Kingpinless Excels In Towlines

A COMPARISON OF THE KINGPIN AND KINGPINLESS CASTER RIGS

The standard kingpin caster is one of the most common and effective types of casters in use. The kingpin is typically a bolt or rivet that runs through the center of the plates, keeping the components together and allowing the caster to swivel. When carrying a load, most of the weight is pushed onto the center of the caster, and thus the kingpin. While this type of caster allows for ease of movement and increased weight loads, the kingpin also poses problems.

An example of a plate mount caster with a kingpin

Casters with a kingpin often fail in towline applications. High-velocity towing can wear down the kingpin and cause catastrophic failure. Lateral movements can loosen the kingpin, causing unnecessary wear and tear on the caster. Shock loading and rough terrain can also negatively affect the kingpin, as the brunt of the abuse falls on the kingpin. This excess of force can cause the ball bearings to fail in the caster.

A kingpinless caster

A kingpinless caster is much more effective in a towline application. (Check out our complete guide (article and video) to selecting casters for towlines.) Without the kingpin, the caster is able to more evenly distribute weight and ease the pressure on the caster. The lack of a kingpin also means there are less moving parts, keeping the caster stable during quick or lateral movements. Not only is the kingpinless caster able to hold more weight, it is able to transport materials quickly and efficiently.

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