Rigid Casters

Use rigid casters when you need straight-line tracking, directional stability, or when equipment will be towed (pulled by a tug or forklift). Rigid casters are also used on conveyor-guided carts, equipment that moves in only one direction, and any application where swivel rotation would be counterproductive. Most carts use two rigid and two swivel for a balance of tracking and steering.

The most common configuration is two rigid casters (at the back or leading end) and two swivel casters (at the opposite end for steering). Some specialized equipment uses all rigid casters for rail-guided or track-guided movement. Avoid using more than two swivel casters on a standard four-caster cart, as it makes the cart difficult to steer in a straight line.

No. Rigid casters do not have a swivel raceway and cannot rotate. If you need a caster that can function as both rigid and swivel, consider a swivel caster with a swivel lock. Swivel locks allow the operator to lock the swivel in a forward-facing position (acting as a rigid caster) and release it when swivel movement is needed.

Generally, yes. Rigid casters omit the swivel raceway, bearing assembly, and additional machining required for swivel rotation. This makes them simpler to manufacture and typically 15-30% less expensive than swivel casters with the same wheel and load rating.

Most properly configured mobile equipment uses rigid casters in combination with swivel casters. A common four-caster setup places two rigid casters at the back (or the "leading" end) for straight-line tracking and two swivel casters at the front for steering. This gives the operator directional control without the unpredictable wandering that occurs when all four casters swivel freely. On longer equipment like platform trucks and industrial trailers, rigid casters at the center or rear prevent fishtailing during transport.

Our rigid caster inventory spans the full capacity range from light-duty (75 lbs) to heavy-duty kingpinless models (over 5,000 lbs per caster). Wheel materials include rubber, polyurethane, cast iron, phenolic, nylon, and polypropylene. Because rigid casters have no swivel mechanism, they are structurally simpler and generally less expensive than their swivel counterparts at the same capacity. They also tend to have a slightly lower overall height since there is no raceway assembly above the fork.