How to move a big compressor?

[TTA89]

Hey guys,

Looking for ideas on how to get this thing home... It's about 7 feet tall and heavy, probably 750lbs. I have an F150 and a snowmobile trailer.

Can you lay this on it's side or does it need to stay standing up for some reason?

I'm pretty sure I can use my engine hoist to get it out of the truck if it's laying down?

Any clever ideas?

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[larry4406]

I moved a similar one.

I drained the oil, used an engine crane with sling, and tipped it over horizontal onto a trailer and had moving blankets to cushion the tank and blocking to prevent it from rolling and damaging the compressor head or motor.

Unit was depressurized. I did manage to break off the tank drain brass street elbow flush with the tank. Thankfully an extracter saved the day.

 

[blazemaster83]

I have one like that I just moved, but I have an f450 flatbed. The previous owner had an engine hoist and it would not lift the compressor all the way up on the bed. I got the compressor for free (pressure switch and gauges were damaged) so I didn't mind just laying it down and lifting it onto the bed that way. Survived the trip no problem, I was worried oil would pass the rings and come out the intake but didn't spill a drop. Fixed up the broken bits and now it's my daily use compressor.

The one I got was very top heavy. I brought a 10ft moving ramp and a heavy appliance dolley but it was not safe to move with 2 people that way so we tried the engine hoist.

 

[KenC]

I moved a similar one.

I drained the oil, used an engine crane with sling, and tipped it over horizontal onto a trailer and had moving blankets to cushion the tank and blocking to prevent it from rolling and damaging the compressor head or motor.

Unit was depressurized. I did manage to break off the tank drain brass street elbow flush with the tank. Thankfully an extracter saved the day.

Did the same. The only possible issue from laying them down is oil draining past the piston and causing a hydraulic lock when restarted. Removing the oil first prevents that. Just remember to refill!

Probably will be the first oil change in a long time, maybe forever.

I used a couple of 4x4s, one on each side of the tank, joined with short boards. All screwed together holding the 4x's tight to the tank to prevent rolling.

 

[cvairwerks]

Pull the standpipe with the gauges and lay it on a section of plywood in the back of the truck, feet to the tailgate. Slide it in, block and secure for the trip. At home, slide it out til you can grab it with the hoist and then lift and slide it out til standing upright.

Use a sling going under the mount plate to grab with the hoist. Might loose a little oil, but probably needs an oil change anyway.

 

[Lenny B]

I used an engine hoist as others have mentioned. If you need to lighen it up, you can pull the pump and motor. Also make sure the tank doesn't have water in it. The last used compressor I moved for a neighbor I could not believe how heavy it was. I opened the drain valve and about 20 gallons of water came.

 

[kenners]

When I purchased mine new the dealer put it in the bed of the truck. Once home I attached a portable winch to trusses in the shop. Lifted the compressor up and had my wife drive the truck forward. Instructed her how far to pull forward. Didn't need 20 feet and me trying to control winch and falling out of the truck.

 

[matt_i]

A person could purchase a gantry crane for the job.

OR...its easy enough to make a stationary wooden lifting "horse" that would do the same thing, I'd go with 2x10s, and use GRK-RSS screws to put it all together. Gussets & braces are key at all corners to triangulate the structure as much as possible, wrap a sling or chain around the beam and use a chainfall or a lever chain hoist. If you match-mark it all, then it should be easily transportable to the jobsite and then back home. Where you can store it for later or build something else with the timber.

I can't speak for all compressors but several have a 4" to 6" round hole thru the U-shaped mounting plate for the motor & compressor. Drop a roundsling's loop in there and put something like a 2x4 or 2x6 in double shear and pick it straight up. Ideally it won't touch motor or pump. If it were completely solid, it would be prime to drill for a lifting eye provided the driller doesn't touch the tank and there's enough room to get a nut and washer under it.

 

[bradpac]

I moved mine in the back of my truck, just tilted it into the back. and slid the rest in, unloaded it the same. All of the weight is in the top, I did it by myself, but I would recommend 2 or 3 people to really control it falling into the truck if you don't want to risk screwing something up.

 

[Samh]

Make sure you let all the air out of the tank to make it lighter

 

[Spulen81]

Mine is about that size, 80gal t-30. I removed the compressor and motor and loaded it all separately in my old Suburban. It went pretty easy with just my son and I loading it.

 

[kbs2244]

use engine hoist too remove pump and motor
(this is a good time to clean and oil them)
then you can lay the tank down for transport

 

[sweetk30]

picked up my big I.R. and set on a pallet . then strapped to the pallet and loaded in a trailer on the pallet with my pallet jack and strapped down .

 

[redmondjp]

Drain oil. Put smooth surface in back of pickup that is easy to slide objects on (I like old carpeting myself). Tip unit against tailgate and slide into the back of the truck, and strap it in.

That compressor pump is all aluminum so you aren't dealing with nearly as much weight up top as you would be if it was a Saylor-Beall, QR-series Quincy, or other brands with an all-iron pump.

 

[Wrench97]

I pulled the compressor and motor off mine then loaded the tank laying down in the back of my pickup, it was a number of years ago then when I was younger and pickup beds were a bit closer to the ground.........................

 

[Not_doing_this_everytime]

I just did something similar with my 80gal, didn't want to go through all the hassle of taking everything apart, draining fluid etc.

Lag bolted two of the feet to a scrap 2x10 with a second scrap for the 3rd leg to keep it even. Used a dolly under the 2x10 and rolled it onto the trailer. Two diagonal straps across the top corner to corner, don't drive like a clown, and it's all set.

That's basically how they're shipped, bolted to a pallet and moved with a pallet jack standing straight up.

 

[Niteman9]

This

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[Norcal]

I pulled the compressor and motor off mine then loaded the tank laying down in the back of my pickup, it was a number of years ago then when I was younger and pickup beds were a bit closer to the ground.........................

Did the same thing with my horz. tank 5 HP compressor, moved it by myself with a hand truck & reassembled it in place. By removing the pump and motor on a vert. tank, it will be less top heavy but harder to reassemble without a engine hoist or some other aid to avoid blowing out one's back doing it solo.

 

[Jlarson]

We always lift them with slings under the mounting plate. Same with strapping them down, we run two ratchets between the tank and mounting plate and off we go.

 

[like2wheel]

This

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Did the same last year with a 80 gal Quincy. 4 straps on top. Was nervous going over some double train tracks, but it barely wiggled.

 

[rustyjames]

The safest and easiest way to transport a vertical compressor is horizontally.

 

[greg13]

Safer to pull motor & compressor off, it is very top heavy. You will still need help handling the motor & compressor but that will be a couple hundred pounds off the top.

 

[coljar]

This

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Exactly how I have moved them in the past. Nary a problem. It helped having a low trailer.

 

[BlindViper]

That's more then likely closer to 300 lbs. If you must lay it down pull the pump to keep the oil in the crank case.

 

[ZRX61]

*Carefully*... I had a 60gal get away from me in the back of a box truck & it pinned me in the corner. Luckily another guy was helping that day & he had to come help me get out from under it.

 

[matt_i]

*Carefully*... I had a 60gal get away from me in the back of a box truck & it pinned me in the corner. Luckily another guy was helping that day & he had to come help me get out from under it.

I can believe that. In my late 20s I moved cross-country, with a 5hp * 60 gal with a refrig truck/appliance dolly in a box truck. Wife's girlfriend's boyfriend showed up to help unpack and he's instantly talking a big game about how we can have this 24' truck unloaded in 30 minutes. My Dad and I were busy with other tasks and out of the corner of my eye I see the guy grab the looped handles and attempt to rock it back to balance point. You can picture the rest, there's about 250 of the 400 lbs right at eye level and I thought he was going to get squashed but somehow had an oh-**** kinesthetic reaction that slammed the base back down with a giant BOOM in the box truck. I calmly got close to his face and said why don't you focus on the cardboard boxes and my Dad and I will move the tools and machines. He listened.

Bottom line is I would treat a 7.5hp * 80 gallon with extreme respect. Its even heavier, its even more top heavy, and a lot of sensitive expensive stuff to replace if something goes wrong.

 

[bad_idea]

I would pull the pump and motor off. Good excuse to do some PMS on it - change the oil, replace the belt, and give the important bits a once over.

 

[nadogail]

Make sure you let all the air out of the tank to make it lighter

Or fill the tank with Helium to make it Lighter Than Air

 

[NUTTSGT]

Make sure you let all the air out of the tank to make it lighter

You might be surprised at the weight of compressed air. Yes, seriously.



I'd drain the tank of water and air, then drain the oil. Once done, I'd lay it down on the snowmobile trailer.

 

[zkdiesel]

Don’t know how you guys do these kinda things gs

I have a skidsteer, forklift, backhoe, crane or tow truck just sitting all over
To always do my heavy lifting. No thought goes into it other than which vehicle will fit through the door carrying it

 

[rburke65]

Yes, a forklift would be a very handy item. Wouldn’t use it often but...good to have.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Look up Sunbelt Rentals and ask for a drop deck trailer. That’s how I have moved some of my compressors, bandsaws and such . It’s basically a hydraulic lift attached to the deck and it raises and lowers flat to the ground.

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[jb3]

I moved mine on a uhaul trailer, and i mover it standing using an engine hoist. There was jist enough room under the compressor bracket to slide the hoist arm with the chain removed on mine. I blocked it a little to make things less dangerous and did it that way.

 

[jb3]

Don’t know how you guys do these kinda things gs

I have a skidsteer, forklift, backhoe, crane or tow truck just sitting all over
To always do my heavy lifting. No thought goes into it other than which vehicle will fit through the door carrying it

With the the right equipment to do the job laying around, you miss out on some creative bodge solutions