Getting the compressor home...

[notquitegto]

I did a couple of searches, but came up empty.

Goofy question, but I'm planning on picking up a Husky Pro 60 Gal compressor and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get it home...

I have a pickup with a 6' bed, but no lift or anything of that sort.

Any suggestions?????

Mike

 

[e-tek]

A couple guys can lift it up to a tailgate's height. I took delivery of mine off a truck. Though it was in a box, which was slid down on its side.


You could also "walk it up" a 2x10....carefully.

 

[Zrexxer]

My 60 gallon CH was shipped dry, so I just laid it down in the truck bed. I unloaded it by myself by sliding it out pallet first and tipping it down to the ground then standing it up vertically.

 

[54FordPanel]

You need help, obviously.
My compressor is 500 lbs, I'm sure yours is around there.
For on the ground, I got 3 friends to help move mine. I cut up 4 pieces of rope, about 3' long. I slid each one thru a 6" piece of PVC, and then tied one around each of the legs. That gave each of us a nice "handle" to pick up the compressor, and carry it at a comfortable height. Everybody used their spare hand to steady it, because if you let it get tipped, it's all over.
To load it it the truck, I cut 2 long pieces of rope for the guys in the truck, tied it on the same way, and 2 short pieces for the guys on the ground.

Just don't get off the vertical with it, because the heavy part is up top!

 

[kvom]

I got mine off using a cherry picker/engine hoist. I put the hoist in the truck bed before loading the compressor. Once home I could lift it off the truck bed and lower it to the ground. That said, having some husky friends would be a bit simpler.

 

[FlameOut]

I had the same compressor you are buying. Picked it up in a Ford Ranger, and my son and I removed it from the truck. Wasn't the easiest thing to unload, but certainly not impossible with 2 guys. Of course 3 would be better

 

[Zrexxer]

You need help, obviously.
My compressor is 500 lbs, I'm sure yours is around there

The machine he's talking about is around 260 lbs. They're nowhere near as heavy as an 80 gal two stage, like my Champion.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I think it's about 200 pounds. Home Depot will forklift it onto your truck. I used a couple of 2x4s and OSB to make a ramp, then lowered it down with a furniture dolly and a rope to control the rate of descent.

 

[sharpshooter]

I bought mine from sears and they let me drive their lift gate delivery truck home LOL... that made stuff alot simpler, I had an 80 gallon 2 stage though..

 

[rodnok1]

They should load with forklift, if not lean over and slide into truck, no oil in them anyways. You will need help to push it into the truck...2-3 at least.

 

[rsanter]

drain the oil
tip in onto its side in the back of the truck
your done till you get home and have to place it

bob

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'm pretty sure Home Depot sells them with oil in them. I kept mine upright.

 

[KCarGuy]

Take a few extra minutes and simply, take it apart.
I brought my 60 gallon 5 HP compressor home last week, loaded myself and unloaded it myself out of my Dodge Mini-Van.
Motor, Belt, Cage, Compressor Pump and Tank. a few simple hand tools, and all very easy to manage.
even got it in place and back together myself without ropes, pulleys or friends.

Call your friends over to enjoy a beer and stair at your new Compressor.
Good luck!

 

[tcianci]

Oil or not, you guys are making one hell of a project out of a simple task! Put the thing up against your lowered tailgate, grab it from the bottom and tip it into the truck, you're actually only lifting about half of the weight of the machine that way. It's always in contact with the truck, so it doesn't get out of control on you. When you get it home, reverse the procedure...shift it to the edge and as soon as it gets over center it will tip back onto its feet (or skid). From there "walk" it into place. I have done 60 gallon single and 80 gallon 2 stages this way, by myself with no problems at all. It amazes me how complicated things can get sometimes. The other thing that puzzles me is why people seem to think every time the need to move something of heft, the first thing they want to do is pick up all the weight at once, requiring lots of grunt and usually putting them selves in a position where the load can easily get away from them. Just move it, it ain't that heavy and you're a big boy now

 

[nate379]

I wouldn't even think it's 200lbs. I put mine in the back of the truck by myself and I'm not Hercules or anything. Just walked it on the pallet to the end of the tailgate and lifted it up from the bottom so it was on it's side in the back of the truck.

I unloaded a complete bedroom set 2 weekends ago on my own. The chest said 400lbs on the crate... just used my brain and not my back is all.

 

[Tom2]

I bought the 80gal version. I decided to pay the $70 delivery charge. Well worth it. I don't have a truck anyways..So that sealed it.

I know that's not all that helpful of an answer..but if you're unsure of how to unload it, I wouldn't chance it.

 

[gary300]

I bought the 30 gallon version, and it had oil in it.

 

[Zeke]

Oil or not, you guys are making one hell of a project out of a simple task! Put the thing up against your lowered tailgate, grab it from the bottom and tip it into the truck, you're actually only lifting about half of the weight of the machine that way. It's always in contact with the truck, so it doesn't get out of control on you. When you get it home, reverse the procedure...shift it to the edge and as soon as it gets over center it will tip back onto its feet (or skid). From there "walk" it into place. I have done 60 gallon single and 80 gallon 2 stages this way, by myself with no problems at all. It amazes me how complicated things can get sometimes. The other thing that puzzles me is why people seem to think every time the need to move something of heft, the first thing they want to do is pick up all the weight at once, requiring lots of grunt and usually putting them selves in a position where the load can easily get away from them. Just move it, it ain't that heavy and you're a big boy now

While I can't disagree with a lot of what you say, everyone may not be as strong as you apparently are. I have moved tens of tons of items over a lifetime and I agree most don't understand the basic principles. Nevertheless, a steel cylinder sliding off the edge of a steel truck tail gate might be a bit much to handle for one average guy. Of course a piece of carpet, foam or moving pad would help control the effort.

Now, you say just walk it into place. Well, not all of use have level ground.

Just give the guy a little break and help him, not scold him for being less than ingenious.

 

[Warrenator]

I bought a used 80 gallon 5 HP Sanborn off craigslist, and two teenagers and myself kinda "waltzed" it over to where the truck was.... that is, you keep it upright, and lean it over a bit so it is rotating on one corner of the base, move it a foot or so, and then do that again and again... I can do that part by myself. It took 3 of us to tilt it into my full size pickup, when I got home I was able to slide it out and onto the ground by myself, but it was still leaning back against the tailgate and I couldn't stand it upright by myself at all. A neighbor helped me stand it up, then I waltzed it 30 feet over to the back of the garage. I guess it probably weight 500 pounds, it is a 2 stage with the heavier tank to withstand 200 PSI instead of a single stage 125.

 

[gary300]

HD website shows the OP's model to be 254 Lbs assembled, and add some for the pallet.

Amperage (amps) : 15 A
Assembled Depth (in.) : 27.5 in
Assembled Height (in.) : 71 in
Assembled Weight (lb.) : 254 lb
Assembled Width (in.) : 30 in
Color/Finish : Red
Cordless/Corded : Corded
Fuel Type : Electric
Horsepower : 3.2 hp
Maximum Pressure : 135 psi
Motor Type : induction
Power Requirement : 240 volt
Regulator : Yes
Tank Capacity (gallons) : 60 gal (US)
Tank Pressure Gauge : Yes
Wheel Diameter : 10 in

 

[crewchief888]

I did a couple of searches, but came up empty.

Goofy question, but I'm planning on picking up a Husky Pro 60 Gal compressor and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get it home...

I have a pickup with a 6' bed, but no lift or anything of that sort.

Any suggestions?????

Mike

there shouldnt be a problem getting it unloaded, gravity is your friend

beg, borrow or steal a utility trailer
if all else fails ya could probably rent a little trailer from uhaul

 

[Falcon67]

Easy deal - HD will load, slide it up against the cab and strap it down upright. Run a couple of straps under the compressor bracket over the top of the tank.

At home, walk the skid to the end of the truck. Lower the tail gate and remove the supports so it droops. Lay the compressor down in the bed. Get out, pull the skid out of the back of the truck until the compressor starts to tip down, then let it down gently until the skid contacts the ground - it'll go slow and not be that much weight. Stand compressor up. Done. How I got mine out, wife standing there "How do you think you're going to get that thing out of there?!?...Oh."

 

[Big Boi]

No problem....

If its not in a box, get yourself some blankets and wrap them around the compressor. Tape them up, lay the compressor down on the bed, and strap it down. 300lbs can be lifted by two men...

I deliver furniture for a large chain down here. And me and another guy have carried 400lb dressers up the stairs in a three story condo, without a problem... Didnt say it was easy, but there was no problems.

 

[kenners]

You may cringe when I tell you how I got my 80 gallon out of the truck.
I threw a 20' strap up and over my roof trusses, connected my 12 volt portable winch with long power cables and tied on to the top end of my compressor. Lifted the compressor/pallet up couple of inches and had wife drive truck forward 6 or so feet, told her little bit more and when I got to the edge of the tailgate, and I was comfortable with the load, had her pull forward 5 to 6 feet at once, enough to clear pallet and I lowered compressor/pallet to the ground.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Find a U-Haul store. Rent of these:

While you're at Home Depot, buy at set of these:

Keep above said item around the house. They come in handy...

 

[metal1313]

im gonna agree, spend some money on a hand-truck, and then rent a small trailer, i think they are only 20bucks for the day or so..hell they may even loan a handtruck to you for free

 

[nate379]

I would agree if the guy is a 75 yr old geriatric, but a normal person won't have much trouble. I put mine in my backyard last year, "walked" it about 300 ft, just using the pallet it's bolted to and my arms.

While I can't disagree with a lot of what you say, everyone may not be as strong as you apparently are. I have moved tens of tons of items over a lifetime and I agree most don't understand the basic principles. Nevertheless, a steel cylinder sliding off the edge of a steel truck tail gate might be a bit much to handle for one average guy. Of course a piece of carpet, foam or moving pad would help control the effort.

Now, you say just walk it into place. Well, not all of use have level ground.

Just give the guy a little break and help him, not scold him for being less than ingenious.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Out here, Home Depot will rent you a truck (with a ramp, although the one I rented had a busted one) for $20 for 75 minutes. I took home my air compressor, then went out and picked up 1800 pounds of cabinets before I took it back. It was a lot cheaper than U-Haul.

 

[kaffine]

I moved my 60 gal Puma air compressor by myself using a pickup. I used a dolly to get the compressor to the driveway. Then lowered the tailgate and leaned the comprssor against the tailgate then picked up the bottom of the compressor. Gravity and fulcrums come in handy at times (physics really does have uses outside of school). Once the compressor was horizantal pushed it in and then stood it up in the bed the compressor still had oil in it or I would have left it laying down. Thankfully the truck had a ladder rack on one side that I could tie the compressor down to keep it from tipping otherwise securing it would have been harder.

 

[Skin]

one things for sure, they arent nearly as heavy as they were 20-30 years ago.

 

[snorky18]

More wisdom from the last time this came up:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50706

 

[notquitegto]

I'll be honest, I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't know how light that unit is. I'm 6'7 and could probably bench the thing!

I'm not a pu$$y or uncreative, I just have the nasty habit of biting off more than I can chew. I live out in the sticks so help is pretty limited. Therefore, I usually take on heavy tasks myself. I just didn't want to do something stupid that would result it the compressor lying on the ground or rolling down my driveway, though my wife would probably get a laugh out of it.

I planned on having HD load it on and then simply manuevering it down somehow. I appreciate all the input you guys gave and it's good to know you can always count on an answer from this board.

Mike

 

[TAftw]

I bought mine off a guy and I moved it with him. I'm doing this in a Jeep mind you. I put the rear seats down and slid the compressor in, head first. I ratchet strapped the entire thing down from every point possible. I ran one around the back and up around the base of the front seats. The point it, I put it in head first. This was so when I got home, me and a buddy backed into my garage, slid it out, and popped it right up on its feet. Wasn't hard at all, didn't even take 10 minutes.

 

[BigE]

Oil or not, you guys are making one hell of a project out of a simple task! Put the thing up against your lowered tailgate, grab it from the bottom and tip it into the truck, you're actually only lifting about half of the weight of the machine that way. It's always in contact with the truck, so it doesn't get out of control on you. When you get it home, reverse the procedure...shift it to the edge and as soon as it gets over center it will tip back onto its feet (or skid). From there "walk" it into place. I have done 60 gallon single and 80 gallon 2 stages this way, by myself with no problems at all. It amazes me how complicated things can get sometimes. The other thing that puzzles me is why people seem to think every time the need to move something of heft, the first thing they want to do is pick up all the weight at once, requiring lots of grunt and usually putting them selves in a position where the load can easily get away from them. Just move it, it ain't that heavy and you're a big boy now

You have to be careful doing that. Compressor tanks are pressure vessels, not structural members. They are very strong resisting uniform pressure from the inside. However, I would leary of trying to tilt a tall compressor out of the bed with a huge, heavy pump/motor on top. It has the potential to buckle/dent/damage the tank. They don't call them thin-walled pressure vessels for nothing. My compressor is currently at my parents' house. I'm planning to use my neighbor's low-deck 4x6 trailer to move it. Myself and one other should be able to dead lift it on to and off of that trailer.

 

[crewchief888]

you can move anything if you try hard enough, i borrowed an 8500 wat generator from a friend the last time the power went out, and put it in the back of the wifes saturn