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best hand truck to buy?

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    mike1 started this thread.
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    best hand truck to buy?

    so many different ones and the reviews are crazy. so im wanting to know what kinds of hand trucks u guys use the brand,weight capasity and tire type. im looking for hard airless tires,440lb or better load capacity and maybe one with a strap on it already? price range 50-100$ also where to buy thanks. biggest things im probably going to move are washer,dryer,air handler,furnace,central a/c. something best for long distances to. oh forgot folding vs not folding that might be important.


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    I got mine at Harbor freight, and I was able to use one of those 25% off coupons they always seem to publish everywhere. It's brand is Haulmaster. It is a 2-in one (flat bed and upright) that holds up to 600lbs on its tires, which have air. As a flat-bed, it holds up to 800lbs. I prefer the air tires myself because it does reduce shock and bounce in the area I use it. I think it was somewhere in the price range of $50 or so.

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    Although I have destroyed a number of hand trucks, I cannot make a recommendation. I have resorted to making my own. The size of the tires are important to me to move heavy items on uneven terrain. I use large enough tires I have to off set them to make room. Rollers on the back are important for moving items on stairs or loading onto a truck/trailer. Since the wheels are off set on mine, the rollers are as well and most commercial products have rollers that only go a foot or so up. As far as the ratchet strap, padding around the buckle is nice in case it is used for not moving scrap. If you use a hand truck much you will wear out the ratchet strap and this can be replaced with any ratchet strap although I prefer the wider ones and cut the toe off an old sock to provide padding around the buckle. Now you can see why I make my own, I am to picky. I am sure someone builds one like this, but I do not know who.
    Give back more to this world than we take.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mike1 View Post
    so many different ones and the reviews are crazy. so im wanting to know what kinds of hand trucks u guys use the brand,weight capasity and tire type. im looking for hard airless tires,440lb or better load capacity and maybe one with a strap on it already? price range 50-100$ also where to buy thanks. biggest things im probably going to move are washer,dryer,air handler,furnace,central a/c. something best for long distances to. oh forgot folding vs not folding that might be important.
    For some reason I have three hand trucks right now lol. Two were part of pick-ups I did. But Patriot76 makes a super important point about terrain. Aired tires, especially larger aired tires like you see on most 2-in-1 versions make all the difference when there are bumps or stones or hoses or unpaved surfaces and so on. I only used my hard tire one (1300lb rating, cost me $95 new on sale at home depot several years back) if I know the surfaces I'll be working on to be fairly smooth or if I'm sliding the dolly up stairs on its back. For everything else I use one of the two adjustable length, 2-in-1 dollies. I don't their rating but used one on an 1700lb ATM once so....yeah. Highly recommended these for versatility and ease of use. Plus the 2-in-1 feature helps with maneuvering things that are too tall or heavy to be moved in the upright mode. Dunno what they cost new but I see them here for $50 or less on craigslist all the time.

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    We have a couple of Milwaukees from Menards. I like them because they have pneumatic tires that are set wider than the frame for more stability (plus they're made in America!) , though we have an appliance dolly for larger items. For moving things like copiers, fridges, etc. I would really recommend an appliance dolly. Having the big footprint and being able to secure your load makes a big difference when you're navigating a 700lb piece of equipment through an office building.

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    We have a couple of Milwaukees from Menards. I like them because they have pneumatic tires that are set wider than the frame for more stability (plus they're made in America!) , though we have an appliance dolly for larger items. For moving things like copiers, fridges, etc. I would really recommend an appliance dolly. Having the big footprint and being able to secure your load makes a big difference when you're navigating a 700lb piece of equipment through an office building.

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    I just had a Harbor Freight open about 45 minutes from me.

    Finally.

    Closest ones til now we're way far up in Va, or PA. LOL.

    An no I have nothing helpful to add...I just wanted to share about having a Harbor Freight actually close to me now.



    Wheels do make a difference....hard wheels suck in sand. Jus' saying. An yes..there will be sand somewhere in your path.

    After a hurricane or a good nor'easter they have to bust out bobcats to remove sand from driveways. It's hilarious to me, since..I don' have to do that.

    I know I know..."That's not nice Sirscrapalot". Nobody said I was all the time.

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    Get a dolly with "stair slides". They are angled rails behind the wheels that are made to slide up stairs. You will come to appreciate these. Also get one with larger wheels - all terrain.

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    I also can confirm that air tires are best for unpredictable or rough terrain. My workshop is down a hill from my driveway (unfortunately), and the hill is pitted with ruts and holes, and stones. The pneumatic tires make lugging all the scrap up and down the hill a whole lot easier. I might get to the point where I will start using my small trailer that hooks up to my lawn mower and use that assembly instead. But definitely get air tires, and try to find one with those rails for stairs. It makes all the difference in the world if you encounter lots of stairs.

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    mike1 started this thread.
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    Quote Originally Posted by JJinLV View Post
    For some reason I have three hand trucks right now lol. Two were part of pick-ups I did. But Patriot76 makes a super important point about terrain. Aired tires, especially larger aired tires like you see on most 2-in-1 versions make all the difference when there are bumps or stones or hoses or unpaved surfaces and so on. I only used my hard tire one (1300lb rating, cost me $95 new on sale at home depot several years back) if I know the surfaces I'll be working on to be fairly smooth or if I'm sliding the dolly up stairs on its back. For everything else I use one of the two adjustable length, 2-in-1 dollies. I don't their rating but used one on an 1700lb ATM once so....yeah. Highly recommended these for versatility and ease of use. Plus the 2-in-1 feature helps with maneuvering things that are too tall or heavy to be moved in the upright mode. Dunno what they cost new but I see them here for $50 or less on craigslist all the time.
    get any money from the atm? u a bank robber lol.

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    mike1 started this thread.
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    is it just me or does the plate look a little to short and look at the wheels they look to small? also no one addressed wheather folding dollys or welded ones
    are folding ones weak? it says 600lb and this one is https://www.harborfreight.com/700-lb...uck-62199.html what is the difference? bigger wheels more weight it can bear? would a bigger toe plate equal better suport for what your moving?
    https://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb...uck-60520.html

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    Milwaukeee or similar, as long as it has the loop handle. Pretty cheap, strong, super cheap replacement wheels at harbor freight. The loop handle lets you use one hand on the dolly and one on the side by side fridge you're getting by yourself lol but seriously I need that type of handle.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RockIsland94 View Post
    We have a couple of Milwaukees from Menards. I like them because they have pneumatic tires that are set wider than the frame for more stability (plus they're made in America!)
    That's what I have, but I forgot where I bought it, we don't have "Menards" in Colorado, or if we do I have never heard of it. It works great on uneven terrain etc... Hasn't failed on me in years, i've had it long before I started scrapping. I don't even know what the capacity is, but I know that they are made for idiots that will overload it beyond it's rated capacity (I probably have) and it's held up perfectly.
    Last edited by SKWrapper; 09-08-2018 at 09:27 PM. Reason: spelling error

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  21. #14
    mike1 started this thread.
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    Quote Originally Posted by SKWrapper View Post
    That's what I have, but I forgot where I bought it, we don't have "Menards" in Colorado, or if we do I have never heard of it. It works great on uneven terrain etc... Hasn't failed on me in years, i've had it long before I started scrapping. I don't even know what the capacity is, but I know that they are made for idiots that will overload it beyond it's rated capacity (I probably have) and it's held up perfectly.
    probably break the axel doing that.

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    Mine says 600 pounds so you should be good, and I think that's pathetic cause other dollys say more, but when have I even had that much on it probably never.

    And I forgot about my wheels, I got some solid ones off a pressure washer one time, and they fit my dolly, boom, I recommend it they seem pretty tough, I put them through whatever, some of those wheels aren't that tough just gotta check them out and use your judgment, but these, well, I had the block out of a toyota tundra on my dolly once.

    Last edited by Lexwallm; 09-13-2018 at 08:31 AM.

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    Best hand truck! 25+ years old and zero issues. I just grease the wheel bearings once a year. My father used it everyday as a truck driver and when he stopped driving about 5 years ago I got it. Rubber tires go flat and it always happens at the worst time.


    [IMG][/IMG]

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