Gizmorama: Life in the tech age

CURB SERVICE

We are amazed at how a simple principle of physics can be ignored time after time. We are talking about the leverage exerted on a suitcase as it goes off the curb on an angle. As we head out to the garage from the downtown office, we see so many folks dragging these little roller cases behind them. First of all, they're far too ambitious taking stuff home every day. Second, they dump all the stuff riding on top of the case because they went off the curb one

wheel at a time.

It's the same folks everyday. Thump, thump, &$%* then they pick up the spilled articles, reassemble and go on their way.

Now, if you add about two seconds to the trip by lining up the wheels so they go off the

curb on the perpendicular, everything should stay in place. Turn the case around and push it off perpendicular to the curb and you have very good control. We are only slightly smarter than the average bear, but it only took one spill to convince us that there had to be a better way.

AL LA CART

When you purchase a luggage cart or dolly, you should check the weight rating. Pay serious attention to the weight rating --- since you might have to move a refrigerator some time with this implement.

We bought one with a 200-pound rating one time, thinking that would certainly be enough for day-to-day usage. On one occasion, we needed to ship books off from the Post Office. After parking and getting the straps ready for the book boxes, we loaded up the dolly for what we imagined was a routine trip. About 25 feet from the truck, the wheel fell off on the right-hand side. The top-most boxes toppled onto the pavement but we managed to keep the others in a stack. Closer inspection found that not only did the wheel come off, but the frame had cracked as well. We hauled the boxes in one or two at a time and had them weighed: 202 pounds total.

Our next dolly had a 500-pound rating and our next luggage cart a 300-pound rating.

Some safety precautions for use of a dolly:

-- Always secure the load to the dolly frame with some fastening that has a rating for the weight being carried. That is to say, use 200-pound rated cord, tie-downs, etc., for a 150-pound weight.

-- Plan your route. Figure ahead of time how the object must be manipulated in order to get from point A to point B. You don't want to get down a stairwell with a couch only to find it will not negotiate the corner.

-- If your dolly has inflatable wheels, make sure the tire pressure is up to standard. Under-inflated tires wobble excessively under a load.

Follow the safety precautions included with your dolly or luggage cart. Think ahead to save work and be safe.

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