Mastering Stairs with Hand Trucks

Schlepping heavy items up the stairs made easy

Looking up that flight of steep stairs when you've got a bunch of heavy boxes to carry might seem daunting, but a hand truck can help shoulder the load. This aptly named workhorse is almost like having another set of hands. To maximize your hand truck's performance - and to lessen the risk of injury or breakage - it's important to follow a few simple rules.

It's a Balancing Act
After inspecting your hand truck to make sure it's in good shape, take a look at what you have to carry up the stairs: Are they bulky items that will need to be balanced against the hand truck's handles? Is it a tall item that will need to be strapped to the cart? Knowing what you're carrying - and the best way to carry it - is the most important rule in using a hand truck.

Now, balance the load in the center of the hand truck's blade - that's the flat part that comes out from the handles, where the wheels are attached. Make sure what you're carrying is also balanced carefully against the handles. An improperly balanced load will make you do more of the work, and it can also lead to spills. If your hand truck is properly balanced, you'll barely have to lift a finger because your hand cart will be doing the work.