If you own an old wagon, at some point,
you’ll likely want to move it. Maybe
you’re just rolling it across the floor a few feet or possibly hauling it completely
across the county. Whatever the plan, the
process should be done with plenty of forethought and care. After all, the downside of getting in a hurry
has the potential of creating a less-than-positive experience. Over the years, I’ve actually come across folks
as they were gathering the shattered pieces of a family treasure scattered
along the highway. Stories like that,
with pieces coming loose on an open trailer, are the kind no one wants to
encounter.
I’ll share some details about methods of
and preparations for long-distance hauling in a later blog. Today, though, we’ll cover something that
hits even closer to home – moving a wagon within an enclosed space like a shop
or garage. In and of itself, the moving activities
aren’t something that would typically warrant many comments – even for a short
blog. That said, it can be easy to
overlook obstacles within tight quarters and it’s not always possible to undo a
mistake. Ultimately, no matter how far
you’re moving a piece of history, you’ll want to do all you can to protect it.
If some of this sounds a bit over the
top, let me share some negative things that can happen – even if an old wagon
is only being rolled a few feet...
- Loose tires falling off
- Spokes being manhandled and pulling loose from felloes or hubs
- Other weakened wooden elements loosening and becoming less stable
- Severely worn rub irons getting hit by sudden turns of a wheel with the possibility of them breaking in half
- The wagon hitting and damaging something while marring itself or another vehicle.
Truly, there are countless unforeseen
problems we can run into when moving an older vehicle inside a structure. Vigilance is always important in the process
and, no matter how limited the space, never drag or skid a wagon sideways
against the floor surface. Those actions
can severely weaken and heavily damage the wheels and other parts. So, what’s the best way to move a heavy,
antique wagon in a crowded environment?
The first thing to remember is that the more the vehicle is handled, the
more opportunity there is for something to be damaged.
As long as the floor is of a relatively smooth
and solid type – concrete, wood, tile, tightly woven carpet, or even asphalt –
one of the best ways is to use individual car wheel dollies. There are multiple types of dollies and each
has its benefits. One of the least
expensive is a fixed position dolly. The
downside to this one is that it requires a jack to be placed under the wagon
axle so the dolly can be placed under each of the wheels. I’ve used these and like them but have never
been comfortable with jacking up the wagon.
It leaves too much opportunity for the jack to fall and parts of the
wagon to be damaged.
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Fixed position (non-jacking) dollies are inexpensive but require a separate jack to be placed under the wagon axles. |
My favorite types of dollies are those
with built-in hydraulic jacks. These
smooth-rolling tools sit on four caster wheels, permitting 360 degrees of
movement. The handy devices are U-shaped
to slip in around the base of the wheel and allow you to jack them up without
the instability sometimes encountered from using taller, stand-alone
jacks. With carrying capacities up to 1250
to 1500 pounds each, the only downside I’ve found is they can be a little
pricey. A set of four can run from
$350-400 or more – depending on the size.
The base set I use was designed for cars with tires up to 32 inches in
diameter. Translated into wagon wheel
sizes, this particular dolly works well for wagon wheel heights measuring up to
45 inches. That said, I have done some angling
and finagling that allowed the same dolly to work on narrow-tired, 52 inch
wheels. A better size for these higher
52 inch wheels would be jacking dollies made for car tire diameters up to 36
inches. Of course, they’re a bit more
expensive.
The other benefit of these types of
dollies comes into play with vehicles that are stationary for long periods of
time. Whether in a museum setting or
private collection, wheels should be rotated on a regular basis to relieve and
even out stresses. The self-jacking
dollies I use actually allow the wheel to be spun fairly easily while it’s raised,
making it a simple task to rotate wheels without moving the wagon. They’re relatively easy to find on the
internet and in certain automotive outlets.
Amazon, Harbor Freight, National Tool, and others carry both the
self-jacking dollies as well as the fixed position designs.
 |
Car dollies with built-in jacks allow 360 degree movement. Their use can make moving wagons on solid surfaces quick and easy. |
At the end of the day, these types of
car wheel dollies can make a challenging job of wagon moving quite easy, in
spite of tight quarters. The cost,
ultimately, is a small price to pay for something you likely have a lot more
invested in... And, for the hard-to-buy-for collector, this just might be the
unique Christmas or birthday gift you’ve been looking for!
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