Aluminum Hand Trucks and Dollies

Our selection of aluminum handtrucks and dollies include convertibles and long-bladed toe plates that make carrying large cartons easier. Featuring large wheels and broad handles these hand trucks are good on varied surfaces and are light enough to be stowed in a truck easily.

The Truth about the Advantages and Disadvantages of Aluminum

A debate has long raged in the material handling industry about the use of aluminum versus steel. Which is better, what is stronger, which is cheaper – it’s all the selling rage to knock one over the other.

We see it differently. We see them as a means to different ends. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s begin with aluminum:

  1. It’s cheaper. Aluminum is simply cheaper to obtain, making hand trucks made of aluminum less expensive.
  2. It’s lighter. Handling an aluminum hand truck is better when moving from truck-to-warehouse because it is lighter.
  3. It reduces fatigue. Workplace safety and end-user-fatigue is often cited by makers of aluminum hand trucks and hand carts as an advantage. But there is no data to prove it.

But steel has different advantages:

  1. It’s more durable. Fact: aluminum hand trucks just don’t last as long. We believe this is true because many try to use aluminum equipment beyond their capabilities.
  2. It can handle bigger loads. Steel is very hard to bend. That makes overall capacity on steel trucks higher than their aluminum counterparts.
  3. It is less prone to breakdown. Aluminum is a soft metal. Repeated use beyond rated capabilities means it will breakdown. Axels and plates bend, sometimes even handles break.

So it all comes down to two questions: your needs and your budget.

If your needs are inclusive of lighter-weight loads more in line with the capacity of your aluminum hand truck or cart the aluminum might be the way to go. If your budget requires a lower spend, then aluminum is a legit option as well.