3-Pt. Dolly Moves 5th Wheel Trailers

3-Pt. Dolly Moves 5th Wheel Trailers HITCHES Hitches 28-4-28 Moving 5th wheel trailers such as big RV's and semi trailers can be a real pain, especially if you're trying to get them into a tight spot. When a customer asked Keith Litchfield, a salesman at a Deere dealership, for help, he found a solution for his customer and a new business for himself. "My customer was having trouble moving the big RV's at his dealership using a forklift," recalls Litchfield. "Inventory had to be moved around in order to clear snow from the lot, and it ate up staff time. Each trailer had to be manually connected, moved and disconnected." Working with Jim Flint, a friend and professional welder, Litchfield designed a hydraulic trailer-moving dolly that works with a compact 4-WD tractor (30 hp and greater). The dolly consists of a heavy-duty 2-wheel axle assembly that connects to the 3-pt. hitch on the tractor. A semi-type hitch with a hydraulic telescoping lift mounts on top. A Cat. I 3-pt. hitch for moving smaller trailers mounts at the rear of the dolly. The dolly is rated at 4,000 lbs. and has 16-in. wheels. A single hydraulic cylinder raises and lowers the hitch, though Litchfield plans on using two cylinders in the future for increased stability. "They can hook up and pull a trailer out of its spot after a snowfall, and then use a front mounted blade on the tractor to clear away the snow," explains Litchfield. Litchfield has sold half a dozen 5th wheel dollies at $4,900 each simply by word of mouth. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Keith Litchfield, P.O. Box 128, Williamston, Mich. 48895 (ph 313 300-7010).

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