How to make light work of changing wheels
Stertil-Koni’s new bit of kit promises to make light work of changing and maintaining wheels. CVW reports.
Stertil-Koni reckons it’s taken the heavy lifting out of wheel work with the launch of its WD-5P hydraulic high lift wheel dolly, a fully hydraulic, heavy duty wheel unit, designed for simplified, safe, and efficient wheel maintenance on trucks, HGVs, buses, coaches and more.
Oxford Bus, an early user of the new unit, has already seen the benefits firsthand. “Our engineers have found the wheel dolly to be extremely effective,” said a spokesperson for the company. “The ability to remove both wheels simultaneously has proven to be incredibly efficient, significantly speeding up the maintenance process.”
This new product is designed to streamline the process of wheel removal and installation for commercial vehicles, enhancing both safety and efficiency in workshops. The wheel dolly boasts a fully hydraulic system, capable of handling wheel sizes ranging from 800 to 1200 mm, and is suitable for both single and dual wheels.
Ease of access
Boasting a high load capacity of 500kg, the dolly can handle the weight of heavy-duty wheels, making it the perfect solution for workshops of any size and fleet.
The new dolly minimises the manual effort required to lift and position heavy wheels, reducing the physical strain on technicians, leading to fewer injuries and less fatigue. Hydraulic tilting forks and separate rollers for first and second wheels help in precise alignment, reducing the risk of damage to wheels or vehicles.
Importantly, the dolly is designed with a robust, open frame allowing technicians to access wheel nuts and bolts with ease – a big advantage over existing wheel dollies on the market with their closed frames.
Featuring retaining brackets, wheel brakes, and foot protection, the dolly ensures the safety of the operator and the stability of the wheel during removal and installation. Easy positioning and movement around the workshop are assured with integral swivel castors and smooth-rolling wheels.
The dolly includes a fully adjustable air gun lifting aid holder, providing convenience and allowing users to customise their setup for maximum efficiency. By reducing the time required for wheel maintenance, minimising the risk of technician injury as well as damage to wheels and vehicles, the WD-5P wheel dolly promises significant cost savings and improved safety.
“We are proud to introduce this state-of-the-art wheel dolly,’ said Tony Edge, general manager of Stertil-Koni UK. ‘It represents our commitment to innovation and excellence in automotive maintenance. Furthermore, it perfectly complements our range of market-leading mobile column lifts, platform SKYLIFTS, 4-Post Lifts, and 2-Post Lifts, providing a game-changing experience for commercial vehicle workshops.”
