Frame Horn Dolly, Dual-Wheel — Shop Mobility Tool for Transmission-Out VW Chassis (Beetle, Bus, Ghia, Thing, Type 3) | #T01

Heavy-duty dual-wheel frame horn dolly designed by Washburn's Metal — purpose-built for moving a transmission-out VW chassis around the shop or garage without scraping the frame horns or damaging the floor pan. The dual-wheel design distributes load over both frame horns simultaneously for stable, controlled movement of even a fully-stripped pan. Part #T01.

Why a frame horn dolly is essential for serious restoration work

Once you've pulled the transmission out of a VW chassis — Bus, Type 3, Ghia, Thing, or Beetle — the rear of the pan is now sitting on the frame horns instead of rolling on its own wheels. Move the chassis even a few inches without proper support and you'll bend or scrape the frame horns, gouge the floor, or worse.

The frame horn dolly cradles the frame horns and rolls them on heavy-duty casters. Suddenly the chassis is fully mobile — you can push it around your garage with one hand, rotate it 180° in place, get it out of the way to do other work, or position it precisely for body lowering, alignment, or further fabrication.

For anyone restoring a VW or building from a bare pan, this is one of those tools that costs less than you'd expect and saves an incredible amount of frustration and damage.

Specifications

• Design: Dual-wheel frame horn dolly
• Capacity: Supports a full VW chassis with transmission removed
• Wheels: Dual heavy-duty casters
• Manufacturer: Washburn's Metal (made in USA)
• Part number: #T01

Fitment

• VW Beetle: all years (pre-1968 frame horn geometry preferred)
• VW Bus / Transporter: pre-1968 split-window and early Bay Window
• VW Karmann Ghia: all years
• VW Type 3: all years
• VW Thing: 1973–1974

Designed for: Chassis work where the transmission is removed and the rear of the pan rests on the frame horns. Particularly useful for early Buses, Type 3s, Ghias, and Things that don't roll easily without their drivetrain.

FAQ

Do I need this if I'm working on a Beetle?
Yes, but to a lesser degree. Beetles can sometimes be moved on their front trailing arms even with the transmission out, but it's awkward and damages the floor. A frame horn dolly makes it much easier.

How is this different from a regular shop dolly?
A regular flat dolly doesn't cradle the frame horns — it just gives them something to rest on, which lets them slip off and damage the chassis. The frame horn dolly has specific cradles sized for VW frame horns, locking the chassis in place while still allowing free rolling.

Will it work on rough garage floors?
The dual heavy-duty casters handle typical garage surfaces — smooth concrete, painted concrete, sealed surfaces. Very rough or cracked floors may require additional surface prep or temporary plywood paths.

Can I store the dolly under the chassis long-term?
Yes. Many builders leave the dolly under the chassis throughout a multi-month restoration — it's stable enough to support the pan during fabrication, body work, and final assembly until the transmission goes back in.

How heavy a chassis can it support?
A complete bare VW pan with body off, transmission out, and engine out. For Bus chassis with the body still attached, evaluate the total weight versus the dolly's capacity — for very heavy assemblies, additional dollies or jack stands may be needed.

Made in USA?
Yes, fabricated by Washburn's Metal.