Universal Caster Kit · For Wooden-Base Dobsonians
Roll your Dob outside without lifting it — and gain about 7″ of eyepiece height.
The JMI Ez-Glide Wheeley Kit is a user-installable caster system that permanently bolts to the base of your Dobsonian — your scope itself gains smooth-rolling wheels. No lifting, no disassembly, no separate dolly to roll the scope onto. Roll the assembled telescope from storage to your observing spot, lock the wheels, and start observing. Made in the USA by JMI, part of the CXB Astro family.
Unlike kits designed for a single brand, the Ez-Glide is built for universal compatibility with virtually any wooden-base Dobsonian — most GSO and Synta-based scopes including Apertura, Zhumell, Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Orion, Meade, and Antares. The mounting plates have multiple hole patterns optimized for popular ground-board layouts, so the same kit works across many brands and aperture sizes.
Specifications
What's included
Three steel mounting plates · three 5″ Total Lock polyurethane casters (lock both wheel and swivel) · self-tapping screws for the ground board · 1/4″-20 cap screws for the casters
Tools you'll need
Phillips screwdriver · 7/16″ wrench
Eyepiece height gain
Approximately 7″ — less bending at the eyepiece, easier observing with or without a chair
Mounting plates
High tensile strength steel — 2.7× stiffer than aluminum for less vibration. UV-stable textured black powder-coat finish.
Casters
5″ Total Lock polyurethane casters — lock both wheel rotation and swivel for maximum stability. Best on hard, smooth surfaces (concrete, garage floor, pavement).
Compatibility
Virtually any wooden-base Dobsonian — most GSO and Synta-based models. See the supported brands list below.
Construction
Steel mounting plates, polyurethane casters, locking brakes. Made in USA.
Supported Dobsonian Brands
The Ez-Glide is engineered to fit the GSO and Synta-style ground-board layouts used across many of the most popular Dobsonian brands:
- Apertura (AD series and other Dobs)
- Zhumell (Z8, Z10, Z12, and others)
- Celestron Dobsonians (including StarSense Explorer)
- Sky-Watcher Classic / Traditional Dobsonians
- Orion SkyQuest / XT series
- Meade LightBridge
- Antares Dobsonians
- Most other wooden-base, GSO- or Synta-built Dobsonians
Not sure if your scope is compatible? Check whether your ground board is wood and uses a standard 3-foot layout — if yes, the Ez-Glide almost certainly fits. Email support@cxbastro.com with your model name if you'd like us to confirm.
Smooth surfaces only. Polyurethane casters perform best on concrete, garage floors, and paved paths. They are not ideal for grass, gravel, dirt, or rough/uneven terrain. If you observe primarily off-pavement, see the comparison below — our Sky Trekker series uses 10″ pneumatic tires built for all-terrain rolling, and the Triangle Style works for encoder-equipped Dobs.
Ez-Glide vs. Other Dobsonian Mobility Options
The Ez-Glide takes a fundamentally different approach from our Sky Trekker and Triangle Style Wheeley Bars: the wheels go directly on your scope, not on a separate platform. Each approach has its strengths:
Option
Approach
Best for
Ez-Glide KitThis product
Bolts wheels to the Dob itself
One-time install, lowest price, raises eyepiece ~7″, universal brand fit, smooth-surface use
Dob sits on a wheeled platform
All-terrain 10″ pneumatic wheels, integrated leveling screws, removable platform
Dob sits on open-center platform
Encoder-equipped Dobs (8″–12″), budget-friendly, locking casters, optional leveling
See our full Wheeley Bars guide for a complete walk-through of how to pick the right mobility solution for your scope and your observing surface.
Installation
The Ez-Glide is designed to be installed at home with basic hand tools. Three steel mounting plates attach to the underside of your Dob's ground board using the included self-tapping screws (Phillips screwdriver). Each caster bolts to a plate with the included 1/4″-20 cap screws (7/16″ wrench). Most observers complete the installation in under an hour. The kit is a permanent upgrade — once installed, the casters stay on the scope for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Ez-Glide fit my Dobsonian?
Almost certainly yes if your Dob has a wooden ground board with a standard 3-foot layout. The mounting plates have multiple hole patterns to fit the most common GSO and Synta-built Dobsonians — that covers Apertura, Zhumell, Celestron (including StarSense Explorer), Sky-Watcher Classic/Traditional, Orion SkyQuest/XT, Meade LightBridge, Antares, and many others. If your Dob has a metal or non-standard ground board, email support@cxbastro.com with the model name and we'll confirm before you order.
How is this different from the Sky Trekker or Triangle Style Wheeley Bars?
The Ez-Glide bolts directly onto your scope's ground board — the wheels become part of your Dob. The Sky Trekker and Triangle Style are separate wheeled platforms that your assembled Dob sits on top of, then rolls away with you. Each approach has its place: Ez-Glide is the simplest, lowest-cost option and adds ~7″ of eyepiece height; the Sky Trekker series adds all-terrain 10″ pneumatic tires plus integrated leveling screws; the Triangle Style adds an open-center platform for encoder-equipped Dobs.
Will the casters work on grass or gravel?
Not well. The 5″ polyurethane casters are designed for hard, smooth surfaces — concrete, garage floors, pavement, indoor floors. On lawn, gravel, dirt, or rough terrain they'll struggle, dig in, or catch on irregularities. If you mostly observe off-pavement, the Sky Trekker series with 10″ pneumatic tires is the better choice. Indoor storage to a paved patio? Ez-Glide is perfect.
Does the eyepiece height really go up by 7 inches?
Approximately yes. The exact lift depends on your specific scope, but on most installations the base sits about 7 inches higher than it does on its original feet. That's a meaningful ergonomic improvement: less bending at the eyepiece during long observing sessions, and an easier viewing height whether you use an observing chair or stand.
What does "Total Lock" mean on these casters?
All three casters included with the Ez-Glide are Total Lock casters — a single lever locks both the wheel rotation and the swivel at the same time. A simple caster brake only stops the wheel from rotating, leaving the swivel free to pivot left and right. Total Lock locks both, giving a completely rigid, locked-down feel that's useful for high-magnification visual work and any imaging from a stationary position.
Why steel mounting plates instead of aluminum?
High tensile strength steel is roughly 2.7 times stiffer than aluminum at the same weight. The added stiffness means less flex and less vibration transfer up into the optical tube — your views stay sharper, especially at higher magnifications and especially when you're touching the scope to focus or sketch. The plates also carry a UV-stable textured black powder-coat finish so they stay clean-looking and corrosion-resistant outdoors for years.
Is the kit a permanent installation? Can I remove it later?
The Ez-Glide is designed as a permanent upgrade — the mounting plates attach with self-tapping screws to the underside of the ground board, and most observers leave them on indefinitely. If you ever needed to remove the kit, the screws can be backed out and the plates lifted off. You'd be left with small screw holes in the ground board's underside, which are not visible during normal use.
Not sure which Dobsonian mobility option is right for you?
Walk through every Wheeley Bar and caster option side by side.
See the full guide Shop all Wheeley Bars
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