sidecar dolly
Has anyone here built or have instructions on how to build a sidecar dolly? I have some ideas, but experience or instruction would be ideal to have before starting this project. Thanks for any help 🙂

Baffler1 - 3/9/2011 4:40 PM Has anyone here built or have instructions on how to build a sidecar dolly? I have some ideas, but experience or instruction would be ideal to have before starting this project. Thanks for any help 🙂
There are a lot of them on ebay all the time. I have a set of Motorvation dolly wheels, I kept them when I sold mine, thinking I could adapt them to something else. The best one I've seen started out as a wooden furniture dolly. Basically a 2x4 frame with a caster on each corner. With one of these, you can adapt it as you need. Get a second one for under the sidecar tire and you'll be able to roll the sidecar away from the mounts or back to them by yourself.
.
We used to build 3 different types from square tubing and casters and sell them for $99.00, but Harbor freight has so many dollys for a lot cheaper than we could make them. So we use some of ours and some of theirs' these days.
Lonnie
I just use an old disguarded skateboard from my neighbours trash with a 2 X4 screwed to the top of it,..a couple of spring clamps holds things in place while I load it into my toy hauler, or "skate it" around my shop,...hehe crawf.

I`d love to take a dolly and mount 3 old beadle scissor jacks for catching height for the rig or other jobs.
But never had any urge for it. The 3rd wheel stays on the bike or is resting somewhere in a corner.
Now it depends on young miss (my daughter) whether she wants the sidecar or only the solo.
Meanwhile I play with the Enduro and wait for the engine to run in before it gets a 3rd wheel too.
Hit out into the night....
Sven
Several years ago, I built a sidecar dolly and matching sidecar skate to hold the frame and sidecar wheel when the sidecar is removed for some reason. I used 1-1/4" square tubing and 1/4" plate. I MIG welded it together. The threaded rods on the dolly are 5/8-11 thread and they can be set to hold the sidecar frame on the portion near the bike. The skate is put under the sidecar wheel using a jack.
Once the dolly and skate are under the sidecar, it's very easy to roll it out of the way for storage. All of the 2" rubber wheels swivel so that they can move in any direction.
My units are designed for a Harley sidecar but with some modification, they would work on any sidecar. Cost to build was no more than about $40 with the wheels and tubing.
Here are pictures.

Nice photos, Gaylord. Thank you.
that is a really nice job you did!
gnm109 - 3/13/2011 11:47 AM
Several years ago, I built a sidecar dolly and matching sidecar skate to hold the frame and sidecar wheel when the sidecar is removed for some reason. I used 1-1/4" square tubing and 1/4" plate. I MIG welded it together. The threaded rods on the dolly are 5/8-11 thread and they can be set to hold the sidecar frame on the portion near the bike. The skate is put under the sidecar wheel using a jack.
Once the dolly and skate are under the sidecar, it's very easy to roll it out of the way for storage. All of the 2" rubber wheels swivel so that they can move in any direction.
My units are designed for a Harley sidecar but with some modification, they would work on any sidecar. Cost to build was no more than about $40 with the wheels and tubing.
Here are pictures.
Thanks for the notice. It's best to think in terms of two units: one for the inner portion of the sidecar frame and the other for the sidecar wheel. The "skate" unit that I have for the wheel would work on any brand of sidecar. The other part, the "cart" would fit most cars with some modification. All that's necessary is to make it low enough to roll under the hack when it's installed and yet be able to lift a bit beyond that level.
For those of you who may wish to purchase something ready made, there's a fellow who sells them on eBay. (No commercial or personal connection).
Happy Trails.
Now this, Is a real sidecar dolly.
Phelonius
gnm109 - 3/13/2011 3:10 PM
Thanks for the notice. It's best to think in terms of two units: one for the inner portion of the sidecar frame and the other for the sidecar wheel. The "skate" unit that I have for the wheel would work on any brand of sidecar. The other part, the "cart" would fit most cars with some modification. All that's necessary is to make it low enough to roll under the hack when it's installed and yet be able to lift a bit beyond that level.
For those of you who may wish to purchase something ready made, there's a fellow who sells them on eBay. (No commercial or personal connection).
Happy Trails.
thanks - i found the ones on ebay & bought - not quite as sturdy looking as yours, but should do the job
Not sure if these pics will load or not, but I bought a Harbor Freight motorcycle dolly for about $39 bucks, just because it looks like it can easily be adapted as a sidecar dolly. It is all metal and very secure. Never pulled the sidecar though to try it out, so I have not adapted it to see how well or how badly it may work.
The homemade dolly in last pics looks easy enough to make.
<a href=" http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g162/a1930ford/?action=view
Baffler1 - 3/9/2011 5:40 PM
Has anyone here built or have instructions on how to build a sidecar dolly? I have some ideas, but experience or instruction would be ideal to have before starting this project. Thanks for any help 🙂
You will need a dolly that goes under the sidecar wheel, and another dolly that supports the inboard (bike) side of the sidecar. For the dolly that goes under the wheel, I bought a wheel dolly from Harbor Freight, U.S. General Model 67287. It is under $100 and works great. For the inboard side, I bought two 5" casters at Lowes and mounted them to a piece of 2x4. Many others have included photos in this thread of similar setups. Attached is the instruction sheet for the wheel dolly.
Here's a couple of mine. One for whel off cars. The other adjustable for wheel on cars.
L.
I designed a sidecar dolly and related sidecar skateboarding to carry the structure and sidecar rim when the sidecar is eliminated for some explanation. I used 1-1/4" block lines and 1/4" menu. I MIG welded it together.
- 29 Forums
- 11.7 K Topics
- 91.7 K Posts
- 3 Online
- 5,615 Members