Moving 'your' body around....

whirlpool · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject: Moving 'your' body around....

I have seen some really good looking 'dollies' that have wheels and can carry the body around on. Anybody have plans for such a device or any advice in knocking one together? I am concerned about stability but also want the functionality of being able to work around it, painting etc

Any ideas on how I can single-handedly move the body off and on between the 'dollie' and the chassis?

thanks

anthracitedub · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject:

I would suggest you get 3 friends to help set the body…its not a one man job. while I have heard of a single person setting a body on their own (Mike, you know who you are) you could hurt yourself lifting it by yourself….I jacked my lower back up while trying to lift the rear of my Ghia up on my own….put me out of the game for a couple of weeks.

blarneyman · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject:

I saw a pretty cool device in a shop once. It was 2 "A" frames with a pipe beam between them. The legs of the A had wheels and the cross bars of the A were made out of heavy chain. It could be folded up and pushed against the wall for storing.
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69 Beetle
70 Ghia(resto)

fred69vert · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:20 am Post subject:

When I started the work on my 69 'vert, I originally used the 4X4 sawhorses that are shown in the BugMe Video. Made the sawhorses wide enough (6 1/2 feet) so that the pan (with tires) would roll underneath. I lifted the car single handedly, using two come-a-longs with nylon lifting straps hanging from the ceiling joists in my garage. Worked like a champ, but I found a problem with the sawhorses. I couldn't move the body. So i came up with a different solution.......

I went to Harbor Freight and bought eight large pneumatic tire casters. Went to Lowes and got some 4X4 metal brackets and some 2X6's.

Frist I built a dolly for the pan, a rectangle out of 2X6's with four of the casters. Then I made the dolly for the body. Two long 2X6's with the casters on each end, then 4X4 uprights and 4X4 crossmembers that fit underneath the body. Made it wide enough to slide the pan on its dolly underneath.

Wish I had pictures but sadly, I have none. A little ingenuity goes a long way.
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mlhsquared · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:07 am Post subject:

Here are two threads on building a body dolly:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=144717

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=389293&highlight=body+dolly

There are plenty more. Good luck with your project.
_________________
Mike
'67 Ghia Coupe

Russ Wolfe · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:47 am Post subject:

Not everybody reads the "Ghia" forum.
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Russ Wolfe · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 9:56 am Post subject:

Rather than use the expensive car wheel dollies, I use the 1000 lbs movers dollies from Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/movers-dolly-93888.html

I have loaded cars onto trailers, that did not have a front axle under them. Have yet to break one.

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

_________________
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!--Edward Abbey

Gary: OK. Ima poop.

Jeckler · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:43 am Post subject:

I built this one based on the pics I saw here, after reading the Ghia forum. Smile

Went down to Lowes for the wood and the casters are from HF. I tend to built this stuff in my head as I'm standing in the lumber aisle, so have no plans, but it should be easy enough to figure out. It has to be tall enough to clear the shock towers and wide enough to clear the tires. I couldn't build mine tall enough to clear the shifter and still be able to roll the body under the garage door, so keep that in mind. I could've built it longer so that the body is supported from the fender wells, but my cost would've gone up. As it ws, I think this cost about $100.

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'63 Bug rebuild here.
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mlhsquared · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:51 pm Post subject:

Russ Wolfe · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject:

Here is the one I built, that will carry the whole car.

Surplus dunnage from work,and the base was going to be thrown away.

Cost?? Just my time.

_________________
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!--Edward Abbey

Gary: OK. Ima poop.

whirlpool · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject:

WOW

spend the day working and I have a bit of catching up to do!

Thanks folks; that is exactly what I needed and Jeckler's photo shows me exactly where the support needs to be for the Beetle.

dolly not dollie helps the search Rolling Eyes

this website rocks! VW Logo

whirlpool · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject:

mlhsquared · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject:

whirlpool · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject:

fred69vert · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:24 am Post subject:

Greezy Joe · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject:


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