For certain types of equipment applications, extreme mobility is crucial. An office chair, for example, is often supported by four or five casters. At any moment, the occupant of the chair might move a few inches in one direction, then several inches in a completely different direction.

This is a very different situation than the motion of a cart with two fixed casters mounted on one end, and two swivel casters on the other. This type of cart is designed to travel in a straight line, and to make long, sweeping turns. The office chair, in contrast, must be capable of making quick zig-zag shifts in any direction, stop, and then start again.

To avoid the “scrubbing” that can happen with single wheel casters when they must quickly change direction, caster manufacturers have come up with “twin wheel” designs. In this type of setup, each circumference – inner and outer – of the wheel is free to follow its own path, with no overall scrubbing.

One of the most popular decorative twin wheel caster series for mobile equipment is the Pacer Series, manufactured by Shepherd Caster. The Pacer twin wheel caster is made of a die-cast zinc body and hood, with a concealed axle. Because it is available in a variety of sizes, finish and fastening methods, it’s one of the casters most often chosen by manufacturers of seating, store fixtures, electronic and office equipment.

Since much of this equipment is used in offices, stores, hospitals and other non-industrial settings, it’s important that the casters not only function well – they must look good, too! With their optional finishes and fine styling, Pacer casters look great!

At Douglas Equipment, we are authorized representatives for Shepherd Caster. Whether you are searching for replacement casters to be installed on equipment you already have, or are designing brand new equipment that must be highly mobile, here are your options:

Options Available with Pacer Twin Wheel Casters

Shepherd Casters offer many options for their Pacer casters to ensure that you can find the look you want, the technical performance, and the fastening method needed for your application.

Wheels – The standard wheels are made from nylon. For added floor protection, urethane wheels are available (except for models supplied with the optional brake).

Wheel Diameter – Pacer casters are available in two wheel diameters: 50 mm and 60 mm.

Load – 50 mm wheels support dynamic loads of 75 lbs., while 60 mm wheels will support dynamic loads of 100 lbs.

Finishes – Pacer casters are available in five different decorative finishes: Flat Black, Bright Chrome, Satin Chrome, Brass Plate, or Windsor Antique. You can view several of these finishes here.

Brakes – Optional brakes are available on models with 50 mm nylon tread wheels.

Fastenings – You can attach Pacer casters to your equipment by using one of four different standard fasteners: threaded stems, grip ring stems, grip neck stems, or top plates.

Sockets – Once you’ve selected a type of stem fastener, you can choose a socket to use with that fastener. Shepherd makes a wide variety of sockets compatible with Pilot casters: wood sockets and welded sockets; round tube and square tube sockets, available in light duty, heavy duty, and heavy duty metal; plastic sockets, PVC sockets, and pipe thread sockets; metal tee nut sockets; and corner brackets that attach to the corners of your equipment, and have a socket attached.

With so many options offered by Shepherd for their Pacer casters, you will be able to easily select a caster perfectly suited for your requirements.

Variations and Similar Models

In addition to the many options that we described, Shepherd also makes other variations of casters based upon and similar to the Pacer Series casters.

Unhooded – If you prefer an unhooded version of the Pacer caster, consider the Pilot Twin Wheel series. Pilot casters are similar to Pacer casters, but do not have a hood. More information can be found here.

Source II – Is an economical caster similar to the Pacer caster, but made with nylon body and wheel construction (rather than the Pacer’s die-cast zinc body and hood). The Source II is ideally suited for lighter duty applications. You can read more information about Source II here.

While similar to the Pacer caster, there are some differences.

40 mm diameter wheels – These are available with dynamic load ratings of 40 lbs. As with the Pacer casters, 50 mm and 60 mm wheel diameters are also available for Source II casters.

Brakes – The brakes are available on all 3-wheel diameters: 40 mm, 50 mm and 60 mm.

Steel axle and fastening – This is built for security and strength.

Fasteners and Sockets – The same threaded stem, grip neck, grip ring stem and top plate fasteners detailed above for Pacer casters are also available for Source II casters, as are all of the socket options listed above.

The additional choices offered by the unhooded Pilot twin wheel series, and the Source II nylon body and wheel series give you even more possibilities for finding the perfect caster.

For Extreme Mobility and Top Style – Call Douglas Equipment!

At Douglas Equipment, we have been in business for over 60 years, and we have a long history as authorized representatives for Shepherd Caster and all of their products.

Whether you are looking for casters for your office chair or mobile cart, call our experts. We will be happy to discuss your unique situation, and help you find the best caster to fit your needs. If the Shepherd Pacer twin wheel caster is the best solution, we can help you decide which options to choose for your unique application.

We can be reached at 800-451-0030 (or 305-888-3700 in the Miami area), and also online through our contact form. Contact us today. We hope to hear from you soon!