What to look for in an Appliance Dolly

Few items are as difficult and dangerous to move as an appliance. From bulky refrigerators and  freezers to heavy safes and commercial appliances what you move should dictate what you look for in a hand truck. Solid construction, durable materials and efficient design are all critical to safe handling of big machines. Here are the things you need to consider:

1. Steel Frame – the key to handling an appliance safely is having a rigid support structure that can handle the weight. For appliances, it can only be steel. Aluminum, while strong, is far too pliable and soft for weightier loads such as appliances. Plastic, fiberglass or nylon frames and components are also completely inappropriate for appliance handling.
2. The Right Wheels – Dutro’s appliance hand trucks all have similarities. But the greatest difference between the models are usually manifest in the wheels. The surface you move your appliance on matters, so the wheels you decide on matters. Large, treaded tires are great for rough and uncertain terrain. Smaller and smooth wheels provide the best maneuverability on smoother surfaces such as concrete floors or tiled surfaces.
3. Straps – Securing the load is vital to containing the weight, balancing the handtruck and using the wheels to do the heavy moving. This is especially true of very tall appliance dollies that are sometimes taller than the person using them. In fact, most appliances are so bulky and some so weighty that trying to move them without a strap is impossible. Take a close look  at the mechanism securing the strap. Rachets are quick and easier to use, while more manual lock-handle strap mechanisms might prove easier when moving the same kinds of appliances over and over again.
4. Strap Mechanisms – Securing the strap means strategically placing it around the appliance and tightening it again the appliance dolly, effectively making the dolly and the appliance a single unit that moves together.
5. Stair Rollers and Swing-Outs – Load assistant mechanisms such as stair rollers and swing outs give an appliance hand truck greater capabilities over tough surfaces such as stairs. A stair roller allows you to use the strength of the frame to roll over steps with more than just the wheels, relieving stress on the back and minimizing bounces that might damage an appliance. Swing-outs are simple structural extensions that relieve the strength needed to balance the appliance on the wheels, making the moving of bulky items over a distance easier.

Appliance dollies are generally engineered to move just appliances. They usually not appropriate for moving stacks of cartons or ultra-large pieces of furniture such as couches. But they remain the go-to option for anything with a low center of gravity and bulk that can be secured to the frame of the truck.