How Do You Move Something Heavy Going Down Stairs

Q: How Do You Move Something Heavy Going Down Stairs easily and safely?

Before we attempt to move something heavy going downstairs, we need to make sure we consider the following::

1. Is it possible to safely carry the item downstairs while walking forwards?
2. Will the item be fully secured while moving downstairs
3. There is minimal risk of item being dropped down stairs due to instability
4. Is there enough clearance between the steps and the bottom of item to avoid damage?

Answering yes to all of the above becomes more difficult as the item being moved becomes heavier and larger. All is not lost however. In these cases we’ll need to make use of useful tools that allow you to move heavy items downstairs safely.

Doing so helps you avoid avoids all the dangers that occur when no supporting tools are used, such as:

• Risk of back, arm, and shoulder injury from carrying heavy items
• Risk of items being dropped and severely damaged by falling down stairs
• Losing control of items when walking backwards and being seriously injured by the heavy load
• Heavy items crushing your toes if you handle incorrectly or drop suddenly from exhaustion

These tools take most of the risk and the effort away from you. Faster, simpler, and far les dangerous are just a few of the reasons to use them when moving heavy items downstairs.

Here we list the top tools that will allow you to move heavy items downstairs safely:

 

Electrically Assisted Stair Lift Dolly

For effortless carrying of your heavy loads downstairs, the assisted stair lift dolly is a gamechanger that that takes most of your efforts out of carrying heavy objects down sets of stairs. Based on the appliance dolly, it uses grippy tracks to keep the load planted to the stairs, and the battery powering the tracks takes care of the rest. You can send the load down the stairs at a steady pace. Most importantly it’ll be completely protected from sliding off the platform and falling down the stairs. It can also be used in much the same way to carry heavy loads up stairs.

How Does It Work?

It works by first loading the item onto the flat loading platform then retaining the item using either straps or cords. Once this is done you then place the dolly in proximity with the stairs. First releasing the climbing tracks and then engaging the battery. Finally simply turn the battery on and allow the electrically assisted stair lift dolly to descend the steps, being supported by you using the D shaped handle for extra stability and ensuring the tracks are flush with the stairs.

The full steps are as follows:

1. If applicable insert the removable flat mounting platform to the main body of the dolly
2. Charge the battery for at least 4 – 6 hours to ensure it is fully charged
3. Lock the wheels and physically lift the load onto the mounting platform, or if using a ground plate, slip the plate under the load as usual
4. Unlock the wheels, approach the staircase and leave a few inches between the top of the step and the dollies front wheels
5. Lock the back wheels then extend the tracks down into the locked out angled position in preparation to start the descent
6. Engage the battery with the button/key switch, then power the dolly on with the handle bar console power button
7. Raise the D-shaped handlebar to the appropriate height for yourself and lock into place
8. Using the handlebar tilt the dolly until the treaded tracks are at the approximate angle of the stair case you are planning to descend
9. Press the start button to begin the descent, walking forwards, the handlebars should be pulled forward to ensure the that the tracks are pressed plush against the stairs, you shouldn’t be carrying the dollies full weight with the handlebars
10. When the back wheels reach the bottom landing, use the stop button are carefully lean the dolly forward until it is sitting flat
11. Fold fold the tracks back in, lower the handlebars and unlock the wheels to continue transporting the dolly

Main Advantages:

Majority of the load is taken out of users hands and supported by the treaded tracks driven by the motor

Works dually as a stand up dolly for transportation on level ground unassisted and as a stair climbing and descending dolly assisted

Ultra compact with a modular configuration, the loading platform can be separated to save space in storage when not in use

Perfectly safe to use solo, where manual dolly tools would require 2 people to move heavy items downstairs safely

 

 

Hand Trucks and Appliance Dollies

Hand Truck

For those more interested in a simpler and lightweight solution that you can take anywhere with you, look no further. The classic hand truck and appliance dollies can be a sufficient solution for a 2 person effort. You can then safely maneuverer any heavy load downstairs. They are easier to live with, fitting in small and tight spaces, inside small garage spaces, inside car trunks, and basements. All thanks to their ability to fold down completely flat.

The hand truck is a simplest solution, offering a nose plate that picks loads directly off the ground. In addition, a long handle controls heavy loads at any angle while descending. The large pneumatic wheels provide the main advantage for descending steps, cushioning the impacts as loads go down each step.

In addition another option to hand trucks that use large pneumatic wheels are hand trucks featuring tripod style wheels.  These 3 wheel configuration makes quick work of descending stair cases by always having their wheels in position to land on the next step when at the edge of the current step. By way of only having to travel a few inches to reach the next step down.

INTSUPERMAI Foldable Stair Climbing Hand Truck is an example of a stair climbing and descending hand truck with tripod style wheels.

Appliance Dolly

On the other hand appliance dollies work similar to electrically assisted stair lift dollies but without the battery assistance. They feature retention straps with handle operated tensioning systems to keep the load full secured to the dolly. In addition they feature rear facing roller tracks that assist with increasing stability and reducing the rolling resistance at the edge of the stairs. This allows the appliance dolly to move heavy loads down while being under full control of yourself as the operator. Boasting many features over the standard hand truck, appliance dollies help move extremely heavy appliances in a much safer manner.

The full steps are as follows:

1. Unwind the retaining strap from around the body of the dolly if applicable
2. Move the dolly up to the edge of the heavy item
3. Slightly tilt the item to slide the dolly’s foot plate underneath
4. Wind the retaining strap around the item if applicable
5. Take strap and tighten it using the retaining rings
6. Turn the retaining strap handle to fully tighten the strap around the appliance
7. Approach the top step of the stairs facing forwards with the dolly tilted at an angle matching those of the stairs descent
8. Ensure one person is in front of the dolly, descending the stairs backwards holding the item, keeping it stable
9. Take the first few steps down by supporting the dolly via the handle, laying the stair crawler wheels flush with the steps or the tripod wheels firmly against the edge of each step
10. Walk slowly down the stairs, ensuring the angle of the dolly is maintained at all times

Main Advantages:

Low cost solution for moving heavy items going down stairs

Pneumatic wheels nicely cushion heavy impacts when dropping the heavily loaded dolly down each step

Can be packed small, wheels often fold inwards and ground plate folds flat

Lifts items directly from the ground, no need to exert extra effort to lift heavy objects onto the loading plate

 

Conclusion – How Do You Move Something Heavy Going Down Stairs

There are several ways to move heavy items downstairs safely. The easiest and safest ways are to use truck and dolly tools to keep the weight over low rolling resistance tracks and wheels to keep the weight safely balanced over the ground plate.

The electrical stair lift dolly has the advantage of taking the majority of manual effort needed to transport the load away from the user. The battery assisted tracks keep the load stable. High friction treads that allow you to descend the stairs at your own pace. Simply control the dolly using the controller and the D shaped handle to ensure the tracks  sit flush with the stairs.

For utility and appliance dolly hand trucks the solution is far simpler. Their tripod style wheels or large pneumatic tires cushion large impacts when descending steps. Low cost but effective, the loads can be secured safely to the hand truck using bungee cords or retention straps. It’s best to use a second person at the other side of the dolly to minimalize the risk.

 

Here’s Something Else You May Like:

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How to Pick the Best Hand Trucks Dollies and Electric Stair Climbers – Guide