The nose plate is arguably one of the most important parts of a hand truck. Consisting of a flat lip, it’s designed to support heavy loads. You can stack boxes or other objects directly on top of the nose plate, after which you can push the hand truck to the desired location. As long you adhere to the hand truck’s load capacity, the nose plate will support the load. But there are many different types of nose plates, each of which has a different design.
Standard Nose Plates
Most hand trucks feature a standard nose plate. Standard nose plates are characterized by square- or rectangular-shaped lips that extend outward at the bottom of a hand truck. They are integrated into the hand truck’s frame, resulting in an L shape. Some of them are made of stainless steel or carbon steel. Others are made of aluminum or composite materials. Regardless, standard nose plates are fixed lips that provide a stable surface on which to place loads.
Recess-Mount Nose Plates
Some hand trucks feature a recess-mount nose plate. Also known as flush-mount nose plates, recess-mount nose plates are designed to sit flush with frame of a hand truck. They are available in many of the same shapes and sizes as standard nose plates. The difference is that recess-mount nose plates are nested between the side rails of the frame, resulting in a flush fit.
Folding Nose Plates
There are also folding nose plates. As the name suggests, folding nose plates can be folded up when the hand truck is not in use. They typically connect to the hand truck’s frame via a set of hinges. After transporting a load, you can fold up the nose plate to conserve space. And when you are ready to use the hand truck again, you can fold the nose plate back down.
Extended Nose Plates
Some nose plates are longer than others. Extended nose plates, for instance, feature a longer lip-like plate. With an extended nose plate, you’ll be able to transport larger boxes and objects. They have a larger surface area than standard nose plates, which allows them to accommodate larger boxes and objects.
Specialized Nose Plates
Finally, there are specialized nose plates. Specialized nose plates are designed for specific applications, such as transporting pallets or drums. Fork-style nose plates, for instance, are designed for use with pallets. They feature two long forks that can go under wooden pallets. Tubular nose plate, on the other hand, are designed for use with drums or barrels.