How to move a LARGE toolbox

[vdt1977]

Snap On Mr Big fully equipped (17' long) - workcenter, hutch, 2 lockers, 3 attics. Anyone have a clue how to safely move it 750 miles? I've got both lockers removed on transport wheels again, and all 3 attics off. No problem emptying all the heavier tools and packaging separately. Uship just laughs at me when I input the dimensions. I bought a shop in SWFL and just have no clue how to safely move this girl down with me. Bonus points if they could handle moving an 84" Cornwell custom top and bottom at the same time.

 

[dr_clyde]

Snap On Mr Big fully equipped (17' long) - workcenter, hutch, 2 lockers, 3 attics. Anyone have a clue how to safely move it 750 miles? I've got both lockers removed on transport wheels again, and all 3 attics off. No problem emptying all the heavier tools and packaging separately. Uship just laughs at me when I input the dimensions. I bought a shop in SWFL and just have no clue how to safely move this girl down with me. Bonus points if they could handle moving an 84" Cornwell custom top and bottom at the same time.

Hire a reputable LTL freight company. Insure the load. Hire riggers to load and unload at both ends. Easy peasy. Just takes money.

 

[plinker]

I'd say carefully. I would think a car hauler type trailer or roll back truck would work otherwise. The loading and unloading may be more of an issue.

.

 

[dr_clyde]

If you don't know where to call, I would ask local machine shops or any place that handles expensive equipment. They'll have a rigger they trust.

Most riggers do trucking as well, but they don't tend to like hauling that far.

 

[98ssuck]

I would rent a jlg lifting trailer if I was going to try it myself.

 

[JRC3]

 

[Lassen Forge]

Probably the easiest and cheapest is to rent a U-Haul moving truck and moving blankets, and take the time off to move it yourself. Added benefit is you know your boxes won't get beat to **** in the move. Hire labor on both ends to help load/unload.

I've moved antiques that way, and have yet to scratch anything, break anything, etc., because every time I hire either a freight company or "professional movers" something gets dinged, scratched, whacked, etc.

 

[equitiesguy]

Rent a budget truck with a liftgate for a one way rental.

 

[scsracing]

Split the mr big in half, and hire one of those dropping floor trailers.

 

[930dreamer]

Scirocco avatar?

 

[dr_clyde]

Rent a budget truck with a liftgate for a one way rental.

Even split in half, that's a big ask for a lift gate. I wouldn't use a lift gate for this application.

If OP insists on moving it himself, I wouldn't go any less than a fully enclosed trailer with a ramp. That's too much toolbox to risk an open trailer or a sketchy lift gate move.

 

[BreeStephany]

I would load it in a shipping container, block and pallet it so it couldn't move and have it professionally shipped with a reputable, insured company.

 

[mcmtech]

I’d find a trucking company to move it, have it professionally loaded and insured. Last year I moved a loaded 6s Matco box 1100 miles on our cross country move with a lift gate truck, if there’s a next time I’d look into hiring it. That, a locker and cart full of tools was a lot of weight, seemed like more than the rest of the stuff we moved. I strapped it in first than packed around it to keep the load even.

 

[noid]

Break it down into smaller manageable pieces.

Unload all tools and put them into rolling totes (the 50-55 gallon ones).

Then remove each drawer and load/store separately.

Likely 4-5 hour job all in on each end.

If you want to do it more industrially, get a few 48x40 pallets, split the box so each piece fits on a pallet, stretch wrap it, and call an LTL company to move the pallets via bill of lading.

LTL will also move 96x40 pallets (8 foot pallets), if you can find that size of pallet locally.

 

[Al Borland]

Disassemble and move.
Unload the drawers and ship the tools in organized totes.

 

[Mr_B]

exactly why I don't like box sections bigger than 72" .
That mr big is just a big ballache, same storage made of 56 and 72" boxes be far better .
Shipping container sounds good idea to me .
I used one for industrial gear and worked ideal left on site few days either end so plenty time load/unload with no rush or bad packing haste ... all secure and dry too

 

[PoorOwner]

car trailer has length from 16' or longer.
but surely you can remove a locker or two to make it a little less than 17'?

 

[shelteredV]

I would tend to go with dr clydes' recommendation unless you have good resources at both ends of the move. That box weighs about 1500 pounds empty, plus all the ancillary stuff, so not an easy DIY. I'm sure with a little research, or recommendations from a machine shop you can come up with someone able and willing to do it. Good luck.

 

[Dirtydan69]

As a professional in my i expect to provide professional work and end results to a customer. If i have pove something like this i hire a professional. simple really.

 

[bctexas]

FWIW, I found a great rigger in the Dallas area by asking for a recommendation on a local amateur machinist club forum. You might also try dropping a query at https://www.hobby-machinist.com/forums/ or https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Congrats on the shop purchase - best of luck to ya!

 

[geartow]

if you leave the drawers in it empty them then wrap the box with plastic wrap the drawers will open with the bouncing of a move

 

[shelteredV]

Um, isn't that what the lock is for?

 

[dan360]

A moving & storage company would be all over that. United, Mayflower, North American, etc. They'll bring their own lumpers, and are insured/bonded for expensive stuff. If they can get CEOs with million dollar artwork across the country, they can move your toolboxes across Florida. Won't be cheap, but it will be 100% all them, nothing you'll have to do but point.

FWIW a Penske 26' box truck's lift gate can handle a KRL1033 with riser and about a 1/2 load of tools.

U-Haul trucks are low but have **** for ramps. The Enterprise/Penske/Budget lift gate box trucks are tall--over axle standard semi trailer height, but the lift gates are pretty stout on the bigger trucks.

 

[Spiffers]

Probably the easiest and cheapest is to rent a U-Haul moving truck and moving blankets, and take the time off to move it yourself. Added benefit is you know your boxes won't get beat to **** in the move. Hire labor on both ends to help load/unload.

I've moved antiques that way, and have yet to scratch anything, break anything, etc., because every time I hire either a freight company or "professional movers" something gets dinged, scratched, whacked, etc.

There's a show called Shipping Wars. I wouldn't hire any of the movers on there to move an anvil...because they'd find a way to break it....or ***** about it.....or both!

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Empty the heavier drawers at very least, if not all of it.
Then break it up into manageable sections. MR Big is nothing but two boxes bolted together and you should have gotten extra "shipping wheels" with it so each box will roll independently.
Load the pieces into an enclosed car trailer, add furniture pads and strap it all in and then move on down the road.

I've seen and / or helped a few guys do this over the years and new boxes shipped in to our shop have arrived in all states of wrapping / crating / bare with furniture pads in everything from a United Van Lines tuck to generic freight trucks to cargo trailer behind a pickup.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I have moved shops twice. Each time I had local moving companies come. Granted the biggest box was a triple bank and not a mr big. Hutches etc were removed and drawers locked. Nothing removed. The movers moved these things around effortlessly, right up the ramp and into the truck. Let the moving company worry about the logistics.....you just pay the bill.

 

[fatfillup]

Have moved a lot of snap on tool boxes because I sell used boxes.

First, I would remove most if not all the tools in the box. Otherwise the slides take a beating with every bump you hit. Across town, not a biggy but I remove them anyway. Long trip, I would absolutely empty the box.

Split the boxes in two and remove all lockers, hutches and sides boxes.

A lift gate can absolutely handle those boxes one at time. I have moved many on my 1/2 ton pick up with a lift gate. The 3/4 ton doesn't mind the weight as much

Cover the box with a moving blanket and strap it against the side or front of the bed.

If you are going to ship on common carrier, I would remove casters, separate components and strap to an appropriate size pallet and build a crate or box around them. Inspect the boxes carefully upon arrival, lots of damage occurs on freight docks.

It really isn't hard to move boxes, just a pain in the ****

 

[71goldss]

Years ago when the company I worked for needed to have heavy equipment moved to a new address, my boss would hire a drayage company. I'm not sure how a drayage service is different from regular LTL, but may be worth checking into.

 

[On-Wheel]

Contact SO ,tell them it was delivered to wrong address and needs to go south.lol

I've moved 2 54" in a car hauler.A 24&29" deep box.Had to use a wench on the bigger one to get it in over dove tail of trailer.Even with 3 other guys it was like a brick wall without wench.
Then you worrie about wheels going threw the 3/4 floor.Used 4 lengths of 5x5 stainless angel under wheels to rail it in.ect ect.No wonder a mover laughs.

 

[jhelrey]

I wonder if you couldn't use Pods... Load it up. Strap everything down, wrapped in blankets, etc. They pickup and haul.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I'd shove it in the box truck and drive, maybe throw some carpet over the drawer tops to keep migration down.

 

[geartow]

Um, isn't that what the lock is for?

they still open we move big boxes with flatbed tow truck they must be wrapped , learned the hard way thankfully it was not me that learned the lesson

 

[On-Wheel]

YouTube has vid of loading on flat bed wrecker.Surprised it hasn't been posted yet.
Where is the box at? I have time and a car hauler.

 

[cnttxmdc]

Best comment of the day, and you didn't even use words. Congrats, you win the internet tonight!

 

[vdt1977]

Box is in Winston Salem, NC currently.

The main portion definitely didn't come with transport wheels - came all in one piece the day I bought it new. I do believe it could probably be unbolted, but it certainly didn't come that way. I haven't peeked under it myself to see.

I did move the 144" bottom section with workcenter and hutch across town (unloaded) on a rollback, but I doubt I'd trust it 750 miles that way.

 

[rbrock]

Can you put it on a skid so it can be loaded with a fork truck?
Check with Fastenal, I have shipped large items with them.
https://www.fastenal.com/en/22/3pl-third-party-logistics

 

[JRC3]

Best comment of the day, and you didn't even use words. Congrats, you win the internet tonight!

I was starting to think that no one got the joke.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I was starting to think that no one got the joke.

I was waiting for someone to post the pic of the Pontiac dragging the Snap On box down the road with the trunk open.

Still waiting.

 

[PartsGuy]

Just moving my fully-loaded 7-foot Mac bottom box across town on a rollback gave me the heebie-jeebies. I had ratchet-strapped all the drawers shut, he winched it up on the deck, chocked the wheels, and strapped it down. For the next 20 minutes, I followed the driver, cringing at every turn, bump, and short-stop, envisioning a shower of chrome on the asphalt. I stopped breathing altogether when he hit the railroad tracks.... Box made it safely to my new shop, but I would NOT recommend this method to anyone! Pay a professional mover!

 

[rsanter]

If it was me I would use my open car trailer.
Empty box
Wrap in shrink wrap
Wrap in pads
Wrap again in shrink wrap
Put on trailer and tie down