Split Bus Dolly Jacks

j.pickens · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject: Split Bus Dolly Jacks

I'm building a set of dolly jacks to roll my buses around without a front beam.
I really liked Swervyjoe's setup shown here:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

So, I looked to get a similar trailer jack pair to fab my own.
Picked up a pair from our favorite Chinese supplier:

They were $27 each, relatively cheap.
So, I figured I could just make up a mounting plate rather than welding like Swervyjoe did.

Logged onto emachineshop.com and with a little help from jeremyrockjock's front beam measurements, drew up a design. Then printed it out full size and checked if it was lined up OK, and if the crank handle would clear the wheel well.

Emachineshop.com is really cool, I submitted my plan, and it instantly gives a firm price quote, takes your credit card, and viola', four days later I pick up a box:

and inside:

1/4" aluminium, which I figured would be strong enough when combined with the mounting bars which come with the trailer jack. I'm running the mounting bars on one side from the top beam bolt, added a hole in the middle of the plate, and joined the other mounting bar on the other side from the top jack plate bolt.

The lowered height of the jacks is 19" off the floor for the lower beam bolt, which is about 1" higher than a stock height bus. I should be able to raise the bus up to 30" off the floor, high enough to get some real work done under there.

I'll be mounting them up later this week, I'll let you know how she works.
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turkis-deluxe · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:43 pm Post subject:

Word up J.dot. Looks good but remember those jackstands!!

j.pickens · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:51 pm Post subject:

I plan to use these instead of jackstands.
Should I be concerned?
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gatorwyatt · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:58 pm Post subject:

Neat!...I own swervyjoes and they are on my truck...work good!

Thanks Joe!!
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dreadnotmusic · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:01 pm Post subject:

j.pickens · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:11 pm Post subject:

campingbox · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:04 pm Post subject:

If it's just the shell, it will weigh less than 2000 pounds.

j.pickens · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:42 pm Post subject:

cdennisg · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:52 am Post subject:

zuggbug · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:20 am Post subject:

very nice.
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pyrOman · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:30 am Post subject:

Like your idea but I would rather weld up the "tube" to the plate WITHOUT the rotary part!!! That's the "weak" point of it and you really don't need it for the intended use! Think

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j.pickens · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:42 am Post subject:

j.pickens · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:50 am Post subject:

cru62 · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:04 am Post subject:

Thanks for the heads up about http://www.emachineshop.com/ . That is a pretty awesome site. Check out the videos. It looks easy for simple parts.
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sventinker · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:03 pm Post subject:

j.pickens · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:15 pm Post subject:

They were $42 each plus shipping.
Their price for machining steel is much higher than aluminum.
Probably because aluminum uses a computerized router instead of a true cnc milling machine.
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my65vert · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject:

I have also buckled a couple of those while attached to car trailers. The higher you go the easier they buckle, fully lowered or just up a bit shouldnt be an issue but I wouldnt use them at full lift.
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j.pickens · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:03 pm Post subject:

OK,
Went up to Rusthaven to mount the new dolly jacks on the sunroof swivelseat. They fit up very nicely, only had to file two holes to get the bolts into the mount points. I removed the spring folding assembly and put four bolts around the swivel assembly to firm it up.

Here's the results, and yes, the crank handle clears the wheel wells:

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cdennisg · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:14 pm Post subject:

Cool. Looks like they will do the trick.
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UZI · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:03 pm Post subject:

do the wheels lock?
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