|
|
Post by moparman on May 30, 2014 17:40:23 GMT 10
Good on ya Derk, they're a part of caravanning history worth preserving too  Which model did you get, the first one with two balls or the second 'Level ride' model, and if the second one .... does it have a different patent number on it ? Cobber. G'day Cobber buddy mate, I got what Brenten's got, looks to be pretty much the same what I can see in the pics, hope to pick it up Sunday, will try and get a pic up for you chief. 
Cobber I restored a set of Hutchinson Dolly Wheels some years ago,and I still have them! Mine don't have the level ride just wondering can it be dated by the patent number? The patent plate is blue! I think they may be an early made set.
CHEERS MOPARMAN |
|
|
|
Post by cobber on May 30, 2014 18:13:52 GMT 10
G'day Moparman, does your Hutchinson dolly wheel look the same as THIS ONE ? with the patent 'applied for' and no provision for 'load levellers ? That patent was applied for in 1954. If it does have provision for 'load levellers' that patent was applied for in 1962. Sorry, I'll post details of the patents with pictures..... when I get a round tuit  I'm still trying to find if the 'new level ride ' model had a different patent number. Cobber. |
|
|
|
Post by moparman on May 30, 2014 18:47:04 GMT 10
G'day Moparman, does your Hutchinson dolly wheel look the same as THIS ONE ? with the patent 'applied for' and no provision for 'load levellers ? That patent was applied for in 1954. If it does have provision for 'load levellers' that patent was applied for in 1962. Sorry, I'll post details of the patents with pictures..... when I get a round tuit I'm still trying to find if the 'new level ride ' model had a different patent number. Cobber. Thanks Cobber my set has the plate with patent applied for. But it is very different to the one that you gave the link too. Thanks Moparman. |
|
|
|
Post by cobber on May 30, 2014 19:22:17 GMT 10
G'day moparman, Going back to page one of this thread and working through to page 3 can you see anything, either in the photos or the advertisements, that looks like yours, if not you've got to give us a photo.... aye ?  Cobber. |
|
|
|
Post by moparman on May 30, 2014 19:47:38 GMT 10
G'day moparman, Going back to page one of this thread and working through to page 3 can you see anything, either in the photos or the advertisements, that looks like yours, if not you've got to give us a photo.... aye ? Cobber Hi again Cobber have looked at all, but my set has a different c section channel were the springs and coupling are attached. Will go into the shed tomorrow and get some pictures. may be mine are very early ones! stay tuned. Moparman |
|
|
|
Post by akeepsake on May 30, 2014 21:09:45 GMT 10
Cobber it must be Dolly Wheel season ! Just scored this and interested in age etc Will have to panel beat guards but will be fine Also need stabilizer bars. Brackets etc if anyone out there has any drop me a pm! It'll go great with the Jennison! Cheers Andrew  |
|
|
|
Post by humpyboy on May 30, 2014 21:33:32 GMT 10
Cobber it must be Dolly Wheel season ! Just scored this and interested in age etc Will have to panel beat guards but will be fine Also need stabilizer bars. Brackets etc if anyone out there has any drop me a pm! It'll go great with the Jennison! Cheers Andrew  Bloody hell the buggers are breeding, nice one Andrew. |
|
|
|
Post by humpyboy on May 30, 2014 21:41:17 GMT 10
Lets see if this works, a pic of my new purchase.  |
|
|
|
Post by cobber on May 31, 2014 11:47:50 GMT 10
OK OK !! As Hutchinson Dolly Wheels are popping up all over the place here are the patent drawings for " Attaching a Trailing Vehicle of the Two Wheel Type to the Rear of a Towing Vehicle "Below are the drawings for two variations of the Hutchinson Dolly Wheel. If you want to read the complete patent applications for this first one applied for in April 1954 it can be seen if you click HERE
There is mention on page 3 of "An alternative arrangement, the device could be coupled rigidly either to the trailing vehicle or to the towing vehicle. In this case, it would be necessary to replace the ground wheels by castors" The second application dated August 1962 relates to the addition of brackets to accommodate the fitting of 'load levellers'. The text in the document states " The proportion of weight which can be taken by known types of caravan dolly cannot be increased above about 2/3rds without introducing instability which would prevent towing at normal speeds" So... 'Load levellers' are fitted to overcome that problem. The complete Patent application for this one dated August 1962 can be seen if you click HERE  If you compare these drawings with the actual way the brackets have been made in practice it looks like it was an evolving operation. This would have to be the first attempt ( or were they welded on by a back yard operator ? )  And this is a different casting.... or is it ?  Cobber. |
|
|
|
Post by cobber on May 31, 2014 19:20:31 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by akeepsake on May 31, 2014 21:14:07 GMT 10
Cobber you're a machine! Will take some more shots when I get it to Van Diemen's Land!
Thanks for all the info
Cheers Andrew
|
|
|
|
Post by Surf Tragic on Jun 1, 2014 12:49:54 GMT 10
a pic of my new purchase. Nice piece of machinery Humpyboy, what will you use it on? ST |
|
|
|
Post by humpyboy on Jun 1, 2014 17:52:46 GMT 10
a pic of my new purchase. Nice piece of machinery Humpyboy, what will you use it on? ST What will I use it on? just how many vans do you think I have ST, will use it on the Roadcruiser should I ever get a start on it, I'm still hopeful that the FJ will be capable of dragging it along, might just help if she doesn't have to carry the weight as well. |
|
|
|
Post by Surf Tragic on Jun 2, 2014 10:22:22 GMT 10
I was thinking of which vehicle you would use it on,  it will look more in keeping with the era than getting your springs on the car beefed up. I remember Dad having the leaves on the springs of the Customline reset or re-rolled to get the sag out of the rear. Anyway, good to be getting stuff together for the time when you will have the fun of using it, that sort of gear doesn't show up often. Cheers..........ST |
|
|
|
Post by humpyboy on Jul 25, 2014 17:51:03 GMT 10
Just had another read through this thread and noticed some missing info, when I picked up my set the seller told me that the two smaller chains you can see in my picture ( attached to axle) can be used to raise the dolly wheels off the ground by using the load leveler brackets by doing this you are then able to reverse the van as if it were attached to the car, will have to give it a try one day.
|
|
|
|
Post by cobber on Jul 26, 2014 10:18:13 GMT 10
G'day Derk, That is interesting aye? I thought those chains were just to stop the axel and wheels swivelling around under the 'A' frame I can't even see mention in the patent applications to any special provisions being considered when it comes to reversing with these things attached. It would be interesting if you .... and other members with different brand dolly wheels, would tell us what they need to do to avoid embarrassment when reversing into their powered site Cobber. |
|
|
|
Post by humpyboy on Jul 26, 2014 15:09:39 GMT 10
Just had another read through this thread and noticed some missing info, when I picked up my set the seller told me that the two smaller chains you can see in my picture ( attached to axle) can be used to raise the dolly wheels off the ground by using the load leveler brackets by doing this you are then able to reverse the van as if it were attached to the car, will have to give it a try one day. Theory CONFIRMED ! just came back from outside where I backed up to the van and fitted it up with the dolly, pulled the wheels of the ground and drove forward to get it all in a nice straight line then backed her up to where it was originally parked, did all the usual things when backing a van and the whole thing behaved as if the dolly wasn't even there, what I think it is that causes it to behave like that is the fact that the second towball for the van is set forward of the axle, when you lift the wheels off the ground you are taking away that second pivot point if that makes sense? by using the chains you not only lift the wheels but make it so that the you take away the ability for them to swivel hence one connection only between car and van. |
|
|
|
Post by cobber on Jul 27, 2014 9:07:06 GMT 10
Good on ya Derk, That sounds like useful information for anybody with a Hutchinson dolly wheel. Reversing with a Jones dolly wheel wouldn't be a problem I think but... what about the 'Hendy' one, anybody out there got experience with that one they would like to share with us ? Cobber. |
|
|
|
Post by humpyboy on Jul 27, 2014 18:23:04 GMT 10
Here's a scan of a "Letter to the Editor" from the Caravan World magazine, March 1985:   Whilst having another read through this thread I came across this post by Al, if you read through the last paragraph below the "letterbox" logo, there the writer mentions the chains stop jack-knifing, so yet another use for them, when you think about it it makes sense, could you image the strife you would be in if you had to stop in a big hurry  and another thing Cobber, you ask if the hendy dolly would act the same if you lifted it's wheels clear of the ground, looking at the picture in a previous post I would say "yes they would" as the ball for the caravan is still set forward of the axle, strange that no mention of these features are noted in the Patent. Cheers Derk. |
|
|
|
Post by colin345 on Dec 14, 2014 21:23:23 GMT 10
Hi everyone
I just found out that our family caravan used to have dolly wheels (I was too young to remeber them). My father said they were difficult to back with so he eventually discontinued using them on the caravan and used the wheels and axle to make a small trailer which we used for camping. Dad still has the trailer and we now have the caravan. Photos below were taken during the sixties and shows the caravan with the dolly wheels and the home made trailer made with the dolly wheels.
Colin
|
|
|
|
Post by Koala on Feb 22, 2016 11:41:58 GMT 10
I picked up this Hutchison Dolly Wheel today thanks to a hot tip from a friend. It was going to the tip if I did not take it. A bit of a browse of this thread indicated that it is a later dolly made after 1962 as it has provision for the load level bars which also came with it. This one is fitted with squared mudguards which may be replacements but they do appear to be factory made.    I am still working on `Grandads Van' so it may find its way onto that. Koala |
|
|
|
Post by strugglebrook on Feb 23, 2016 9:05:57 GMT 10
Good morning Mr Koala, we used our Hendy Dolly on the front of the 14 foot Wanda/Franklin to Christmas in July at Stockton last year. I fitted a transport cradle on the A frame for a Motorbike (CB 125 Honda).
Towed great behind the Monaro. Currently altering cradle to take bigger bike (CB 77 ). Going to then try set up behind Kingswood for the run to South West Rocks.
Cruising down the Freeway to Stockton, a Highway Patrol came alongside with two officers whom had a bit of discussion among themselves then gave a smile and a thumbs up before disappearing into the distance.
Cheers JD.
|
|
|
|
Post by Koala on Feb 23, 2016 13:33:44 GMT 10
Hi JD, I was quite looking forward to giving the Hutchison Dolly a try but unfortunately the ACT Government does not approve.
Before I just front up with `Grandads Van' for a rego inspection with the dolly fitted I made enquiries with Rego ACT about how they would now view such an accessory. They did not respond right away but contacted the other states before giving me a response which was that the use of these dollies is now not allowed unless the unit was included at the time of original registration of a caravan which is currently still registered. If the registration should lapse then it would not be re registered with the dolly. They are aware that some older inspectors in NSW did recently approve a couple but apparently this was an error.
They feel that there are now more modern alternatives which are a safer alternative. Apparently there is no longer any provision in the ACT regulations for the use of these dollies.
Koala
|
|
|
|
Post by strugglebrook on Feb 24, 2016 9:18:51 GMT 10
G`day Mr KK,
This is where the Rego people let us down, you go back there again and get a different person and you may perhaps get a different reply. You asked a question outside the box (sometimes not best to ask).
I have looked at all the towing regs national and state. Tow bars need to be approved and stamped/labelled after 1988 or 1992 depending which page. Earlier bars even so called factory or
dealer or accessory store fitted bars are not usually even marked. The Hutchinson and Hendy dollies are patent approved as was the Jones wheel.
The argument that could be used towing with a modern car post 88/92 is that most tow vans with commercial vehicles such as 4wd and cars with heavy duty suspensions which have higher tow ball weights.
Even towing hitches are not recommended for trailers with override brakes. The older cars have softer suspension therefore lower tow ball weights, I would argue in a lot of cases hitches put too much load on the tow bar mounting points especially in a non chassis car. If we are to use our old cars to tow our old caravans we need to be able to use the equipment that was/is approved to do so safely as the manufactures spent money on engineering and patent approvals.There is no mention in the current regs off dollies or Jones wheels which are actually in some cases designed/fitted from build.
Cheers JD.
|
|
|
|
Post by shesgotthelook on Feb 24, 2016 11:02:42 GMT 10
|
|
it will look more in keeping with the era than getting your springs on the car beefed up. I remember Dad having the leaves on the springs of the Customline reset or re-rolled to get the sag out of the rear. Anyway, good to be getting stuff together for the time when you will have the fun of using it, that sort of gear doesn't show up often.
and another thing Cobber, you ask if the hendy dolly would act the same if you lifted it's wheels clear of the ground, looking at the picture in a previous post I would say "yes they would" as the ball for the caravan is still set forward of the axle, strange that no mention of these features are noted in the Patent.
