The Liberator series — what makes B&P convertibles different
Most hand trucks are single-purpose: a 2-wheel upright design for stacking and moving boxes vertically. B&P’s Liberator series breaks that constraint. The same hand truck mechanically converts into a 4-wheel platform truck by tilting the nose plate forward and engaging the secondary wheel assembly underneath the frame. Hand truck mode: 600 lb capacity for moving stacked cargo through aisles and onto trucks. Platform mode: 1,200 lb capacity for moving large single items across loading docks and warehouse floors. One operator, one piece of equipment, two distinct material handling tasks.
The Liberator construction uses aircraft-grade aluminum rivets (the same rivets used in commercial aircraft structure assembly) at every joint, plus 4-sided cross-member frame design that distributes load across all four sides of the structure rather than concentrating stress at corners. The result is a hand truck that survives daily commercial use for 8-12 years before frame replacement — significantly longer than welded-steel competitors that crack at the weld joints under repeated impact loading.
B&P modular configuration codes — how to read a B&P part number
B&P part numbers like A37X-B5MK-C28-D6SS aren’t random — each letter-number combination specifies a component of the assembled hand truck. Understanding the codes makes ordering and cross-referencing dramatically faster:
A-codes: Frame style
A1, A37X, A65 etc. designate the frame configuration — Senior (heavy-duty), Junior (compact), Narrow Aisle, Liberator, etc. The frame is the structural backbone and determines load capacity + form factor.
B-codes: Handle type
B1 (Loop), B5MK (Loop with mounting hardware), B17 (P-Grip), B60 (T-Handle Three-Way Liberator), etc. The handle determines operator interface — loop for general use, T-handle for narrow aisle precision.
C-codes: Nose plate
CA2 (Standard 14″), C28 (Extended for keg work), C29 (Narrow profile), etc. The nose plate determines cargo footprint and shape compatibility — wider for boxed goods, narrower for cylindrical containers.
D-codes: Wheel type
D6SS (8″ Mold-On Rubber on Cast Iron), D12 (Pneumatic), D15 (Heavy-Duty Solid), D16 (No-Flat Foam), etc. Wheel selection determines floor compatibility, capacity, and rolling resistance.
Together, A37X-B5MK-C28-D6SS spells out a Senior frame with mounted loop handle, extended-keg nose plate, and 8″ mold-on rubber wheels — the keg distribution hand truck spec.
B&P product family reference
| Family |
Style Count |
Notable Models |
Primary Use |
| 2-Wheeled Hand Trucks |
43 styles |
WEB-HTA series Senior/Junior frames |
General warehouse, freight terminal, retail back-of-house |
| Liberator Convertibles (Senior + Junior) |
14 styles |
SSR Senior 1,200 lb / SJR Junior |
Multi-purpose hand truck + platform conversion |
| S-Series Hand Trucks |
12 styles |
Steel frame heavy-duty |
Industrial duty above aluminum capacity |
| Formed + Welded Platform Trucks |
21 styles |
PTF aluminum 2,000 lb, WEB-PT welded heavy |
Large single-item transport, dock work |
| Pallet Dollies |
22 styles |
4248-8T 4-wheel 1,000-2,000 lb |
Pallet positioning at production lines, packing |
| Specialty (Keg, Ice, Snack, Studio, Appliance) |
20+ styles |
Keg A37X, Ice ICE-CART, Studio SC-30DD |
Industry-specific cargo — beverage, ice, AV, appliance delivery |
| Curb Ramps (Punched + Tread Plate) |
21 styles |
CRP punched, CRU tread plate |
Loading dock-to-trailer transitions, ADA-compliant ramps |
| Replacement Parts (Frames, Handles, Wheels, Nose Plates) |
58 styles |
B17 frames, A7 handles, D6SS wheels, CA2 nose |
OEM-spec replacement on existing B&P trucks |
Common questions on B&P Manufacturing equipment
Is the B&P Liberator actually made in the USA?
Yes. B&P Manufacturing is based in Bloomington, Indiana and the Liberator hand trucks, platform trucks, and frames are manufactured at their US facility. Some accessory components (specific wheels, handle grips) may be imported, but the core structural assembly is US-made. For Buy American Act / federal procurement, the B&P aluminum and steel frames qualify — documentation available at info@casterhq.com with the part number.
How does the Liberator convert from hand truck to platform truck?
The frame has a hinged transition point at the lower nose-plate area. To convert: tilt the hand truck so it rests on its back, fold the nose plate flat against the frame face, and rotate the secondary wheel assembly down into contact with the floor. The result is a 4-wheel platform truck with the nose plate as the load deck. Reversing the process returns it to hand truck mode in 10-15 seconds. The conversion mechanism uses spring-loaded pins to lock in each position so the assembly stays stable during operation.
What’s the capacity difference between Senior and Junior Liberator?
Senior Liberator: 600 lb hand truck mode, 1,200 lb platform mode. Frame dimensions 18″ wide x 50″ tall. Junior Liberator: 500 lb hand truck mode, 800 lb platform mode. Frame dimensions 14″ wide x 44″ tall — sized for tighter aisles, narrower truck doorways, and smaller cargo. Both use the same conversion mechanism and aircraft-grade rivet construction.
Can I customize a B&P hand truck with specific A/B/C/D codes?
Yes — B&P’s modular design allows customer specification of frame, handle, nose plate, and wheel independently. Email info@casterhq.com or call 844-439-4335 with the desired A-B-C-D code combination, and we’ll quote production lead time (typically 2-4 weeks for non-stock configurations). For stock combinations (the most-ordered combos pre-built), shipping is same-day from Mansfield, TX.
What about replacement parts — can I rebuild an old B&P truck?
The B&P modular system makes replacement parts swap straightforward. The 23 frames, 14 handles, 13 wheels, and 8 nose plates on this page cover essentially every assembled B&P configuration ever built — if your existing truck has the part code (stamped on each component), you can order direct replacement. For older trucks where the part code has worn off, photograph the components and email info@casterhq.com for cross-reference.
How does B&P pricing compare to dealer-direct (C.P. Lauman, F.E. Bennett)?
Pricing at CasterHQ is competitive with B&P’s authorized dealer network at single-unit retail. For fleet quantities (12+ trucks) we offer volume tiers that match or beat direct-from-B&P pricing in most categories. The advantage of CasterHQ vs. specialty B&P dealers: we cross-stock the broader CasterHQ caster catalog, so a single order can include B&P trucks plus replacement casters for non-B&P equipment — one PO, one shipping, one account.
Lead time on custom configurations?
Standard stocked B&P configurations (the most-ordered A-B-C-D combos plus all parts): same-day ship before 3 pm Central from Mansfield, TX. Custom A-B-C-D combinations not in stock: 2-4 week production lead time from B&P Bloomington, IN facility. Fleet orders of 24+ units at custom spec: typically 4-6 week lead time with priority production scheduling.
How do these ship?
Single hand trucks ship UPS Ground in most cases. Platform trucks, pallet dollies, and 4+ unit hand truck orders ship LTL freight. Curb ramps always ship LTL freight (weight + length). Stock orders ship same day before 3 pm Central. Email info@casterhq.com for freight quotes on multi-unit B&P orders.
Authorization & support
B&P Authorized DealerFull Liberator + Senior + Junior + S-Series + platform truck catalog stocked. B&P manufacturer warranty.
Custom Configuration QuoteSpecify your A-B-C-D code combo at info@casterhq.com for custom production quotes within one business day.
Replacement Parts & Cross-Reference58+ B&P replacement parts in stock. Photograph existing components for cross-reference at info@casterhq.com.
