Anyone who has ever had to move a heavy object across a shop floor or transport equipment from one part of a warehouse to another understands the benefits of having a high-quality dolly.
But industrial dollies come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are designed for specific types of use. Before you invest in a dolly for your warehouse or manufacturing facility, make sure you research what types of dollies are available so you can get the right one for your specific needs.
Dollies are pushed by hand and typically come with either two or four wheels. In most cases, these wheels are connected to casters that allow the dolly to change direction instantly, without the need for a turn radius such as you would find in forklift, materials lift of other propelled vehicle.
Here is a review of some of the most popular types of dollies and their uses:
Appliance Dollies — Also known as a hand truck or a “two-wheeler”, an appliance dolly has two wheels connected to a smaller foot and a longer base. The foot is placed under the item to be used — such as a refrigerator or a stack of boxes — then the item is tilted back onto the tall base. The weight is then balanced on the two wheels as the item is pushed by hand to wherever it is supposed to go.
Another type of appliance dolly has four wheels and a long rectangular base. The heavy item — which an include such things as a washer or dryer, or a dishwasher — is lifted onto the base and then pushed by hand to its final destination.
Which type of appliance dolly is used depends primarily on the type of objects that are going to be moved most frequently. Hand trucks are more difficult to push and steer and require the user to become accustomed to balancing the load while moving, but don’t require the lifting of heavy objects. Instead, the operator’s own weight is used as a counter-balance to get the object balanced over the two wheels, in most cases.
Furniture Dollies — Similar to the four-wheel appliance dolly, a furniture dolly usually has a wooden frame that is covered with a soft material, usually carpet, that isn’t going to scratch or leave markings on furniture being moved. Furniture dollies are used to move objects over shorter distances.
Car Tow Dollies — These types of dollies are used to transport cars or other vehicles across long distances. They are commonly seen attached to the back of recreational vehicles or moving trucks. The front wheels of the car are rolled onto the dolly and the car is secured onto the dolly using a combination of chains and straps. The rear wheels remain touching the ground. The car is then placed into neutral gear and can easily be towed to wherever it needs to go.
The benefit of using car tow dolly is that a single driver can move two vehicles simultaneously.
Trailer Dollies — Used to move power vehicles such as snowmobiles or jet skis over short distances, trailer dollies are hand-operated and have an adjustable trailer hitch and long handle. They are convenient for maneuvering objects into tight spaces that a car or other vehicle might not be able to reach.