Getting a milling machine off a trailer...

[Professur]

YES another Ave fan

You mean Uncle Bumblefuck?

 

[matt_i]

The Bridgeport manual specifically states to lift the machine either by placing a sling under the overarm, OR by putting an eyebolt in the top threaded hole of the overarm. Page 4, UNCRATING.

Also, if one has conversed with people who built the actual Bridgeport machines at their former plant in CT, they moved the machines around the plant, thru their production process via exact same location. 5/8-11 eyebolt thru the top of the ram. My thoughts are its a pretty safe way to go if the OEM is doing it.

Just to add most actual riggers armed with a forklift will pick up the mill using squares of plywood on top of the forks, then lift up under the ram, with same load path. That is how I have moved my machine in more recent years and will always do it this way unless I didn't have the same prime mover.

The pipe and rollers will work, but eventually a machine is going to get away from you and crash. I had this happen to me when moving a 20" bandsaw. I believed the base to be a solid sheet underneath whereas it was just rolled edges around the circumference (the mill is going to be a rough casting resting on its edges). I was having trouble with the pipes wanting to all roll to one end as they will do when the surface isn't perfectly flat, and few are. A pipe end disappeared into the center void at the wrong instant and it was over against the side of the trailer. You have a big problem when you have a 1200lb machine to move. You have a much bigger problem when the same machine you just spent four figures of hard-earned money on is laying on a bad diagonal and you have to get it back upright without further damage. Luckily I personally was not damaged and the machine was not badly damaged either, but the handle on the blade welder shear serves as notice not to move like this unless all other forms of transport have been eliminated.

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

Drop deck trailer.

Spud bar.

Pipe rollers.

This ^

A buddy and I moved a 4000 lb mill on and off the trailer with the pipes and a come-along. Also moved it 30 feet into the shop where it is sitting to this day.

We call it the Egyptian method. It was heavy enough to lift the rear tires of the Jeep Cherokee off the ground when the mill was at the extreme edge of the ramp. We just supported the tail end of the trailer with a floor jack to keep the Jeep wheels on the ground until the load was moved up onto the trailer. There were no mishaps and the center of gravity was always kept low. Lifting with straps slung around the lower portion of the mill can cause it to flip.

 

[woodzy]

Holy cow! Please tell us somone was shooting video

I wish I had a video - this was 20+ years ago but it if happened today, there probably would be 10 videos as everyone today has a smart phone.

It was very exciting but I still use the Bridgeport today...

 

[Lahti35]

Thanks for the great ideas folks! I'll check around and see what I can come up with...

 

[manwithtools]

^^^THIS! I've had to move my mill a few times now. I just call the local gas station and have them send over their wrecker with the hydraulic boom. It's basically a small crane and they only charge $50 each time. It isn't worth screwing with half-assed setups.

Fixed it for you...

 

[hedgehog]

You mean Uncle Bumblefuck?

Keep your **** in a vice

 

[Lahti35]

I picked it up this last weekend in a uhaul trailer with the ramp on the back. Couldn't find anybody local to rent one of those hydraulic trailers so had to go with what I could get.

Seller loaded it up with a forklift on my pallet. Stopped 1/2 way home and bought a used pallet ******** CL...

Got home, lowered the ramp, assembled some rigging and jacked the trailer tongue up until I had a small incline. Slowly eased it off the trailer on the pallet jack paying out thick rope as I went. It was a non event, pretty easy.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[My Old Tools]

I have had my Powermatic MillRite hanging in the air from my engine hoist a few times while I backed a trailer under it or out from under it. Place a couple of 4x4 on the legs of the hoist and lower it down on those and role the whole thing to where I want it. The pucker factor was a little higher on my 32" Crescent bandsaw as it weighs 1800# or so, but it still worked fine. Feels funny to look back at a big piece of iron levitating in the air.

 

[APEowner]

Good deal. Congratulations. We'll want pictures of it in its new home.

 

[mikegt4]

Lahti35, have you gotten on the Yahoo BurkeMills forum yet? It is probably one of the few places to find any info on your mill.

Here is how I got my Millrite and Weiler lathe off my trailer. A toy (Oliver OC46) that comes in handy from time to time.

 

[moriboy]

My dad and I used to rig all of our equipment. It was always nerve racking, but we managed to be successful.

Today, I hire a crane service. I just watch, and if they drop the equipment, they deal w insurance.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hult250R]

I plucked my "little" Select 6 x 26 knee mill out of the back of an F250 with an engine hoist. My guess is that the mill weighs 1000# or so, and the engine hoist handled it easily and it was a cinch putting it into place.

FWIW, I've moved plenty of machinery with pry bars and iron pipe. If one is careful, they can be jockeyed around at will. Keep in mind though, mills and lathes tend to be very top heavy, and should be respected as such.

My little machine, in it's former home:

I have basiclly that same mill. A Jet JVM-830.
When i bought it the seller loaded it with a bobcat with forks. I had him take the head off and set it next to the base on the trailer.
When i got it home i just used an engine hoist to pick it off the trailer and re-assemble.
Pieces of pipe and a prybar to roll it in place in the garage were a bit sketchy but got the job done.

 

[five9dak]

I paid somebody with an F450 boom crane truck. Forklift at seller to get it outside. Picked up, set it in the bed, drove to my place, boomed it into the garage door, jand sest down on skates, rolled it into the corner, set it down off the skates with the johnson bar.

About 2 hours, paid $225. I have a gravel drive, so the ability to set it down inside my garage on the concrete pad was really nice.

 

[rohartman]

Well I bought a Bridgeport Mill and I pick it up Monday, I didn't really need one but I have alway wanted one and the price was to good to pass up. So I google How to move a Milling machine and it didn't surprise me Garage Journal popped up. I have a open trailer and they are going to load it for me, I just need to get it off the trailer. After reading this thread I've deciding to rent a Drop deck trailer, I have Spud bar and Pipe rollers. My open trailer doesn't have a good ramp system on it for something like this. Thanks GJ.

By the way if anyone is looking for a good lathe he has one for sale it's a TUM-35 and he wants 3k for it and a Mack Ace Mill he wants 1k for, located NE Cols, Oh. All his equipment is in really good shape because it's a one man shop.

O

 

[56Safari]

Good call on the trailer rental.. I moved two 13” south bends earlier this year and paid $70 for a sunbelt hydraulic drop deck.. worth every penny.. I just used machine skates to roll it off, but I’m sure pipes will do fine if not better... we’ve moved sea containers using timbers to roll them across muddier terrain when a telehandler boom lift might sink in the mud.. works every time


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[88thunder]

You mean not like this?

Bad stuff happens at 6:10. No injuries

 

[Snip]

This is why you NEVER reach, let alone work under a suspended load. (that is why you have Apprentices,LOL). Just kidding on the Apprentice thing. We do picks on large mixer gear boxes at work and can't unbolt the shaft until after it is hanging and raised about 3'. We always crib up to the box and unload aprox 50% of the load onto the cribbing before reaching under with the gun. Only takes a couple of minutes.

 

[bad_idea]

I unloaded a Bridgeport from my truck about two months ago with an engine hoist. I pulled the head off before loading. Engine hoist wasn't too bad pulling the two pieces out of the truck. I picked the base assy up with the hoist, had the wife drive the truck out, and lowered it. Moved it by rolling on lengths of 1/2" round stock.

 

[zmotorsports]

Well I bought a Bridgeport Mill and I pick it up Monday, I didn't really need one but I have alway wanted one and the price was to good to pass up. So I google How to move a Milling machine and it didn't surprise me Garage Journal popped up. I have a open trailer and they are going to load it for me, I just need to get it off the trailer. After reading this thread I've deciding to rent a Drop deck trailer, I have Spud bar and Pipe rollers. My open trailer doesn't have a good ramp system on it for something like this. Thanks GJ.

By the way if anyone is looking for a good lathe he has one for sale it's a TUM-35 and he wants 3k for it and a Mack Ace Mill he wants 1k for, located NE Cols, Oh. All his equipment is in really good shape because it's a one man shop.

O

Nice score on the Bridgeport. What size table? Looks to be maybe a 9x42 or maybe a 9x49?

 

[boostaholic1]

I recently moved my mill which is also a 2/3 size and I rented a hydraulic drop deck trailer. Made the move much easier and well worth the $90 to rent it for the day. I used it for moving my larger toolbox, my lathe, mill, vertical bandsaw and compressor. All of my top heavy items and made four trips with it. Worked like a charm using my engine hoist to place the mill in the middle of the deck, strap it down, raise the deck and lock into position and drive off.

Congrats on the new mill also.

Mike.

This right here....only other thing I would add Is a pallet jack could make it a little easier.

 

[Augus7us]

Well I bought a Bridgeport Mill and I pick it up Monday, I didn't really need one but I have alway wanted one and the price was to good to pass up. So I google How to move a Milling machine and it didn't surprise me Garage Journal popped up. I have a open trailer and they are going to load it for me, I just need to get it off the trailer. After reading this thread I've deciding to rent a Drop deck trailer, I have Spud bar and Pipe rollers. My open trailer doesn't have a good ramp system on it for something like this. Thanks GJ.

By the way if anyone is looking for a good lathe he has one for sale it's a TUM-35 and he wants 3k for it and a Mack Ace Mill he wants 1k for, located NE Cols, Oh. All his equipment is in really good shape because it's a one man shop.

O

Please report back if you were able to find an actual drop deck. I called around cbus and all I could find when I moved was a trailer from sunbelt that was hydraulic but the deck would slant down instead of laying flat and parallel to the ground. I was able to use my forklift to get my tools off but I wouldn’t want to to that with a big mill.

 

[Dustball]

Please report back if you were able to find an actual drop deck. I called around cbus and all I could find when I moved was a trailer from sunbelt that was hydraulic but the deck would slant down instead of laying flat and parallel to the ground. I was able to use my forklift to get my tools off but I wouldn’t want to to that with a big mill.

Try this place- https://ohiocatrentalstore.com/equipment/site-support/trucks-trailers-utility-vehicles/ut49/

The UT49 is a drop deck trailer.

 

[rburke65]

Call a tow truck. Can’t be 5ha5 much money

 

[VocaTexas]

Guys, this thread is over two years old...

 

[Robert Haas]

Mine was a tad heavier then most (6150LBS)

200 bucks rented a fork lift we then drove the fork lift from the old location to my shop (2 miles) and unloaded it out of my trailer.

I did both load and unload, the seller was clueless and I did not want my new to me machine to get hurt

 

[Dustball]

Guys, this thread is over two years old...

Good advice never goes out of date.

 

[Augus7us]

Try this place- https://ohiocatrentalstore.com/equipment/site-support/trucks-trailers-utility-vehicles/ut49/

The UT49 is a drop deck trailer.

I called and they did not rent them, told me to try sunbelt

Also, at the time I moved I really needed one that could lift my forklift and at least one of my larger tools. That little guy wouldn't work for that but it might now if I buy something from someone that has a lift.

Mine was a tad heavier then most (6150LBS)

200 bucks rented a fork lift we then drove the fork lift from the old location to my shop (2 miles) and unloaded it out of my trailer.

I did both load and unload, the seller was clueless and I did not want my new to me machine to get hurt

Man my cheeks would have been puckered so tight I bet I could crush coal into a diamond if I did that. That monster looks top heavy and I bet it was interesting driving it on a forklift for 2 miles! Crazy!!

Good advice never goes out of date.

Someone resurrected the thread because they were asking for advice on a moving a mill they just bought. I'm glad they did, some interesting reading here.

 

[rohartman]

Please report back if you were able to find an actual drop deck. I called around cbus and all I could find when I moved was a trailer from sunbelt that was hydraulic but the deck would slant down instead of laying flat and parallel to the ground. I was able to use my forklift to get my tools off but I wouldn’t want to to that with a big mill.

I could not find a drop trailer either so I'm renting a tilt trailer from Sunbelt, I will let you know how it goes. Heck Sunbelt didn't want to rent me this trailer because they want to keep them so they can rent lifts out but I talked him into it and said I only need it for a day.

Guys, this thread is over two years old...

I know I brought it back to life because I googled moving a Milling machine and this thread popped up and helped me out and I wanted to thank GJ !

O

 

[rohartman]

Nice score on the Bridgeport. What size table? Looks to be maybe a 9x42 or maybe a 9x49?

Thanks I think it's a 9 x 49 but to tell you the truth I was so excited about it I didn't pay attention to it. I'm getting a bunch of tooling with it and 2 engine stands and a steel work bench with a vise.

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks I think it's a 9 x 49 but to tell you the truth I was so excited about it I didn't pay attention to it. I'm getting a bunch of tooling with it and 2 engine stands and a steel work bench with a vise.

Nice.

 

[rohartman]

I picked up my new to me Mill today! I rented a till trailer from Sunbelt for $63/day. I attached 4x4s to the bottom of it when they loaded it on the trailer for me with their forklift. Once I got it to the my shop I used a pallet jack and a come-along to get it off. It worked out great, now I just need to figure out how to get it off the 4x4s. Thanks GJ




O

 

[zmotorsports]

I picked up my new to me Mill today! I rented a till trailer from Sunbelt for $63/day. I attached 4x4s to the bottom of it when they loaded it on the trailer for me with their forklift. Once I got it to the my shop I used a pallet jack and a come-along to get it off. It worked out great, now I just need to figure out how to get it off the 4x4s. Thanks GJ




O

Nice. Congrats on the new machine. You'll love having the capabilities in your shop.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I picked up my new to me Mill today! I rented a till trailer from Sunbelt for $63/day. I attached 4x4s to the bottom of it when they loaded it on the trailer for me with their forklift. Once I got it to the my shop I used a pallet jack and a come-along to get it off. It worked out great, now I just need to figure out how to get it off the 4x4s. Thanks GJ
O

I use 6” squares of 1/2” plywood and a large prybar. Switch out each 4x4 for two stacks. Once that is done you can lower the machine front to back in 1/2” increments with total control.

 

[Maui]

Leave it on the 4x4s. If you need to move it for any reason you can just slide the pallet jack under it to lift it up and move it wherever you want.

 

[connorm]

I third the tow truck idea. A lot of tow companies move equipment and other odd stuff between the tows. I'm sure any company that does hauling has dealt with something similar if not actually moved shop equipment like you're talking about. I've seen more than a couple very large toolbox setups carefully loaded on a roll off. Worth taking the time to find a good company that advertises equipment and machinery transportation or something similar and trying to work with them to at least get a price.

Me I'd use a rock bar to slip some wood under it, pallet jack it or put it on a dolly and then pull it up onto a flatbed. For safe keeping I might lag it to the wood dolly. Then strap it secure on the flatbed.

 

[MushCreek]

For my height (5' 10") I find my mill about right up on 3" of blocking. I'm in the process of making some levelers to replace the wood blocks. The only problem is stuff rolling underneath.

 

[traumadoc2b]

You mean not like this?

Bad stuff happens at 6:10. No injuries

Here's another that will make you cry, starts at 2:15, yet if you go to the beginning there's a forewarning.

 

[byacey]

Tow truck. I rented a fork lift for my Bend Pak lift. (The owner of the rental company, who I know fairly well, says a lift truck is the 2nd heaviest thing he has to rent out, so you have to be very sure of your surface). It was money well spent.

A friend of mine was killed when he was trying to unload a milling machine to his home shop. He was around them for years at his job, but as someone mentioned, they start going over, things happen REALLY fast. Get the right tool for the job. Sometime pipe and spud bars work, depending on how everything else lines up. I've got 35 years combined fire dept., and paramedic firefighter. As I have told my kids, people often get away with cutting corners, but eventually you wont. Good luck.

Exactly. I wouldn't even consider trying to move anything this heavy (and top heavy to make matter worse) on any kind of ramp with rollers.

On Wednesday my friend and I picked up a 2200 pound Bridgeport. We rolled it out on 1" pipes, lifted it up with a rented gantry crane and chain hoist, and set it on the trailer bed with a couple pieces of angle irons under the base to better distribute the load over the trailer deck. We chained down the base with chains and booms for the 180 mile drive home.

Unloaded it without any incident, but it was a nail biting trip home as we thought the trailer was a little on the light side for such a load.

This is the short version; it was actually a 16 hour day.

 

[traumadoc2b]

Just finished moving my new-to-me Bridgeport and LeBlond. Took two of us about 4 hours including a 12 mile drive. As my neighbor, who is also a machinist, said, "That was uneventful." I credit a lot of the advice from this thread, another on GJ, and a couple of YouTube videos.

We used a combination of stuff from the arsenal we were carrying in the back of the truck to include:

• 3 ton floor jack
• engine hoist
• shackle
• lifting sling
• lots of cribbing - 6x6 blocks of 3/4" OSB, 2x4s, and wedges cut from PT 2x10s
• 4 machinery dollies
• small pry bars
• Johnson bar w/ 5.5 ton capacity
• 1/2" x 5" lag screws
• impact driver w/ socket set
• 3/4" combination wrench
• ratchet straps
• come along
• tow sling
• chain binder
• pallet jack
• deck screws
• skill saw
• small sledge hammer
• crescent wrench
• gloves and safety toe boots

The trailer wasn't exactly the one I had in mind, but worked out pretty well. It's a drop deck - hydraulics underneath, no traditional axles.

We basically built skids out of 4x4s for each machine, running lengthwise, which we secured to the bottom with the lag screws. We ran 2x4s doubled up, screwed together and 'toenailed' into the 4x4s as the bottom skids, running perpendicular to the 4x4s. We had to pry these up with one layer of OSB to get the pallet jack underneath.

Lot of slow, moving around the machine, watching the big picture, communicating, reassessing. Lift a little here, push in some cribbing, go lift on the other side kinda stuff.

We did turn the quill over about 45 degrees for some clearance and to make it not quite so top heavy. The hoist and the floor jack were more helpful in getting the lathe up onto the lumber.

I plan to place them onto the concrete once I finish the walls and make sure I know where I want them.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fhuu2f9JuCqNcxZV7