Most people find moving home stressful and the most common cause is a lack of preparation. When preparing a move you need to consider what equipment or aids you may use that will ease the whole process and reduce the stress.
Most personal item can be moved by hand with a little effort. The problem arises when it comes to moving heavier items. Generally most homes are filled with a few large items from televisions to household items such as refrigerators and cookers.
Some people will choose to use a removal company but they can be expensive. Personally I have moved a couple of times when going to college and getting married and it was stressful on each occasion. I would always worry about how I would get my heavy household appliances out of the apartment and onto the removal truck. If you haven’t ever moved heavy items around your home then let me tell you it’s difficult, so any help is always greatly appreciated. In the past It has taken an age to move appliances, I have strained muscles and damaged flooring.
The solution came in the form of a friend lending me there Appliance dolly. It was my first contact with an appliance dolly and it solved my problem. Finally I could move appliances without scraping the floor and with speed.
If you are at any point during a home move you start to feel unsure about safely moving the heavy appliances around your home and then loading them onto a truck, consult a professional mover. They will take all the stress and pressure from you but at a cost.
What is an Appliance Dolly
The Appliance Dolly is a simple piece of kit but offers loads of functionality. It is a metal framed piece of moving equipment that is shaped like the letter “L” similar to a hand truck. Its main purpose is to enable the movement and of large heavy household appliances for transportation.
The unit is generally constructed from steel tubing, with handles at the top and a flat plate along the bottom part. This gives it the L-shaped look. To move around with ease it will ride on large rubber tires. Appliance dollies will have steel tubes welded between the handle uprights to give the dolly increased strength and sturdiness.
Many national and state retailers use the dolly to deliver various household appliances to customer’s addresses, this can include items such as washing machines and refrigerators. Even though the dolly is best suited to moving appliances, it can be used to transport other household items including couches and dressers.
Appliance dollies are designed to move appliances so can easily withstand a minimum of several hundred pounds at. Before picking a dolly you may want to check what weight limit it has been rated by its respective manufacturer. There are appliance dollies for whatever use from those that can withstand small appliances weighing 500 pounds or so. More sturdier models can easily transport objects weighing 1200 pounds.
Using the Appliance Dolly Safely
It is safer using the appliance dolly with another person help to load and unload the item you want to transport but you can still safely use the dolly on you own but you must be more cautious. When using the equipment on your own:
- Slide the truck under one side
- Run the strap around the household item, make sure it is centered
- Follow the manufacturer’s information to tie the strap through the rings
- Make sure any plugs and wires on appliances are tied up correctly to avoid a tripping hazard
- Then put your foot on the dolly and lift up, your now ready to move the appliance to its location.
- The load capacity for the equipment can vary on the type used but you can get dollies that are capable of lifting 1200 lbs. The average cost of an appliance dolly is around $90 but can vary depending on the manufacturer you pick. If you are constantly moving apartments then having this piece of equipment will save you loads of time and reduce the stress associated with moving house.
Review of the Top 6 Appliance Dollies
There are a few models that I just need to point out as my favorites. Below you will find my top 6 picks for overall best appliance along with more a more detailed review of each. So, pull up your camping chair, lets dig into these options.
Harper Trucks 6781 800-Pound Capacity Appliance Dolly
The Harper Trucks 6781 is very similar to what you rent from U-Haul rental places. It is equipped with an offset belt tightener. Constructed from 16 gauge tubular steel frame with robotically welded joints to give it strength and sturdiness. The dolly has an Electrostatically applied powdercoat finish to improve is longevity.
The stair climber feature will saved you a lot of effort, it will effortlessly maneuver up flights of stairs. The stair tracks or stair climbers allow you to move heavy loads up or down stairs. You can use this dolly to move an entire apartment. It is extremely sturdy and of high quality.
Click here to see Pricing, Rating, Reviews on Amazon.com
Northern Industrial Appliance Truck 143966- 1200-Lb. Capacity
The 143966 Dolly is classed as a heavy-duty appliance truck. for extra support it comes with kick back swivel wheels.
It features exceptional stair-climbing ability and an auto-rewind ratchet belt tightening to quickly strap appliances.
You can Use the dolly as either a 2-wheel or 4-wheel position with two retractable wheels to use on heavier loads. To give the model strength it is built from 8 inch thick steel. for increased durability the dolly is powder coated. And had a maxim Load Capacity 1,200 lbs.
Click here to see Pricing, Rating, Reviews on Amazon.com
Milwaukee Hand Trucks 41188 Appliance Truck with Ratchet Belt Tightener
This Milwaukee Appliance truck has a ratchet belt tightened to secure large appliances. It has a dual ratcheting system for added safety. If one ratchet should fail, the second ratchet will support the load. It has Duo Durometer protective pads-The inner part is a rigid material to secure the pad to the frame, and the outer material is softer to protect the load.
There are two automotive seat belts with double boxed by stitched webbing used for strength. A protective pad prevents the buckle from contacting the load. It has a load capacity 800-Pound The wheels are non-marking. This Appliance truck has a powder coated finish and ships fully assembled. Milwaukee-The Name the Pros Trust.
Click here to see Pricing, Rating, Reviews on Amazon.com
Milwaukee Hand Trucks 40715 Appliance Truck with Puncture Proof Tires and Ratchet Belt Tightener
This Milwaukee Appliance truck has a ratchet belt tightened to secure large appliances. It has a dual ratcheting system for added safety. If one ratchet should fail, the second ratchet will support the load. This truck uses 3/4-Inch steel tubing and has an 800-Pound load capacity. It has Duo Durometer protective pads-The inner part is a rigid material to secure the pad to the frame, and the outer material is softer to protect the load. The belt is an automotive seat belt with double by stitched webbing use for strength. A protective pad prevents the buckle from contacting the load. The wheels are non-marking. This hand truck has a powder coated finish and ships fully assembled. Milwaukee-The Name the Pros Trust.
Click here to see Pricing, Rating, Reviews on Amazon.com
MoJack 800-Pound Appliance Hand Truck
The MoJack 800lb Steel Appliance Hand Truck offers the perfect combination of strength and innovation. The patented telescoping handles adjust to the size of your load and then stores away in a compact position. To make moving appliances as easy as possible it includes an extra wide base plate, 6″ flat free wheels, continuos belt stair glides and a two piece belt with tensioner for securing your load.
Click here to see Pricing, Rating, Reviews on Amazon.com
Yeats 59-Inch Aluminum Dual Strap Appliance Hand Truck Size
The Yeats 59” Dual Appliance Hand Truck has heavy felt or plastic padding and is designed for moving both short and tall appliances. The Yeats 59” Dual Appliance Hand Truck keeps both short and tall appliances firmly in place. Order yours today.
Tough, feather-light aluminum alloy frame. Maximum capacity 500 lbs.. Two adjustable position straps. Caterpillar stair climbers. 2 x 5 inch molded rubber tires on an aluminum hub. Proudly made in the USA since 1936.
Click here to see Pricing, Rating, Reviews on Amazon.com
Now that you have seen the options and reviewed our top picks for the best appliance dolly on the market, its up to you to pick what meets your needs, is in your price range, and overall help you gear up for your move.
As you know, new dollies are being created all the time by new and old manufacturers. For that reason, the site will be updated as new dollies. Or if you feel like we missed a superior model that needs to be included, let me know in the comments below!