For many years I used to keep my trailer parked next to my house. While this worked well, I always figured it would be a good idea to move the trailer indoors if possible.
Recently, I had a Morton building installed on a single slab of concrete that slopes about two inches from back to front. Backing the 20 foot trailer into the garage isn’t too difficult, but I did find it tough to tuck the trailer into the corner of the garage using just the tow vehicle.
To solve this problem, I searched online for a way to move a travel trailer inside a Morton building by hand. After some research, I chose a trailer dolly from Tow Tuff that has a 1,000 pound capacity. This weight capacity refers to the tongue weight of the trailer, and not the trailer’s gross weight.
This is how I move my trailer inside the garage.
While my 20 foot trailer weighs about 4,000 pounds, the tongue weight is only around 400 pounds, well within the capacity of the 1,000 pound Tow Tuff trailer dolly.
Why I Chose The Tow Tuff Trailer Dolly
After looking at several trailer dollies on the Internet, I noticed that higher end models had two key features lacking in cheaper designs:
- flat free tires
- adjustable ball height
Flat Free Tires Make A Difference
The flat free tires are made of solid rubber, and you don’t have to fill them with air every so often or worry about them rotting out or getting a leak.
Other trailer dollies, like this 600 pound capacity one from Maxxtow, have pneumatic tires. You’ll need an air compressor to keep the tires up to pressure.
Adjustable Ball Height Makes Hitching Up Simple
Having a trailer dolly with an adjustable ball height makes hitching and unhitching a lot easier – and safer. With an adjustable ball height, you can raise the ball to the level of the trailer. This prevents your having to push around a trailer that’s dangerously sloped upward or downward.
You can also switch out the ball as it it simply screws into the adjustable pedestal.
Can You Use It On Grass or Dirt?
I only use the dolly on a relatively smooth and flat concrete pad. The path leading into the Morton building is compacted gravel, but I didn’t have too much success pulling the trailer onto the gravel with the dolly.
The hard rubber wheels, while great for flat surfaces, tend to dig into soft ground. One person mentioned that he pulls his 3,500 pound boat (and trailer) over dirt, pine needles, and grass. Personally, I’d be a hesitant to use it on a soft surface, but others have done it with success.
Watch the Tow Tuff trailer dolly in action inside a Morton building.
https://youtu.be/giFbJ1k9EUw
Original video by DoItYourselfRV
Here’s another trailer dolly that I considered and the one I bought:
- Discount Ramps 600 lb trailer dolly (rated for up to 3,500 lb GTW, 600 lb tongue weight)
- Tow Tuff 1,000 lb trailer dolly (the one I bought)
