Even though most Teardrop trailers are lightweight–often around 1000lbs or less–they can still feel like a brute to move around manually. What’s more, trying to push or pull it supported just by the little tongue jack wheel you could badly hurt yourself or cause damage if you cannot fully control it.

A trailer dolly is an inexpensive assist which changes the physics of how your body moves the trailer, giving you more control, and better traction since it allows you to stand upright. Also, using a dolly means your body is further from the trailer–so if something unexpected happens, you have more safety margin.

Get the Right Trailer Dolly for your Teardrop Trailer

When shopping for a trailer dolly, the main specs to consider are:

• weight rating (usually refers to tongue weight, not gross trailer weight)
• ball height
• ball size
• wheel size (larger wheels better for gravel or uneven surfaces)

Also, do you want to have a dual handle so you can pull it with your hands or attach it to the one-point hitch of your ATV or Lawn Tractor?

On ball size, it seems a lot of the smaller capacity dollies suitable for Teardrop trailers come with a 1^7/8 inch ball. The ball can be switched out if your Teardrop, like mine, has a 2 inch coupler. That said, for the small amount of moving it about that I do, so far I’ve been getting by with the 1^7/8 ball, though for better safety I guess I should switch it.

There are also electric trailer dollies, which have an motor and battery but they tend to be for heavier trailers than most Teardrops and a lot of money relative to the cost of the trailer!

Take Dolly on the Road with You?

One of my Teardrop friends, Dave, told me he takes the dolly with him on trips because it’s an easy way to manoeuvre the trailer into or out of tight spots, or do a bit of minor repositioning without having to set up the whole towing rig. Having been in a few tight spots with the Teardrop myself, this would have been an enormous help–and would have cut down a lot on swearing LOL. Though Dave has a truck with a lot more space for gear than I have in my car.

So, that’s how I do things with my Teardrop Trailer but by no means the full story or the best way. What about you? Add your own methods, ideas and experiences using the comment box below for the benefit of all readers.