HEAVY-DUTY Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly

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Our HEAVY-DUTY Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dollies are an easier and faster way to move mounted telescopes to and from observing locations.  Easily move, lock and level the complete telescope assembly from location to location without the need to disconnect and reconnect all the electrical and computer cabling during transport.

Constructed of a sturdy steel base with locking wheels and leveling bolts, the heavy-duty versions of our Wheeley Bars are designed with heavier telescopes in mind and provide a more stable platform for imaging and high magnification viewing (planetary).

Our HEAVY-DUTY versions come in three standard sizes (“Shorty”, Medium & Large) which accommodate a variety of telescope tripods and preferred tripod heights (Tripod Tip-to-Tip Distance).  Each size has a minimum and maximum “wingspan” for doorway considerations.

The HD “Shorty” version is specifically designed for imagers and tight spaces.  It will allow for the most compact setting of your telescope tripod for the most stable imaging setup and the smallest doorways.

The HD Medium version is our most popular Wheeley Bar that accommodates most telescopes and access situations.

The HD Large version is for the largest of telescopes and for people that want to set their tripod higher off the ground for ease of access to the eyepiece.

The defining feature of each of the three models is the length of the “legs” and the corresponding “Tip-to-Tip” distance of the telescope tripod that the model will accommodate (please see the section below on Tip-to-Tip distance).

Specifications:

• Maximum weight of HD models: 300 lbs
• Tripod Tip receptacle (the hole in the end of the leg for the tripod) is 2-3/4″ I.D. Will not fit tripods with feet larger than 2-3/4 inches
• HD Shorty Tip-to-Tip Distance Range – 26.25 to 31.25 inches**
• HD Medium Tip-to-Tip Distance Range – 34 to 42.5 inches
• HD Large Tip-to-Tip Distance Range – 49 to 56.5 inches

** Please note - the HD Shorty has a minimum tip-to-tip distance of 28.25" when configured with 10" pneumatic tires.

For all configurations, we recommend the addition of our tie down bracket kit to secure and stabilize your telescope setup to the Wheeley Bar.  The “Shorty” version requires the “Half Tie Down Bracket" kit.

What is Tip-to-Tip Distance?

To be sure that your tripod or pier will fit a particular Wheeley Bar product, it is necessary to verify the tip-to-tip distance of the mount tripod.

To measure the Tip-to-Tip distance of your particular observing / imaging kit, set up your telescope at observing / imaging height.  For a primarily visual observing setup, set your tripod height for a comfortable eyepiece height.  For a primarily imaging setup, set your tripod as low as it will go as you are trying to create the most stable, vibration free setup.  Remember to make allowance for the height of the Wheeley Bars, which raises your entire setup  by 6" for the caster model and  3” height increase for the pneumatic tire option.

To recap, the procedure is:

• Setup your tripod at observing height / imaging height
• Lower your tripod 6 inches if you are getting the 5" polyurethane wheels. Lower your tripod 3.5 inches if you are getting the 10" pneumatic wheels
• Measure the distance between two tripod tips. This is the distance you should use to choose between the  HD “Shorty”, the HD Medium or the HD Large Wheeley Bars.

Doorway Measurements - We often get questions regarding the width of our Wheeley Bars to determine if they will fit through a particular doorway. The following information should help in making that determination.

• For All Universal Wheeley Bars with the 10" Large Wheel Upgrade the doorway width must be three (3) inches wider than the tip-to-tip distance.

• For models with 360 degree swivleing casters the following applies for door clearance.
  • There are two basic measurements
    • The maximum width is measured in a similar fashion as the tip-to-tip distance except that the measurement is made to the outside corner of the legs or leveling screws (typically about 3" wider than the tip-to-tip measurement of a pointed tip tripod mount).
    • The minimum measurement is from the end of one leg to the inside measurement on the opposite side. This would help in determining the narrowest door that the Wheeley Bars could possibly be maneuvered/wiggled through.

These drawings linked below should help make these measurements clear.

PDF Layout Drawing for 5" caster configuration.

PDF Layout Drawing for 10" pneumatic wheel configuration.

What Size Wheels Should I Purchase?

For hard surfaces, such as concrete sidewalks, with seams or cracks, the 5″ polyurethane wheels are best.

The large 10″ all-terrain pneumatic rubber-tire wheels are designed for field use on rough surfaces such as grass, dirt and gravel. However, great care must be taken in maneuvering on these surfaces, particularly when wet, because the wheels may sink below the surface.

How to I assemble my Wheeley Bar?

Wheeley Bar Instructions can be found here or for the 10 inch Wheel Upgrade here.