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Old 01-31-2011, 06:27 PM   #1
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1989 29' Excella
Tyrone , Georgia
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Rotating a 29-footer by hand?

Has anyone out there devised a method to rotate a 29 foot excella 180 degrees by hand(s)? I have an inclined driveway that will be very difficult to back up.


I didn't know where else to post my goofy question, sorry.
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Old 01-31-2011, 06:47 PM   #2
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Well, I never use it, but I have a rather large wheel that fits into the nose of my jack. I gather they were a fairly common item back in the day.

Wouldn't that be enough, assuming the grade where you would make the turn isn't horrendous...? There must be many of them hanging around in dusty garages.
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Old 01-31-2011, 07:24 PM   #3
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1989 29' Excella
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I wonder if that would work. I even have a slight grade that will help move it in the right direction. I will ask some local trailer shops if they have one tomorrow.

Reading on a boat forum also mentioned using a 4 wheeler or a riding lawn mower, although I have neither.
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Old 01-31-2011, 07:38 PM   #4
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Just a thought. Since friction of the tandem wheels appears to be the primary problem even for the people who have purchase power dollies I wonder if it would work to position the trailer tires onto something like 2 layers of high mil tarp or plastic with dawn dish soap between the two layers.
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Old 01-31-2011, 07:47 PM   #5
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You can always pick yourself up something similar to this:

Trailer Tug Pro: The Gas Powered Trailer Mover – Trailer Tugs

There are a variety of manufacturers, so do a bit of searching to find something that suits you.
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Old 01-31-2011, 10:46 PM   #6
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That sounds far better. There is one on craigslist near me for $500. Maybe that is the answer.
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Old 02-01-2011, 12:07 AM   #7
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Don't know if this would help your situation, but I bought a front hitch receiver for our tow vehicle (TV) so I can park our AS by mounting the trailer coupler to the front bumper and drive 'forward' to 'back' the trailer, if that makes any sense...

Using this method helps in backing, but you still need a 'spotter' at the back of the trailer as you now don't have any mirrors to help you...
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Old 02-01-2011, 06:52 AM   #8
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Lots of good ideas. I'd stay away from the tarp and dish soap.

Be usre you have a way to control the trailer if it starts to roll or slide down your slight incline. Sometimes they're easier to start moving than to stop.

Be careful.
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Old 02-01-2011, 07:03 AM   #9
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With a tandem axle, you could temporarily remove the rear axle's wheels and then put the tongue jack on a floor jack...it'll spin right around. This is how I move my tandem flatbed trailer to fit in its designated parking spot.
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Old 02-01-2011, 07:04 AM   #10
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backing up the drive

Since the neighbors usually park across from the end of my driveway, I pull the trailer in and then I park it far enough from the garage door to jockey the car in and out. I only have to back the trailer when leaving on a trip, and the slanted drive lets gravity do most of the work. Also, the trailer is harder to steal with the hitch facing the garage. I post a sign on the inside of the service door" trailer in driveway" when it's camping season so I don't forget that it's out there( I store it elsewhere in the winter)
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Old 02-01-2011, 07:18 AM   #11
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i don't know if this will help, but i came upon a mobile home stuch in a curve years back ant the guy layed two sheets of plywood down brushed some oil on them, pulled trailer up on them and took a come along and hooked to a tree and jacked it right around to where it could go around the curve.it just slid right around.
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Old 02-01-2011, 08:05 AM   #12
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Remember the trailers electric brake break-away fail safe is there - have a charged battery and active circuit ready if the move starts to runaway.

The break away switch tosses unrestricted battery current to all the brakes and should not be left on a minute longer than absolutely necessary to QUICKLY chock - block the trailer safely, you can cook the electro-magnet coils relying on it for extended times...
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Old 02-01-2011, 02:49 PM   #13
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I can vouch for the dolly wheel. I have one and move my A/S around frequently with the wheel. Just be very careful because it can get away from you! I chock the wheels so as to allow the trailer to move only a bit at a time. The dolly wheel also saved my butt once when I drove into a coffee shop entrance only to discover there was only 9' clearance and no way to turn around while hitched! I unhitched, moved the TV, and spun the trailer around with the dolly wheel. Hitched back up and quickly drove off, not that there was much "face" to be saved.
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Old 02-01-2011, 03:14 PM   #14
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Just hook it to the back of a riding lawn mower and make a tight turn.

If backing it in makes it scrape or whatever, won't pulling it out make it scrape as well?
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Old 02-01-2011, 05:22 PM   #15
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GoJacks

Just get some Go Jacks, and slide them under the trailer's tires. They each have 4 heavy duty casters that will pivot in any direction. Between them and a wheel on the tongue jack, you should be able to pivot and move your trailer anywhere reasonable.
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Old 02-03-2011, 09:34 AM   #16
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Thanks for the help everyone! The problem is that I have a very steep driveway. Backing it up means I almost break my transmission due to numerous stops up the hill (I seriously need a backup camera) I like the go jack idea. Thanks everyone.
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Old 02-03-2011, 09:46 AM   #17
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thats why i love a 4x4 , just put it in 4 low range and idle up a steep drive, my drive is steep also.
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Old 02-03-2011, 10:00 AM   #18
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Why not put a receiver hitch on the FRONT of your tow vehicle. Then put a trailer ball on the front of the TV and back the trailer up your driveway with the tow vehicle going forward. Then you can see exactly where you and the trailer are going, and you don't need to leave room to extract the tow vehicle from behind the trailer after it's parked.
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Old 02-03-2011, 11:16 AM   #19
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No way I would want to fool with a 29' trailer by hand or with a lawn tractor. I had a boat trailer roll down a slight incline when I was moving it one day and that was enough for me. Have not seen your situation, but I would take the WD bars off and try to back it. Or go with a front mounted hitch for parking.
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