Jacking vehicle onto wheel dollies - Help, please!
 

Just rec'd a set of wheel dollies ordered to provide extra mobility for our '78 911SC Targa as we work to squeeze 4 vehicles into our 3 car garage for the winter.

I have a chassis mounted jack pad, purchased from our host, with round pad for use with my floor jack. I assume the first set of dolly placements will go well, jacking up one side with the opposite two wheels securely mounted on the floor. What about the second set? Does the car have a tendency to roll away from the jack and pad when the opposite 2 wheels are now on casters?

I paid extra for a heavy duty set of dollies with wheel bearings that I expect will be extra slippery if there is a tendency for the car to shift for the second lifting.

After searching the site, haven't seen any mention of the challenge but thought I'd ask before taking a chance on pulling out the jack pad as the first set of dollies take flight.

(The fourth vehicle is a new post altogether!)

Thanks.

Mike

recommend a second jack pad for the other side.

for now chock the wheels on the pads while you jack the other.

check the wheel pads some of them have brakes on the casters.

best of luck , steveSmileWavy

I would skip the jack pad use the front corners of pan (lifting point on a true lift) to do the front 1 corner at a time (put a pc of wood and or rags old rug over lift section of jack to protect the undercoating / paint) then do the rear by lifting on motor / trans w/ same padding, do both at the same time, car will lift straight and not run away if on level floor.

Regards

IMO, a second jack and jackpad won't get you much. Trying to lift the entire car at once at the center jack point(s) will be dicey.

Thee jack points operate on leverage, so you'll need to trap the dollies. Do the dollies have a lock? I've seen some that do and some that do not. This will make a difference in how you approach this.

Couldn't you jack up each wheel separately--fronts with the floor jack near the strut mount of the A arms, and the rears near the shock mount of the trailing arms? You won't have to lift the assemblies very high as you're not lifting the whole car and the shifting of weight will be minimal. It is twice the work, however.

That's how I would do it.

Appreciate the thoughts on trying the corners. I suppose the first two for one lift with the jack pad is a bit of a freebie but then could try wheels 3 and 4 with separate lift attempts on each remaining corner for a total of 3 jack placements / lifts.

will have to give it a try tomorrow for practice.

Thanks.

Mike

Use your jack pad to lift one side and install your wheel pads. Move your jack pad to the other side and chock your floor jack and lift. As the car comes up with the floor jack chocked the car will move on the wheel pads toward the side being jacked. Only raise the car high enough to roll the wheel pads under the wheels and set the car back down. Normally when jacking the jack will move toward the car, now the offside wheels will move toward the jack. Hope this helps.
Have someone around to help and keep an eye onthe movement to ensure safe operation.

I think your floor jack will roll with the car if it moves a little. It's what they're designed to do to keep the weight of the car over the jack (as opposed to tipping over). Just go slow and you'll be OK.

My wheel dollies may not be as good as the ones you purchased, but I just jack it one side at a time and drop the wheels into the buckets.
Just position the wheels on the dollies inline front to back. Shouldn't move much.

Go-Jaks.

It will not roll as easily as you expect with the dollies. Just jack one side then the other.

I paid extra for a heavy duty set of dollies with wheel bearings that I expect will be extra slippery if there is a tendency for the car to shift for the second lifting.

Can you tell me the brand and where you bought yours?

You're worring too much, it's not going to roll away from you! If you try it on a hill, you may have a problem but in your garage there won't be any trouble. Don't chock the jack or the dollies, just jack it up and go! Rob

I have not checked in a while, but I remember the Go Jacks were pretty expensive. But I guess it is much easier to use vs. the cheap ones that require the car be jacked up?

Agreed. Done this dozens of times.

I bought so dollies similar to go-jacks for much less money, I hear even harbor freight has some, mine came from autosport catalog I believe...no complaints.

I use these: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/MISC/POR_MISC_AUTDOL_pg1.htm

I jack up one side and put the dollies under the tires; let that side down onto the dollies and do the other.

They work great!

Guys,

I use a home made set of dollies made from two 3/4 inch plywood boards bonded together and some hardware store casters without any jacking or moving issues.I jack one end at at a time and slide the dollies under each wheel ...

Doesn't cost much and works well :)

Phil

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