Are you moving furniture and need some help with heavy items? Look no further than a pair of forearm forklift moving straps! These straps are the perfect piece of equipment to use with another person when moving hard-to-move objects. The straps are designed to give you further leverage and reduce the strain on your legs and your back while lifting and carrying furniture. Forearm forklift straps give stability, ensuring objects can be moved safely through tight corners and up and downstairs.
Forearm forklift lifting straps allow you to carry heavy furniture without having to rely on forearm strength. These straps slip over your forearms giving you the ability to put your hands against the side of the piece of furniture you’re carrying.
Forearm Forklift vs Shoulder Dolly
Forearm Forklift lifting straps are a pair of straps designed to lessen the strain on the movers’ backs and legs. The design is intended to ease the burden of heavy items and give the movers greater leverage when lifting objects. The middle portion of the straps is placed under the object being moved. Then, the forearm forklift straps are to be slipped over your forearms which allows your hands to be free to brace the object you’re carrying.
Using a shoulder dolly is simple, but the mechanism of use is different. Shoulder dollies also make lifting heavy, bulky items easier by spreading the weight of the item over the shoulders and into the legs. Movers place the single strap underneath the item and slide the ends of the harnesses over their shoulders.
Forearm Forklift Reviews
Forearm Forklift L74995R Lifting and Moving Straps
Across North America, workers, professional movers, and households use these straps to assist moving heavy objects like furniture or appliances. The straps are patented as their ergonomic design requires 66% less work to move objects. The polypropylene material is built for long-lasting strength; they can hold up to 700 pounds at a time. The straps are approximately 9 feet long and allow up to 48 inches of adjustments.
Sold in pairs, two straps are crossed in an “X” shape underneath the item needing moving. Once the object is placed on top of the straps, movers can slip the straps over their forearms. From there, the movers must lift with proper form to reduce the risk of injury. Movers should squat down and lift with their legs; do not attempt to lift heavy objects with the back or solely with the arms.
Main Features:
· 700-pound capacity
· 9’ 4” in length
· 1.2 pounds in weight
· Orange colored
Shoulder Dolly Moving Straps
Shoulder Dolly’s moving straps, manufactured by Nielsen Products, are built similarly to Forearm Forklift’s moving straps. However, the Shoulder Dolly moving straps have one strong carrying strap that’s placed underneath the object being moved and two harnesses worn over the shoulders. Designed by a professional mover, these moving straps and shoulder harnesses have a design built for comfort and ease of use. As the straps slip over the shoulders, the movers’ arms and hands are free to be used in other ways. Movers may still find themselves using their arms for greater lift and stability. Just like any other strap, it’s extremely important to move with the legs to reduce potential strain on the back.
Each set weighs a mere 4 pounds and is capable of handling up to 800 pounds, depending on the movers’ strength. The moving strap is 12’ long and 5” wide. The webbing of the harnesses is adjustable allowing for all sizes of movers to use them.
Main Features:
· 2 harnesses, 1 strap
· 800-pound capacity
· 12’ x 5”
Forearm Forklift Moving Harness
Another Forearm Forklift item, this moving harness is a beautifully crafted moving system. Similar in design and use to the other lifting and moving straps, these straps are placed underneath the object being moved before putting the straps on. The movers then slide the harnesses over their shoulders. The design includes a crisscross pattern that sits on the movers back. This allows for the free use of the movers’ arms and hands.
These harnesses come separated from the straps, but they’re together when purchased. Using these straps, the maximum load of the moving system increases to 800 pounds. The straps are approximately 9 feet long and have 3 loops at each end. The different loops allow customization in the fit of the harnesses.
Main Features:
· 800-pound capacity
· 9’ 4”
· 2.74 pounds
· Polypropylene webbing and a steel buckle
Ready Lifter Shoulder Moving Straps
Nielsen Products created another highly-rated, practical piece of equipment in the Ready Lifter Shoulder Moving Straps. Just like the Shoulder Dolly straps, these are designed to promote correct lifting techniques for heavy objects. There is one heavy-duty strap, attached to the two shoulder harnesses, that is placed underneath the object.
These straps can handle up to 600 pounds and are 12’ long. The webbing on the harnesses is adjustable allowing movers of all heights to use these straps.
Main Features:
· 600-pound capacity
· 12’ long
· Adjustable harness—one-size-fits-all
· Two harnesses and one strap
SuperSliders Pro-Lifter Moving and Lifting Straps
Manufactured by Waxman, SuperSliders lifting straps ease the burden of moving large furniture items. Built with the movers in mind, these straps help protect the walls and floors by giving greater leverage to the movers. The product comes with a set of two straps, designed for users to slip the straps over their forearms thereby allowing their hands to be free for bracing the furniture. The straps are adjustable and constructed from super-strength webbed material.
Although many movers attest to the usefulness of these straps, there are some drawbacks. These straps are not quite as long, and they may have reduced comfort in comparison to some others.
Main Features:
· 600-pound load capacity
· 2 straps
· 9’ x 3”
Choosing Forearm Forklift Straps
Choosing the correct straps for your scenario is dependent only on a few things. As there are ample reviews, and a few basic designs, your options are limited. Considering all moving straps make moving much easier, choosing between the straps isn’t too consequential, luckily.
Making the Decision Between Strap Types
The main decision movers need to make is the argument of shoulder dolly vs. forearm forklift. Depending on the individual, some may find a harness over the shoulder more comfortable than forearm straps. However, the decision is quite subjective.
Shoulder harnesses have the benefit of giving freedom to both arms. Forearm forklifts have the benefit of the weight of the object not pulling your arm down.
Another important consideration is in the design of the strap, not the harness. Forearm Forklift offers two straps that are used together. This allows the usage of a crisscross pattern under the object being moved. However, the Forearm Forklift straps are only 9’ 4” in length. This might be a suitable length for many items, but there will be some items too large for these straps.
The shoulder dolly, on the other hand, uses one main strap. This single strap is placed under the object which means there is only one point of contact. This single point of contact may result in reduced stability compared to the forearm forklift design.
Where to buy Straps
Customers looking to buy the Forearm Forklift straps should look to Global Industrial for their purchase. The straps here are reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. Customers who’d like to purchase in person can go to their local hardware store. Alternatively, stores like Walmart and Menards may have them as well.
What Customer Say
Reviews on forearm forklift lifting straps and shoulder straps vary. However, the underlying fact remains; customers attest to the ease of use and the assistance these straps provide. Although clients’ opinions vary on how much they help, all clients agree the straps are worth the purchase as they make moving easier.
Most purchasers find the straps significantly reduce the risk of dropping heavy objects. For example, moving furniture or appliances up or downstairs is made much easier, as is navigating heavy objects through tight corners or narrow hallways. According to customers, the stability these straps give greatly increases their confidence during the moving process.
Drawbacks of Using Moving Straps
Some users encountered problems such as weight distribution being uneven. While moving through narrow passages, the object may tilt to one side requiring one mover to carry most of the weight. This drawback could potentially lead to injuries if the individual bearing the weight is not strong enough to handle it.
Although these straps often have weight capacities up to 800 pounds, most customers should not attempt to move that much weight, unless they have experience doing so. It still may be useful to hire help in moving if objects are near the weight capacity. Professional movers will still find these straps useful for their purposes.
If the users do not read the manual before attempting to move something, accidents may be more likely to occur. These straps are designed for specific uses which must be followed to reduce injury or damage to the goods.