Everyone’s been there. The frustration and excitement of moving to a new home can take their toll. There’s the extensive planning, packing, cleaning, and all the little chores in between that you need completed before the day comes.
And you’ll want a helping hand in getting all the heavy furniture, unwieldy appliances, and big boxes safely and quickly stored onto the truck or van. What you don’t want to risk are unnecessary injuries like sprains and bruises. If you’re looking to get the job done with a few mates, and avoid the exorbitant costs of hiring removalists, then consider getting the right gear.
Once you’ve got everything ready, carrying all the stuff out of the house is done best with a dedicated dolly or hand truck. This will relieve the backbreaking weight of bulkier things like cabinets, bookcases, or fridges. In addition, everything is done much faster, safer and with the least amount of effort. There are dozens of options in furniture moving gear, and a practical dolly move furniture should be one of the first things to consider.
Types of dollies
Dollies come in two basic types – those that have two wheels and those that have four. Dollies used in moving furniture are akin to utility hand trucks, set on two wheels, with a metal frame, and a base plate that takes the load.
Four Wheeled Furniture Dollies
This is the cheapest and simplest type of dolly, set on four lightweight, yet sturdy nylon wheels, and either non-slip reinforced plastic or metal baseplates. These sit somewhat lower than usual, so getting any item onto the dolly should be simple. Loading capacity exceeds 300 kilos even in smaller variants, meaning the dolly won’t buckle even under the heaviest furniture or appliance. Larger examples nearing one metre in length can safely move even the biggest household items.
Hand Trucks and Utility Dollies
When lifting heavier items becomes an issue, a utility dolly for furniture comes in handy. They are set on two large castor wheels and come with metal bases that easily slot under any piece of furniture, heavy boxes, or appliances. These rest on sturdy metal frames that elongate into handles at the top for easy manoeuvring. To secure the load, utility dollies are often supplied with straps. Smaller variants (some collapsible or foldable) can handle up to 150 kilos loading capacity.
Appliance Dollies
When moving more weight, look to appliance dollies. These are heavy-duty versions of utility dollies built around durable metal frames, and larger bases or tubular feet rated at carrying in excess of 220 kilos. They often come with included ratchet straps for added safety. To get larger appliances downstairs, and with minimal effort, look for dollies equipped with special stair climber wheels, basically a set of three rotating wheels on either side. These also have high loading capacities, but the added convenience makes them a bit dearer.
Furniture Moving Sets
When one dolly doesn’t make the cut, consider a dolly move furniture set. These come in handy when moving especially big items, like couches, beds or assembled kitchen cabinets. Basically, anything that can’t be moved when set vertically on other dollies. The set consists of two separate dollies, with castor wheels positioned wider apart, and a reinforced metal frame sitting at waist height.
A decently sized lifting plate can be used to lift heavy objects up to 300mm in height, utilising a winch operated lifting mechanism. This has internal gearing so operation is smooth. Bottom padded supports and top rollers allow for a snug fit, and as a result they help protect your items. Units are sold two apiece, and many feature included ratchet straps to further enhance security on uneven surfaces.
When paired together, the individual dollies have a lifting capacity over 600 kilos, meaning you can transport more that just furniture. The benefit of furniture moving sets, besides the huge loading weight, is that they are not limited to the size of the load in terms of overall dimensions. This flexibility allows you to use it in a number of settings where any other moving equipment struggles.
Benefits of Using Dollies and Hand Trucks in Moving Applications
Heavy loads aren’t for everyone, and a dolly or hand truck eases the whole process by minimising the needed effort. It evenly distributes the weight of the load, so there are fewer possibilities of sustaining serious injuries. When clearing out a whole house, a dolly can help getting more work done, and much faster, without actually working up a sweat. In addition, there are dozens of designs, each suited to a particular task.
Some are also collapsible and foldable, so they take up less space in the back of a truck or on a ute tray. These can also easily fit in a car boot and are quickly assembled and ready for use. The simple yet sturdy build means there are fewer things that can go wrong, and all moving equipment is built to last. Lastly, there’s the price.
Simple four-wheeled dollies will set you back around $100, a cheap investment considering the functionality, whereas furniture moving sets are dearer and prices reflect build quality, features and loading capacity. Source dollies from better stocked hardware stores. Specialised and larger variants are available from material handling stores nationwide.
