Introduction to Dollies

3 or 4 Point System?

Placing four dollies at each corner of the heavy load seems like the most logical thing to do, but there is a problem with this mode of transport.

If you are traveling over an uneven surface, your load will rock just like a 4-legged chair on uneven ground.

When a load rocks on dollies that are not attached directly to it, the weight of the load is lifted off one dolly and it slips out. This can cause the load to plummet to the floor. Aside from causing damage to the load, such a problem could cause an operator to get hurt.

Loads almost never travel over perfectly level surfaces; floors slant towards drains, concrete is almost always full of cracks, and there are often ledges to overcome.

Imagine a 3 legged chair; when it’s placed on uneven ground, the chair will not rock.

Setting your load on three dollies will have the same effect: the load can’t rock. Its weight has been evenly distributed, pressing down onto the dollies at all times and thus keeping the dollies firmly in place.

Once your load is on three roller dollies, you can travel over uneven surfaces and not worry about the dollies slipping – even under pulling and tugging action. This is why we recommend using a 3-point dolly support.

Our standard dolly configurations consist of 3 roller skates in order to provide support on 3 points. This configuration is the most versatile and the safest.

However, not every application allows for a 3-point support, such as loads with C-channels, U-channels or an uneven distribution of weight. That is why our dollies are interchangeable. You can mix and match our dollies to any configuration, depending on your heavy load moving application.

You may have to use a 4-point system if your load sits on four legs or I-beams. In this case, please be aware that weight may be lifted off one or more dollies when the load rocks on uneven ground. In this circumstance, it’s best to monitor all four corners at each step of the moving process.

Remember that the weight of the load should be divided between the front and the back end on longer loads. If a load is 20 tons total, then the front would weigh 10 tons and the back would weigh 10 tons.

If the equipment / load is able to rock on an uneven surface and part of the load separates from a dolly, the weight of the load is then carried by the remaining dollies. Make sure you have enough safety capacity on all dolly carts to carry the extra weight. For example, let’s say you have a 20 ton load that is square and sits on four 5 ton capacity dollies. If, in the course of moving, the carts hit an uneven spot and one of the dollies come out from under the load, then the remaining three dollies will have a 15 ton safety capacity together but they will be carrying 20 tons.

We carry three different dolly types:

1. Our heavy load transport dollies are the most versatile, giving you maneuverability that’s similar to that of a car: the front steers and the rear follows in a straight line.
2. The rotating dollies provide 360 degree maneuverability for loads in confined spaces. They are omni-directional. These dollies are more expensive due to their advanced technology.
3. Our tandem dollies are designed for special applications such as side-heavy loads or for added maneuverability on the back-end of the load. Tandem dollies are a four-point system with a steering handle.

This presentation has been distributed by Toolwell North America. Each product is made in Germany by Jung.

Please feel free to call us with any technical questions. 1-800-786-6112