5 Best Heavyweight Caster Wheels

Heavyweight Caster Wheels with brakes are used in warehouses, manufacturing plants, office equipment, and other large objects to increase their mobility. They not only save your floors from screeching and damage but also save time, energy, and environmental costs. Some heavy-duty caster wheels can even take up to 44,000 pounds of load and have revolutionized multiple industries.

A very relatable example of the convenience of caster wheels is your very own office chair Wheels help us move around and work more comfortably. Caster wheels come in different sizes, materials, and shapes. You can get polyurethane, elastic rubber, iron, or aluminum rims according to your need. If you’re off to buy a set, we’ve reviewed some of the best caster wheels in 2021 for you. This guide will help you make a better, more informed decision.

Heavyweight Caster Wheels | Our Top 5 Picks |

Office Owl Office Chair Wheel – Best Overall

Office-Owl-Office-Chair-Wheel

4 inch Heavy Duty Casters, Set of 4, Load 1800lbs (Free screws and a spanner)

5 Inch Swivel Caster Wheels with Brake, Dual Locking Castors Heavy Duty Trolley-2400 Lbs Work Load

heavyweight caster wheels

Skileen Caster Wheel Set – Honorable Mention

Caster Wheels

Heavy Duty Casters with Brake Set of 4 – Contender

Heavy Duty Casters with Brake

Homhoo Swivels Caster Wheel – Also Consider

Swivel Caster Wheels

Things To Consider When Choosing Caster Wheels: Four things you should always keep in mind when buying caster wheels:

  • Type of Wheel: There are tons of wheel options, and not all are going to suit your floors. If your floors are smooth and shiny, you should opt for hard tread wheels. And if your floors are rough, go for soft tread wheels for smooth operation. The larger and softer your wheel is, the better it can roll over obstacles and rails in its way. If your floors are delicate, stay away from steel or cast iron wheels. Get softer cushion wheels that won’t damage the surface.
  • Load Capacity: Load capacity is influenced by the material of the wheel along with its diameter. As a rule of thumb, the denser and heavier the wheel material is, the higher its load capacity. To determine the correct load to caster ratio, divide the total load of the equipment by the number of casters you wish to use. Larger wheels help with distributing weights better and roll more easily than smaller ones. Always get a caster wheel that is rated for a higher capacity than your load to handle any unusual conditions, if need be. For material, polyurethane, iron core, molded nylon, cast iron, or aluminum core wheels can take up to 1500lbs per caster. Rubber and plastic are perfect for lighter loads, like for chairs.
  • Frequency of Use: Ask yourself how often you will be using the furniture or equipment? If you’ll need to move it frequently then the best caster wheel for you is the one that’s easy to roll. For a wheel to roll easily, the material needs to be soft and of course, the surface needs to be smooth. Soft materials like rubber are perfect for objects that need to be moved more frequently. On the other hand, if you won’t be moving the object much, you may easily ignore this factor.
  • Mounting: This factor is important if you are replacing caster wheels on a piece of furniture. You need to pick the casters with the same mounting as the last one. There are two main kinds of caster mounting available: plate mount and stem mount. If you’re replacing plate mounts, get the same bolt pattern and plate size as the last one. If it’s a stem mount, get new ones with the same stem style.

What Are The Different Types Of Caster Wheels?

Here are five different types of caster wheels available:

  • Rigid Caster
    A rigid caster is often called a fixed caster. It can only roll backward and forward. These casters cannot swivel in a 360-degree range. Though they are limited in movement, they are stronger than other caster types.
  • Plate Caster
    This is the most common type. A plate caster has a square-shaped mounting surface and usually has four holes at each corner of the flat mounting surface. The caster holds its position securely to the object through these holes.
  • Stem Caster
    Stem casters have a wheel in a mounting frame and are different from a conventional caster. Unlike plate casters, stem casters have a cylindrical-shaped rod for mounting. A cylindrical rod is placed and fixed inside the object’s mounting slot (that should be of the same size and shape).
  • Locking Caster
    These casters feature a locking mechanism that is designed to lock the wheels when the object is placed at a slope or in any other dangerous position. With this type, you have the freedom to either move around freely or lock the object down in one place.
  • Hollow Kingpin Caster
    A hollow kingpin caster has a stemless design that has a hole on top of the mounting surface. A kingpin caster is mounted to an object by fastening a bolt or screw through its hole into the object.

What Are Soft Casters And Hard Casters?

There are two kinds of casters, and they’re defined as:

Soft Casters:
This kind is perfect for hard plastic chair mats, patio or tile floor, and hardwood floors. These are the best caster wheels for hardwood floors as they’re soft, noiseless, and non-marring. They are shaped like a roller skate wheel but are much softer in comparison with hard plastic casters.

Soft casters are mostly made of polyurethane or rubber. These are the best materials for caster wheels as they minimize the number of scratches and slides on your floor.

Hard Casters:
Hard casters are usually covered with plastic shells to make their rolling motion much easier on thick and soft surfaces of carpets. They are the best caster wheels for carpets and rugs! You can also lock hard casters in one place so your object won’t move around freely.

They are also available as nylon twin casters, which is the standard type. Their soft tread makes it easier for them to grip the hard plastic of the carpet.

What Size Caster Should I Buy?

As mentioned earlier, the size of the caster wheel depends mainly on the weight, load, and frequency of usage among other things. Some general guidelines for getting the right size caster wheels are:

Are You Moving Delicate Objects? Go Small; When you’re moving delicate, expensive, and heavy objects, such as medical or electronic equipment, you need optimal control and smooth mobility. You should get a caster with a small diameter, low profile, and a wide wheel.

The small wheel diameter and low profile keep the object from rolling too quickly. Wide wheels can handle heavy loads and prevent them from tripping.

Are You Moving Heavy Objects? Go Wide; When moving heavyweight loads or machinery you need a wide caster for stability. Heavyweights can cause stress on the legs, yoke, and fasteners and fail if narrow casters are used. You can go for 2 to 4-inch wide wheels of aluminum or steel with heavy stamped-leg construction to support the load.

Want Easy Rolling? Go for Large Diameter; The bigger the wheel is, the easier it will roll. A large diameter wheel covers more area of the ground in a single roll than a smaller one. A large wheel will of course make your object or load higher with a raised center of gravity. This can also cause tripping or damage, so you need to be mindful here.

Conclusion:

It’s evident how convenient caster wheels can make it to move objects around. The best caster wheel for your object will depend on its weight, size, shape, and mobility requirements. Make sure you take flooring, load capacity, and types of wheels into consideration when making the final purchase.

FAQ About heavy duty caster wheels with brakes.

What is a heavy duty caster?

Heavy duty casters are designed with a kingpin in the swivel with a double row ball bearing for smooth turning. This series features 3″ wide wheels increasing the load capacities on these casters. … Casters come in swivel, rigid, and brake casters. Load capacities range from 750 to 2400 lbs per caster.

Can you add brakes to caster wheels?

Brakes do not prevent swivel casters from swiveling. Brake and lock kits for casters contain the required parts for installing wheel brakes, directional locks, or total locks on compatible casters. … Total locks prevent casters from both swiveling and rolling.

What Size Caster Should I Buy?

Heavyweights can cause stress on the legs, yoke, and fasteners and fail if narrow casters are used. You can go for 2 to 4-inch wide wheels of aluminum or steel with heavy stamped-leg construction to support the load.

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