Caster Wheel Upgrade for Asphalt Driveways

[StahlBenz]

Hello everyone. I have a mobile automotive service business and I currently use a US General six drawer cart that is lowered from the stepvan via liftgate and rolled right to the customer’s vehicle.

The stock wheels aren’t cutting it. I need something that will roll more easily over asphalt driveways that sometimes are in rough shape. What are your recommendations? I don’t mind spending the money on them to improve my life. Also interested in ones that have suspension if it will help me.

Thank you.

 

[MOS3522]

You need pneumatic wheels that will handle irregular ground. Quality ones will not be cheap.

Example:

Heavy Duty Pneumatic Casters | Allied Caster

Buy Bulk and Wholesale Heavy Duty Pneumatic Casters, in-stock now from Allied Caster. Allied Caster's Heavy Duty Pneumatic Casters' are ideal for heavy-duty applications, indoors or outdoors, and on a variety of uneven or jagged surfaces.

www.alliedcaster.com

 

[MovingAlong]

Hello everyone. I have a mobile automotive service business and I currently use a US General six drawer cart that is lowered from the stepvan via liftgate and rolled right to the customer’s vehicle.

The stock wheels aren’t cutting it. I need something that will roll more easily over asphalt driveways that sometimes are in rough shape. What are your recommendations? I don’t mind spending the money on them to improve my life. Also interested in ones that have suspension if it will help me.

Thank you.

Wheel diameter is everything, pneumatic helps too. Just remember that larger castor wheels create wider radius's when they turn. That will undermine the stability of your cart IF you mount them in the same place... Would recommend building a larger/wider base to mount the cart on.

Or if you want simple, maybe cut the legs down and mount to a wagon.. try not to raise your center of gravity.

 

[StahlBenz]

Thank you guys. I found some 8” dia. pneumatics. Stock wheels are 5” dia. Do you think stability would still be an issue in this case? Thanks again.

 

[MovingAlong]

Thank you guys. I found some 8” dia. pneumatics. Stock wheels are 5” dia. Do you think stability would still be an issue in this case? Thanks again.

I do. You're adding an 1.5" to the radius (turns under the cart) AND 1.5" to your center of gravity.

Could be as simple as bolting a wider 3/4" plywood plate, first to the cart and then to the wheels. Again, try not to raise your center of gravity any more then necessary...

 

[StahlBenz]

What about these? There are not pneumatic but are 5” dia.

5" Solid Thermo Rubber Swivel All Terrain Caster – CasterHQ

ATX - 5 Inch Off Road Swivel Caster:CasterHQ's ATX wheels provide a unique off-road look with a durable no-flat, no-air, flat-free design that will out-last any other wheel in the market. ATX wheels are great for indoor and outdoor environments and can go off-road in dirt, grass, concrete and...

www.casterhq.com

 

[MovingAlong]

What about these? There are not pneumatic but are 5” dia.

5" Solid Thermo Rubber Swivel All Terrain Caster – CasterHQ

ATX - 5 Inch Off Road Swivel Caster:CasterHQ's ATX wheels provide a unique off-road look with a durable no-flat, no-air, flat-free design that will out-last any other wheel in the market. ATX wheels are great for indoor and outdoor environments and can go off-road in dirt, grass, concrete and...

www.casterhq.com

No, traction wouldn't seem to be your problem. You just need more diameter for rougher surfaces. Just as your truck doesn't notice the piece of gravel that would stop a skateboarder dead in their tracks...

 

[StahlBenz]

Right, makes sense. I’ll locate some larger pneumatics and fabricate something to increase the base size. Thank you

 

[rust in the eye]

I wouldn't do pnuematic. A larger diameter hard wheel is the answer. You'll be raising the CG so more care when rolling this around will be needed.

 

[LeeG]

If you are not having to deal with rocks, 2” wide wheels are great. I use similar wheels on my welding cart (mine were from McMaster).

Lee

 

[whateg01]

If the ground is perfectly smooth, hard wheels are ok, but I would prefer pneumatic tires or semi-pneumatic for real world parking lots. 8" would be a happy medium with the aforementioned wider base.

 

[danielbuck]

Thank you guys. I found some 8” dia. pneumatics. Stock wheels are 5” dia. Do you think stability would still be an issue in this case? Thanks again.

if you're worried about stability, you could outboard the casters rather than having them sit under the cart. Several of my tools/machines I've done this way.

Here's two ways of going about it. One method raises the machine up, and the other method actually lowers the machine compared to having castors under it.

 

[danielbuck]

 

[tarbellb]

Not a fan of pneumatic tires for several reasons but the big 2 are flat tires and awkward pivoting when changing directions

nice big TPR or rubber wheels will be a better rolling experience,6 or even 8" will be plenty

You likely won't be able to match HF bolt pattern,it's typically smaller then std issue

eBay is your friend, but Amazon and others have decent options.

Quality brands include Albion, Colson, RWM, Faultless, Wagner.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

8 inch poly/steel swivel casters.

$25 CAD right now for the non-locking, and a little more for the locking.

Mount them outboard of the existing cart so you don't have to raise the CG. Gives room on the sides for more junk too.

Also available in 6 inch.

Overkill, but I like overkill.

Princess Auto.

 

[shibertus]

Thank you guys. I found some 8” dia. pneumatics. Stock wheels are 5” dia. Do you think stability would still be an issue in this case? Thanks again.

This guy tried something similar and it did not work out:

 

[Higgins]

You need pneumatic wheels that will handle irregular ground. Quality ones will not be cheap.

Example:

Heavy Duty Pneumatic Casters | Allied Caster

Buy Bulk and Wholesale Heavy Duty Pneumatic Casters, in-stock now from Allied Caster. Allied Caster's Heavy Duty Pneumatic Casters' are ideal for heavy-duty applications, indoors or outdoors, and on a variety of uneven or jagged surfaces.

www.alliedcaster.com

I agree! Changed out my large box with AM wheels that were around $100 for a set of 4. That was 5-7 yrs ago!

When we moved, i purchased 3 similar sets and placed them on what previously was large metal cabinets! I did this so when i have the floor painted, i wouldn't spend days unloading cabinets, moving out of the garage, and then pulling them back in the garage when the painting was done!


In the mean time, I've really come to love being able to move those cabinets around the garage based upon what i'm doing at the time ............

AL

 

[Higgins]

This guy tried something similar and it did not work out:

Personally, i think those are to tall!!

AL

 

[MovingAlong]

This guy tried something similar and it did not work out:

Excellent video! He did do a follow up on some upgraded wheels he did like though...

Although after watching it again, he was just converting the fixed castors to swivel. So not actually helping @StahlMotors I guess...

 

[MOS3522]

I like that. Welded angle iron frame to outboard wheels. Very nice job.

 

[Rinspeed]

Just as an FYI McMaster-Carr sells hundreds of different casters. Good casters are not cheap at all though but many toolboxes weigh much more than some people think.

 

[StahlBenz]

if you're worried about stability, you could outboard the casters rather than having them sit under the cart. Several of my tools/machines I've done this way.

Here's two ways of going about it. One method raises the machine up, and the other method actually lowers the machine compared to having castors under it.

This ran through my head as well…the problem is my stepvan is a used Snap-On truck. It’s great that it came with the lift gate, temperature controlled cargo area, electrical outlets, but it has barn doors rather than a roll up door so it’s a tight enough fit already when loading onto the lift gate.

In my service area the driveways are generally nice new, flat asphalt but there are times where it’s an older driveway. I think you guy may be right that pneumatic is not necessary and I may just need slightly larger diameter wheels.

 

[AEAdam]

I'd recommend 2 things:
1) suspension casters like these. They may be similar to those on the Icon box.
2) a boiler plate under your box. The US general boxes are not stiff. Good quality 3/4" hardwood plywood minimum. 1/2" aluminum plate would be better, but not by much.

The stiffer base alone might fix the problem. IF you are going to upgrade casters for uneven ground, for sure get the suspension models like those I linked (no affiliation)

 

[rsanter]

You need a pit,box.
They use the wider go cart slicks.
Look them up online then build a pit cart out of your box.

 

[danielbuck]

This ran through my head as well…the problem is my stepvan is a used Snap-On truck. It’s great that it came with the lift gate, temperature controlled cargo area, electrical outlets, but it has barn doors rather than a roll up door so it’s a tight enough fit already when loading onto the lift gate.

In my service area the driveways are generally nice new, flat asphalt but there are times where it’s an older driveway. I think you guy may be right that pneumatic is not necessary and I may just need slightly larger diameter wheels.

larger diameter will help a good bit. Pneumatic will sometimes be harder to roll, if you have low enough air pressure to easilly roll over large-ish obstacles... it will be more difficult to roll on flat smooth surfaces versus solid or semi-solid wheels of the same diameter. Tires with low air pressure are more difficult to roll. you'll need to make sure they don't get low on pressure. I have several yard cards for moving concrete bags, dirt bags, potted plants and what not around the yard. They can hold like 1000+ pounds, but if the air is low in the tires they can be a ***** to pull even over smooth flat concrete..

 

[tool_scrounge]

Large casters on an extended base is probably the easiest solution. Otherwise a compact pallet jack is an alternative. They do make narrow short (20.5” wide) and short (20-36” long) pallet jacks for the printing and vending machine industries. Just put extended feet under your box and store the pallet jack under the box when in the truck.