Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Why stock wheel kits for my pallet jacks?

 

The advantages of having kits on-hand: 

  • Faster repairs. When a wheel fails, having the kit on hand gets equipment back in service sooner.
  • Less downtime. Worn or damaged wheels can stop a pallet jack from moving properly, which can slow operations and create safety issues.
  • Better consistency. Stocking the right kit for each common model helps avoid mismatched parts and repeat troubleshooting.
  • Lower maintenance friction. Wheel kits are a normal wear-item for busy warehouses, especially where jacks are used daily.
  • Protection for floors and products. Good wheels reduce noise, floor marking, and rough handling from damaged or dragging wheels.

When stocking makes the most sense

Stocking wheel kits is most useful if you have multiple pallet jacks, frequent wheel wear, rough floors, debris, wet docks, or hard-to-match equipment. 

It also makes sense if your team wants to avoid waiting on parts during peak hours.

Practical rule

If the same wheel issues keep coming up, stocking kits usually saves time and money versus buying parts one repair at a time. For a busy operation, it’s basically insurance against avoidable downtime.

For most pallet jacks, high-quality aftermarket wheel kits are usually the better value, while OEM is the safer choice when you need exact fit, warranty protection, or you’re standardizing on a manufacturer-approved part. Aftermarket wheels can often match or exceed OEM performance at a lower price, but quality varies more by supplier.

Generic Partswheel kits contain quality after-market replacement wheels, and the additional hardware, like bearings, axles and snap rings, is free.

Aftermarket wheels

Aftermarket kits are typically 30% to 50% cheaper than OEM replacements, which matters a lot if you maintain a fleet. Good polyurethane aftermarket wheels are often the sweet spot for indoor warehouse use because they balance durability, floor protection, and rolling performance. Different wheel materials are recommended for different applications. Read more about different wheel material.

Simple buying rule

  • Choose aftermarket for cost savings, common models, and fast fleet maintenance.
  • Choose OEM for warranty-sensitive jobs, or specialized jacks.

Generic Parts offers load wheel kits, since load wheels wear the most, and also complete wheel kits that include all the additional parts to replace the steer wheels.

sample load wheel kit
sample complete wheel kit



When is a wheel too much worn?

When the diameter is about .25” from new. Read more about wheel inspection.

Not sure how to replace the wheels? Just follow our step-by-step video on replacing the load wheels, and on replacing the steerwheels on your pallet jack.

BTW we also have electric wheel kits for lift trucks and walkies.

Make sure to check our website for any other parts you might need!

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