Should I Buy a Trailer Dolly For Moving My Boat?
Yes! You should absolutely buy a trailer dolly for moving your boat. Who enjoys struggling to reposition the boat while it’s in the garage or driveway?
I sure don’t. There’s never a good place to grab and pull, and when I push, I struggle to see where I’m heading and inevitably run into something with the motor.
At least, that’s how it used to be.
Using a trailer dolly to move my boat has kept me from tweaking my back, made repositioning easier, and made it easier to see where I’m moving it since I’m not hunched over.
But which trailer dolly is best for you? Let’s find out!
Types of Trailer Dollies
There are two general types of trailer dollies: manual and electric. Each type has benefits and drawbacks, making one a better choice for you.
Manual Trailer Dollies
Pros
- Saves money
- More compact
- Reduces the risk of injury
- Easier to maneuver your boat
- Require less maintenance
Many boaters opt for manual trailer dollies because they’re less expensive and more compact than electric dollies. They take up less space while they’re not being used, which is most of the time, and some models, like the Trailer Valet 5X, can be mounted directly to your trailer.
Using a manual dolly allows you to remain in a more athletic position instead of hunching over and pulling or pushing on the trailer or boat. This means far fewer injuries while moving your boat.
Speaking of moving your boat, using a manual dolly makes it easier to maneuver your boat, especially in tight quarters like your driveway and garage. Hooking up the trailer to your vehicle isn’t always the best option, as you might need to position your boat a certain way so it fits in the garage.
Using a dolly also reduces the likelihood of running into something with the boat motor because you can see and move your boat much better than with your vehicle or without a dolly.
Many boaters also prefer manual dollies because they require less maintenance and are easier to fix than electric trailer dollies. I know I have enough stuff around the house that needs more maintenance than it gets, so why add something else to the never-ending list?
Cons
- You still have to exert energy to move your boat
I’m a big fan of manual trailer dollies, probably because I’m frugal, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for you because they still have a significant drawback.
Even though manual dollies make moving your boat easy, it’s still not effortless. An electric trailer dolly makes moving your boat and trailer as easy as pushing buttons. And I’m really good at pushing buttons, as I always push my wife’s buttons!
Electric Trailer Dollies
Pros
- Effortless maneuverability
- Virtually zero risk of injury
- Fun to use
Electric trailer dollies offer users effortless maneuverability, meaning gone are the days of struggling to push your boat uphill or through the grass—let the robots do that for you! If you can operate the TV remote, you can operate the RVR.
You remain out of harm's way because you’re using a remote and electric dolly. With the enhanced safety of electric dollies, you won’t have to worry about tweaking your back or kicking your shin on the hitch (at least while you’re moving it!). However, you might get thumb cramps from pushing the buttons on the remote!
Lastly, if you enjoyed playing with RC cars as a kid, you’ll enjoy moving your boat trailer with an electric boat trailer dolly. You might find you enjoy moving your boat more than you enjoy taking it out! Okay, that’s probably a stretch, but you won’t dread moving it as you did before owning an RVR.
Cons
- Expensive
- More Maintenance
As great as electric dollies are, they still have a few downsides that will keep some from buying them. The biggest is the price compared to manual dollies. Electric dollies are expensive, but if you have a bad back, the few thousand dollars will be well worth it.
Electric dollies also require more maintenance than manual dollies; however, it’s not as much as you might think, so even if you don’t enjoy performing essential maintenance, taking care of an electric dolly isn’t a big deal.
Which Trailer Dolly is Best for You?
Now that you know the question isn’t whether you should buy a trailer dolly for moving your boat but which dolly you should purchase, it’s time to decide which dolly is best for your situation: a manual dolly or an electric dolly.
Most boaters opt for a manual dolly because they’re less expensive, need less maintenance, and make moving a boat trailer much more manageable.
However, others opt for an electric dolly because it’s effortless, especially when moving their boat trailer uphill or through the grass. Plus, it makes moving their boat fun again by bringing back memories of driving their RC cars!
Whatever type of trailer dolly you purchase, you’ll be glad you did the next time you need to move your boat.
Author BIO
Wes Littlefield is an avid outdoorsman who loves hunting and fishing with his family, often involving various trailers. He grew up on a farm where he had to learn to load and back a trailer before he could legally drive. He’s hauled everything from furniture, hunting gear, campers, boats, kayaks, tractors, skid steers, and lawn equipment.
As a freelance writer and content creator, he’s the lead writer for Ammo.com, YourBassGuy.com, and owns OKDiscGolfer.com.