look to it but it sure had an impressive build quality and its performance spoke for itself. If I see it again I will take pics

[Instigator]

Couple of tid bits:

Has to be small so I don’t lose my shop space.

Found a great YouTube video of a home build that use an electric winch motor but was tons of fab work which reminded me that I sold my welder and metal cutting band saw to help the move!

Was already toying with/the idea of using my come along which would be easy as the 8” x 8” posts are exposed so easy attach point.

Ive got a saved search on Craigslist e-bay so we’ll see what pops.

Found a new/used, factory built version for $500 and after watching that YouTube video on fabbing one……, buying one sounds way better!

[VkingMike]

I was going to attempt this a few years back, but abandoned the project. They're a great idea, but I do feel it would have ended up costing me more than it was worth lol

[Instigator]

A 100 yrs ago I bought one of the 2 wheeled manual version thinking I had just discovered electricity!

I had 21’ Laser on a tandem trailer at the time.
That thing was worthless!

15’ on a single axle trailer on a smooth, level surface maybe.

Anything else was a joke.

Im liking my come along idea the more I think about it.

Ill screw an eye into the wall post to pull it over, back the truck in where it needs to be then hook to hitch on the truck to pull it back over.

Could get fancy and go to Harbor Freight for an electric winch ��

I was going to attempt this a few years back, but abandoned the project. They're a great idea, but I do feel it would have ended up costing me more than it was worth lol

[Instigator]

$55!

This actually the unit the guy used for his home build.

https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-l...ope-57365.html

[David - WI]

Warn makes a 1,000# AC electric winch, works good for what it is... power in, power out (extend): https://www.northerntool.com/product...-885000-147026

[Dain]

I briefly looked into something similar a few years ago when I was struggling to get my car hauler around the house and into the back yard. Turns out, the legit ones are pretty expensive lol, and they take up a lot of room when not in use. I didn't think I could really build anything better than what I found either. If it was smaller and less expensive, it likely wouldn't have worked well enough. Then I asked my FIL if I could park it at his house, and now that is where the boat stays lol.

[bouyhead]

Would a front mounted hitch work? My neighbor has the original parkit 360 trailer dolly, incredibly slow but works well on hard, even surfaces. Thought of building one also but we all know were talking days of fabbing up something good. Iv'e seen the parkit 360 on marketplace for as cheap as $500.

[skialot2]

How about these electric trailer dollies. A clamp on or a weld on. pretty cheap.

Electric Trailer Dolly, 5000lbs Towing Capacity, 350W 12V Trailer Jockey Wheel | eBay

5000lbs Motorized Trailer Jack Wheel 350W Electric Mover Dolly Adjustable | eBay

[skialot2]

A real one

Electric Trailer Dolly | eBay

[skialot2]

Brand new at Tractor supply for $899

Goodyear Electric Trailer Dolly, GUO103 at Tractor Supply Co

[KIRCHNER]

i spent 900 the biggest P O S. a real joke. ad shows it pullin all kinds junk on grass dirt gravel boat with a 40 hp. maybe a alum jon boat, never go up shallow driveway. its dangerous. booklet says 2 degree incline max in small print. now im done,Art what a burn!

[FUJIMO]

...the front of the truck ball does work well. and is cheap. like we all are......