How to Choose a Hand Truck
Updated on: September 22nd, 2022
When your work requires a lot of heavy lifting, it’s important to find the right tools to make your job as easy as possible. Hand trucks and dollies take the load off you and facilitate the loading, unloading, and transportation of any goods your customers require. If you think that all hand trucks are alike – think again! Many are designed with distinct features to help with specific types of terrain and products, and some brand name manufacturers such as Magliner are experts in providing options for your business. Here are some of the choices you will have to make before purchasing a hand truck:
Start with a Frame
Aluminium Straight
The most popular standard frame is a simple straight back design with supportive aluminum cross braces. They are great for general use.
Molded Straight
For something with a little more “oomph”, straight back frames with molded cross braces provide superior impact resistance while protecting against metal-to-load damage, which is important if you’re moving boxes that are prone to dents and scuffing.
Molded Curve
The most popular standard frame is a simple straight back design with supportive aluminum cross braces. They are great for general use.
Choose a Terrain-Appropriate Wheel
This might be the most underrated feature you can select in a hand truck, and yet it’s one of the most important. Similar to how you choose a bicycle with tires for roads, all-purpose or rough terrain, the type of wheel that will serve you best is one selected for the ground surface you will be traveling on the most.
Pneumatic Tires
Pneumatic tires offer great shock absorption, which protects your packages against bumps on gravel or other uneven surfaces.
Microcellular Tires
Microcellular tires offer a singular advantage in that they will never go flat or need air, and they are good for challenging surfaces.
Mold-On Rubber Tires
Mold-on rubber is the lightest wheel type, yet it’s durable and rolls well over paved surfaces.
Balloon Cushion Tires
Finally, balloon cushion tires provide excellent shock absorption and are lightweight.
Select a Handle for The Amount of Control You Want
Horizontal Loop
The horizontal loop is the most popular handle option, as it can be gripped in multiple places, making it the perfect multi-use design.
Vertical Loop
The vertical loop is the most popular handle option, as it can be gripped in multiple places, making it the perfect multi-use design.
Pistol or Single Grip
The pistol grip, or single grip, is ideal for optimum balance, and is also good for stairs, as well as navigating tight corners and spaces.
Double Grip Design
Lastly, the double grip design offers sturdy steering, a firm grip, and solid load control.
Vinyl grip covers
Vinyl grip covers are often recommended for additional cold protection in working environments with frigid winter weather or freezers and cold storage rooms.
Decide on Your Nose
Die-cast aluminum
Die-cast aluminum noses are the most popular and the highest value nose plates on the market because they are about a third the weight of steel noses. They are temperature resistant so they work well in cold weather and freezers.
Extruded aluminum
Extruded aluminum and extruded steel noses work well for scooping stacks and stair deliveries, and they have more variation in sizes, making them an excellent choice for unusual package sizes.
Consider Some Accessories
If you have a highly specific application for your hand truck, don’t fret! There are many specialized accessories that will help you be your most efficient.
Stair climbers
Stair climbers reduce the strain of lugging loads up and down steps.
Keg Hooks
Keg hooks add stability when traversing stairs and restocking bar storage.