Dolly Hitch Made To Move Empty Shipping Containers

2014 - Volume #38, Issue #2, Page #16

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“I sell and deliver empty shipping containers and needed a way to move them,” says Arizona retailer and handyman Ken Dobson. “My dolly and wheel system works real well for moving them short distances.”
  He took a pair of wheels from a mobile home and mounted them on frames made from odds and ends of steel plate, angle iron and tubing. The frames slide into one of the fork openings when the container is jacked up on one side. Two locking pins hold it in place, and the same is done on the opposite side.
  Dobson says the wheels are easy to install using a high-lift jack. “A 20-ft. container weighs about 5,000 lbs., so I jack and block up one side with a 3-ton barn jack, then slide the wheel in place. I do the same on the opposite side and the weight of the container is distributed over the 5,000 to 6,000-lb. capacity dolly inserts.”
  To move a container once the wheels are on Dobson devised a 4-piece hitch that slides, pins and locks into the container’s lower front corner casting holes. That metal frame includes a tongue with a loop that slips over the ball hitch of his 3/4-ton pickup.
  “The container rides about 10 in. off the ground on the dolly wheels,” Dobson says. “It’s easy to move on level ground as long as I’m just idling along. Most of the moves are just short distances on people’s property. The longest move I’ve done is about a half mile,” says Dobson.
  His dolly hitch system breaks down into 6 pieces that he can put into the back of his pickup and transport anywhere a container needs to be moved.
  Dobson says containers vary in price depending on availability. In early 2014 the 20-ft. units were selling for about $2,650 and larger 40-ft. units were about $3,500. “Prices change often because they’re like commodities, fluctuating with supply and demand.”
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ken Dobson, P.O. Box 486, Seligman, Ariz. 86337 (ph 928 925-6805; acme@tabletoptelephone.com; www.acmeonroute66.com).

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Dolly Hitch Made To Move Empty Shipping Containers HITCHES “I sell and deliver empty shipping containers and needed a way to move them ” says Arizona retailer and handyman Ken Dobson “My dolly and wheel system works real well for moving them short distances ” He took a pair of wheels from a mobile home and mounted them on frames made from odds and ends of steel plate angle iron and tubing The frames slide into one of the fork openings when the container is jacked up on one side Two locking pins hold it in place and the same is done on the opposite side Dobson says the wheels are easy to install using a high-lift jack “A 20-ft container weighs about 5 000 lbs so I jack and block up one side with a 3-ton barn jack then slide the wheel in place I do the same on the opposite side and the weight of the container is distributed over the 5 000 to 6 000-lb capacity dolly inserts ” To move a container once the wheels are on Dobson devised a 4-piece hitch that slides pins and locks into the container’s lower front corner casting holes That metal frame includes a tongue with a loop that slips over the ball hitch of his 3/4-ton pickup “The container rides about 10 in off the ground on the dolly wheels ” Dobson says “It’s easy to move on level ground as long as I’m just idling along Most of the moves are just short distances on people’s property The longest move I’ve done is about a half mile ” says Dobson His dolly hitch system breaks down into 6 pieces that he can put into the back of his pickup and transport anywhere a container needs to be moved Dobson says containers vary in price depending on availability In early 2014 the 20-ft units were selling for about $2 650 and larger 40-ft units were about $3 500 “Prices change often because they’re like commodities fluctuating with supply and demand ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ken Dobson P O Box 486 Seligman Ariz 86337 ph 928 925-6805; acme@tabletoptelephone com; www acmeonroute66 com

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