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View Full Version : I got tired of those cheap ass car dollies


holemilk00
04-01-2009, 06:16 PM
You know the ones that go under your wheels, and I wanted to be able to pull a car down to bare body without having to build a rotisserie or having it tie up my lift. So I decided to do something about it. In the thought process I did some research and found something similar to these. So I ordered a set, when they got here they were kinda cheap, and not exactly something I would want to push one of my cars around on and trust. So I figured I would build something bigger and better. They are built from scratch, the only store bought part is the casters. These weigh about 35lbs a piece, each caster is rated at 650lbs. They took me about two weeks to build the first time after work each day. Think I could do it again in about 10 hours. On with the pics, tell me what you think guys. :blah:


Had to have a set of 4 of course
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04701.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04703.jpg

Full height is about 26 inches, could be built to whatever you need if you want to try it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04704.jpg

Fully collapsed height is around 13 inches. Ground clearance at this height is about 1/8th of an inch, so needs to be on level ground.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04706.jpg

Locking wheels all the way around, dual grease bungs on each wheel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04707.jpg

Made the tops adjustable to pinch the fold in the unibody on the underside of the car, I'm also making up extra pieces to go in here that will make cradles for use directly on the frame. These open up to 1 full inch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04708.jpg

Duel handle adjustment to ensure a snug fit on the pinch weld.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04709.jpg

Some sexy welding, this took a while, ground all the welds out smooth, being sure not to compromise the penetration.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04711.jpg

:bite::bite:

hotlavaflow
04-01-2009, 06:26 PM
Please post pics with the car on them, they're sexy by the way. I think this would be better in the fab section wouldn't it. Anyway they look real professional.

Jonnie Fraz
04-01-2009, 06:27 PM
Those are beastly!!!

amdnivram
04-01-2009, 06:31 PM
i'll agree with the other 2 posts, nice work!

holemilk00
04-01-2009, 06:33 PM
Please post pics with the car on them, they're sexy by the way. I think this would be better in the fab section wouldn't it. Anyway they look real professional.

I'll have my vert on them in a few days. I thought about putting it in the fab section but it seems like its more fab work on your car in there isn't it???

hotlavaflow
04-01-2009, 06:39 PM
I feel you, plus it'll probably get lost in there.

fromxtor
04-01-2009, 07:57 PM
Dammit Shane I want a set.

holemilk00
04-01-2009, 09:02 PM
Haha, Josh if you want a set I can make you another set. What you got to trade?? haha. I need black interior parts. haha

niSm095
04-01-2009, 09:48 PM
killer idea. looks really good. I've thought about something similar in the past but had not the means to make them. I too would like to see the car on them.

nsn240
04-01-2009, 10:04 PM
Looks awesome! Wish I had the time/place to fab things like that

s13tilldeath*
04-01-2009, 10:11 PM
looks good bro....

DreamN
04-01-2009, 10:17 PM
wow those are nice. patent those suckers and sell.

5t341tH
04-02-2009, 12:23 AM
those look sick. i would love to buy a set like that.
how much did all that work cost u in materials

projectRDM
04-02-2009, 12:25 AM
Haha, Josh if you want a set I can make you another set. What you got to trade?? haha. I need black interior parts. haha

I still have the parts you wanted to buy, never saw a payment.

Good work BTW. Those look mean.

whereda40at
04-02-2009, 03:38 AM
those are nice as shit. do like someone else said, patent them and sell them. make millions, save dying babies, buy out bill gates and owe it all to zilvia

gotspins13
04-02-2009, 04:32 AM
these are great! cant wait to see some pix of the car on them=]

hotlavaflow
04-02-2009, 08:55 AM
Investor #1 if you decide to market and sell 'em.

s15specR
04-02-2009, 09:07 AM
looks professionally made man, rear work

eh?
04-02-2009, 09:21 AM
Vote for "mod" of the year ;)
Those are badass.

Dee
04-02-2009, 09:41 AM
Looks really good, I could have used these about a month ago when I was stripping down my old wrecked civic.

MELLO*SOS
04-02-2009, 10:08 AM
Those look VERY nice, amazing job. You should post in the fabrication thread if you haven't already. Nice attention to detail with the weld grinding and paint. They look beefy and seem like they will last a very long time! What welding method did you use to make those?

holemilk00
04-02-2009, 10:28 AM
Thanks guys, I can't patient them, companies already make some very similar called OTC dollies, I just made these a lot better quality then the ones I ordered from OTC first. As for making more, with the amour of steel, price of casters, and labor in them I'd have to get around $550 per pair to make it worth it or I could do a set of 4 at $1000. Like I said I made these beefy for me, they weren't cost effective haha. But definitely worth it to me all day.

As for the welder I have a miller syncrowave 350dx with the coolant option and autopulse. It will do TIG (which I have yet to learn how to do) and stick. I used MIG for the dollies on a miller 250 I have here in the house garage.

holemilk00
04-02-2009, 10:35 AM
Millermatic microprocessor MIG 250 to be exact, feed set at 500 inches per minute, voltage at 25 volts, gas at 95/5, metal transfer.

MandTPhotography
04-02-2009, 11:06 AM
Shane what the balls, these are sicktastic!

jdizzy204
04-02-2009, 11:17 AM
very nice job shane. looks like nice pieces.

ninja edit:
does this mean no moar rotisserie???

holemilk00
04-02-2009, 04:02 PM
No I'm going to be mocking up the rotisserie once I get it to the point of: No motor, no suspension, no interior, no fenders, no hood, and so on. Then I can do any repair work to the frame, mocking up of the cross bracing I'm going to make for under the car, and other things. I'll post pics of the rotisserie once its done in a few weeks.

fromxtor
04-02-2009, 05:33 PM
Haha, Josh if you want a set I can make you another set. What you got to trade?? haha. I need black interior parts. haha

I've got a uncracked black dash for an S13, I'll get you pics. Did you PM Russ (projectrdm) he said he has the interior you need for sale also.

Logan
04-02-2009, 05:52 PM
Nice stuff

Always good to see homemade fabbed stuff

holemilk00
04-02-2009, 06:38 PM
I've got a uncracked black dash for an S13, I'll get you pics. Did you PM Russ (projectrdm) he said he has the interior you need for sale also.

Yes, trying to get that taken care of, but thats still not everything I need. haha

holemilk00
04-10-2009, 06:14 PM
Alright, got a really nice day today so I took the new dollies out and put my girlfriends coupe on them. Some of the fold in the under body was crushed by improper jacking by the previous owner so I had to fix that with a pair of pliers first but here is the final result for those that wanted to see the dollies in use.

Here they are on the drives side as far apart as possible.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04770.jpg

No hating on my cheap jack, I ordered a nice one when I realized my good floor jack somehow disappeared in the move.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04771.jpg

Here is the fit on the underbody, everything held up perfect, no denting or bowing from the car, and not even a creeeeek from the dollies
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04780.jpg

Here is me under the car on a creeper with plenty of room if I wanted to work like that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04766.jpg

A look under the car to the other side. I can turn these differently to give me more room between them or more room to work around the suspension.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04768.jpg

Another picture of them on the folds sitting nicely in the dolly tops.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04769.jpg



I actually moved the one towards the front of the car back a little bit as we later took the front of her car off to start her S13.4 Kouki conversion. The best part is, I just told her what to do and she is doing the work. haha

Here she is getting her hands dirty
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04772.jpg

Learning all the fun stuff involved in body work
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04785.jpg

And now all done and stripped out. The good thing is I even made her drill out her own spot welds. hahaha
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/holemilk00/DSC04805.jpg


No hating on her wheels/setup guys, the car was a ricer/drifterwanabee rescue.

And done, let me know what you guys think of them in action.

240love
04-10-2009, 06:24 PM
this is awsome.. i always wanted something like this!

Great JOB!

dOMEmE
04-10-2009, 07:34 PM
!!!awesome!!!

soreballz
04-10-2009, 08:58 PM
You're a crafty bastard, aren't you? lol

Good job.

SlideWell
04-11-2009, 10:54 AM
looks freakin sweet! im intrigued. :coolugh:

holemilk00
04-12-2009, 10:05 AM
haha thanks guys. They are holding up great, and roll around pretty nicely even on the rough driveway.

Soreballz, I'll take that as a compliment. haha

boske
04-12-2009, 02:55 PM
I could use a set of these, my cars sitting near the wall in my garage on jackstands. I'm trying to clean up the chassis, theres no way to move it with no subframe right now :(

soreballz
04-12-2009, 09:07 PM
I'll take that as a compliment. haha
Rightfully so.
For some odd reason, some people are offended when I say things like that. lol

Devil Man
04-12-2009, 10:07 PM
ok wow on the dollys and wow nice car and did i say wow on the dollys?

MandTPhotography
04-12-2009, 10:42 PM
Werd son.

Joel needs some of these ASAP and Zach wants his wheels back, haha.

Good to see Brandy doing her own work, I'm about to start bodywork on my POS soon to pull some dents. My Seibon Hood and aerocatch pins are here, w00t.

holemilk00
04-13-2009, 08:21 AM
Rightfully so.
For some odd reason, some people are offended when I say things like that. lol

Yeah I can see that. Thanks man, I completely understand where you were coming from.

holemilk00
04-13-2009, 08:23 AM
ok wow on the dollys and wow nice car and did i say wow on the dollys?

Thanks man, I'll let the GF/wifey know about the compliment on the car. Shes going to do a write up on here of a step by step how to on the conversion. You can barely see the nose on my newly acquired two-tone.

holemilk00
04-13-2009, 08:25 AM
Werd son.

Joel needs some of these ASAP and Zach wants his wheels back, haha.

Good to see Brandy doing her own work, I'm about to start bodywork on my POS soon to pull some dents. My Seibon Hood and aerocatch pins are here, w00t.



Haha Joel would have to pay me double. Tell Zach that I might have his wheels sold for himizzle.

Yeah she said she wanted to learn, so she has her own car to learn on. I mean I had to give her one of mine but still. Good news on your doing some of your own work too, I was getting a little tired of seeing Joel under your car all the time. hahaha. :bow:

DALAZ_68
04-13-2009, 11:01 AM
soo...when are these gonna be a group buy?

sick work...very clean...

PM me what u need interior wise...i can probly help you out...

holemilk00
04-13-2009, 03:57 PM
soo...when are these gonna be a group buy?

sick work...very clean...

PM me what u need interior wise...i can probly help you out...


Haha I'd love to do a group buy for some extra scratch, but I'm not a sponsor on here so I'm not sure I can even do that. We'll see, plus people would have to understand that I can't make these things over night. haha

aoiken3
04-13-2009, 04:32 PM
you sir are a frikkin genius!! now if only you could mass produce those, you'd have your own market

proughj
04-13-2009, 04:39 PM
No hating on her wheels/setup guys, the car was a ricer/drifterwanabee rescue.

And done, let me know what you guys think of them in action.

hey those things are good lookin man great job and alittle off topic but pm me the size and what not of the rims if your lookin to sell them cuz ill swoop on um if there the right price thanks

ixfxi
04-13-2009, 05:28 PM
you sir are a frikkin genius!! now if only you could mass produce those, you'd have your own market

yup... until some fucks from (insert country here) decide to knock off your product with shit metal, crap welds and child labor. ah yes, the future is bliss.

i agree though, this product has great potential. i just bought some new Jet 6 ton jackstands but would love to have some high quality moveable dollies like these... too fuckin awesome.

holemilk00
04-13-2009, 07:10 PM
I mean I could look into building some of these for sale, but I guess I need someone to point me in the right direction around here to be able to take orders or something. I just don't want to break rules you know?

ManoNegra
04-14-2009, 05:26 PM
I mean I could look into building some of these for sale, but I guess I need someone to point me in the right direction around here to be able to take orders or something. I just don't want to break rules you know?

It's not that difficult in theory
$35 and you can make a Group Buy thread

anyhow, those things are beautiful
nice work

holemilk00
10-05-2010, 09:00 PM
Alright guys, I know its bringing a thread back from the dead, but I have a few sets of these made and I'm going to start a group buy thread soon, but I wanted to get an idea of what you guys think would be a fair price on these. I was thinking time and material I would need to get around $500 for a full set of four. Would that be out of reach for most of you that could use these?

bb4_96
10-06-2010, 04:29 AM
lol. just a smidge.

holemilk00
10-06-2010, 06:58 AM
Like I said, I have a lot of time in these, and below you can see a similar set with cheaper casters selling as a pair.

Car Dolly (Pair) OTC-1572 (http://www.etoolcart.com/cardollypair.aspx)

That would put you in the $667 range for a set of four. I actually bought a set of these before making my own and the casters went to crap within a few months of use.

J3123MY
10-06-2010, 01:07 PM
nice work man. They look professional.