Using A Car Dolly As Tire Lift...?

Has anyone used these or similar to lift tires to mount them? If so, what was your experience? Thanks....

 

Looks like a good idea to me. I might would if I had one to use.

 

I agree, seems like a great idea, as long as it can lift it to the right height.

 

I'm going to it give a try. Despite my denial, the reality is I'm at an age where I need all the assistance I can find. After 3 knee surgeries and a work life of physically abusing my body, it now comes back to haunt me.

I rotated my tires last week and had a hell of a time lifting them into position ultimately straining my back which tortured me for nearly a week. I never had a problem before doing this. It's way different now......

 

Here's the way I do it with my 38.5" boggers. Use a floor jack. Lower the truck too low. Roll the wheel up to the studs. Have someone slowly raise the jack. Tell them to stop when the studs line up with the holes. Push the wheel over the studs. Obviously don't trust them to lower the jack and don't get under the truck while it's only supported by the jack.

 

This is an interesting solution.

 

I think your dolly idea is a simpler solution, provided it gets the tire high enough. should be quite easy to figure out before buying too.

 

Now that I think about it I think it's 100% certain it can lift it high enough. If it can lift it high enough to roll the car around, that's high enough. Just need to make sure the truck isn't over lifted. Basically just jack it to the point where the tire just barely clears the ground.

 

duh, you're right. here I was thinking about "what if the tires are too small and the thing cant lift it?" I'm an idiot, it's a Taco, not a Hyundai

 

Go down to your local small shop and pay them the 30 bucks to rotate, what maybe twice a year probably cheaper than the jack. And you save your back.

 

I had the same initial thought, see above!

 

I have Firestone lifetime tire balancing and tire rotation...i want to say its around $100

 

I feel ya! At 65 I know the pain too! Let me know if it works I might invest in one myself.

 

I use a tire bar or more commonly known as a tire spoon in the big truck industry, (a 3ft round bar with one end pounded flat with a slight curve).
Lay bar on floor spoon end in under center of hub just past backing plate, roll tire on top of and pick bar up to raise tire up to lugs while holding top of tire, can also rotate tire a little with bar to line up holes.

This is how we mount semi tires

 

That's what I was doing because I didn't have a floor jack that I could work with that could negotiate a gravel driveway. Now I do since I converted my Harbor Freight floor jack using Pro Eagle wheels, axles, and extension. With my cordless impact wrench it's easy. I enjoy doing maintenance on both our Tacomas but age and environment are working against me. I've overcome 2 obstacles and the last foreseeable one is lifting the tires.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hf-aluminum-jack-pro-eagle-parts.654413/

Having 2 Tacomas which I had the tires rotated at least 3x's each a year, that works out to $180 per year for something I can probably still do if I employ some ingenuity...

 

I'll report back with results.....
I sense more "tool modifications" in my future...

 

gravel driveway may kill you idea of moving the dolly

 

Yes, that will be an obstacle, but a small piece of plywood might take care of that. We'll see...

 

that's what i was thinking. get a sheet of 3/4 plywood and you'd be good

 

A suggestion you might want to look into.

I noticed in your example the rollers look like they might just be a piece of pipe over the arm. I've seen another type and it may be easier to roll the wheel when it's jacked up to align with the lugs.

$180 Sunex 1500-Pound Wheel Dolly

https://www.amazon.com/Sunex-Tools-1500-Pound-Hydraulic-Wheel/dp/B019MJFQJO/

I'm not endorsing or knocking any brand, that just an example of the type of roller I've seen.