Abstract: The invention relates to a coil-transporting carriage with adjustable retaining arms and to a method for the reliable handling of metal coils of small external diameter, or of sleeves, on a coiler mandrel. The coil-transporting carriage has a vertically displaceable coil saddle for accommodating a coil or a sleeve, also has two retaining arms for stabilizing the coil or the sleeve, the retaining arms being arranged opposite one another on the coil saddle and being pivotable by means of rotary drives, and additionally has a second drive unit for moving the coil-transporting carriage. For pulling off from a coiler mandrel, the coil saddle is positioned against a coil located on the coiler mandrel and the retaining arms are pivoted onto the coil. For pushing onto a coiler mandrel, first a sleeve is placed on the coil saddle of the coil-transporting carriage and is thereby guided by the retaining arms.