Moving a large heavy toolbox

[PoorOwner]

So the 72x24 box cart is coming soon

I wanted to get some opinions as to use the pallet jack to move up the driveway. About 70 feet with few degrees slope. Assuming the driver is willing to help.
The driveway is washed aggregate concrete so it is not smoothest.

Or should I unbox, install the handle, then push the thing up?

The weight of all is 850lbs before unpack.. But that's with a worktop piece maybe more like 800 lbs. From STB that's their smallest version.

I currently don't have any winch, hoist, trailer etc and I can't assume what type of truck is going to be there. I assume it is a pretty big truck with lift gate.

 

[LXCam]

Where do you live?. Maybe someone with a skid steer and pallet forks could help you out. Or get a rated big rubber tire dolly. The other would be to strip all the drawers out it it before moving her in.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I wouldn't assume the driver will do anymore than drop the box off - you'll have to check with whoever the shipper is. When you're doing that, find out if they will be willing to come up your driveway, or if they stop at the street and that's it.

 

[PoorOwner]

I am in the Bay Area no one have bobcats or mules or tractors lol

It is fedex freight I assume they may be more professional. But yes it is just lift gate they have no obligation to do any pushing

 

[LXCam]

I am in the Bay Area no one have bobcats or mules or tractors lol

Ya five miles away I'd come over and help a brother out. But 500 miles away you're **** outta luck my friend.

Strip her down and I bet it cuts out at least 1/2 the weight.

 

[PoorOwner]

You don't think I can push the box up on its own caster with drawers?
They are made to push around the dealership loaded all day, no slope though.

Given the caster are just 5" plastic type might get a bit bumpy and tear up

I will put the digital level and give you guys the slope tonight

 

[LXCam]

Well without knowing who the manufacturer is, maybe?. Some stuff have great casters, others not so much. I'm just going off your description. I guess if the driveway is too rough, you could always lay down some strips of thin plywood.

oop's, I just caught the STB, so you shouldn't have any issues, they offer nice stuff. Which model did you get. I've been looking hard at the 30" deep 17 drawer units.

 

[zkdiesel]

Push it on its on wheels. It will be fine

 

[My Old Tools]

Plywood laid on the driveway will smooth things up a lot.

 

[PoorOwner]

It is made by Montezuma

http://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/tool-vault-72-16-drawer-tool-cabinet.html

I forgot about the plywood that will come with, unboxed looks like this.

 

[LXCam]

You won't have any issues moving that, maybe grab a buddy to help. But it'll roll just fine.

 

[kbs2244]

The plywood is a good idea
Two sheets alternated

 

[Jon_E]

Furniture lifting straps, meant to be used by two people. I am not convinced that that box weighs 850 lb. 350-400 would be more believable. In any case - remove anything that can be removed, like all the drawers, and get a buddy or even a friendly neighbor to assist.

 

[lightning02]

When strictly shipped my box it came on a 18wheeler with lift gate. They lowered it and with a pallet jack they pushed it into my garage. No problem. I live on a incline as well. Plus a brick driveway.

 

[Shiftless]

Furniture lifting straps, meant to be used by two people. I am not convinced that that box weighs 850 lb. 350-400 would be more believable. In any case - remove anything that can be removed, like all the drawers, and get a buddy or even a friendly neighbor to assist.

The strictly toolboxes website says that the shipping weight is 820 pounds. Excepts for some plywood and cardboard, that's what quality boxes weigh.

 

[Shiftless]

When strictly shipped my box it came on a 18wheeler with lift gate. They lowered it and with a pallet jack they pushed it into my garage. No problem. I live on a incline as well. Plus a brick driveway.

My Harbor Freight 44 inch box came in the same way! Driver had an electric pallet jack and wheeled it off his lift gate truck down the driveway and into the middle of my garage. Shipping weight was only 276 but it is a much smaller box 42wide x 18 deep

 

[nadogail]

I have carefully & slowly pushed wheeled loads with the front bumper of my van. We used a pad made of corregated (cardboard box). Careful driver and a helper to steer the crate on the dolly.

Slow and steady can get the job done.

 

[pcmeiners]

First thing, unpack/unbox , remove the drawers, that should drop the weight in more than half. That around 350, two guys should be able to wheel that to the garage, use plywood on the ground to smooth the surface, the crate plywood should do. Truckers do not like to move stuff.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

A $20 or two will often get drivers to help.

 

[matt_i]

I don't think the driver has enough time to wait around for the crate to be opened, and I'd surely not want to go wild on it and gack up your prized possession.

I'd call up some friends, put them "on call" and call them when its dropped off. By the time you open the crate they can help you push and pull it up. IOW work together.

 

[gscallon]

I too would suggest that a carefully placed $20 (in the hand of the driver) will go a long way towards solving your problem.

Regards,
-Greg

 

[PoorOwner]

I have no problem handing tip to the driver do you think the pallet jack is better at going up than the box itself?
Ideally I would like to have it inside before unboxing.
I have done the math and 850 x sin( 4 degree ) is like 60 lbs pushing and I don't think my driveway is over 5%. Assuming once get moving with .5 or 1 % friction it is by no means elbow hurting, give-it-all-you-have kind of push like pushing a car. Probably still a little harder than my math suggest though

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 to tip driver to assist getting toolbox all the way to garage . .
. . . . . OR . . . . .
rent your own pallet jack and pull up to garage.

Keep the toolbox INSIDE the protective wooden frame as long as possible. Moving while on the pallet will be much safer.

 

[spaceghost]

Where in the Bay Area are you...???

I am in Pleasanton and would be wiling to grab a buddy give you a hand.

jeff

 

[Tech89]

Furniture lifting straps, meant to be used by two people. I am not convinced that that box weighs 850 lb. 350-400 would be more believable. In any case - remove anything that can be removed, like all the drawers, and get a buddy or even a friendly neighbor to assist.

Mine is about that size, maybe a little bigger, weighs in at 850-900 empty. I wouldn't doubt that one weighs about 800.

-Pat

Sent from somewhere in Minnesota

 

[NUTTSGT]

Got any HF mover's dolleys ? Set one under each end and push her into the garage. Some sheets of plywood might help with making it smooth.

I used the plywood highway when I moved my box from the house garage to my garage. Just make sure you overlap it the correct way.

 

[lightning02]

I didn't have to tip anyone. He did everything himself. No questions asked. He even waited for me to cut the straps off and unbox to make sure there was no damage before I singed for it.

 

[tarmy]

I am thinking of getting that same box...and I live in the bay area. What city...I would be interested in seeing the real thing...

You can send me a PM if you don't the world to know where you live...

And yes I will help push....

 

[logical]

I just got my second Tool Vault 56 x 20 delivered today. I have a 56 combo already and got another identical bottom with stainless top to go beside it. Its a smaller lighter box of course but the combo came all on one pallet and was close to 600 pounds.

Both times the FedEx Freight driver pulled over to the side of the road at the end of my 100 ft driveway, brought it down onto the driveway on his pallet jack and we pushed it right into the garage. My drive is smooth concrete but I wouldn't thing a rough surface will be that much different. The driver will definitely have a pallet jack in his trailer and will be more than willing to get it into your garage and wait while you inspect it.

Unless the driveway is gravel, you don't need any special equipment and won't need to take the drawers out or get it off the pallet out by the road.

I swear someone would have you hiring a Chinook helicopter to transport it up the driveway if you let us go on any longer.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Couple of sheets of 7/16 OSB will only run about 20 bucks. U-haul flat bed trailer will cost around 50 or so. Unload it onto it, back up to garage raise the front of trailer and slide the box down the ramps. Use a come along to help control the decent on the down ward slide. 7/16th plywood will not support the box while coming off the trailer btw.

 

[logical]

The driver will have a nice pallet jack. He can't do his job without one.

800 pounds is not that much if it is on wheels, my motorcycle weighs that much and I don't bring in rigging crews to move it.

You do not need to buy plywood, lift straps, or moving dollies.

You do not need to rent a trailer, fork lift, pallet jack or helicopter

You don't even need a friend to help.

All you need to do is be there when he shows up and unpack it after its in your garage.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Well how did this turn out?

 

[PoorOwner]

FedEx guy was very helpful, he pulled the pallet jack and I pushed from the back into the garage, was not difficult at all. With some maneuvering of the jack over the lip of the floor slab. He even waited for me to open it. It's one of the best freight delivery I had experienced.

Later I pried the blocks off carefully and waited for my wife to help. It was long enough we needed to roll the unit back into the driveway a little to remove the pallet. To avoid the floor lip I used one of the crate plywood over it.

You see, I thought of everything but one thing caught me off guard was that it was a 6 wheeler. Basically it pops a wheelie when not all wheels are on the same plane. It was a little scary to finally counteract it on a slope and push it back in and slowly land it from the aforementioned wheelie.

Also worth mentioning it is difficult to start rolling on a racedeck type flooring, this maybe a good feature but because of the pattern, I was not able to park it flush with the workbench, it settles in 3" increments. and of course mine is 2.5" away now. Manually rotating the casters I was able to park it very close to the wall.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

 

[got2boostit2]

Quality of the cabinet, how do the drawer slides feel?

 

[PoorOwner]

the quality is great and the slides are smooth with or without load.

I do have a problem pulling out the last bit of the top drawer after loaded, I applied some grease and will let it break in.
I have encountered this on all the boxes I own to some degree, I know any of the frequently used drawers will resolve this issue after years of use.

 

[Mr. Fry]

I own a 72" toolbox elite in the black and its a wonderful box. Have over 30k of tools locked safely and weighs around 5k lbs and moves around like a dream with the spring casters

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