Looking for help this week

[damont]

Is there anyone out there for whom it would be reasonably convenient to lend me a vehicle this coming Saturday, or earlier during the week (but not Wednesday), that is equipped to tow a 2500-lb load? In this case, the load is a trailer carrying a very small car, starting in Northern Virginia. Expected distance traveled is about 250 miles round trip.

Also, is anyone free to help me try to free up the wheels of said very small car such that she can be rolled onto said trailer, or at least have any hints as to techniques that will work?

Comments

[page-of-swords.livejournal.com]

Are the wheels locked up? If FWD are the rear wheels operable or is the tranny/diff not so messed up that you can put it in neutral? It sounds like it won't roll.

If so you can get one of those u-haul two wheel models and jack up the car and sick it on. If not you need a car trailer and some special dollys that you can put under each wheel and roll it onto a trailer.

Just for the record if your buying a project car, be careful of how much work it might take to get it actually running. Project bikes are also as bad but they take less space :)

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

I wish we were nearer, that I might assist you with this burden.
Hope it goes easy.

[wanderingpixie.livejournal.com]

Based on the locales mentioned, I'd guess he's unloading said car, not picking it up.

[herveus.livejournal.com]

Timberwolf could be available Thursday; we'd need it back in time to respot the load for Highland River Melees by Friday afternoon. I'm not personally avilable Thursday. I could see you taking the van home with you Wednesday night. We'd need to know what size ball the trailer needs. I'm guessing 2 inch, but I also have 1 7/8.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Not buying; we already own this one, have for many many years, and need to move it to a new location. Thanks for the tips.

ETA: The car is REAR-wheel drive (it's from 1981), and the stick shift can go into neutral with no problem. The only thing apparently keeping the car from rolling is the wheels (and possibly the parking brake) being frozen up.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

I'll check with U-Haul about the size ball needed.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Not actually unloading the car; just needing to move it from our house to ayrfield's. (Thanks to the People's Republic of Fairfax County.)

[montuos]

...and some special dollys that you can put under each wheel...

I've never heard of this sort of thing before; can you tell us more? Because that actually sounds like it might be what we need if we can't get the wheels unstuck, and it would be useful to have sufficient keywords to attempt to search for and locate some.

[visgoth.livejournal.com]

Wheel dollys.

Example at:
http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4247

If I still had mine, I let you borrow them, but they were stolen years ago and never replaced. :(

I realize they are a bit on the expensive side. However, I need a set. So if you buy a set of four, I will buy them from you once you have moved the car. I'll pay whatever they cost you, up to $175.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

The shipping time on the specific example is up to 2 weeks. I wonder if there's a place I can find a decent-quality set in 2 days...

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

OK... so far: Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com) down in Dale City says they have these (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32052) in stock, and even on sale for $40 per set of two. But they're only rated at 1000 lbs each (4000 lbs for the whole shebang), so I don't know if they'd be sufficient for your use. I also don't know your opinion of Harbor Freight.

NAPA/Curry Auto Parts (http://www.napalocator.com/StoreInfoUI.aspx?sid=25167) (corner of Sudley and Centreville) can have these dollies (http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=NLE&PartNumber=7915260&Description=Wheel+Dolly) by Thursday if I order tomorrow. They hold 1250 lbs each (5000 total) but are pricey (about $250 for the set).

Advance carries them but not in stock; the guy who can query the order system is gone for the day and comes in at 9 AM. If they're at the warehouse I could have them on Thursday; they have to query the order system to get the price. I'll check in the morning.