At California Caster, we receive hundreds of calls every week from individuals looking to replace their wheels and casters. These conversations can be either very humorous or very frustrating for both parties due to the information provided (or not) by our prospective customer(s). Her are 7 questions which should help you determine specific casters and wheels right for you:

1. What are the average load and the maximum load requirements? 2. What wheel type is required for floor protection? 3. What wheel diameter will provide the necessary mobility? 4. In what type of environment will the casters or wheel operate? (water/oils/acids/corrosive materials or excessive/extreme environments) 5. Will the units be hand pushed or powered? 6. How many swivel and how many rigid casters are required? 7. How will the casters be mounted? (i.e. Top Plate, Stem, Hollow Kingpin?) Always remember the following equation when determining which casters and wheels are right for the job: Load + weight divided by the number of casters = lbs. per caster For example: 2,000 lbs. divided by 4 casters = 500 lbs. per caster It’s important that you always divide the weight of the caster and the truck to determine the weight-per caster. At California Caster, we suggest you always include a substantial safety factor that exceeds your maximum requirements. If a load is generally dropped onto a truck without regard for breakage or damage, then we suggest you specify the next highest load rating your casters. In general, you should you should always select load capacity that exceeds your required amounts rather than buying casters that are “just enough” to get the job done. The phrase “penny wise and pound foolish” is often discussed around our water cooler.  It’s interesting how companies often fuss over small amounts of money when making a decision around large caster and wheel orders. If you are making decisions that may possibly determine the longevity (and quality) of your project, we suggest you consider a higher quality caster. For projects where large quantities of casters are used, don’t be penny wise and pound foolish! Greg Williams