4 caster wheels vs 2 on a engine hoist

[BTL-A4]

I have an engine hoist (older 2-ton, non-folding, HF model) that could use new wheels. I find it hard to maneuver with just one set of caster wheels. Is there any reason I can't put 4 caster wheels on it? I ask because they all seem to come with 2 fixed and 2 caster wheels. I use it to lift heavy machinery from time to time, nothing over 700 lbs so far, usually out of/into my truck bed, or around the garage from the floor to a table and vice versa. I keep finding that I'd like the front wheels to rotate so I can move the hoist side to side, in addition to front to back, when I'm maneuvering it to pick up and drop a load.

 

[tarbellb]

Its gets squirrely with 4 rotating casters

If your floor is clean and flat it isnt too bad, but it likes to drift

 

[jsaw]

Mine has 4 casters, works OK

 

[WildBill]

I put four on mine and it was super hard to control sometimes. So I went back to having two fixed. But I use it on slightly sloped concrete and I am also a spaz, so it might be me.

 

[RTM]

Its gets squirrely with 4 rotating casters

If your floor is clean and flat it isnt too bad, but it likes to drift

When I have to move heavy items, I’m not a fan of four casters. Couple of things at work have four, and one requires muscle to keep it away from the corridor walls.

 

[johnre]

For heavy apparatus, you typically want to push and steer direction from the end that has the castors, and count on the fixed leading ones in the front to stay true on course. You can't count on that with all four being castors.

I know this is the case with my cabinet table saw equipped with a mobile lift base; it's about 600 lb. and I definitely wouldn't want all four to be castors.

 

[pbon]

I agree with the squirrelly or harder to maneuver comments.

 

[ronr80]

I had 4 wheels on mine 2 were non swivel and the other 2 swiveled , 2 man job for sure just to stop it from going astray .

 

[whateg01]

I have converted both of mine to fixed pallet jack wheels on the legs. They roll so much easier then metal and actually will support the weight they say they will rather than the little thin casters that come on engine hoists. I do still have a couple legs with swivel casters for the rare occasion that being able to move sideways is needed. The argument for swivels on all four corners is that when stabbing an engine sometimes you need to move sideways. I've found it's as much effort to get the wheels pointed the right direction and then moved sideways the right amount as it is just to push the motor over that way.

 

[jar944]

As long as you don't lift anything heavy or want to move it loaded.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Get the best of both worlds. Weld two horizontally protruding tabs with holes to the two front casters to allow a bolt or pin to be installed to allow them to be locked in a straight ahead position when wanted. I use a three foot pry bar to nudge a four swivel heavy dolly in the needed direction. For pulling things low to the floor in general a 3 foot long 3/8 round stock hook with a 8” T handle got made. It is one of the best things I ever made for usefulness. It also works great for removing jack stands after use. It is called the **** hook because I use it to hook **** to pull it around. Make yourself one and thank me later.

 

[PackagingSea]

Putting 4 swivel casters on a hoist is like giving a drunk moose ice skates, looks nimble, but you’re in for a wild ride.

 

[mikedodge]

The one I have now is the kind with fixed front wheels. It's a pain to use when you're trying to place it and can't just push it sideways but reading the other comments I forgot how annoying they can be to move around when the front wheels turn and go wherever they want when you are pushing it a little ways with a load. So I guess there is down sides to both types.

 

[tarbellb]

Get the best of both worlds. Weld two horizontally protruding tabs with holes to the two front casters to allow a bolt or pin to be installed to allow them to be locked in a straight ahead position when wanted. I use a three foot pry bar to nudge a four swivel heavy dolly in the needed direction. For pulling things low to the floor in general a 3 foot long 3/8 round stock hook with a 8” T handle got made. It is one of the best things I ever made for usefulness. It also works great for removing jack stands after use. It is called the **** hook because I use it to hook **** to pull it around. Make yourself one and thank me later.

They do offer casters that have a locking feature to convert into fixed

Look into-
Colson
Albion
RWM

 

[Firebrick43]

I have seen someone put 4 casters on an engine hoist and then dump it on the side.

The casters they (large 8”) chose had a lot of “caster” so when they pushed it side ways it changed the center of stability enough to one side that pushing on it shifted the center of gravity past it and over it went.

 

[OccupantRJ]

They do offer casters that have a locking feature to convert into fixed

Look into-
Colson
Albion
RWM

I considered the possibility of availability beforehand because I come from a factory background, but I like to fabricate, am cheap, retired, and like the challenge, so that got the vote.

 

[tarbellb]

I considered the possibility of availability beforehand because I come from a factory background, but I like to fabricate, am cheap, retired, and like the challenge, so that got the vote.

Oh no doubt! I fully believe you were aware, I just wanted to share for those who are less inclined and gifted

 

[OccupantRJ]

Since we are on the somewhat caster subject, there are 4 bins in my “contingency materials” storage full of various size casters but most are swivel type. When I wnat to build something with a pair of fixed and a pair of swivel I usually weld the casters on, then use a straight edge clamped alongside the wheels to weld two of them into a fixed position.
I will normally weld casters on if I can easily invert the item to remove them if ever needed, which is essentially never. It saves hardware and is tremendously faster. In the case of an angle steel tray dolly to sit a file cabinet or such into it also eliminates the hardware protruding into the tray. A cut off wheel on a grinder makes quick work of removing one by cutting the short welds on the mounting plate corners.

 

[mark-NJ]

4 locking swivel casters.

 

[whateg01]

Until you get into $$$, casters that have a swivel lock tend to also lock the wheels. I've made my own, even made custom casters for customers who needed zero slop in the swivel mechanism but didn't have room for most of the precision casters he had found. None of those came close to the ease of use with pallet jack wheels.

 

[BTL-A4]

Thanks everyone. Maybe I'll just keep them the way they are. I'll take stability over convenience.