Categories: Outdoor

What to Consider When Purchasing Casters for Outdoors

Published by
James marcus

Choosing the right caster for a particular job can be hard, especially when the environment that the caster will see provides difficult challenges. Some of the most difficult challenges for casters are found in outdoor terrains. When your caster needs to work outside, there is no room for error in choosing the wrong caster. You want it to work, and you want it to work right the first time. However, it is easy to make a mistake if you don’t know what you are looking for.

This is where the dedicated team at Douglas Equipment can help. In our 60 years in business, we have developed the knowledge needed to match the right caster for the task at hand. Because of this, our customers can be sure that they will choose the caster they need at a price that is affordable for them. When choosing a caster for use outdoors here are a few things we would encourage you to consider before making your choice:

What Sort of Temperature Extremes Will Your Casters See?

Depending on where you are located, the weather outside can change from hot to cold, and if you are expecting a caster to function in these conditions you must make sure it is designed to handle the appropriate temperature fluctuations in a given area. Think about such caster options as wheel materials that can handle the temperatures you will see, and grease that is designed for the extremes temperature.

  • Colson Kinpinless Enforcer Swivel and Matching Rigid: The Enforcer casters from Colson have material options that can make these casters extremely temperature resistant. Some examples of wheel material options that can allow these casters to function within a range of -45 degrees Fahrenheit to 180 degrees Fahrenheit include Mold-on rubber, performa rubber, phenolic resin and cast iron among other wheel material options. With temperature resistant grease, these casters can withstand a lot of abuse, and the grease used to lubricate the Colson Enforcer caster is multi-temperature grease designed for extreme temperatures. These heavy duty casters include a zinc plated finish that is attractive and durable, as well as the kingpinless swivel design that eliminates swivel section failure due to shock and stretching of the kingpin. Wheel diameters come in 4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12”. Caster capacities range from 680 – 4500 pounds to suit any needs you may have. This model is also available for larger casters with larger diameter wheel options.

Is Your Outdoor Surface Rough or Smooth?

Knowing the surface condition is important for finding the right wheel for your caster. All outdoor surfaces are not created equal, and the condition of the surface will lead you to choose a caster with certain wheel material properties. For instance, on smooth concrete the most common wheel material to use, which is both high capacity and cost effective, is phenolic. However, on rough concrete or asphalt rubber, polyurethane casters work better because the softer material rolls better on rough surfaces.

  • Bassick Honcho AS/AR Series: Built by Shepherd Caster Corporation to carry a lot of weight while remaining strong and dependable, these heavy duty casters are perfect for heavy and abusive applications such as those seen in the moving industry. Wheels are 2” wide and come in material options include Phenolic or Polyolefin. This caster offers wheel diameters of 4”, 5”, 6” and 8”, with a capacity of up to 1250 pounds for moving larger loads.

What If You Have A Soft Outdoor Surface?

If you are working on a soft exterior surface then there are other casters to consider. Pneumatic casters work best on soft exterior surfaces like sand, grass or gravel because they are light with a large footprint that stops the caster from sinking or causing ruts. An excellent example of this is are the casters on stages for half time shows in stadiums, which are almost always mounted on pneumatic casters.

  • Bestway BW/BWR Series Casters: This signature caster from Bestway offers an option with full pneumatic wheels. The caster offers quiet design with easy swiveling and the ability to take the abuse of rough, continuous service. The heavy ¼” material is used throughout the design for maximum strength and longevity, and the superior kingpin construction with precision double ball raceways proves to be much more durable than riveted models. This option has 6” wheels with a 2” tread width and roller bearings, offering a capacity of 300 pounds per caster. Casters are zinc plated for lasting wear and feature grease fittings for easy maintenance. Options on these casters include pedal brakes, total lock brakes, four position swivel locks, head seals for swivel models, Delrin bearings, heavy duty roller bearings, flanged ball bearings and flanged brass bearings. This series is also available with many other wheel types with sizes of 3”, 4”, 5”, 6” and 8” and capacities up to 1000 pounds. It is considered one of the best casters available in the 600 – 1000 pound capacity range.

The Place to Turn When You Need Caster: for Indoors or Outdoors

Douglas Equipment has been in the business of quality casters and material handling equipment since 1955, and in this time we have learned what it takes to find the right caster for your situation, be it indoors or outdoors. Our dedicated service team has the knowledge and experience needed to help you with any questions you may have when it comes to choosing a caster for outdoor use. From our location in South Florida, we can easily service the entire United States, and quickly ship products to South America and the Caribbean as well.

If you are local to Miami you can call us at 305-888-3700, and national customers can call us toll free at 800-451-0030. If you prefer to send in your questions we can also be contacted online. We will get back to you as soon as possible to answer all of your questions. When you need to choose a caster and want to make sure you get the right type of equipment for your unique needs, Douglas Equipment is the company to call.

This post was last modified on 24/10/2023 01:37

James marcus

Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.

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Published by
James marcus

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