hand trucks and air compressors

[PoorOwner]

Do you think this can move 80 gallon compressor? (2 people).
I know compressors extremely top heavy but we will be extra careful.

It's a nicer one with extra deep platform, and extra foot tall to counter the top heavy.

the compressor will be bolted to plywood platform first.

I need to descent the driveway onto the street and vice versa so.. it might be just as hairy with a pallet and pallet jack.

it's made by little giant is that like the same company as the ladders?

 

[OccupantRJ]

I think that should work. Just rotate the compressor so the heavier side is to the handcart, then strap it tightly with ratchet straps. Constantly check strap tension. You want to make the compressor part of the cart, or it can get hairy.

 

[timmyisme22]

Solid tires. Trust me on this (I'm a lazy fool that hasn't left retail yet. Still a mule in the back).

As for moving it, no problem. Just watch out for when you start tilting it as they're far more top heavy than you think. Strap it well, and ensure he pushes behind it.


One more thing, if you have aches/bad anything already... have the heating pad ready if it's a long/steep climb.

 

[Slycox]

Solid tires. Trust me on this (I'm a lazy fool that hasn't left retail yet. Still a mule in the back).

As for moving it, no problem. Just watch out for when you start tilting it as they're far more top heavy than you think. Strap it well, and ensure he pushes behind it.


One more thing, if you have aches/bad anything already... have the heating pad ready if it's a long/steep climb.

X2 on the solid tires. At work we have air filled tires and it is a royal pita when they come off or aren't filled all the way

 

[1foxracing]

U-Haul rents appliance dolly's for $10, it may be a better option.

 

[timmyisme22]

U-Haul rents appliance dolly's for $10, it may be a better option.

Lips far too shallow, flat back is bad. You want it slightly curved (even if it's only for a bit of the product being moved) if it's outside a flat box. Those wheels are also on the small side and will cause more hindrance than helpfulness. Also try to get wheels that are shifted back more to allow a proper lift off the ground without having to tilt as much as you would with one of these hand truck designs. The size and placement of the hand truck PoorOwner posted should work if he just gets some solid wheels like what you posted.

Get at least a 4-6" lip length to ensure a good support of the lift (and with a mounted compressor, it'll compress all weight on the base edge when the top plops against the hand-truck back).


The fun version comes if you're taking one without a base attached.

 

[PoorOwner]

Solid vs pneumatic:

When would anyone want pneumatic wheels then?

 

[buffalobill]

pneumatic rolls over more stuff, and handles bumps better. I used to be a foodservice delivery driver, and operated a hand truck all day, every day. another plus for pneumatic tires is the fact that since they have some give, going down a ramp off the back of a truck, you can run the tire into the side edge of the ramp, using the friction as a brake. they make hand trucks with brakes, but when you have something heavy, and you are trying to maneuver up and down stairs and tight areas, you don't always have the option of positioning your hands to use the brake lever.

OP, are you using this hand truck to move the compressor into and out of a truck with a ramp, or liftgate? or is it going to be flat ground only?

 

[justanengineer]

Not trying to nitpick, but what compressor and/or whats it weigh? Unless I missed it otherwise, saying an 80 gallon compressor doesnt really tell us dink about its weight, the box store cheapies are relatively light bc the receiver (tank) is thin sheetmetal. My 60 gallon Quincy's receiver is rolled plate, a few hundred pounds by itself. The motor and pump are similar, Chinese 5 hp is roughly half the weight of an industrial Baldor 5 hp.

Personally I think a cheapie engine hoist is the best tool for moving most heavy things in a small shop.

 

[anndel]

Be extra very careful! Make sure whatever dolly/hand truck you use can handle the weight of the compressor. Good Luck

 

[DTE]

I strapped a pallet to the side of the tank and slid it on to the back of my truck, standing it back up was the harder part , just because of the angle the truck was at. We had to jack the front of the truck up and just kept sliding it back until it would stand up on it's own.We put a heavy ratchet ******** it going back up for safety, because if it started going over you would not stop it. Worked out real easy.

 

[bdk1976]

More info would be helpful - as has been mentioned, are we talking an 'industrial' 80 gal compressor or a home depot special? How long/steep is the driveway? Anything more than a very gentle slope and I'd be seriously thinking about just loading into something with brakes and driving it down.

Another option may be draining oil, laying on its side, strapping to a couple of moving dollies and controlling the decent with some rope (or better yet, a winch if you have one).

 

[theoldwizard1]

A good quality, HD 2 wheel hand truck is fine, but you do need to strap it down well. An appliance cart is a good idea. They are designed to take a heavy load. Don't worry about the small bottom platform it the compressor is bolted to plywood. Double strap, high and low.

When using a 2 wheel hand cart, always tilt it in the uphill direction and PULL when going uphill.

Never, NEVER traverse (go side to side) on even the smallest hill ! Corners on a hill are probably the most dangerous place for losing a tall heavy load !!

 

[PoorOwner]

It is a 2 stage 80 gallon but uses 30 amp breaker without mag starter so you can have some idea it is not the heaviest on top, made by devilbiss

I am renting a 5x8 high wall trailer from HD and it looks pretty easy to get on the 12" deck via the tailgate.

I have the red HF hand truck with 2 deteriorating pneumatic wheels and I don't think that is going to be the best idea even if I change it to solid wheels.
I needed to move some other stuff too so I invest in a new hand truck.. This one has got the foot press start assist but it has extra tubings added down there so I know the bottom welds should not just fall apart. It is rated 800 lbs and the compressor is supposed to be 425-450lbs

I am going to cut a strip of plywood with 2 casters and quickly vise grip it to the front bottom of the board after lifting compressor with the dolly so we can stroll it at a mild angle with 4 contact points on the ground we should be able to focus on the top.

 

[PoorOwner]

A good quality, HD 2 wheel hand truck is fine, but you do need to strap it down well. An appliance cart is a good idea. They are designed to take a heavy load. Don't worry about the small bottom platform it the compressor is bolted to plywood. Double strap, high and low.

When using a 2 wheel hand cart, always tilt it in the uphill direction and PULL when going uphill.

Never, NEVER traverse (go side to side) on even the smallest hill ! Corners on a hill are probably the most dangerous place for losing a tall heavy load !!

Thanks for this tip. I though about going down at an angle to cut the slope but didn't think about tipping via the side