Straight line skates are a type of transport dolly used for moving heavy objects and loads in – you guessed it – a straight line. Hevi-Haul offers three main categories of straight line skates to choose from: Long straight line, short straight line, and slim straight line. Read on to learn which type of straight line skate is best suited for various moving and transporting applications.
Long Straight Line Skates
Long straight line skates are designed to manage the heaviest, and longest loads, with a capacity of 10 to 100 tons per skate. That’s 20,000 to 200,000 lbs. With this impressive load distribution, and capacity, these skates are most commonly used by riggers, machinery movers, stevedores and contractors. This type of straight line skate is considered the best choice for all-purpose moving needs since they are able to handle such heavy loads, meaning you are unlikely to encounter a straight line transportation application that they won’t be able to manage.
Short Straight Line Skates
Short straight line skates are very similar to long straight line skates but feature a shorter frame. While these are still designed to handle quite heavy loads with capacities of 6 tons to 30 tons – or 12,000 lbs. to 60,000 lbs. – they are also made for densely packed hauling due to their more concentrated strength. With that in mind, this type of straight line skate is also most commonly used by riggers, machinery movers, stevedores and contractors. While the density of the loads you are looking to move will be a factor in choosing between long or short straight line skates, the key consideration will usually be the load weight.
Slim Straight Line Skates
If you have limited space for storing and moving heavy loads, you will probably want to choose slim straight line skates. This category of skates features similar design and utility as their long and short skate counterparts but in a more narrow format. As such, this type of skate is appropriate in tighter or more limited spaces. Also, their moving capacity is a bit lower than the other two categories of straight-line skates at 2.5 tons to 12.5 tons, or 5,000 lbs. to 25,000 lbs.
Steel vs. Polyurethane Coated Rollers
An important consideration with all types of straight-line skates is their construction material. The steel rollers are excellent for loads that will spend extended periods in stationary positions as these rollers will not wear down or move over time. While they are made of steel that offers the utmost durability and are well-suited to rougher environments and flooring, there is also the option to choose polyurethane coated rollers for settings with more delicate flooring. Such settings include aerospace and military facilities that often feature epoxy coated floors.
Contact Hevi-Haul For All Your Questions About Straight Line Skates
We know that you will likely still have some questions about choosing the best straight line skates for your particular industry and load types. Hevi-Haul is here to answer those questions and help you choose. Contact us today with your questions and to inquire about purchasing straight line skates for all your moving applications.
