Moving BIG/HEAVY stuff by yourself!

[ovilla]

I know this is not necessarily garage related but I was wondering how folks move really big/heavy items by themselves. I bought a neighbors 986 lb. hot tub and can't really seem to get the 7-8 guys I need to move it this coming weekend. Anyway, I know a lot of you are building your own garages and pole barns and was wondering what you're using to move the big items around by yourself. I only need to move this thing 70-80', from his backyard to my backyard and there's nothing in the way but grass. I'm tempted to put the thing on furniture dollies and go buy a HF hoist to pull it over as I place OSB sheets in front of it (kind of like the Egyptians would have done it). I've got a steep down hill from the front yard to the back because of the backyard's walk out basement so renting a crane is not an option. Any ideas on how else to slide something across dirt and grass without tearing things up. Also, what size wire do you use for a dedicated 50amp outdoor spa panel and how long can the length of wire be from the exterior panel to the spa? Many thanks for your ideas.

 

[Blue]

Yikes. That's a lot of damn weight. Not to mention, it's kind of a cumbersome shape.

Be careful, no matter what you do.

 

[Steve in Mi]

I moved my milling machine, lathe etc. from the garage to my shop by placing them on a large piece of sheetmetal and pulled them with my lawn and garden tractor. OSB, while not as smooth as sheetmetal might work as a skidplate and somebody (if not you) will be only too happy to demonstrate the pulling power of their lawn tractor. You might even use your auto if room permits. Hook as low as you can on the skid and as high as possible on the tow vehicle [BUT NOT ABOVE THE AXLE] to put weight on tires and discourage spinning. Take it slow.

If this method hadn't worked for me I was prepared to wait for Winter and ice a path to slide it along.

 

[nova65ss]

You can get some tips from this guy!

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/posts/moving_big_rocks/


Jimmy

 

[jeepgod]

get some 4x4's and cut the fronts up at an angle, like a ski. Then put a few more of them perpendicular to them and strap the tub to those that are on top of the ski's. I would bolt the top 4x4's to the ski's (4x4's) and make sure you recess the bolt heads on the bottom of the ski's. How do you get the hot tub up on 4x4's? with an engine hoist.. or a block and pulley attached to an A frame... or with 3-4 guys picking up one side at a time... once on that setup.. tow it to where you want it..

 

[RacerX]

Use 2" galvanized water pipe. I moved my spa from the trailer to my deck with 3 pieces of pipe rolling it like the romans moved things. Once one comes out the back, you put it back under the front and keep going. Did it by myself and no body strains either.

 

[PAToyota]

Hmm... These things are part of the reason that I still have my Bobcat around...

 

[chadincolo]

Hook as low as you can on the skid and as high as possible on the tow vehicle to put weight on tires and discourage spinning.

Very good way to get somebody killed or injured. DO NOT hook onto the tow vehicle above the rear axle. Other than that, good idea.

 

[1320stang]

With 986#? My Reese hitch has the ball above the rear axle on my SportTrac. Granted, it's only a few inches, but it was made that way. He's pulling across his yard, not down the highway.

 

[kbs2244]

Good idea on making runners for it.
But if you are going across grass you will leave some big ruts.
Go to a landscape place and get some 4 or 5 inch dia fence posts to use as rollers. The bigger the dia, the better. 5 or 6 of them will be enough.
When the tub rolls off one, stop and bring it to the front. You should be able to go in 3 or 4 foot jumps this way. It is much less work then the runners alone, and be nicer to the grass.
I moved a 12 x 8 garden shed apx 120 feet this way. It was just me and 2 boys, 13 and 14. Some 6 foot 2 x 4's as levers, and we were done in a morning.

 

[Josh Kinzey]

I work at a CAT equipment dealer, and renting a rubber tire telehandler might be your best option. You should be able to rent one for less than $200 a day, and if you could stack some other things to use it for on that same day to maximize the use you got out of it, it might be the best option.

It's basically a large, all terrain forklift. It would have no problems picking up the hot tub, either with the forks or with lifting straps, and it should be pretty easy to make small adjustments with it for final placement. The large rubber tires might make small indentations into your yard, but with a smaller machine I don't think you'd have much to worry about.

Good luck!

 

[mulepackin]

Ditto on the fenceposts. I have moved around alot of big awkward things this way including my own hottub and sheds. I also have a low tilt deck snowmobile trailer that I can move stuff around on. I tilt it, use 2" pipe to roll the object up on it and let it tilt back to level. I use a comealong to pull the object up on the deck. I use an ATV or pick up to pull the trailer around depending on how far I have to go. Of course I also have a semi and 48 ft. flatbed trailer available to me for really big stuff.

 

[MXtras]

I agree with renting a piece of equipment. You can rent even a backhoe for a few hundred for the weekend and be done with it.

Otherwise, plywood and pipe or rollers sound like the best option to me.

Scott

 

[Vicegrip]

2 inch PVC water pipe works well for moving hot tubs. you might need one sheet of plywood between the pipes and hot tub bottom as most are hollow underneath and the wood side walls are weak and flimsy. PVC DWV/PW is cheap light weight and also a bit slippery so you can change direction of the object while it is on the pipe.

 

[Down Under Bloke]

What ever you do take pictures and share the story.

 

[gahi]

how about a utility trailer, and just put some 4x4's under the hot tub for support. I've moved alot of stuff like this. Latest was a hot rod project that didn't have any axles. I was very careful not to damage it. Just take your time and lift each side enough to get another spacer under it until your high enogh to get the trailer under it.

 

[volvo]

,
Ask your local Hot tub dealer, they will move it, est $200,Call around. The last wood skirted tub ( 8x8, 8 person) I saw moved was just paced its side on a harbor freight type furniture dolly and moved, Two guys....H

 

[glider]

I am faced with this isue alot and I think I use all the above.

 

[krooser]

Use 2" galvanized water pipe. I moved my spa from the trailer to my deck with 3 pieces of pipe rolling it like the romans moved things. Once one comes out the back, you put it back under the front and keep going. Did it by myself and no body strains either.

What he said...

I moved my milling machine (1500#), drill press (450#), iron worker (2500#) and many more items by rolling them on pipe, fence posts and round shapes...caveman technology that works!

 

[ba614]

I'm with the guy's that use pipe to move things around ... I've used the 3 pipe method to move alot of large things around ... like boilers, chiller's, air handlers, production machinery, and metal buildings while working construction ... you'd be suprised what one man can move ... it takes time and patience and a little thinking but you can do it

 

[Larz]

Yep - pipe is the way to go. I helped a buddy move one off a deck once. We backed my utility trailer up the deck. Rolled it on pipe to the trailer and slid it up on the edges of the trailer. Took it to his house and rolled it right off on pipe on to his deck.

 

[Trainman]

Ditto on the pipe. I've seen one of the local shed builders and his wife deliver a shed by dropping it near the road, and then using pipes and crowbars to move it into position. Slow going depending on the distance he needed to move the shed, but it was just a two person operation.

 

[rick2752]

Hot tub can be handled with about 4 guys, but do you have access to a small 4x8 or 5x8 trailer? I picked mine tub up and put a block under one corner then used a 2x4 on edge as a lever to lift. Alternating sides and blocking it up higher and higher as I went. We used a car jack after we got it up a little. Then we backed the trailer under the hot tub and let it down. Moved it out so I could build a deck, then backed up to the deck and used Schedule 40 2"pvc to roll it onto the deck. It really wasnt as bad as I thought it would be.

 

[Kong]

Use some toboggans. Or if you are lazy, rent an air sled. Use some sheets of plywood under the air sled to assist in sliding the unit. If it isn't flat underneath you may need plywood underneath the hot tub as well.

Kong

 

[KenB]

You can get some tips from this guy!

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/posts/moving_big_rocks/


Jimmy

THAT is amazing. Thanks for posting it!

Ken

 

[fourfeathers]

Helped my neighbor move a spa, and it was a MOTHER, even with several guys. There are no good handles and it is awkward as hell. Maybe calling a local spa company to see what they would charge you. I bet this is not their busy time of year.

 

[Kevin54]

Helped my neighbor move a spa, and it was a MOTHER, even with several guys. There are no good handles and it is awkward as hell. Maybe calling a local spa company to see what they would charge you. I bet this is not their busy time of year.

You should have ran straps underneath then ran the straps around a length of 2x4 on each side. You would be surprised what you can lift with four guys , four straps and 2 lengths of wood

 

[must8657]

i delivered spas part time when i was younger. we would use several pieces of pvc pipe.
jason

 

[Thomarann]

I moved a huge rolling toolchest by myself across 200' of gravel driveway using just 2 pieces of OSB.

I moved a 980# BendPak lift using 2 floor jacks, a couple of axle straps, a piece of 4x4, and an engine hoist (and the OSB).

Marc

 

[sberry]

As for the wiring one might post in the elect section, its going to require number 6 but there are several rules specifically concerning tubs.

 

[Jess]

Did a similar move last summer. Neighbour wanted to get rid of his hot tub and a young fellow a few blocks away wanted it. We rolled it out from under the roof, jacked it up with a hi-lift jack and lots of blocks until we could stand it up on edge. Once up, we put 1/2 sheet of plywood under with two furniture flat dollies and ratchet strapped to whole thing together to keep the dollies in place. The next morning, a couple of the neighbours showed up and we rolled it down the road. At the new location, a couple of part sheets of plywood were put down on the grass and we leap frogged the plywood until it was all the way around the rear of the house. Reversed the lifting process to set it back down in place. We didn't have much of an incline but you could use a vehicle to hold back a line tied around the tub if not too steep.
Take your time and nobody will get hurt.

Good Luck, Jess

 

[nonhog]

Well @ 40 something I don't muscle stuff around like I use to.
For smaller stuff skateboards come in real handy . Plywood and pipes you've already heard about. We just had to replace our stove and the Sears movers
tipped it up tossed a strap around one of each of there shoulders and under the stove and walked it in . Pretty slick .
Loaded the beam the hard way me and the skateboard.

 

[MattSteele]

Great thread. I've got a similar question. I'm thinking about getting a two or 4 post lift. All of the manufacturers I've looked at state "Buyer is responsible for removing the lift from the delivery truck."

My question: How in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks am I supposed to get a 1200lb lift off a delivery truck, short of renting a forklift? All of the suggestions so far are great for moving it into my garage once the packed container is on the ground, but does anyone have suggestions on how to get it off the truck in the first place?

For those of you who bought/installed lifts, how did you do it? Thanks all!

 

[rwhite692]

Great thread. I've got a similar question. I'm thinking about getting a two or 4 post lift. All of the manufacturers I've looked at state "Buyer is responsible for removing the lift from the delivery truck."

My question: How in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks am I supposed to get a 1200lb lift off a delivery truck, short of renting a forklift? All of the suggestions so far are great for moving it into my garage once the container lift is on the ground, but does anyone have suggestions on how to get it off the truck in the first place?

For those of you who bought/installed lifts, how did you do it? Thanks all!

One option: Rather than having the lift shipped directly to your door, have it shipped to the local frieght terminal of the carrier that your lift supplier plans on using.

Then borrow (or rent) a nice low flatbed car trailer.

When you show up at Will-Call desk at the freight terminal to pick it up, they will place it on the trailer for you (using their forklift).

Once you get it home, you can de-palletize it, cut all the strapping, etc while it's still on the trailer and remove everything one piece at a time from the trailer.

Helps if you have a friend or two around to help, but I did mine alone using my engine hoist.

Also, you will save $$$ by having it shipped to the terminal for pick-up instead of directly to your door.

Another tip: Freight terminals are open 24 hrs usually, so just go there in the evening and it will be relatively quiet at the terminal, not nearly as much activity, and you will be in/out quick.

 

[IHI]

This is why man created a skid steer and fork attachments..done and done safely,easily.

We built a deck for a couple 3 or 4 years ago, in a flood plain, so house was 9' above grade. We did a big 2 sided deck and they wanted their hot tub recessed into the deck. So rented the skidder with forks and fork extensions...moved it two blocks from where it was stored and lifted it up into the air and set it on the lower platform we built for it..

could've easily done it with one guy, but my helper made it easier to prop the one side up to get the forks under it...most hot tubs have a double layer 3/4" flat plywood base.

 

[MattSteele]

One option: Rather than having the lift shipped directly to your door, have it shipped to the local frieght terminal of the carrier that your lift supplier plans on using.

Then borrow (or rent) a nice low flatbed car trailer.

When you show up at Will-Call desk at the freight terminal to pick it up, they will place it on the trailer for you (using their forklift).

Once you get it home, you can de-palletize it, cut all the strapping, etc while it's still on the trailer and remove everything one piece at a time from the trailer.

Helps if you have a friend or two around to help, but I did mine alone using my engine hoist.

Also, you will save $$$ by having it shipped to the terminal for pick-up instead of directly to your door.

Another tip: Freight terminals are open 24 hrs usually, so just go there in the evening and it will be relatively quiet at the terminal, not nearly as much activity, and you will be in/out quick.

rwhite, thank you so much for the great suggestion! I think that will work - I have a flat utility trailer that I've been using to haul construction materials. It's a great idea to have the lift shipped to the depot and have them use their forklift to load it on my low trailer. I can easily deal with it after getting it home.

Thanks again!

 

[OldCarGuy]

There's definitely an art to moving heavy objects. And ways to make the job easy.

With enough manpower (about 4 husky fellas) a lift could be disassembled on the truck. And manhandled one piece at a time off the end of the truck. I unloaded a Stinger four-post lift off the back of a truck using a cherry picker and a sympathetic truck driver. I disassembled it first.

Once on the ground, I'm a good fan of using a furniture dolly. Balance long objects on it and roll away. I moved my 1,200 pound bridge beam that way by myself.

I also own three two-wheel trucks that come in handy.

And a 6,000 pound capacity hand pallet jack that I can single handedly move heavy equipment.

Then again, my scissors lift truck doubles as a power lift to raise my bridge beams into place.

One of the most important pieces I own is this pinch bar. Being nearly a century old, it works as well today than when it was new. It is about five feet long with a well designed hook at one end. The fulcrum point is close to the pickup end. With my 200 pounds of weight, I have enough leverage to pick up 4,000 pounds about an inch or two off the floor. Block the machine up, another bite of the pinch bar with a small spacer underneath, you raise the machine another inch or so. Repeating the process until three or more pipes can placed under the machine. Then the machine can be rolled across the floor with ease. Recycling the pipes that the machine rolls off to the front. To change the machine's direction, the angle of the pipes can made. That the machine will follow. It takes a few years of experience to master this.

The easiest way I move heavy equipment is using my bridge crane. Just drive the equipment under the crane. Pick it up with a nylon sling. Put it into place!

 

[boiler7904]

With the snow that you're getting now, get the hot tub up on some skids and drag it to the new location. I would think that a quad or maybe a large lawn tractor could do the job easily.

 

[Lloydthumper]

Hmm... These things are part of the reason that I still have my Bobcat around...

Thats what I was thinking except mines a John Deer skidsteer. I moved a 700lbs plate of steel for my new shop table with mine about 3 hrs ago.

 

[rwhite692]

rwhite, thank you so much for the great suggestion! I think that will work - I have a flat utility trailer that I've been using to haul construction materials. It's a great idea to have the lift shipped to the depot and have them use their forklift to load it on my low trailer. I can easily deal with it after getting it home.

Thanks again!

No Problem Matt, glad I could help, Rob