The Best Dollies To Make Moving a Breeze

Best Dollies Buying Guide

Before you buy a dolly or hand truck, there are some things you need to consider. In this guide, we will be exploring some of the things to look out for before you make your choice.

What Is a Dolly Necessary For?

There are several reasons why you should get yourself a dolly. The first reason is the freedom it offers to move modern and old cars to where they should be. Also, they can be instrumental regardless of whether you are a professional mechanic or a single car owner.

Another reason is the strength it offers, which makes it a reliable tool in your garage. They usually come rated at 1,500 pounds each, and the dollies are tough enough to carry the weight of an average car for an extended period. In addition, using a set of dollies as your work will allow you to move your vehicle in diverse ways without the need to use a braking system or steering wheels. The final reason is their versatility, as they can handle wheels and cars of different types.

Types of Hand Trucks

Knowing the different types of hand trucks out there will certainly help simplify the search process. Here are the types:

Upright

Usually, traditional carts are upright and can carry large loads and objects. They can take as much as 500 pounds, even though some may hold more than 500 pounds. Such hand trucks usually have a strap and two wheels, which help to keep items in place. In this case, a decent upright dolly should be able to carry 50 lbs load.

Specialty

Specialty hand trucks also referred to as dollies, are designed to help carry heavy things such as machinery, crates, and furniture. Such hand trucks come with four wheels, and you can place the heavy item directly on the horizontal platform and wheeled it with ease. Such hand trucks do not have the advantage of security straps for stability. Four wheel dollies are tough, and can be used if you are moving heavier, larger items like furniture.

Convertible

The last type is the convertible truck which usually has four wheels and come built to handle heavy things weighing 1,500 pounds. Such a hand moving truck may be used in upright and vertical positions. They can also easily switch between a four-wheeled position and a two-wheeled position.

Key Features To Look Out for When Buying a Dolly

Here are some vital factors you need to consider before you buy a dolly or hand truck.

Brakes

Certain dollies are made with breaks that are compatible with different types of wheels. Having this provides an extra layer of security for your car. Although unlikely, it can be dangerous losing control of your dollied car. Thus, having dollies that come with breaks is a necessity when buying.

Build

When searching for dollies, you need to consider their toughness. You should get one with wheels, surface, and hardware that use hard materials such as steel. Heavy-duty four wheel dollies can make moving much faster and easier. The quality will increase both the longevity and performance of the dolly. Materials such as aluminum have their added perks which makes them a unique choice amongst most people.

Weight rating

This is vital if you don’t intend to go beyond the weight capacity of the dolly. Exceeding the weight capacity can cause failure or instability and put your safety and that of the car in jeopardy. Note that the greater the weight capacity of the dolly, the higher the range of the vehicles it can carry.

Comfort and convenience

You will find dollies made with straps or handles, which makes it easy to convey them. This can be pretty useful if you want to move your car between garages, car shows and other locations. Many of them can be used for objects such as furniture.

Design

There are three core variations of dollies which include the upright, specialty and convertible. You can use the suitable models to carry loads that weigh more than 500 pounds. But you may encounter some heavy-duty ones who support something more than this.

The convertible variants come with four wheels as against the usual two. Such trucks come with versatility because they can double up as carts whenever they are positioned in a horizontal direction. Also, they can carry more weight than their convertible counterparts. A specialty moving truck comes designed to lift a particular item which may be a specific bag, machinery, and the like.

How portable is it?

Another critical factor you need to consider when scouting for your hand truck is portability. Although many of them come fitted with wheels, you still need to confirm their portability. For example, if you intend to go for a folding truck, make sure that it is light and that it helps facilitate the easy movement of cargo. In addition to this, such a truck ought to be able to fold up with ease to save storage space.

Brand quality

With several options out there, you need to be careful with the dolly you end up choosing. The easiest way to know the best choice is to check for reviews of the best carts online. You may also get references from previous users of these carts to make a clear idea of the best choice.

Tips for Using Your Dolly

• When you are freely moving your car, having a spotter is always vital. They can help you keep away debris.
• Also, make sure you never tow a car that has dollies. In the case of RVers, using a tow dolly is the best way to pull it. The car’s free skating design makes it challenging to handle a towed vehicle.
• In addition, you should ensure you are working within the limits of your dolly’s carrying capacity. Many of the dollies around are rated at about 1,500 pounds.
• Ensure that you do not leave the dollies lying on the floor when you are not using them. Doing this could lead to a slip hazard. The best thing is to keep them stacked in a corner or stored in a rack.
• Finally, when you are using a hydraulic rack, ensure that you adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions with regard to movement and placement.

If you want to learn more on how to use a dolly or hand truck, check the video from Buddytruk.

How Much Does a Dolly Cost?

Now is the best time to be shopping for your dolly. The options out there in the market are numerous. Unlike many other products that come with meager prices, good quality dollies can be gotten irrespective of their quality. Depending on what you want, you can get a decent upright or folding dolly for between $30 and $60.

However, if you desire the extra features of the moving truck, you must be willing to pay extra. Note that not every dolly has pneumatic tires or the ability to switch to a horizontal state. This, however, doesn’t mean that you need to spend a lot to get good quality. With a $100 budget, you should get a decent dolly with such features.

Also, there is a different class of dollies that are fitted with stair climbers. Such dollies are usually very expensive, and you should have a budget between $200 and $800.

On the other hand, you may buy stair climber kits which cost about $40. Even though they appear cheaper, they have a slight snag which is that you need to manually operate them because they depend on leverage instead of wheels.

Conclusion

When getting your dolly, quality should be your primary focus. Each of the products reviewed in this piece has been tested for quality and service delivery. Also, the tips outlined in the buyer’s guide should help you make only the right decisions.