Ever found yourself in a situation that necessitated a set of car dollies? Probably not. They’re automotive tools that suit a very specific and niche purpose, but in that role, they are extremely useful. Want to upgrade the rest of your garage or workshop? Check out our articles on garage fans, garage security and the best garage heaters to keep you tinkering this winter.
What are car dollies?
Car dollies are small, wheeled platforms that sit beneath a car’s chassis for the benefit of mobility. Once the weight of the car has been applied to a dolly, the vehicle can then be manoeuvred in any direction, turning at angles the steering lock could never achieve. By doing so, the process of moving a car into any desired position is greatly expedited.
You may have spotted a car dolly before, on a Sunday afternoon, as Formula One teams use them to guide their race cars back into the garage from the pit box without the need to engage reverse gear. In a real-world situation, however, they’re perfect for manoeuvring vehicles around garages or showrooms without the need to switch on the engine.
How to apply car dollies
Car dollies work in different ways based on their design. Some are applied beneath the wheels of the car, using a foot-pump system to narrow two rollers on either side of a tyre, raising them from the ground. Other dollies sit beneath the centre of the car’s chassis, requiring an auxiliary jack to hoist the car up for the dolly to be slipped in the middle.
So, say you’ve got yourself a showroom, garage or tyre shop – and need a set of dollies but don’t know where to start? Here are some suggestions to get you going.
Vevor Hydraulic Wheel Dolly
The best self-loading car dollies
Price: £119.89 | VIEW OFFER
This car dolly fits under the wheel and is self-loading, thanks to its foot-operated roller system. The tire dolly is capable of holding tyres up to 24-inches wide, with a lifting ranch of up to 12 inches, allowing easy movement of disabled vehicles with great ground clearance. This product is built from rust-proof, heavy-duty steel for a max load rating of 680kgs per unit, amassing a total of 2,720 kg.
Pros:
• Self-loading and easy to use
Cons:
• Expensive
Dirty Pro Tools Dollies
The best car dollies for easy use
Price: £103.99 | VIEW OFFER
These heavy-duty car dolly skates from Dirty Pro Tools are the perfect tools for the job. Each skate can fit tires up to 14-inches wide and 450kg each. The skate dollies feature heavy-duty ball-bearing castors for the easy manoeuvrability of cars as heavy as 1,900kgs. While the self-loading Vevor dollies are sold separately – meaning it would take some considerable cost to buy all four – these skate dollies come in a pack of four for just over £100, representing great value for money. However, as these skates are not self-loading, a jack will be needed to get them in place.
Pros:
• Strong and sturdy
• Great value for money
Cons:
• Not self-loading
Sealy Car Dolly
Best one piece car dolly
Price: £354.56 | VIEW OFFER
This vehicle moving dolly from Sealy is built to easily move static vehicles around a workshop, garage or showroom. However, for greater convenience, this Dolly is a four-post unit that supports the entire car’s weight at the centre. The steel frame of the dolly is adjustable to suit the chassis size of most vehicles, with a maximum width and length of 1280mm and 1750mm respectively. Although convenient in one piece, this dolly is only rated to 900KG, meaning it would best suit partly dismantled or badly damaged vehicles
Pros:
• Convenient and easy to use in one piece
Cons:
• Can’t withstand the really heavy stuff
Related: Parkers guide to using Amazon Garage
HILKA Car Dollies
The strongest car dollies
Price: £169.99 | VIEW OFFER
Like the Vevor, this car wheel dolly from HILKA is also self-loading via a foot pump-operated hydraulic system. The dolly uses industrial-strength castors and a spring-loaded foot pump, so you can elevate heavy load without strain on your legs. Each dolly has a load capacity of 680kg with a max width of 630mm between rollers.
Pros:
• Self-loading
• Simple but strong design
Cons:
• Sold separately – expensive.
SGS Car Dollies
The best value car dollies
Price: £94.79 | VIEW OFFER
If you want strength and durability for a very reasonable price, this four-piece dolly set from SGS might be the set for you. Each dolly, finished in a range of colours including this light blue, has a weight rating of 450kg, with a max tyre width of 360mm wide. The heavy-duty nylon castors make manoeuvring vehicles around a breeze. These dollies also include under-chassis locating tabs to reinforce the strength of the swivel caster wheels. At just under £95 for the full set, these dollies are a bargain.
Pros:
• Strong design
• Look great
• Cheap
Cons:
• Need a jack to fit in place
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