The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest "tire skates"

Has anyone purchased or uses Tire Skates? These are the four wheel dollies that fit under your tire allowing it to be moved against a wall or it allows you to move the ruck in many positions when you are working on it.

There are a couple of types of skates:

One type is a piece of bent steel that has four swivel wheels and the the tire needs to be lifted on top of the skate.

Another type is two arms with rollers are slid against the tire and a hydraulic jack lifts the tire off the ground.

In either case, four of these will need to be used to move the truck without any other device.

They are usually rated @1500# each wheel.

Which is the preferred unit and where did you purchase yours?

Thank you!

George, they are listed in just about every car type magazine. My wife bought me a set in 2005. Ordered them from some place in Florida but I see them in local places ocassionally.

However, I used them ONE time and after that they took up space under my work bench. I finally sold them to a car club member about a month ago for $80 bucks. To move a vehicle I usually just run the floor jack under it and pull the jack! I'm not saying they are not worth having, I just never really liked them. Oh, they were of the first type you mentioned.

When I do see them I have noticed skates that appear to be the same but depending on where you buy them there can be a fairly big range in price for the same thing.... and shipping ain't cheap if you don't buy them local.

I bought a pair for under the back wheels. I am happy with them, don't think I will get a pair for the front. I have the first type you mention, just be sure to sweep the floor (never a bad idea anyway)

I believe there was a thread a while back about these & someone said they bought the Harbor Freight dollys and wasn't happy with them. I've not used them so have no personal opinion.

Thanks for the input I tried looking up some old threads and could only find this one at this time, I will continue to look.

I did find a link to harbor freight that shows a third type. I can find a hydraulic wheel dolly too.

So it looks like mixed reviews on these. I have a 1913 Model T touring and a 1929 Model A flatbed that needs to be stored. I would like them to take the least amount of space necessary. I also want to move my Suburban around the shop with out having to get a couple of guys to push it.

Storage shouldn't be too much of a problem, but I can see they do take up space. The hydraulic and mechanical dollies that I have found are all Chinese made and that presents a problem for me. I have found several companies that make the non lift skates and they are made in both China and the USA.

I like the lift type skates although I do have a hydraulic floor jack that can accomplish the same thing.

If there is any more insight please post them, i have not committed to buying anything yet. Thanks again! .........g

I recently bought my second set of 4 of these dollies(my first set is about 10 years old and working fine).

I can rotate and move my assembled Suburban by myself (concrete garage floor). These often go on sale for about $120 for four (I got four for $100 on sale and then 20%-off coupon).

These hold more weight (but might not stack too easily).

I have the same set as Tim just mentioned. I can push my ½ ton and ¾ ton trucks around somewhat easily. I’m too old for the floor jack method. My shop floor is smooth concrete and level. Your shop floor will make the difference. Cracks, concrete, evenness etc.
For the larger trucks I either ask a friend for help, or can use a come-along tethered to the truck and a wall support in the shop. I have even used them for temporary engine storage to scoot them around. Not made in USA, not good, but…. But for storage, they are great. I can do a 360 if needed, and place the truck right where I want it.

The hydraulic,foot pump type are used by repo-men to move a car quickly to where they want it.
Theres probably a hundred suppliers for those things around,,mostly coming from china.

On an episode of Trucks! on Powerblock TV last year they made a set using shopping cart wheels and angle iron. They made it so they could place a jack stand in the dolly or the vehicle's wheel. More versatile than the ones just made for wheels. They look just like this, but theirs were square to accommodate the jack stand.

Hemmings had a Harbor Freight cupon for these for $30 last month. Offer good through July 24.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=67338

Joe D.

Gojacks are the purple colored ones, most tow companies use these. I had to replace a pair for a former boss, don't try to move the rear of a dually on them.....
I got them from JC Whitney, best price I could find at the time. Just make sure you are on a level surface, I can spin a K5 around with one finger on the front fender, they roll really easy.

I have the same ones as tc posted and it does require me and a few buddies to move my 1-ton. One thing we learned after bending the wheels is that with a truck that big you have to jack the truck up and make sure all the wheels are pointing in the direction you want to go. Being that the truck has no engine it is really the only way to move it and I would say it works

Harbor Freight will have them on sale next week starting on the 27th for $30 for a set of 2.

Some of the Harbor stuff is ok but the "tire skates" arn't worth
sh*t

Why do you say that gasim???
I've got a set here, no truck on them but they look exactly like the ones my buddy got from one of the on line vendors or the ones I've seen at the vendors displays at the car shows. Granted there are more expensive better made dollys out there but after all, you're not going to put all that many miles on them are you???

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

As I posted above, I have two sets (two pairs per set) of HF dollies and four of the dollies have been in regular use for over 10 years. They may not be pretty but I can't see where spending more would have gotten any better service (I use them in a concrete-floor garage).

One benefit of this discussion board is to hear opinions from different people. Gazim, what were the problems/defects you experienced with the HF dollies/skates?

I got the HF dollys. $60 for 4. I put them under my 67 chevelle
and have been moving it around my garage as needed with no problem.They do require a little effert but not to bad for the price