Heavy Duty · 300 lb capacity
Save your back — roll your whole telescope outside in one trip.
The JMI Heavy-Duty “Shorty” Universal Wheeley Bar is the most compact member of the heavy-duty Universal family. Move a fully assembled tripod-mounted telescope from storage to your observing spot — no disconnecting mount cables, cameras, or power between sessions. Lock the wheels, level the base on its built-in leveling bolts, and start observing. Built on a sturdy welded-steel frame by JMI (part of the CXB Astro family) and made in the USA.
The Shorty is purpose-built for imagers and tight spaces. Its short legs allow the most compact, lowest, most stable tripod setting — and the smallest doorway clearance — while still carrying a fully loaded rig up to 300 lb. Need a taller setup or a wider tripod spread? Compare the HD Medium and HD Large below.
Specifications
Maximum load
300 lb total — tripod, mount, OTA, and all accessories combined
Tip-to-tip distance
26.25″ – 31.25″ (28.25″ minimum with 10″ pneumatic tires)
Tripod tip receptacle
2-3/4″ I.D. — fits tripod feet up to 2-3/4″
Standard package
5″ polyurethane wheels + 5/8″ heavy-duty leveling screws
Construction
Welded steel, locking wheels, leveling bolts. Made in USA.
Best for
Imagers and tight spaces — most compact setting, smallest doorways
Which Wheeley Bar Size Fits Your Tripod?
Measure your tripod’s tip-to-tip distance at observing height, then match it to a model below. The heavy-duty models all carry up to 300 lb; the standard-duty Medium suits lighter rigs up to 50 lb.
Model
Capacity
Tip-to-tip range
Medium (Standard)
50 lb
32.3″ – 36.8″
HD ShortyThis model
300 lb
26.25″ – 31.25″*
HD Medium
300 lb
34″ – 42.5″
HD Large
300 lb
49″ – 56.5″
*HD Shorty minimum tip-to-tip is 28.25″ when configured with 10″ pneumatic tires.
Configure & Upgrade Your Wheeley Bar
The Shorty ships ready to roll on hard, flat surfaces with 5″ wheels and heavy-duty 5/8″ leveling screws. Add the upgrades that match where and how you observe — all available in our Wheeley Bar Accessories collection:
5″ Wheels — Standard
Ships standard on all heavy-duty models. Smooth, stable ride on concrete, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces.
10″ Pneumatic Tires + Tow Handle
All-terrain upgrade for grass, dirt, and gravel. Sets the Shorty’s minimum tip-to-tip to 28.25″.
Half Tie-Down Bracket Kit
The Shorty uses the compact half kit to secure and stabilize your mount on the bar.
Recommended: the Shorty requires the Half Tie-Down Bracket Kit (not the full kit) to lock your telescope securely to the Wheeley Bar — especially important when moving over uneven ground.
Made in the USA
Every JMI Wheeley Bar is welded, assembled, and tested in the USA — click to watch how they’re built (the video also plays in the product gallery above).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tip-to-tip distance, and how do I measure it?
Tip-to-tip distance is the spread between two of your tripod’s feet at observing height — it’s how you confirm your tripod fits a given Wheeley Bar. To measure:
1. Set your tripod to observing height (comfortable eyepiece height for visual; as low as practical for imaging stability).
2. Lower the tripod ~6″ for the standard 5″ wheels, or ~3.5″ if you upgrade to 10″ pneumatic tires — this accounts for the lift the Wheeley Bar adds.
3. Measure between any two tripod tips. Match that number to the comparison table above (26.25″–31.25″ for the Shorty; 28.25″ minimum if you run 10″ tires).
Which wheels should I choose?
Heavy-duty models ship with 5″ polyurethane wheels (the older 2-3/8″ wheels are no longer offered on HD bars). The 5″ wheels are ideal for concrete, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces. For grass, dirt, or gravel, upgrade to the 10″ all-terrain pneumatic tires — take care on soft or wet ground, where the tires can sink in.
Will it fit through my doorway?
With the 10″ large-wheel upgrade, your doorway must be at least 3″ wider than your tip-to-tip distance. For swiveling-caster models, the widest point is measured to the outside corners of the legs/leveling screws (about 3″ wider than tip-to-tip); the narrowest point — one leg end to the inside of the opposite side — tells you the tightest door you could wiggle through. The Shorty’s short legs make it the easiest model to fit through tight doorways. The layout drawings below show these measurements clearly.
Layout Drawings
Not sure which Wheeley Bar is right for you?
Compare every model and walk through the full sizing guide.
See the full guide Shop all Wheeley Bars
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