Suggestions - making/buying rig for frnt of car to transport

Hey guys,

I need to transport a painted car shell several hours. The car has the rear-end under it, but nothing for the front. Looking for suggestions on building or buying something to attach to the front of the car for a long distance haul. I don't want to install the k-frame and associated suspension. Car will be in enclosed trailer.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Randy

Take a look at the USCT body dollies. I made a copy of the fronts when I rolled around my E-body w/ rear.

Years ago I made a trailer axle mount to the front of my Plymouth using the k frame mounts. It was on for sandblasting through paint and worked well.

If you have a rotisserie, just use the front section of it or get some dollies/buy a pair. You could even use them without the wheels and lift it and roll on rear.

I used the front bumper bracket bolt holes for an attachment point.

Big diameter wheels are your friend if your going over uneven surfaces.

Cut some angle steel and attach to where the K frame mounts. weld 2 down bars with heavy duty tires that pivot with a side to side cross bar ( an axle so to speak ) then run 2 diagonal cross braces from side to side.

I don't have any pictures but made my own in an afternoon. Cost me maybe $100 and a few hours time

I used the front bumper mounting locations for my stands. 1/4" plate bolted to the frame with square tubing welded to the plate. THen another 1/4" plate welded to the bottom to mount the casters. My Challenger was hauled from Iowa to Ohio on these with no issues. My Dart was hauled to and from the body shop(1 1/2 hours each way) with them too.

Once my Challenger was painted, I partially assembled the car with them installed. I added larger wheels and some cross braces for my piece of mind. I used a 2x4 to tie the front stands together. It worked fine.

I transported my done Dart body 55 miles in an enclosed trailer with the typical 3/4" floor and the right front caster fell through the floor and messed up the fender! Make sure if you do use a caster setup like shown above put a couple of decent sized plywood sheets underneath them. I have done it again with several other cars with no issues, just tie the two casters together across the front and cross tie the straps.

When I transported my painted body from NC to NJ in my enclosed, I made a box support frame out of cheap soft pine 4x4 lagged together. They were soft enough to not damage the chassis paint where it touched and then I could ratchet strap the body tight to the trailer floor. No movement.
It did take some time to get onto and off of the frame, but worth the time spent.

The freaky thing that did happen, was the metal crank handle from the roof vent worked free (screw fell out) and fell onto my car. It hit the very back edge of the hood at the cowl and stuck in there. It did chip the hood, but no dent. That was a heart stopping moment. I have since loctited these screws in place.

Thanks guys, great info as always!