Although it is safer to use a hand truck to move heavy loads up and down a flight of stairs, it really is not that easy to do it properly. When you are simply moving into or out of an apartment, you may only have a manual hand truck available. There are stair climbing hand trucks that do the work for you, but if you learn how to use a manual hand truck instead you can save money and time.
Before using the hand truck, you should always inspect it first. This applies especially if the hand truck is borrowed or used, but even brand new hand trucks can have a flaw or two. Make sure that the tires are free from punctures, check for cracks around the nose as well as dents or nicks in the frame. The hand truck is about to take on weight that is balanced on the axle, above the tires. If something breaks during the move, it could send the load tumbling down the stairs.
While ascending and descending steps it is that much more important to make sure that your cargo doesn’t shift and fall off your hand truck. To accomplish this, first ensure that your load is in the middle, make sure that you place the heavier and bulkier items on bottom with the lighter/smaller objects on top. And lastly use a strap or a rope to secure your cargo to the hand truck.
Tilt the hand truck back until you hit the sweet spot, where it is almost effortless to push the handles, and push it to the flight of stairs. On the back of some hand truck models there are plastic glide strips. These glide strips are meant to make life a little easier when you encounter a curb or a stairway. Take time to position them accordingly to guide the hand truck up or down the lip of the stair.
Take the steps one at a time now without trying to rush things up, steps can potentially be the most dangerous and difficult place to move appliances and furniture. If you have 2 people moving your item always put the stronger person on bottom, if you are both equally strong than the taller of the two people should be on bottom. And as always use your common sense not everything and every precaution can be spelled out.
Keeping your safety in mind, it would be wise to ask someone to be your spotter as you attempt to navigate the staircase. A spotter can help with traffic control and can act as a guide when you are moving backwards up the stairs. They also come in handy when the worst case scenario occurs and the load becomes dislodged.
Using all the advice you have read in this article should considerably remove the fright you have previously had of moving your furniture and appliances up and down staircases. Get a few friends together, make sure you have the right equipment and the right frame of mind, And you are all set to go. Good Luck!!
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Tags: appliance trucks, business, hand trucks, Home Improvement, injury prevention, material handling equipment, moving, moving equipment, pallet jacks, pallet trucks, stackers, transportation, transporting goods, warehouse tools