Caster Wheel Load Capacity: How Is It Determined?

Caster weight capacity is important when choosing a heavy duty caster, but one of the first things to determine is how much weight you are moving.  Exceeding the rated weight capacity can create a dangerous situation. Either through a steel caster failure or an overexertion injury from trying to push too much weight.

caster wheel load capacity

Let’s use an example of a cart that weighs 6,000 lbs. The first thing to remember is to include a margin of error, especially when considering caster wheel load capacity. This is because when moving the load, the weight limit won’t always be evenly distributed across all four casters. Adding in more weight allows more pressure to be put on one wheel and lessens the chance of failure.

Other factors to consider.

You also want to keep in mind the factors that come into play in addition to the load weight.  The maximum weight capacity of the cart, rack, or whatever is being used to move the load, is also riding on the casters. The weight of that device must be added to the load weight to determine the proper weight rating for the casters. Note that casters are rated at the weight capacity for each individual caster, not a set of casters.

Once the total amount of weight is determined, a safety factor should be added to the total. We recommend adding a 33% addition to the total weight of the load for safety.

So, for a 4-wheeled cart that weighs 6,000 lbs., the safety factor would equal 1980 lbs. rounded up to 2,000 lbs. Dividing this weight by 4 gives a caster a rating of 2,000 lbs per caster, which is recommended.

RELATED: WHY IS THE LISTED WEIGHT CAPACITY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME?

 

Why is caster weight capacity a safety factor?

There are a few reasons why you need to add a margin for error. These include:

  • A load may sometimes be greater than anticipated –  If loads will be “dumped” into line delivery carts, then you will need to make sure that your caster wheels of choice can withstand the force
  • Flooring conditions may cause uneven movement – This can cause added weight to the continuous push force
  • Debris or cracks could cause a sudden halt or bounce, shifting the weight of the load – with higher weights, a collapsed  cart can lead to serious injury

Here’s another example: A rack with the load has a total weight of 5,000 lbs, adding the safety factor would equal 6,665 lbs total. If the rack has 6 casters, a caster with a rating of at least 1,110 lbs is recommended. If the exact recommended caster capacity isn’t available, it is advisable to round up. 

Heavy Duty loads can still be moved easily.

Polyurethane wheels are some of the most ergonomic wheels available and provide less resistance than other wheels.

A good example of this is the maintenance-free TWERGO® wheel. These wheels rotate independently of each other and can rotate in either direction and at any rate with a minimum of rolling resistance. Because less force is required to move heavy loads, the risk of injury decreases.

Another option for moving heavy loads where precise movement is required and the load can’t be moved manually by a single operator, Conceptual Innovation’s motor-powered Drive Caster®  eliminates the effort to move a cart, reducing the risk of injury and any associated costs to improve productivity.

Have more questions related to caster capacity or other material handling challenges? Our knowledgable representatives are here to help.