For warehouse aisles narrower than 1 m in Vietnam, PRIMEAG’s small narrow-aisle trolley fits: 720×430×1500 mm, 4 swivel casters Φ75 with 2 brakes, 40 kg per tier. To turn around in the aisle you need clearance larger than the trolley’s diagonal, about 840 mm, plus the handle. For heavy cartons, switch to the 500×700 plastic platform trolley rated 200 kg.
17 cm – the difference between a 430 mm wide trolley and a 600 mm wide one – is enough to turn the aisle between two rows of racks into a bottleneck. Spare-parts stores, e-commerce warehouses and converted older workshops often have aisles under 1 m, with corners obstructed by rack uprights and columns. A large trolley cannot get in, so staff carry cartons one at a time by hand.
- Measure first, choose second: aisles, corners, doors and lifts decide the trolley size.
- 430 mm width: the small trolley passes through an 800 mm door.
- Casters to suit the route: 4 swivel for many turns, 2 swivel + 2 fixed for straight runs.
1. Why standard trolleys do not fit
When turning around, a trolley sweeps a circle whose diameter equals the diagonal of its footprint, before counting the handle and the swivel casters sticking out. An aisle wide enough to drive straight through still jams at the corners, especially where rack uprights and columns intrude.
2. Choosing a trolley by aisle width
The small steel pipe trolley for narrow aisles measures 720×430×1500 mm, has 4 tiers as standard (3–6 optional), and carries 40 kg per tier but no more than 120 kg for the whole trolley. Its diagonal of about 840 mm is the minimum clearance for turning on the spot.
With a height-to-width ratio of about 3.5:1 the trolley tips easily when it hits a bump; 20 mm edge lips can be added to the tiers.
For wider aisles and heavier goods, use the multi-tier plastic-coated steel pipe trolley: 1500×600×1600 mm version, 100 kg per tier; for aisles under 1.2 m, order a short version such as 900×600.
3. Casters: swivel, fixed, brakes
4 swivel casters turn on the spot but are hard to keep on course over long distances. 2 swivel + 2 fixed track straight and stable but need more room to turn; put the swivel casters at the handle end. Have 2 braked casters so the trolley stays put while picking.
Load per caster = (trolley weight + goods) ÷ 3, because on uneven floors usually only 3 casters carry the load. A Φ75 caster is rated about 60–80 kg per caster as a reference; floors with gaps or rails need at least Φ100. Replacement casters: industrial PU casters, swivel, braked, fixed. Signs of overloaded casters: warehouse trolleys with broken casters, tipping over and how to choose load capacity.
4. Cartons: plastic platform trolley with a single handle
The 500×700 plastic platform trolley has a molded, ribbed anti-slip plastic deck and 4 casters, and carries 200 kg evenly distributed. The handle is on one side only and folds flat to the deck for storage behind a cabinet; the deck is only 500 mm wide.
| Situation | Trolley type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aisle under 1 m, trays and small boxes | Small trolley 720×430 | Heavy items on the bottom tier |
| Bulky cartons | Plastic platform trolley 500×700 | Load evenly spread, folding handle |
| Aisle 1–1.2 m, heavy goods | Short multi-tier steel pipe trolley | 100 kg per tier |
| Many corners | 4 swivel casters | Measure the turning space |
PRIMEAG builds trolleys to custom dimensions; for a US-invested FDI factory in Can Giuoc (2025–2026), PRIMEAG made 400 purpose-built trolleys.
5-step self-check before ordering a trolley
- Measure the clear width at the narrowest point, including rack uprights and goods sticking out.
- Measure the corners: the clearance must be larger than the trolley diagonal plus the handle.
- Measure the doors, lift doors and lift car depth.
- Check the floor: bumps, door rails, drainage gaps, slopes.
- Weigh the heaviest load per trip and count how many tiers you actually need.
Send your measurements via the consultation page to get a quote within 30 minutes. Standard steel pipe trolleys are produced in 5–7 working days, with a 3-year frame warranty and 12 months on casters; plastic platform trolleys carry a 12-month warranty.
Frequently asked questions
- Which trolley fits a 900 mm warehouse aisle? — A 430 mm wide trolley gets through. To turn around between two rows of racks, the turning space must be wider than the trolley diagonal plus the handle.
- Should I choose 4 swivel casters or 2 swivel and 2 fixed? — Routes with many turns suit 4 swivel casters because the trolley can turn on the spot. If the route is mostly straight, choose half swivel, half fixed, with the swivel pair at the handle end.
- What is the load capacity of a small narrow-aisle trolley? — The standard version carries 120 kg in total, 40 kg per tier, with heavy items close to the floor; for heavier cartons, switch to the plastic platform trolley.
Updated: 2026-10-28 — PRIMEAG engineering team
Email: info@primeag.vn · Phone/Zalo: +84 906 108 292
Written by the PRIMEAG engineering team
Updated: 2026-10-28