JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly

SKU: TPWUMEDHD
JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly
JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly
JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly
JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly
JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly
JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly

JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly

SKU: TPWUMEDHD
Regular price $615.00
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Customer Reviews

Based on 33 reviews
70%
(23)
9%
(3)
3%
(1)
3%
(1)
15%
(5)
R
Robert Bowman

JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly

S
Scott Chapin
Excited and loving it

The heavy duty medium wheely bar is impressive. It’s built like a tank. With the tie downs, my 19lb tripod with 42lb optics tube aren’t going anywhere unless I pull it there.

R
ROBERT RIDGLEY
Customer Service is 0

I would have loved to have been able to write a review of this item but sadly UPS damaged it during shipping, and it was returned by UPS. FarPoint's customer service number is inoperable, and they haven't answered any of my emails. FarPoint apparently is no longer in business.

I
Ian Langley
JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar

I recently purchase the JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar to act as a trolley for my SkyWatcher 400p 16" Dobsonian. I was worried about whether the base would fit on the trolley - but extending the Wheeley Bar legs to their maximum extent gave a perfect, stable fit. Very happy

P
Paul Smith
Good product, fast delivery, but nonexistent customer support

Bought the JMI Heavy-Duty Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar from FarpointAstro. FarpointAstro was kind to send an email to me when the product was again in stock. I bought it and received it 5 days latter via UPS in good shape I spent an afternoon putting the hardware together. Everything fit nicely together although the instruction book sent to me was the one for the optional larger wheels, whereas I ordered the standard 5" wheels. Complete assembly was not possible because the steel insert for one of the three legs was the wrong size (1/2" threaded hole) for its leveling screw. The standard size now for this model wheeley bar is 5/8" and two of the three legs were correct. Here is where the problem was encountered. I informed FarpointAstro of this problem and requested that the correct steal insert using their online chat. There was no response. I then tried their listed email address for customer support. After over 10 days, there has been no response to my emails. Finally, I tried the listed customer support phone number. The result here after at least a half dozen attempts was an automated message informing me that this phone line was not configured to accept outside phone calls. Quite frustrating. While waiting for a response to my multiple messages, I took the part to a machinist friend who easily and competently drilled and tapped a hole of the correct diameter and thread count. Problem solved and I have yet to hear from FarpointAstro after nearly two weeks. The wheeley bar is now complete and works great. I highly recommend the product from JMI. It is a nice piece of equipment and looks good too, just keep your fingers crossed that all of the correct parts are sent or have a machinist standing by to make any needed alterations. I am miffed as to why one cannot contact FarpointAstro customer service.

HEAVY-DUTY Medium Size Universal Wheeley Bar Telescope Dolly

Save your back!

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.

 

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