How to load a heavy cabinet on trailer alone

[chris2000]

Hey guys,

While "just browsing" I "accidentally" won an auction for a pretty nice Lyon cabinet (bid was $180).

View media item 99439
It's not looking likely that I'll be able to trick any of my buddies into going with me to pick it up, as it's about a 2hr drive each way.

The cabinet is currently standing vertically on a pallet, and there's a chance the auction house will move it out near my trailer, but I also want it laying down for the ride home. Cabinet weighs approximately 500lbs.

The trailer is a triton 8x8 snowmobile trailer, which tilts down, but the only ramps I have are aluminum ATV ramps with widely spaced rungs.

I do have a cherry picker that I could bring with me, and a lift sling. Any ideas how to safely lay it down onto my trailer without damaging me or the cabinet?

Trailer looks like this -

View media item 99440

 

[zkdiesel]

Hey guys,

While "just browsing" I "accidentally" won an auction for a pretty nice Lyon cabinet (bid was $180).

View media item 99439
It's not looking likely that I'll be able to trick any of my buddies into going with me to pick it up, as it's about a 2hr drive each way.

The cabinet is currently standing vertically on a pallet, and there's a chance the auction house will move it out near my trailer, but I also want it laying down for the ride home. Cabinet weighs approximately 500lbs.

The trailer is a triton 8x8 snowmobile trailer, which tilts down, but the only ramps I have are aluminum ATV ramps with widely spaced rungs.

I do have a cherry picker that I could bring with me, and a lift sling. Any ideas how to safely lay it down onto my trailer without damaging me or the cabinet?

Trailer looks like this -

View media item 99440

Back trailer to it, tilt trailer, set another pallet on trailer and top it over onto pallet on trailer so it’s now on it’s back. Push up some till trailer tilts and go on home.
Done it with a safe that size onto my rollback tow truck and what your doing is way less sketchy

 

[zkdiesel]

Doors should lift off hinge bullets to lighten load when they open

 

[superjared]

I've laid down several 12 gauge cabinets on my trailer and they have balanced nicely enough on the edge of the trailer that they tipped over without damage or injury to myself.

 

[ezover]

Back trailer to it, tilt trailer, set another pallet on trailer and top it over onto pallet on trailer so it’s now on it’s back. Push up some till trailer tilts and go on home.
Done it with a safe that size onto my rollback tow truck and what your doing is way less sketchy

this should work pretty easy, bring a come along incase you cant slide - push it,

 

[chris2000]

This is what I was thinking as well, good to know it's not too far fetched.

Would it be possible to lay some kind of padding on the "hinge point" where it's being tipped on the edge of the trailer to avoid scratching the cabinet paint?

My trailer has some angle iron brackets hanging off the back edge for ramps, could possibly gouge into the back of the cabinet. I could also just take those off...

 

[crewchief888]

heavy cardboard, thin plywood, or movers blankets on the back of the trailer.

toss a couple more blankets on the trailer deck, tip it back onto the trailer and heave-ho

should slide easily enough on the deck and strap it down. if not, come-a-long it onto the deck.

 

[chris2000]

Back trailer to it, tilt trailer, set another pallet on trailer and top it over onto pallet on trailer so it’s now on it’s back. Push up some till trailer tilts and go on home.
Done it with a safe that size onto my rollback tow truck and what your doing is way less sketchy

I've laid down several 12 gauge cabinets on my trailer and they have balanced nicely enough on the edge of the trailer that they tipped over without damage or injury to myself.

heavy cardboard, thin plywood, or movers blankets on the back of the trailer.

toss a couple more blankets on the trailer deck, tip it back onto the trailer and heave-ho

should slide easily enough on the deck and strap it down. if not, come-a-long it onto the deck.

Sounds good. O/T but I was a B-52 crew chief from 2006-2010

Even though 4 hours of driving will be a PITA, getting a Lyon cabinet in good shape for $180 will be worth it.

 

[matt_i]

I'd skip the trailer and put it in a pickup with an 8ft box and a bedliner. Just lean it down on the tailgate, pickup the lower end, and slide it in.

As others have said, remove the doors, remove all of the shelves. Use movers blankets to avoid scarring the paint. Get someone from the (wherever) to help you.

 

[rsanter]

This is what I was thinking as well, good to know it's not too far fetched.

Would it be possible to lay some kind of padding on the "hinge point" where it's being tipped on the edge of the trailer to avoid scratching the cabinet paint?

My trailer has some angle iron brackets hanging off the back edge for ramps, could possibly gouge into the back of the cabinet. I could also just take those off...

I like a couple of layers of cardboard for this. It will also help the cabinet to slide on the trailer deck to move into place

 

[Kevin54]

With the weight of the cabinet, don't stand directly at the bottom of it when loading if you are on slick pavement or concrete. The bottom can kick out. If you can, tip it back off the skid.

 

[2level]

I'd skip the trailer and put it in a pickup with an 8ft box and a bedliner. Just lean it down on the tailgate, pickup the lower end, and slide it in.

As others have said, remove the doors, remove all of the shelves. Use movers blankets to avoid scarring the paint. Get someone from the (wherever) to help you.

X2. Nice cabinet.

 

[jayoldschool]

Load it on a fridge cart, strap it, tilt cart with cabinet down on trailer. Tie down. Easy.

 

[kbs2244]

"Load it on a fridge cart, strap it, tilt cart with cabinet down on trailer. Tie down. Easy."

I vote for this idea

 

[chris2000]

"Load it on a fridge cart, strap it, tilt cart with cabinet down on trailer. Tie down. Easy."

I vote for this idea

Fridge cart = furniture dolley? Would the advantage of that be that you'd have the dolley handle to help control while tipping the cabinet?

 

[chris2000]

Also I'm wondering if it would be more stable to not tilt the trailer, seems like the cabinet might rotate better on the point of contact if it were level.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Stand the trailer on its tail then strap it to the cabinet. pull the trailer tongue down. This should be easy because the load will be at the back of the trailer.
Been there, done that.

 

[Spareparts]

Remove doors, strap a piece of 1/2" plywood to the back to prevent damage, tip it over and winch it up with ratchet strap.

 

[jayoldschool]

Fridge cart = furniture dolley? Would the advantage of that be that you'd have the dolley handle to help control while tipping the cabinet?

That's exactly it. The one I use has a built in ratcheting strap. I use it for everything. Moving my 60gal compressor. Coke machines. Jukeboxes. Etc. Big heavy stuff just like that cabinet. Made for it. Walk backwards with it, get on the trailer, pull it touching the edge, lay it down, pull/shove it in.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've seen people push stuff over onto a tire.

 

[bgarrett]

I got a safe thats big enough for three grown men to stand inside and close the door. I put my engine hoist/cherry picker on the trailer then made a loop of chain around the top of the safe.I hooked onto the chain at the back of the safe and lifted.This caused the safe to tilt towards the trailer. I also had hooked onto the chain loop on the front of the safe and as the safe tilted,the weight transferred from the back to the front then the hoist lowered the safe onto the trailer on the safes back. I asked a friend if he wanted to go with me. He said,"Do you need help?" Nope you just come and watch.

 

[ScottsGT]

Lean it back onto the trailer with a few pieces of 2” PVC and roll up into place and strap it down. I’ve moved 3 safes this way.

 

[ford33]

I vote for the appliance hand cart. Tie it to the cart and then position it at the back of the trailer and tilt in down and strap it on. You will have control during the entire movement and can move it into position when you get home.

 

[JRC3]

Yep, appliance hand truck (dolly) and lay it down. Moved a few gun safes that way in pickups or a utility trailer. But you trailer is metal so lay something between the hand truck and trailer deck to keep it from scratching up the truck. Nobody wants gouged up handles.

 

[mike93lx]

All I would have to do is find a brewery or distillery near the pickup location and I would have at least 2 guys down for helping me out. Maybe try something like that

 

[PT Doc]

Whatever you do, please shoot a video.

 

[PugetDude]

A couple of $20's to the forklift guys will usually get it laid down on the trailer...