Folding hand truck is an essential tool at home or in the workplace. It saves you from the pain of having to lift heavy loads by hand. The last thing you need is a backache from lifting.
Now, the market has a variety of folding handheld trucks that you will be spoilt for choice. With every manufacturer claiming to be offering the best product, it can be confusing deciding what truck is best for you. For this reason, there are factors to consider before buying a hand truck.
Keep in mind things such as load capacity, the height of the truck, material used to make it, its strength, and ease of use. After considering such factors, you are in a better position to make the right purchase. The only question remaining is, what folding hand truck should you buy?
Best Pick – Cosco Shifter Hand Truck
Sturdy, Versatile & Affordable
Constructed with a very sturdy and dependable structure, the Cosco shifter hand truck is the best folding hand truck that one can buy. The Coco shifter hand truck makes loading and carrying loads a seamless process, thanks to its versatility. With its ability to carry up to 300 pounds, this hand truck can be used for different errands. If you are seriously looking for the perfect foldable hand truck that delivers, then this is an affordable one that won’t disappoint.
Best Folding Hand Trucks Review 2022
Here is a review of the top seven best folding hand trucks to help you when shopping.
7. Krane AMG AMG500 Convertible Platform/ Dolly/ Tilt Cart
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: Patented handle design, 3 operational modes, Compact design.
Dimensions: 18 x 15 x 7.5 inches.
Capacity: 500 lbs.
As the name suggests, this is more of a 3-in-1 hand truck and not just one hand truck. You can choose to use the two-wheel dolly, a platform cart or a four-wheel titled cart. How amazing is that? Switching from one mode to the other is a matter of snapping or flipping the handle.
The handle is also multi-position increasing user comfort. Like the other folding hand trucks, this one also folds compactly to fit in the smallest space possible. The carpeted decks offer more space for cargo when need be. Any cargo of 500 pounds is good to go with this folding hand truck.
Pros and Cons
- Versatile and user friendly.
- Has higher capacity than most hand trucks in the market.
- Can be bulky and heavy for some users.
6. Haul-Master Stair Climber Hand Truck
Price: Modestly priced.
Special features: Box lifter, Stitched webb strap, Enamel frame.
Dimensions: 22 in. x 5-1/2 inches.
Capacity: 600 pounds.
This is another 600 lbs folding hand track, but it has such a unique design. It is suitable for ferrying cartons. It has three compartments for loading cargo with stair climbers. The steel frame ensures durability and stability during usage. The blue and silver finishes are a good color combo. Do not worry about cargo sliding. This product has a heavy-duty double stitched webbed strap and buckle. With this, users can safely secure loads and focus on moving the truck only.
If your cargo does not fit in the compartments, there is a solution to that. The fold out box lifter elongates the tow plate to fit larger loads. The 22-inch tow plate is made of steel offering strength to hold cargo. The non-marking 6-inch rubber wheels are everyone’s favorite.
Pros and Cons
- Has a large weight carrying capacity.
- Stair climbers offer more user comfort.
- The handle has good grip
- Unfit for users who want smaller capacity trucks
5. Knack Folding Hand Truck
Price: Low price tag.
Special features: Adjustable shaft, Smooth rolling wheels, Compact design.
Dimensions: 24.5 x 16 x 3 inches.
Capacity: 150 lbs.
If what you are looking for is a small folding hand tack, you should consider Knack. It is appropriate for household use and travelers. It handles 150 pounds easily and fast. It folds nicely, almost flat. The telescoping shafts are flexible. Adjust them to a size you are comfortable with and enjoy operating the truck. The 25-inch handle can extend to 40 inches maximum. All you do is squeeze it to a height you want.
Any quality folding hand truck needs to have a good base. Knack has a rough aluminum base. It grips well with loads ensuring balance and safety while preventing sliding. The 5-inch rubber wheels move smoothly on surfaces for a great ride.
Pros and Cons
- Compact, versatile and lightweight.
- It is sturdy and durable.
- It has a small maximum load capacity.
4. Wesco 220649 Steel Maxi Mover
Price: Highly priced.
Special features: Sturdy steel frames, Safe elastic straps.
Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 42 inches.
Capacity: 275 pounds.
The steel construction is an add for this folding hand truck. Steel is strong and durable. This way, you get value for your money. Maxi mover can handle cargo of up to 275 lbs at any time. There are built-in elastic straps that keep your cargo safe from sliding off the hand truck. When Wesco folds, it is only 2 inches thick. This truck has two 7-inch non-marking rubber wheels which make it easy moving around.
They also do not ruin surfaces such as in offices with well-done floors. The wide nose plate ensures better packing. Overall, it is a good quality folding truck that is worth investing on.
Pros and Cons
- It is lightweight yet still sturdy and of great quality.
- It is versatile and easy to operate.
- For its hefty price tag, one would expect better quality and load capacity.
3. Olympia Tools 85-182 Heavy Duty Truck
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: Flat fold-down handle, Oversized wheels.
Dimensions: 5.5 x 24 x 37 inches.
Capacity: 600 pounds.
If you are looking for a folding hand truck with a capacity of more than 500lbs, Olympia is the brand to buy. It accommodates loads of up to 600lbs. Its heavy-duty nature makes it sturdy and able to carry more weight without being damaged. It is ideal for warehouse use. Olympia has an all-steel construction that promises durability. The textured vinyl deck looks great and works perfectly to transport your cargo.
The oversized wheels and swivel casters make movement a lot easier. The handle works to ensure the comfort of users always. It folds down perfectly for easy storage.
Pros and Cons
- Has good maneuverability and versatility.
- Requires little effort to use
- Great capacity
- Woudl be better if it had straps for securing the load.
2. Magna Cart Personal Aluminum Truck
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: Telescopic handle, Wide base construction, Smooth rubber wheels.
Dimensions: 13.8 x 16.6 x 49.2 inches.
Capacity: 300 pounds.
Magna has amazing features that make many users like it. For instance, quality is a guarantee when you buy this brand. The aluminum construction makes it attractive wherever it is used. Besides, aluminum does not rust this keeps the truck looking sleek even after exposure to harsh weather and work conditions. This product’s design is one of a kind. The telescopic handle extends to a maximum of 39 inches. The base of the truck is 5-inch wide offering enough space for loads while the 5-inch rubber wheels do not need air to operate.
With such an innovative design, this folding hand truck can carry up to 150 lbs of a load. About colors, you can either buy a red or black truck. The truck folds flat to only 2.5 inches thick thus takes up less space in storage and during transport. The packaging is strong that no extra material needs to be added for shipping.
Pros and Cons
- It has a durable structure.
- The versatility and maneiuverabity is excellent.
- It comes witha high customer rating.
- The wheels aren’t very sturdy which could be a problem when carrying heavy loads.
1. Cosco Shifter Hand Truck and Dolly
Price: Low price tag.
Special features: Compact design, Telescoping handle.
Dimensions: 25 x 15 x 2.5 inches.
Capacity: 150 pounds.
With Cosco, expect a heavy-duty product that will help you carry loads for a while before needing replacement. It has a 300-pound capacity thus suitable for heavier tasks at home and at the office. The steel frame offers enough support for cargo and is durable. This brand is easy to use. Switching from hand truck to dolly and vice versa is a walk in the park. You do not need any tools to do it.
Use this folding hand truck in two positions. When upright and on two wheels it is a hand truck but when on four wheels it is a cart. Cosco folds perfectly to fit in spaces available.
Pros and Cons
- It is light, compact and easy to maneuver with.
- IT has a sturdy and durable construction.
- The height is a little short for some users
Choosing the Best Folding Hand Truck
Here are some of the things to keep in mind when choosing a good folding hand truck to buy.
Sturdiness & Quality
One of the things that distinguishes one folding hand truck from another is how it has been constructed. Quality and sturdiness is very crucial since it will not only determine the amount of load that one can carry but also guarantee good durability and reliability.
Structural Design
Next, you’d want to make sure that the skeleton and structural design of the hand truck will give you the best in terms of versatility and work efficiency. Some are designed with wider bases which means that you can carry broad sized loads with better flexibility, while others are narrow and easy to maneuver with. One should choose one based on their nature of work and what they expect to be carrying.
Weight Capacity
Besides choosing a folding hand truck that is solid in nature, it is always crucial to keep in mind that they have varied weight limits which means these trucks have limits. You need to ask yourself about the weight of the loads that you will be carrying. A person looking for something to carry industrial loads and such heavy load will need a sturdy truck that can lift and carry with ease. One could even opt for those with more wheels for better stability.
Final Thoughts
With a list of seven best folding hand truck, it is easier deciding which one best fits your needs. If you deal with heavy cargo, you will need hand trucks with a bigger load capacity. Of course, the more the capacity the more the cost but it is worthwhile. If all you want is a truck to help move small cartons at the office or move things at home, then buy something with a smaller capacity. Remember the factors mentioned in the introduction when shopping.
Do not buy an item unless you know why you are buying it. Besides, there is no wrong in buying more than one folding hand truck. Simply look at your needs. If you need more than one, then go ahead and buy them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a folding hand truck?
A: A folding hand truck is a hand-operated equipment that is used to carry loads from one point to another. It works similarly to a hand cart, only that it is pushed forward rather than being pulled. It comes in handy mostly in situations like loading goods on a truck or when offloading.
Q: Do I need a folding hand truck?
A: A folding hand tuck is a crucial equipment when moving goods and different loads from one place to the other, as opposed to manually carrying them. Whether it is in a warehouse, a factory or a busy place, they have proven to be invaluable. Depending on your nature of work, if you need some loads moved, a folding hand truck could come in handy.
Q: Is there a load limit for foldable hand trucks?
A: Like every other load-carrying equipment, there are limits to foldable hand trucks. It is therefore crucial to know the load capacity of a hand truck before investing on it. Most foldable hand trucks have an optimum weight capacity of around 300 pounds.
Q: How much is a good foldable hand truck?
A: Foldable hand trucks are designed differently which also means that their capabilities and reliability differ. Equally, their prices vary. However, you can expect a foldable hand truck to cost anywhere between $30 to as high as $150 depending on the quality of the construction.
2 comments
The design of the Cosco lifter is lovely, and the height would be fine for me. I just hope to enjoy the device just as mentioned in this review. Thanks for the insight.
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