Application tier map — what lives at this capacity
Tier 1 · 15,001–17,000 lb
Industrial coil & plate transfer
Steel coil cradles, plate transfer carts, and large stamping die movers. Single-caster load 15,000–17,000 lb. Wheel diameter 14″ minimum. Steel or polyurethane on cast iron.
14″ min diameterTapered rollerKingpinless
Tier 2 · 17,001–18,500 lb
Turbine generator & large machinery
Powergen turbine assembly transfer, large machine tool repositioning, defense vehicle assembly. Single-caster load 17,000–18,500 lb. Wheel diameter 14–16″. Forged steel tread preferred for rolling on rail or steel plate.
14–16″ diameterForged steel treadDual-row tapered roller
Tier 3 · 18,501–20,000 lb
Shipbuilding, bridge, nuclear
Ship section transfer in shipyard, bridge component positioning, nuclear cask handling. Maximum tier short of the 20,000–40,000 lb extreme-duty range. Wheel diameter 16″+. Mandatory powered movement.
16″+ diameterForged steelPowered move only
Construction requirements at 15–20 ton tier
Standard industrial casters fail here. Mandatory specifications:
Kingpinless tapered roller bearing construction. A standard kingpin caster fails under repeat cornering load at 15,000+ lb — the kingpin shears, the swivel binds, or the top plate cracks at the bolt holes. Kingpinless geometry uses a full tapered raceway that distributes cornering force around the full circumference. Dual-row tapered roller bearings inside the wheel handle both the static load and the dynamic load from acceleration/deceleration.
14–16″ minimum wheel diameter. Smaller wheels concentrate floor load above safe psi limits. A 10″ wheel at 18,000 lb generates roughly 800 psi at the contact patch — enough to permanently dent rated industrial concrete. A 16″ wheel at the same load drops to about 250 psi, well within the safe zone for 6″ reinforced concrete or steel rail.
Powered movement. 4 casters at 18,000 lb each = 72,000 lb total platform. A human cannot start a 36-ton stationary load — you need a tugger (typically 5,000–15,000 lb pull capacity) or a tow vehicle. Plan the move path with the tugger turning radius in mind.
Floor engineering note — Even with the right caster, you can still crack the floor. Standard 4″ concrete = no for sustained loads above 12,000 lb. 6″ reinforced concrete with rebar grid = baseline. Steel distribution plates (1/2″ minimum) over standard floor = acceptable for short-run paths. Embedded steel rail = the only spec for permanent travel paths above 15,000 lb.
Step beyond — the 20,000–40,000 lb tier
If you’re moving more than 20,000 lb per caster, you’re in extreme-duty territory: nuclear cask transport, large aerospace fixture transfer, oil & gas equipment. See our extreme duty up to 40,000 lb collection or the super-duty 23,000 lb tier for the step up.
FAQs — 15–20 ton casters
Can my forklift floor handle this load?If your floor is rated for 3,000 lb/sq ft (standard industrial), it cannot sustain 18,000 lb point load through an 8″ or 10″ wheel. You need 14–16″ wheels OR steel distribution plates to spread load.
How do I move the platform?Tugger, tow vehicle, or winch system. Mechanically connected to one or more rigid casters on the load. Human pushing is not possible at this tier.
Polyurethane or forged steel at this load?Polyurethane for indoor concrete (better floor protection, quieter). Forged steel for rail systems, hot environments (foundry, steel mill), or applications where the floor is the limit.
Lead time on 20k casters?Most builds in this tier are not stock items. Expect 4–8 weeks lead time. Send the application detail early.
Do I need a fifth wheel for steering?For powered movement, two rigid + two swivel is standard — tugger pulls from the rigid end, swivel end follows. Fifth-wheel steering is unusual at this tier (used only on dedicated transfer carts).
Engineering call required
15+ ton applications need engineering review. Send load weight, floor spec, and move method — we’ll respond with a build sheet.
Call 844-439-4335
