[Top 6] Best Tire Skates & Hydraulic Wheel Dolly to Move Your Car Effortlessly


Wheel dollies or tire skates are handy tools when you’re working on automotive projects. They can move your work-in-progress vehicles around quickly and effortlessly, especially ones whose engines have failed.

Having car wheel dollies in your garage can help you move, shift aside and even rotate your vehicle without you having to put much effort into it. This is especially true if you have a small garage or limited working space.

But, for the wheel dolly to be an effective tool, it has to be sturdy, durable, and high-quality. For the weight it has to bear, it better be otherwise the whole thing will break.

If you’re thinking to buy wheel dollies, you came to the right place. In this review and buying guide, we’re going to take a look at the best wheel dolly model and brands in the market right now, and help you find the one that best suit your need and budget.

So, in this article, we’ll explore:

Also, we’ve another great roundup article about all the ‘must-have’ mechanic tools used by the auto enthusiasts in their garage. To learn more, head over to this article: 21 Best Mechanic Tools Must Have in Your Toolbox.

The Best Wheel Dollies

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When it comes to mechanic tools, car dollies are essentials that most people forget. It’s because most think that the hydraulic car jacks can replace wheel dollies. But they can’t. Both of those tools serve a different purpose.

Now, if you’re not the type who likes to read through reviews but want to know which is the best automobile skates and hydraulic wheel dolly quickly, then we’d like to recommend the above three picks.

But, if you want to consider all the purchasing options carefully, there are many options you can choose. Here are some of the best wheel dollies for you to check out:

Tire Skates

Pentagon Tools 5060 Tire Skates Ball Bearing Dolly

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One of the best car dollies you might want to get is this one from Pentagon Tools. It’s an excellent choice if you’re buying your first set of automobile skates.

In this set, you get four pieces of tire skates that are 12 inches by 16 inches. That’s a lot bigger than the standard 8 inches you get from most other tire skates.

I put my 1972 mustang and can move the car around the garage a lot better. Took the advice of other people that posted and oiled them well beforehand. Easy to put together. – Melissa, Amazon

It is made from high-quality solid steel plate and has a 3-inch premium ball bearing casters. With these under your wheels, even a single person can easily move a 3-ton car.

Plus, this dolly set can be stored efficiently. The small hole on top of each skate can be mounted on a hook in your garage.

 

Red Hound Auto Tire Skates Ball Bearing Dolly

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If you’re looking for other choices for a vehicle dolly, one other great option to check out is this pack from Red Hound Auto.

This set already comes with four pieces of tire skates that are 15 ¾ inches by 12 inches long and has 3-inch wheels. Each tire skate can hold up to 1,500 lbs. So collectively, this set can hold 6,000 lbs.

The 4-wheel dolly set is made from heavy-duty, powder-coated diamond plate steel and has sturdy polycarbonate surface dual-bearing wheel casters.

Each skate even has a handle for secure handling and better storage as well.

 

Xtremepowerus Premium Skates Wheel Car Dolly

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Sometimes you don’t need (or want) 4 pieces of skates. If you’re looking for a 2-set or a single skate, check out this product from Xtremepowerus.

Each skate is made from thick solid plate steel with durable polycarbonate surface dual-radial ball bearing wheel casters.

It also features 3-inch wheels with built-in brakes. Its dimensions are 16 inches by 12 inches, and each skate is ¼ inches thick.

Plus, each skate highlights a diamond tread pattern to hold your vehicles in place better and reduces the chances of slipping.

 

Hydraulic Dolly

Sunex Tools 1500-Pound Hydraulic Wheel Dolly

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The Hydraulic doll has some similarity with a car jack in term of the mechanism. Both use a pump to lift the car. And, it’s an excellent choice because you can use it immediately once taken out of the package.

This hydraulic wheel jack from Sunex Tools features an oversized L-shaped foot pedal whose innovative design helps protect your toes from being hurt by the wheels.

This hydraulic dolly has a durable ratcheting design that you don’t need to worry about since it is maintenance-free.

It also features locking casters on the outboard wheels to help secure your car. Carrying it around is easy because of its convenient handle.

Plus, it has a one year warranty.

 

Capri Tools 21085 Hydraulic Car Positioning Dolly

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If you have the budget to get more, you might be interested in this hydraulic car wheel dolly set from Capri Tools.

This set has the option for you to either buy a set of four or single unit and each unit can handle 1,500 lbs. Each dolly can lift tires that are about 12 inches wide.

Very easy to use. I’m using with a Mini Cooper and these worked out great. Good storage system is available as well. – Rich, Amazon

Lifting your vehicle will be effortless with the use of this dolly’s foot-operated pedal. You can use the 4-inch swivel casters to roll your car in any direction without any problems.

Plus, it comes with a stand so that you can conveniently store is when not in use.

 

FindingKing Portable Hydraulic Wheel Dolly

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Another option you have if you’re looking into getting the best hydraulic wheel dolly is this product from FindingKing.

Each dolly comes individually, so it’s perfect if you only need one or two. It has 4-inch swivel casters that help roll your car in any direction you want.

Plus, it can hold a 1,500 lbs capacity. What’s more, this wheel dolly is lightweight so that you can bring it along wherever you need.

It can also effortlessly lift your auto without even touching the frame.

 

Wheel Dolly Cart

Alright, since we have covered some of the best automobile skates and hydraulic wheel dolly in the market already, we thought you might be interested with dolly and tire carts as well. Here are some of the best ones to get:

Magna Cart Flatform Four Wheel Folding Platform Truck

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Not all wheel dollies were created solely to move your car. You can also make use of wheel dolly carts to help transport auto parts and tools, like this one from Welcom.

It has a spacious 27 inches by 16 inches platform and 4-inch rubber wheels that can carry up to 300 lbs. It even has an extendable handle for your convenience.

The front wheels of this cart rotate 360 degrees for better maneuverability, and all its wheels are non-marring.

Plus, this cart is easy to store and bring along since it folds flats to become only 3.5 inches thick.

 

BLTPress Stair Climbing Portable Cart

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Sometimes you will need to transport heavy things and equipment through a bit of step, and a flat wheel dolly cart might not be the best option. You’d be better off with this product from BLTPress.

It is called the Stair Climber Cart because of its innovative design that features an all-terrain, three-wheel chassis that can easily overcome steps and stairs.

This carbon steel cart can hold up to 330-lbs and even has an adjustable handle height for ergonomic. It can also be folded so that you can bring it wherever and store it easily.

 

Rock-N-Roller R2G 8-in-1 Folding Multi-Cart

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Big equipment and parts might not fit your standard wheel dolly cart, and that’s fine if you have this product from Rock-N-Roller.

This cart is made from textured, powder-coated steel, which is known to be durable and can also reduce slipping.

It also has upgraded ground glider casters that can handle more terrains than your average wheel dolly cart.

Plus, the R-trac timbres in this cart has fantastic traction for a smoother ride. You can also maximize the fact that this cart can transform into eight different shapes depending on the purpose of your need.

 

Maxx Haul 80746 Tire Dolly

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If there’s one dolly that’s not for moving your car but is specifically inclined to be automotive, it’s a tire dolly. Move your tires more easily with this product from Maxx Haul.

It is made from high impacts, rugged injection, molded polyethylene which is known for its sturdiness.

This dolly can handle up to 8 tires and can move 360 degrees for better maneuverability. You can even connect two units to make a wider dolly for larger, lightweight things.

It features 3-inch, non-marring swivel casters that can handle up to 300-lbs. Plus, it has a storage hole in the middle to keep your small tire accessory parts safe.

 

What Is A Car-Dolly?

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The car wheel dolly is a handy tool to have in any garage. This tool design is straightforward, but it can be used for highly complex projects.

The typical car dolly looks like your regular skateboard, except that it’s designed for vehicle use. Unlike a skateboard, car dollies made to withstand a more substantial weight capacity. This is why they are designed with thicker plates and ball-bearing wheels.

The primary use of a car wheel dolly is to help you move your vehicle more easily across small distances.

 

Benefits of Using a Car Dolly

There are many benefits when it comes to using car dollies. They can be thought of as safety equipment or a means of transport for hand tools.

Whatever wheel dolly you’re using, one thing’s for sure. It’s essential when it comes to car care. Here are a few benefits of using car wheel dollies:

  • Better Maneuverability

When working on your car, there is a time you’d have to move it around a little bit. Think of how hard that would be without the proper tools.

But a wheel dolly can let you position your vehicle easily without much effort. With a car wheel dolly, you can move your vehicle any direction you want, may it be backward, forwards, or sideways.

It’s even possible to push your entire car with only one hand if you have a high-quality dolly set!

 

  • Can Carry a Dead Car

Moving a car under normal circumstances is already hard, but to move a dead car is harder.

Car wheel dollies help easily maneuver vehicles that cannot move on their own. You can even take your dead car outside to your driveway without breaking a sweat.

 

  • Space Saving

Some garages are enormous, while others aren’t so much. But let’s be honest.

Even if your garage is spacious, there are still a lot of things scattered around that makes it more cramped than you’d want it to be when you’re working on your ride.

A dolly set can help you maximize all the available space by moving your vehicle around to your advantage.

 

Types of Car Dollies

When it comes to car wheel dollies, you can probably divide them into two main groups- the standard and hydraulic car wheel dolly.

But even these two can have a lot of sub-types under them. So, to give you an idea of what car dollies you might encounter, here are four different types:

  • Standard Dolly: A solid metal plate designed with wheels underneath. You’ll need a low profile jack to jack each wheel onto a dolly.
  • Hydraulic Dolly: A pair of rollers connected to a foot-operated hydraulic unit. Easy to use and doesn’t need a wheel jack to use. However, the downside, it’s quite expensive.
  • Mounted Front Wheels Tow Dolly: Can be mounted on your car’s front wheels and helps turn your vehicle more accurately on tight corners.
  • Center Pivot Tow Dolly: Designed to have a center pivot for better maneuverability during corners.

 

Factors to Consider When Buying a Car Wheel Dolly

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Before you can get a wheel dolly, it’s best if you do some research first. Here are some of the few features you need to think off when you’re trying to buy a car dolly:

  • Weight Capacity

Averagely, a standard sedan car weight about 2,500 – 3,000 lbs. Vehicles like SUVs and trucks will weight more. You need to make sure that the dolly set you’re getting can take the strain of carrying your ride.

It’s a good idea to look into car wheel dollies that can handle a weight capacity of over 1000 lbs. Dollies with this weight rating can hold your car’s weight from all directions with ease.

 

  • Casters and Brakes

Casters are one of the main designs that any high-performing dolly should have. It allows you to push your auto in different directions.

That is why you will need a caster that is both heavy-duty and flexible. Ball-bearing mounted casters are an option you can check out.

Not all wheel dollies have brakes, but it is one feature that is highly desirable. With brakes on, you can lock your car in place so that it doesn’t roll around unsupervised.

 

  • Single or Multipack

Some wheel dollies can be bought individually while others come in sets. It’s apparent that you will need four dollies for all your four wheels. Usually, purchasing a set will get you a better deal.

 

  • Storage Solutions

Although they look simple, car dollies can be bulky to store when they’re not in use.

So, while it’s not the main feature, you might want to check out the storage solutions possible for your dollies. It can help you keep organized and clean.

Some dolly sets have a self-stacking design for save space or find one that has a loop that you can use to hook at the garage wall. A dolly rack is also a great way to store the wheel dollies.

 

Wheel Dollies vs. Jack Stands

Now, most people think that wheel dollies and wheel jack stands are the same. They both raise your car, that’s true.

However, a car wheel dolly raises your vehicle and enable you to shift the entire car around easily.

A wheel jack stand raises your vehicle, keeps its stationary, and allows you to work underneath with a mechanics creeper but you can’t move the vehicle though.

That is why it’s a good idea to have both a dolly and a jack stand in your garage. They function very differently from each other.

 

Tow Dolly Rental Near You

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Since we already address some of the common guides about wheel dollies, let’s talk about renting car dollies. While you’ll unlikely rent wheel dollies but a tow dolly is something you don’t use often.

So, it’s better to rent it instead. And, a good thing that there are quite a lot of companies out there does tow dolly rental.

If you’re looking for a place to rent a tow dolly, here are the four best tow dolly rental places and some of the rental information:

U-Haul

  • Car Dolly: vehicle security straps, ratchet-operated tire straps
  • Weight Limit: Front-wheel drive: 3,450 lbs. Rear-wheel drive: 3,900 lbs. Empty weight: 750 lbs.
  • Deposit: Cash: $60 for In-Town towing, $60 for one-way towing. Card: No deposit
  • State-to-State Travel: Yes
  • Travel Outside of USA: Canada: Yes. Mexico: depends on the rental
  • Requirements to Rent: 18+ years old, two forms of identification

Rented a car dolly from U-Haul, but don’t know how to use it? Watch this video:

 

CCM Rental

  • Car Dolly: vehicle security straps
  • Weight Limit: 4,300 lbs.
  • Deposit: No deposit
  • State-to-State Travel: Yes
  • Travel Outside of USA: Canada: No. Mexico: No.
  • Requirements to Rent: 18+ years old, varies on the rental location

 

Penske

  • Car Dolly: 3-point tie-down system
  • Weight Limit: 4,300 lbs.
  • Deposit: Round-trip rentals: $150 if credit card, $200 if cash. One-way reservations: No deposit if credit card, $100 if cash or check.
  • State-to-State Travel: Yes
  • Travel Outside of USA: Canada: Yes. Mexico: depends on the rental
  • Requirements to Rent: 18+ years old, two forms of identification

 

Budget Truck

    • Car Dolly: vehicle security straps
    • Weight Limit: 4,300 lbs., varies per rental
    • Deposit: Local truck rentals: $150 credit card hold.
    • One-way truck rentals: $150 + estimated cost of rental credit card hold.
    • State-to-State Travel: Yes
    • Travel Outside of USA: Canada: Yes. Mexico: depends on the rental
    • Requirements to Rent: 18+ years old, two forms of identification, dollies must be rented with a Budget Truck reservation

 

How to Make A Wheel Car Dolly

If you’re into DYI and you want to try your hand at making your own wheel dolly, it’s possible. But, if you’re going to DIY, make sure that you prepare all the required material upfront.

It also requires some woodwork and welding skill and a lot of work too. So, make sure you’re up for it before you decide to DIY the wheel dolly yourself.

Watch this video and see how you can DIY a wheel dolly: