When you need to move a load in a tight area like a hallway and can’t afford to tilt the load or if you have material handling equipment that extends past the load, a dolly is the moving equipment of choice. The small platform of the dolly will easily fit under a heavy object, raising the load up and making it much easier to move as if the load now had temporary wheels attached to it.
Under the dolly are either casters or rollers that allow the dolly — and the heavy object on top of it — to move easily and smoothly. For moving in a straight line, rollers are ideal. However, if you need more maneuverability, you will want a dolly with casters that can swivel and turn. The proper dolly is important, but it is also important to properly load the dolly to avoid problems.
Below are two areas to take caution in when loading a dolly so you can prevent damage. We’ve also included a description of the proper loading procedure to follow:
Don’t Overload Your Dolly
While many dollies have high load limits, it is important that the dolly is not overloaded. Having a load that is too heavy can lead to improper or difficult caster movement, caster and wheel wear and even potentially catastrophic caster failure while the dolly is in use. While overloading may not initially cause noticeable problems, small amounts of damage can cause problems with your dolly over time. These problems will lead to poor performance and potential failure. For large loads consider a dolly such as the HeviMover:
- HeviMover Machine Roller Model BC2637: This extremely heavy-duty dolly from Wesco is made from steel with steel rollers for motion. This model is great for putting under the extra large loads that need to easily slide in and out of place. The unit is 6.5” by 12.75” with a height of 4.875” with 1.1875” steel rollers. The unit weighs 52 pounds but can carry a phenomenal load of 30000 pounds. An optional steering handle is available.
Lower the Load Onto the Dolly — Don’t Drop it
Casters and rollers are made to carry a certain maximum dynamic load limit, but this is for a steady load application. A quick drop will exceed these static loads momentarily, which can cause damage to the casters and eventually lead to caster failure. It is best to use a piece of equipment such as a crane, forklift or pallet lift, which will allow you to slowly lower the load onto the dolly.
Even though the following dolly can carry 10000 pounds, a load of 10000 pounds will cause damage when dropped onto the dolly, as the temporary load would exceed 10000 pound due to the force of gravity:
- Steel Deck Machine Dolly Model: This basic machine dolly from Wesco has a solid steel construction with 2” steel wheels to provide great strength and durability. The unit is 8.5” by 11.75” with a height of 2.5”, which makes it great for placing under a container than needs to be easily moved. The unit itself weighs 11.84 pounds but holds an enormous capacity of 10000 pounds. An optional steering handle is available.
Best Practice in Loading a Dolly
What is the best way to place a heavy load onto a dolly such as a large piece of equipment on a pallet?
- It is best to raise the load using a controllable piece of material handling equipment such as a forklift, crane hoist or pallet truck.
- With the load in the air, safely held in place, roll the dolly into place under the load. When using one dolly it should be centered under the load, but different configurations can be used when more than one dolly is placed under the load. This can include four dollies on the corners of the load for instance.
- Slowly lower the load onto the dolly in a controlled manner in order to set the load without dropping it.
Below are some pieces of crane hoisting equipment that can be installed to aid in the safe and efficient loading of dollies. Remember you can also use other lifting equipment that allows for you to lower the load slowly:
- Wesco Trolleys: These heavy-duty trolleys are designed for flexibility of installation, can be used on straight or curved track and adjust for a wide variety of beam widths by simply removing the end nut. For added simplicity these trolleys can be added or removed from any point in the track. To match the chain hoists below these units come in load capacities of 1000 pounds to 10000 pounds
- Wesco Chain Hoists: These high quality economical hoists come in load capacities from 1000 pounds to 10000 pounds and chain pulls vary from 50 pounds to 90 pounds over the load capacity range. The hoists have a lubrication free load brake for positive load control, swivel hooks with latches on all models for safety in a wide range of applications. They have low headroom for easy installation, hardened chain for long life and come in 10 and 20-foot lifts.
When You Need to Find the Right Material handling Equipment Turn to Doulas Equipment
If you need a dolly or any other piece of material handling equipment Douglas Equipment is your first stop for quality products and quality advice. We have been in the material handling equipment business for almost 60 years and our dedicated service team has the knowledge and know-how to help you with any questions you may have when it comes to choosing the right dolly for your needs.
You can contact us here and one of our team will make sure that you have the answers to all your questions. If you are local to South Florida you can call us at 305-888-3700, and national customers can call us toll free at 800-451-0030. Our customer service team is here and ready to serve you with the information you need when you are choosing the material handling equipment you need for your task at hand.
