Favorite casters?

T

TJ Cornish

Graduate
Jan 13, 2011
1,263
1
0
St. Paul, MN
I need to build a few things with wheels on them, and I'd like nice casters. I know Colson has some good options, but am dizzy from looking in their catalog. What are some good choices for caster boards that will hold loads of maybe 400lbs max? Seems like 4" is pretty standard, and I definitely want easy rolling, which I assume means some kind of ball or roller bearing rather than bushings.

Thanks!
 
Re: Favorite casters?

Yes, Colson makes a lot of great casters.

The other very popular casters are the blue 4" Guitel casters. However, the ones made 15-20 years ago are considerably more heavy duty than the newer versions. The steel saddle that holds the wheel in place is much thicker on the older versions than on the newer versions.

I came across some 5" cast casters at Lowes that can be had for about $16 each. They sell them for use with the large work boxes that they also sell. I put a set of these on a heavy cable trunk, and another set on a large steel work box I bought at Tractor Supply Company (a.k.a. TSC). They roll great and have grease zerks on them for periodic lubrication.

Peavey has been making some 8-16 RU wood road racks for a few years now:
8-RU Rack
10-RU Rack
12-RU Rack
14-RU Rack
16-RU Rack

They are okay racks with front and rear rails with front and rear doors that pop in and out. The casters seem to be better than average and are about 4" in diameter. The casters are available through Peavey's parts department. Ask your Peavey dealer to get you a price on these parts:
73666062 - Locking Caster
73666063 - Plain Caster
 
Last edited:
Re: Favorite casters?

TJ Cornish said:
I need to build a few things with wheels on them, and I'd like nice casters. I know Colson has some good options, but am dizzy from looking in their catalog. What are some good choices for caster boards that will hold loads of maybe 400lbs max? Seems like 4" is pretty standard, and I definitely want easy rolling, which I assume means some kind of ball or roller bearing rather than bushings.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The standard in 4"x1.25" swivel casters:

Colson Caster Corporation - Swivel Caster - 4 x 1-1/4 Polyurethane HI-TECH Swivel Caster with Ball Bearing Swivel Caster by Colson Caster Corp. : GreatLakesCaster.com Product Overview

It's bigger brother the 4"x2" swivel caster:

Colson Caster Corporation - Swivel Caster - 4 x 2 Polyurethane on Plastic Swivel Caster Swivel Caster by Colson Caster Corp. : GreatLakesCaster.com Product Overview

There are 3.5" diameter versions, but I've been preferring the 4" and 5" diameters as they roll over cracks, thresholds, etc. better.

Great Lakes is a good company to do business with-I've been a satisfied customer for many years.

Best regards,

John
 
Re: Favorite casters?

If you tend to use ramps rather than lift gates or loading docks, 3 1/2 inch (or any size, for that matter) soft rubber tire won't last for shit. Polyurethane is the only way to go.
 
Re: Favorite casters?

A slight tangent: The R4 dollys from Clair have some seriously cool casters. The bearing plate plate is rubber isolated from a second plate which bolts to the dolly. And the bearing ring even has a grease fitting. I'd love to know where to buy them.
 
Top Bottom