Dollies are wheeled platforms that are used to move heavy objects and equipment. They provide an easy way to transport bulky or heavy items by rolling them along the ground rather than carrying them. Dollies come in many shapes and sizes for different uses, but there are 4 types that are the most common. These popular dollies are hand trucks, furniture dollies, pallet jacks, and camera dollies. Each serves a distinct purpose on film sets, in warehouses, offices, and homes.
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What is a Dolly?
A dolly is a wheeled platform that objects can be placed on top of to move them with less effort. Dollies have been used throughout history to transport heavy loads by rolling rather than lifting them. They reduce strain on the body and allow a single person to move very heavy items with control and precision.
Dollies typically consist of a flat platform or forks mounted on 3-5 wheels, with handles on one or both ends for steering and pushing. The design distributes the weight placed on the dolly across the wheels, which reduces friction and enables even very heavy loads to be rolled.
Benefits of Using a Dolly
There are several advantages to using a dolly rather than carrying items by hand:
– Allows heavy loads to be transported smoothly with less effort
– Minimizes physical strain on the body from lifting
– Provides precise control when moving bulky objects
– Enables one person to move very heavy items safely
– Various types can accommodate odd-shaped loads
– Wheels allow easy maneuverability around corners and obstacles
– Faster and more efficient to move loads with a dolly
With their rolling function and effort-reducing leverage, dollies are extremely useful tools for transporting equipment and materials in many different settings.
Hand Trucks
Hand trucks, also sometimes called two-wheelers or hump trucks, are likely the most recognizable type of dolly and one of the most versatile. True to their name, hand trucks are designed to be steered manually using two handles at the top.
Design of Hand Trucks
Hand trucks have a simple, L-shaped metal frame with two large wheels at the base and two fixed forks or a flat platform at the bottom front. The wheels may be rubber, plastic, metal, or pneumatic. The frame extends vertically to form a tall backing plate, with handles protruding from the top for controlling and tilting the dolly.
To use a hand truck, the item to be moved is placed on or leaned against the forks or platform. The user then grasps the handles firmly and tilts the dolly backward until balanced on the two wheels. By pushing and steering with the handles, very heavy items can be transported with relative ease.
Common Uses of Hand Trucks
Hand trucks are ubiquitous because they are so versatile. Their uses include:
– Moving boxes, crates, barrels, drums, etc. in warehouses and storage facilities
– Transporting heavy paperwork, files, and materials around offices
– Loading and unloading delivery trucks
– Moving appliances, furniture, and other household items
– Transporting shopping bags from stores to one’s vehicle
– Hotel bellhops use hand trucks for luggage
From industrial warehouses to retail stores, hand trucks are a standard item that aids workers and customers with transporting bulky or heavy objects. They require minimal storage space and are simple to use.
Types of Hand Trucks
While the general hand truck design is consistent, there are variations available for more specialized uses:
– Convertible hand trucks – The forks can transition to a flat platform for holding boxes or other items.
– Straddle trucks – The forks are fixed but adjustable in width to lift bulky loads from the sides.
– Drum dollies – With curved forks specialized for transporting barrels lying horizontally.
– Keg hand trucks – Have oval-shaped forks contoured to the shape of kegs.
– Refrigerator trucks – Designed specifically for balanced lifting and moving of large appliances.
So while the standard hand truck is ubiquitous, specialty designs accommodate unique loading needs.
Furniture Dollies
As the name suggests, furniture dollies are designed specifically for facilitating moving furniture and especially heavy pieces like pianos, safes, etc. They share some traits with hand trucks but also have distinct features to better accommodate furniture and delicate objects.
Design of Furniture Dollies
Rather than a vertical backing plate, furniture dollies have a completely horizontal platform set close to the ground. This allows the dolly to be slid directly underneath heavy furniture and items with legs or protruding parts.
The platform typically has a set of straps or clamps for securing the load in place. The wheels are often larger rubber casters that can swivel in multiple directions for maneuverability in tight spaces and around furniture and corners. These multi-directional wheels are a defining feature of furniture dollies.
Some models include an adjustable handle for raising one end of the dolly during transport. This helps when navigating stairs or uneven terrain.
Uses of Furniture Dollies
As the name suggests, the primary use for furniture dollies is moving residential and office furniture including:
– Couches, tables, desks, dressers
– Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, etc.
– Safes, cabinets, chests, lockers
– Armoires, china cabinets, hutches
– Pianos, pool tables, entertainment centers
The low-set wheeled platform allows top-heavy furniture to remain upright during transport. Strapping the items in place also protects fragile and valuable furnishings.
Specialized furniture dollies are made for moving pianos, with extra reinforcement and strapping for these extremely heavy and delicate instruments.
Advantages over Hand Trucks
Furniture dollies have benefits over standard hand trucks when moving fragile and uniquely shaped furnishings:
– Low platform slides easily under furniture legs
– Items don’t have to be tilted backwards
– Smooth, multi-directional wheels provide more control over valuable objects
– Straps hold fragile furnishings securely in place
– Some models have hand cranks for lifting one end of heavy objects
By catering specifically to furniture and delicate items, furniture dollies provide safe transportation.
Pallet Jacks
Pallet jacks, also called pump trucks, are designed for lifting and moving heavy pallets full of goods or materials in warehouses, shipping facilities, etc. They utilize a hydraulic lifting mechanism to smoothly raise and lower pallets.
Design of Pallet Jacks
Pallet jacks consist of a set of forks that slide underneath a pallet. The forks are connected to a hydraulic piston pump controlled with a lever. Pumping the lever raises the fork vertically via the hydraulic cylinder.
Once fully raised, the pallet jack can then be wheeled around on its four low-set swivel casters. The pallet jack tilts back slightly once under load, moving the wheels ahead of the forks for easier transport.
Controls on the handle raise and lower the fork height or engage the hydraulic pump. Pallet jacks are made of durable steel and can lift thousands of pounds.
Common Uses of Pallet Jacks
– Loading and unloading tractor trailers and shipping containers
– Stacking and storing pallets in warehouses
– Moving pallets around warehouses and stockrooms
– Loading pallets onto elevators or ramps
– Delivering palletized materials and goods to locations
Pallet jacks provide an indispensable tool for the shipping and logistics industry. They allow workers to smoothly transfer heavy pallet loads between locations quickly and safely.
Advantages over Hand Trucks
Pallet jacks have unique advantages for pallet handling:
– Fork lifting mechanism for raising pallets high
– Lower profile slides easily under pallets
– Smoother transport with swiveling wheels
– Greater load capacity than hand trucks
– Precise hydraulic control over lift height
– Tilting when loaded moves wheels ahead for stability
With their specialized design focused on pallets rather than general objects, pallet jacks are very efficient and safe for handling palletized freight.
Camera Dollies
Camera dollies are platform dollies engineered specifically for holding and moving film cameras smoothly during video recording. Their unique wheel designs and steering mechanisms enable precision tracking shots in motion pictures.
Design of Camera Dollies
Camera dollies have a stable steering platform low to the ground with pneumatic rubber wheels or treads. This provides a smooth ride needed for stable tracking shots. The platform typically rotates 360 degrees for optimal maneuverability.
The camera is mounted to the dolly platform on a tripod or camera pedestal. Some larger dollies have seats for camera operators. The latest high-tech models may be remote-controlled using joysticks.
The wheels and steering mechanism are designed to enable straight, side-to-side, or arcing camera motions while recording. Specialized dollies can move on train tracks or suspended cables for more dynamic movements.
Common Uses of Camera Dollies
– Tracking shots following actors or vehicles
– Panning side-to-side while recording
– Moving the camera towards or away from a subject
– Circular dolly shots around a subject
– Elevated dollies for angled or declining shots
– Used heavily in television, film, video, advertising
– Create visual motion and dynamics not possible with static shots
Camera dollies allow cinematographers to move the camera smoothly while filming to enhance visuals. This enables innovative and dynamic shots not possible with stationary cameras.
Advantages over Other Dollies
Camera dollies are engineered for very specific purposes unique to cinematography:
– Provides stable platform for moving cameras during filming
– Wheels designed for smooth, precision camera motions
– Rotate 360 degrees for optimal maneuverability
– Allow side-to-side, vertical, and circular camera movements
– Specialized models move on tracks or cables
– Enable camera tracking, panning, and dynamic shots
The specialized designs cater directly to meeting the needs of professional cinematographers and videographers.
Conclusion
While dollies utilize the simple principle of wheeling heavy objects rather than carrying them, there are specialized designs tailored for different industries and uses. Hand trucks provide a versatile, inexpensive option for general transport needs. Furniture dollies accommodate delicate furnishings and tight spaces. Pallet jacks optimize the handling of palletized cargo. Camera dollies allow new filming techniques through smooth camera motion.
The common trait is that all these dollies make moving heavy or awkward objects much easier and safer. However, specialized designs catering to unique needs are what make each dolly type optimal for different applications. Businesses, movers, warehouses and creative professionals can choose the perfect dolly suited to their particular requirements. With the right dolly models, any heavy lifting or transport job can be performed more efficiently.
Summary of the Four Most Common Dollies:
Hand Trucks
– L-shaped two-wheeled design
– Great for general box/object transport
– Tilts back to balance load on wheels
– Handles for steering and control
– Ubiquitous inexpensive option
Furniture Dollies
– Low horizontal platform for sliding under objects
– Best for delicate furniture and valuables
– Straps secure items during transport
– Swiveling multi-directional wheels
Pallet Jacks
– Hydraulic lifting mechanism raises pallets
– Ideal for warehouses and distribution centers
– Smoothly handles heavy palletized loads
– Wheels ahead of forks for stability
Camera Dollies
– Engineered for smooth camera motions
– Rotating platform provides optimal maneuverability
– Enables tracking shots, pans, circular movements
– Essential for dynamic filming techniques