JMI Wheeley Bars
JMI Wheeley Bars are heavy-duty, USA-made steel telescope dollies that let you move a fully assembled rig — tripod, mount, OTA, cameras and cables — from storage to your observing spot in one trip. Lock the wheels, level the base, and start observing. Rated to 300 lb, welded and built in California, and available for tripod-mounted telescopes, Astro-Physics piers and Dobsonians alike.
The Problem Every Astronomer Knows
You spent an hour setting up your imaging rig last night. Polar aligned the mount. Connected the guide camera, the imaging camera, the dew heaters, the power cables, the USB hub. Everything plate-solving and tracking perfectly.
Now it is morning and it all has to come back inside — tearing everything down, carrying it piece by piece, and doing the entire setup again tomorrow night. Most astronomers lose 30–60 minutes on each end of every session just setting up and breaking down.
A JMI Wheeley Bar eliminates all of that. Your telescope stays fully assembled. Roll it out, lock the wheels, level it, and observe. Roll it back in when you are done. Your cable routing, your polar alignment, your balance — everything stays exactly where it was.
Capacity
Up to 300 lb
Construction
Welded steel, powder-coated
Built in
California, USA by JMI
Standard on every bar
Locking wheels & leveling bolts
Shop Wheeley Bars & Accessories
How to Size Your Wheeley Bar
Getting the right size is critical. Measure the tip-to-tip distance between any two tripod legs at your preferred observing or imaging height.
Set Up Your Telescope
Set your tripod at the height you normally observe or image at. For imagers, go as low as possible for stability.
Measure Tip-to-Tip
Measure the distance between the tips (feet) of any two adjacent tripod legs. That is your tip-to-tip distance.
Account for Height
A Wheeley Bar raises your setup by about 6″ on casters or 10.25″ on pneumatic tires. Adjust your tripod height accordingly.
Select Your Size
Match your measurement to the Shorty, Medium or Large. Every size has a minimum and maximum wingspan listed in the table below.
Pro tip: For all configurations we recommend adding a tie-down bracket kit to secure and stabilise your telescope to the Wheeley Bar. The HD Shorty uses the Half Tie-Down Bracket kit; the Medium and Large use the full kit.
Which Wheeley Bar Fits Your Scope?
Universal models sit under tripod-mounted telescopes and are sized by tip-to-tip leg spread. Dobsonian models cradle the rocker box and are sized by aperture class. Select a model to see current pricing and availability.
Universal — for tripod-mounted telescopes
| Model | Tip-to-tip range | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD Shorty | 26.25″ – 31.25″ | 300 lb | Compact tripods, lowest stance, tight doorways |
| HD Medium | 34″ – 42.5″ | 300 lb | Most popular — Celestron HD, Losmandy and iOptron tripods |
| HD Large | 49″ – 56.5″ | 300 lb | Wide-leg observatory tripods, Losmandy Titan class |
| Standard Medium | 32.3″ – 36.8″ | 50 lb | Lighter visual rigs, C8-class grab-and-go |
| Astro-Physics Pier Mount | Pier-specific | 300 lb | Astro-Physics pier-mounted systems |
| Motorized Universal | Universal frame | 300 lb | Powered roll-out for heavy rigs and longer runs |
Dobsonian — for rocker-box telescopes
| Model | Aperture class | Style | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triangle-Style | 8″, 10″ and 12″ | Three-point, 5″ locking casters | Medium Dobs on smooth, flat surfaces |
| Sky Trekker 200 | 6″ – 8″ class | Cradle frame | Smaller Dobs including the 8″ Lightbridge |
| Sky Trekker 300 | 10″ – 12″ class | Cradle frame | Larger solid-tube and truss Dobs |
| Sky Trekker 350 | 14″ – 16″ class | Heavy-duty cradle | Large truss Dobs including the 16″ Lightbridge |
| Sky Trekker 400 | 18″ and larger | Heavy-duty cradle | The largest Dobs, where carrying is impractical |
| Ez-Glide Wheeley Kit | Universal | Bolt-on wheel kit | Adding mobility to an existing Dob base |
Measure before you order. If your tripod falls between two sizes, or you are unsure which model suits your Dobsonian base, contact us and we will confirm the fit before you buy.
Wheels & Terrain: Pick the Right Roll
The wheels decide where your rig can go — and how much height the bar adds under your tripod. Every Universal Wheeley Bar can be upgraded, so match the wheel to the surface you actually observe on.
Standard
2-3/8″ Locking Casters
Fitted to the Standard Medium bar. Best on smooth, hard, flat surfaces — garage floors, sealed driveways and patios.
Height added: approx. 6″
Standard on all HD bars
5″ Polyurethane Wheels
Ship standard on every Heavy-Duty model. Roll over cracked concrete, expansion seams and sidewalk joints without jarring the rig.
Height added: approx. 6″ · Upgrade kit
All-terrain upgrade
10″ Pneumatic Tires
For grass, dirt, gravel and dark-sky sites. Supplied with a tow handle so you can pull the rig instead of pushing it.
Height added: approx. 10.25″ · Upgrade kit
Two things to check before ordering an accessory:
1. Leveling-screw diameter — current Heavy-Duty bars use 5/8″; the Standard Medium and older HD bars use 1/2″. Most wheel and leveling accessories come in both. 2. Wheel size changes the fit — the HD Shorty minimum tip-to-tip rises from 26.25″ to 28.25″ when fitted with 10″ pneumatic tires.
Tie-downs, battery-pack holders, soft-ground feet, tow handles, leveling hardware and the motor drive are all in the JMI Wheeley Bar Accessories collection.