Large Air Compressor Transportation

[cloves]

Hi guys, Looking into picking up a used 80 gallon air compressor and transporting it home horizontally rather then vertically. How complicated is it to take off the motor on site? Looks like its 4 bolts. I can't see how it connects the air into the tank, assume this would be a point to figure out.

Any advice? Its not a short distance and I would be towing it on my small trailer.

 

[azchrisf]

Your best friend is an engine hoist/crane. You can finaggle it onto the trailer.

 

[Packard V8]

JMHO, but I wouldn't disassemble it. The only thing to worry about is the compressor oil leaking out. Drain the tank and the compressor, as those are the first maintenance items to do when you get it home anyway.

Take plenty of 4x4 blocking and ratchet straps and it will ride just fine horizontally.

jack vines

 

[930dreamer]

I transported a Champion vertical unit lagged to a pallet upright in the bed of a truck 6 hours. I ran two straps under the motor/pump base.

 

[lis2323]

JMHO, but I wouldn't disassemble it. The only thing to worry about is the compressor oil leaking out. Drain the tank and the compressor, as those are the first maintenance items to do when you get it home anyway.

Take plenty of 4x4 blocking and ratchet straps and it will ride just fine horizontally.

jack vines

^^^Agreed^^^

 

[lis2323]

I transported a Champion vertical unit lagged to a pallet upright in the bed of a truck 6 hours. I ran two straps under the motor/pump base.

^^^If purchasing new, I would transport it like this.

If used, consider building a small heavy “pallet” out of blocks to lag it to giving it a bigger footprint for your straps to **** it down onto.

I recently sold a 40 HP rotary screw. They sit pretty flat. [emoji3]

 

[aeopav]

I'll second what Packard V8 said. I transported an 80 gallon 7.5hp, verticle tank compressor about 7 mi. I did it upright, but I made sure it was strapped down thoroughly.
EXTREMELY TOP HEAVY!! If I had it to do over again, especially if going any distance, I would definitely drain the oil and lay it down.

 

[cloves]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Unit is relatively new but already turned on and running. I would definitely drain the oil out of the motor before putting it on its side. The top heavy part is what stresses me out. Figured pulling the motor would be pretty easy, but not sure how the air connects to the tank.

The unit weights 400 pounds, and its still on a pallet. Assume we could move it with a dolly or a hand truck, then would have to figure out a way to lay it down on the trailer. Getting it onto the trailer vertically would require a engine hoist which isn't available.

As mentioned, drain the oil from that motor on top and make sure there is no air in the tank.

 

[blazemaster83]

400 lbs should be easily transported with an appliance dolley, and 2 decent sized guys should be able to lay it down. I moved a 600lb safe by myself with a boxvan, ramp, appliance dolley.

Walk it off the pallet if you need to.

 

[lis2323]

I would leave it upright on the pallet and place it in the center of the trailer or pickup bed and use four straps pulling down to the corners of the bed.

Or if it was on a flatbed truck strap it down and against the headboard.

 

[twagler]

I would leave it upright on the pallet and place it in the center of the trailer or pickup bed and use four straps pulling down to the corners of the bed.

+1 on leaving it upright. There is an important trick on how to strap it though. Have straps that aggressively pull it forward, another to aggressively pull it backward, another to aggressively pull it to the left, and lastly to aggressively pull it to the right. These straps all working together prevent the load from toppling over, no matter if it is narrow base and top-heavy, since there is always a strap giving it direct support, whether you are accelerating, braking, or turning. This works much better than multiple straps just trying to "clamp" the load downward.

 

[BroncoAZ]

My 80 gallon is still bolted to the pallet it came on 20 years ago. I’ve moved it several times, always vertical and strapped to the side of the u-haul trailer or four straps on my flat bed trailer. I can’t see any problems from draining the oil and laying it down.

 

[Wrench97]

I strapped mine in the back of my pickup and brought it home 25 miles up I 95........

 

[greg13]

I had to pull the motor and compressor when I moved mine. It about killed 4 of us when it started to come over. Mine is from 1942 and the tank alone is 1/4" steel so it is HEAVY. Once the had the motor & compressor off it was "Easier" to handle. transported upright.