To move heavy equipment up through multi storey buildings via staircases requires specialized stair climber tools that utilize useful features that make them ideal for ascending and descending steps.
These features include:
- Lightweight frame materials
- Strong frame to withstand heavier loads
- Large wheels or stair crawler tracks
- Ergonomic handle for comfort and control
You can either use a hand truck or an appliance dolly; manuals tools without electric motor assistance. Ideal for moving heavy equipment up a smaller number of floors.
Alternatively you can go for an electrically assisted motorized appliance dolly, that uses a battery powered motor to move heavy equipment up several flights of stairs reliably and fairly effortlessly.
Classic Hand Trucks and Appliance Dolly
Hand trucks and appliance dollies are manual tools that can be used to transport heavy items around with minimal effort thanks to low rolling resistance wheels. This also includes moving equipment up stairs throughout your home.
There are many manufacturers that add features to these tools that make it easier for you to climb stairs with heavy items loaded up. The L-shaped frames are typically made from a type of alloy steel or aluminium, adding strength and rigidity to the frame.
These tools are very useful as they can fold down to a small size and are fairly lightweight, giving you the option to transport or store them in various ways. Their low cost makes them appealing, and depending on the size and weight of the equipment being moved, may be all you need to complete the job.
Ground nose plate is designed to slip underneath the heavy equipment. They’re then kept in place on the back of the frame, often by using bungee cords or retention straps.
Main Features:
- The large plastic or pneumatic wheels roll over obstacles.
- Stair climber tripod style wheels or belt tracks on the rear side of the frame assist with climbing steps or stairs.
- D-shaped extendable handle provides ergonomic hand comfort and allows you to maintain a comfortable and controlled body position while manoeuvring your items.
- Hand trucks on average are capable of carrying around 330lbs while appliance dollies typically carry around 1000lbs.
Examples of the Items a Manual Stair Climber for Heavy Equipment Can Transport Include:
- Large Boxes
- Amplifiers
- Stoves
- Book Shelves
- Refrigerator-freezer
- Ovens
- Vending Machines
- Luggage Bags
- Sports bags
- Boxed furniture
- Sand bags
- Fertilizer bags
- Water gallon containers
- Tool carts
- Small safes
Advantages
Folding nose plate, wheels and collapsible handle keep the dimensions small when not in use. This gives you the option to carry in your car trunk without taking up much room, or to find a small space in your home to store
Lightweight frame materials allow you to carry them anywhere by hand if necessary
Low cost initial purchase, especially for basic hand trucks that provide the minimal and most essential features only
Most come pre-assembled without the need to construct or use tools before you use it for the first time
The overall shape of the ground plate and frame allow for universal usage for many kinds of items
Disadvantages
Manual effort for multi floored buildings
Less safe them some options
Often required 2 man efforts for heavy equipment for maximum safety
How To Use a Manual Hand Truck or Appliance Dolly Stair Climber
- Unwind the retaining strap from around the body of the appliance dolly, or the bungee cords from around the hand truck if applicable
- Move the dolly up to the edge of the heavy equipment
- Tilt the equipment and slide the ground plate underneath, let go of the equipment, resting it against the main frame
- Wind the retaining strap or bungee cords around the equipment, ensuring that it’s centred with dolly
- For appliance dollies, take the strap and tighten it using the retaining rings, then turn the retaining strap handle to fully tighten the strap around the equipment
- Approach stairs facing backwards with the hand truck or dolly tilted at an angle, approximately 10 inches away from the stairs
- Take the first few steps up grab the dolly by the main handle, lay it at an angle where the stair crawler or tripod climber wheels (if applicable) rest against the top edge of the steps
- Walk backwards up the stairs, pulling the tool up with you at an angle as you take one step up at a time
Top Recommended Products
Our Favourite Hand Trucks:
| Hand Truck | Dimensions | Extendable Handle | Nose Plate Dimensions | Foldable | Material | Truck / Dolly configuration | Maximum Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 50.25" H, 17.5" W x 9" | No | 17.75" W X 9" D | No | Aluminum | Truck Only | 500lbs |
| 25 "x 15 "x 2.5" | Yes | 15" wide | Yes | Aluminum | Truck Only | 150lbs | |
| 33.25", H x 46.88" W x 19.75" D | No | 19.75" wide | No | Aluminum | Truck and Dolly | 1000lbs | |
| 45.28" x 20.87" x 18.9" | Yes | 19" wide | Yes | Aluminum | Truck Only | 330lbs | |
| 42.5" H x 19" W x 13.5" D | Yes | 19" wide x 14" deep | Yes | Aluminum | Truck Only | 275lbs | |
| 29.5" x 19.1" x 13.8" | Yes | 19.1" x 13.8" | Yes | Aluminum | Truck Only | 330lbs | |
| 19" x 2" x 36" | Yes | 19" x 2" x 36" | Yes | Aluminum | Truck Only | 309lbs |
Our Favourite Hand Appliance Dollies:
| Hand Truck | Dimensions | Wheel Type | Main Wheel Size | Retractable Stabilizer Wheels | Material | Maximum Weight Capacity | Stair Crawler Belts? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60" x 17" x 9" | Solid Rubber | 8" | Yes | Alloy Steel | 1200 lbs | Yes |
| 14-1/2'' x 24'' x 59'' | Solid Rubber | 7 1/2" | No | Steel | 750 lbs | Yes | |
| 12.6" x 24.01" x 59.45" | Solid Rubber | 6" | No | Alloy Steel | 800 lbs | Yes | |
| 15" x 24" x 60" | Solid Rubber | 7" | Yes | Alloy Steel | 1200 lbs | Yes | |
| 24" x 13 1/2" x 66" | Solid Rubber | 7" | Yes | Steel | 1200 lbs | Yes |
Top Recommended Rentals
The top hardware stores to rent a hand truck include U-Haul, Lowe’s, and The Home Depot.
Motorized Appliance Dolly
Motorized appliance dollies are by far the easiest way to enjoy stair climbing capabilities for moving heavy equipment in multi level buildings.
They share many of the same characteristics with appliance dollies, the main difference being the battery assisted electric motor used to power heavy loads up stairs.
Typically using a removable loading platform where items are lifted onto before being transported, or the commonly seen ground plate which is capable of slipping underneath equipment while they are still on the ground.
Main Features:
- Rechargeable battery pack, offering 12 hours typically of stair climbing and descending assistance.
- Console allowing engagement and disengagement of the battery. In addition to fine control over starting sand stopping of the stair climbing tracks.
- Typically capable of carrying 1000 – 1500 lbs loads up stairs.
Examples of Items a Manual Stair Climber for Heavy Equipment Can Transport Include:
- Hot water heaters
- Boilers
- Large refrigerator-freezers
- Large Safes
- Gun Safes
- Cleaners
- Dryers
- Gas tanks
- Closets
- Dressers
- Large ovens
- Large vending machines
Advantages
Minimal effort climbing of stairs with battery powered electric tracks
Full retention straps keep loads from falling away from frame
Universal design allows for large, bulky, heavy, and awkwardly shaped loads to be carried
Long treaded tracks offer amazing non-slip grip when traversing over stairs
Disadvantages
More costly than hand tracks and appliance dollies
Heavier than hand trucks and appliance dollies
Battery must be fully charged before operating for optimal use
How To Use Motorized Appliance Dollies
- Charge the battery for at least 5 – 7 hours, ensuring it is fully charged before use
- If it is applicable to the dolly, insert the removable flat mounting platform to the main frame body
- Lock the wheels and physically lift the load onto the mounting platform. If using a ground plate, slip the plate under the load by tilting it slightly
- Back the dolly up to the staircase you are going to climb, leaving 12 inches of free space between the first step and the treads of the dolly
- Lock the wheels then pull the tracks down into the locked out angled position in preparation to start the ascent
- Engage the battery with the button/key switch, then power the dolly on with the handle bar console power button
- Raise the D-shaped handlebar to the appropriate height for yourself and lock into place
- Using the handlebar tilt the dolly until the treaded tracks are resting flat on the stairs
- Press the start button to start your ascent, walking backwards up the stairs at the same pace as the dolly, while maintaining full control of the heavy load using the handlebar
- When you reach the top of the stairs, continue moving backwards till the front wheels have cleared the last step
- Lean the handlebar forward to sit the dolly upright, fold the tracks back in, lower the handlebars and unlock the wheels to continue transporting the dolly on level ground
Top Recommended Products
Electric Motorized Appliance Dolly:
| Hand Truck | Power | Battery | Space Saving | Material | Maximum Weight Capacity | Stair Crawler Belts? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 130W | Unknown | Foldable, retracting handle | Steel | 330 lbs | Yes |
| 120W | 13.6AH | Foldable, retracting handle | Alloy Steel | 441 lbs | Yes | |
| 400W | 10Ah | Foldable, retracting handle, collapsible frame | Aluminum | 375 lbs | No |
| 400W | Unknown | Foldable, retracting handle | Alloy Steel | 375 lbs | No |
| 850W | 19Ah | Foldable | Aluminum | 660 lbs | No | |
| Unknown | 30Ah | Foldable | Alloy Steel | 440 lbs | No |
Top Recommended Rentals
Top local and nationwide store to rent a motorized appliance dolly are listed, detailing the best deals available across the country.
Conclusion
Both manual hand trucks and appliance dollies are ideal tools for moving heavy equipment up multi-storey buildings.
The appliance dolly provides additional features such as a secure retention system, improved maximum loading capacity, and rear stair crawling tracks to assist climbing and descending steps.
The hand truck is a simpler tool providing the basics to transport heavy loads. Mainly an L-shaped metal frame for support, large wheels to overcome obstacles. Lastly an ergonomic and stiff handle to allow you to remain i full control of the load at all times.
The electric motorized appliance dolly feature powerful motors and often stair climbing treaded tracks. They excel at minimizing the effort required to move heavy equipment up inclines and stairs. In addition to providing anti-slip technology to improve safety.
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How to Pick the Best Hand Trucks Dollies and Electric Stair Climbers – Guide