Jesco Self-Dumping Hopper Casters

Jesco Hopper Casters | Weld-On Caster Sets for Self-Dumping Hoppers

Jesco hopper caster sets add rolling mobility to Jesco self-dumping hoppers, allowing operators to manually reposition hoppers short distances within a facility without a forklift. Each set includes 2 swivel casters and 2 rigid casters, and the casters are welded to the hopper base for a permanent, secure attachment. Three wheel materials are available: mold-on rubber, semi-steel, and phenolic in 6" and 8" wheel diameters.

Adding casters increases the overall height of the hopper: 6" casters add 7-1/2" to the hopper's height, and 8" casters add 9-1/2". Account for this additional height when planning clearance at the installation position. Set capacity varies significantly by wheel material. Verify that the selected caster set's capacity meets or exceeds the hopper's rated capacity before ordering.

Selecting the Right Caster Set:

♦ Caster set capacity vs. hopper capacity: the caster set capacity must meet or exceed the rated capacity of the hopper. The Mold-On Rubber 6" x 2" set (240251) carries 2,000 pounds per set -- appropriate for the heavy-duty series (2,000-lb hoppers) but not for extra-duty, Husky, or super extra heavy-duty hoppers. The Semi-Steel 6" x 2" set (240211) carries 4,800 pounds. Phenolic 6" x 2" (240231) carries 4,000 pounds. At the 6" x 2-1/2" size: Mold-On Rubber (240351) carries 2,400 pounds; Phenolic (240331) carries 6,000 pounds. At the 8" x 2-1/2" size: Mold-On Rubber (240451) carries 2,400 pounds; Semi-Steel (240511) carries 6,000 pounds; Phenolic (240531) carries 6,000 pounds.

♦ Wheel material and floor conditions, mold-on rubber wheels cushion vibration, protect smooth floors from marking, and provide quieter rolling, best for smooth concrete, painted floors, and environments where noise and floor protection matter. Phenolic wheels are very hard, resist moisture and chemicals, roll easily on smooth floors, and are noisy on rough surfaces. Semi-steel wheels are dense cast iron with a steel hub, extremely durable, suited for heavy loads and rough floors, but mark soft or finished floors, and are the noisiest option.

♦ Wheel size: 6" vs. 8". The 6" wheels add 7-1/2" to hopper height and are appropriate for standard floor conditions and moderate obstacle clearance. The 8" wheels add 9-1/2" to height and are better suited for rolling over uneven floors, expansion joints, and minor floor obstructions. Larger wheels roll more easily under heavy loads. Choose 8" wheels when the floor surface is uneven or when the hopper will be pushed long distances.

♦ 2 swivel + 2 rigid configuration, the swivel casters at one end allow directional steering; the rigid casters at the other end maintain straight-line tracking. This configuration makes the loaded hopper steerable by one operator while preventing it from drifting sideways during a push.

♦ Weld-on installation, these casters are permanently welded to the hopper base -- they cannot be removed without cutting. Order with confidence that the selected wheel material and size are appropriate for the application before installation, as the choice is permanent.

Where Commonly Used:

♦ Short-Distance Repositioning at Production Cells, operators who push a hopper from one machine to the next within the same work cell, or from the cell to a staging area for forklift pickup, use casters to eliminate the forklift move for every short repositioning task.

♦ Maintenance and Cleanup Operations, maintenance crews who move a single hopper to multiple machine positions during a shift-end cleanup use casters to roll the hopper from station to station without waiting for a forklift between stops.

♦ Facilities with Smooth or Coated Concrete Floors, operations on smooth painted or sealed concrete, where floor protection matters, choose mold-on rubber casters to prevent marking and minimize rolling noise while maintaining hopper mobility.

♦ Heavy-Load Applications Requiring Full Mobility, hoppers rated at 6,000 pounds that also need to be repositioned manually use the phenolic or semi-steel 6" x 2-1/2" or 8" x 2-1/2" sets rated at 6,000 pounds to maintain the full hopper capacity while adding mobility.

♦ Rough or Uneven Floor Surfaces, facilities with rough concrete, expansion joints, or minor floor debris use 8" casters to roll the hopper more easily over surface irregularities without the hopper hanging up or requiring excessive pushing force.

CustomMHS is an authorized Jesco distributor. All purchases include the manufacturer's factory warranty.