Moving Lista Cabinets

[catalytic]

There must be a bunch of threads on this somewhere, but I'm not finding them.

I'm looking at some 29"x29" and 60" tall Lista cabinets as well as some bench height models. Some are on wheels and some aren't.

I will be moving these alone. I have a strong back, but just two hands...How are you guys moving these from the purchase location to your garage?

Does anyone have a list or estimate of how much they weigh with and without drawers removed? (searching for this I only seem to find Lista drawer weight capacities -- not the same thing!)

Is drawer removal straight forward? Can the empty units by moved by strapping them a good 1000lbcap moving hand truck/dolly?

 

[rsanter]

They are heavy. If it was me alone I would remove the drawers, move the cabinet with an appliance dolly or a regular dolly and a tie strap. If you want you may just leave the bottom drawer in if that's not too heavy for you
Then I would put the drawer back in once in the truck.

If there are two people and you have a lift gate or going up a ramp to a low trailer. I would use an appliance dolly and a small furnature dolly. Put the appliance dolly on and then tip the cabinet and put the end on the furnature dolly. Then just push the thing where you want it

Bob

 

[senlow]

I've moved Lista and similar cabinets by using the method that Bob outlined.

 

[catalytic]

Thanks for the replies. I assume that in either case, you would transport them laying down -- not upright -- correct?

I don't have furniture dollies, although I could get some. What I do have is one of these convertible 2-or-4-wheel full deck hand trucks with 1000lb cap:

Not sure how well it will work on the Lista's that already have casters installed, since the base of the cabinet is ~5 off the ground due to the casters.

Does anyone have weight estimates for eye-height lista's with and without drawers? And do the drawers remove with a couple of screws or something easy?

 

[LXCam]

Pull all the draws out and one man can load and unload out of a truck without much problem.

 

[catalytic]

Pull all the draws out and one man can load and unload out of a truck without much problem.

Awesome -- that's what I needed to know. This goes for the 60" tall cabinets as well? Do you just put the cabinet up against the tailgate, then lift from the base/tilt and slide it in (with some towels or something for padding)?

 

[wafer]

I moved at 44"W x 60"H x 28"D cabinet by myself (a photo of the cabinet is below). Removing the drawers was necessary to make it manageable. Loading it onto a pickup was straight forward, but unloading it required some care to avoid rapid descent and damage. I used a furniture dolly to transport it from the driveway to garage once it was unloaded. Drawers went back in once it was in its final location.

 

[matt_i]

I've loaded them into pickup trucks with a plastic bedliner with the drawers removed, using a refrigerator truck (the one with the tensioned-belt in the middle) and a 1" ratchet strap.

I take out the drawers. A must unless you are an Olympic powerlifter or heavyweight wrestler or played middle linebacker in a D1 college football program Strap cabinet to cart. Take ratchet strap (must be long) run it between the gap between bed and cab down and hook it on the truck frame somewhere. Run the other end out so its around 6-8" short of the tailgate's end when lowered.

Next is to wheel the cart over to the tailgate and rest it on a 45 degree angle or so, hold using 1 hand to steady the cart and hook the ratchet strap thru the loop handle with the other. Within reason the cart and cabinet should just sit there resting on the edge of the tailgate, tipped back on an angle. If it doesn't work, don't panic, just roll the cart away and set it vertical, then go back and make adjustments to the ratchet strap.

Now you go around to the other end of the cart and grip the solid axle and lift this up to horizontal, where you then slide the back of the cart's tube frame into the truck, this slips easily across the plastic bedliner (I think it would be very bad with a sprayed/rhinolined bed). It can transport just like this with more tiedowns or you can carefully pick it back up to level and reinstall the drawers...but if you reverse this to unload it the drawers have to come back out again.

 

[lewis26]

I have a 15 drawer I moved myself. Took out all the drawers and all the drawer cages and the frame is movable with one person.

I got it up into my pickup, then put all the drawers and cages back in.

 

[LXCam]

Awesome -- that's what I needed to know. This goes for the 60" tall cabinets as well? Do you just put the cabinet up against the tailgate, then lift from the base/tilt and slide it in (with some towels or something for padding)?

Yup exactly like that.

 

[2barevo]

Sorry to bring up an old thread. I'm picking up a 15 drawer tomorrow and was going to rent a uhaul with a ramp or a pick up truck. From what I've read, a pick up truck may be enough. I will be using a furniture dolly. Looks like several have moved the same cabinet I'm buying. How much did the cabinet weigh without the drawers?

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

 

[The Cobbler]

good place for my "freezer" crate mover dollies

 

[zkdiesel]

Weighs a shitload
One I bought I brought my tilt trailer and skidsteer. Forked it and tied it to skidsteer mast and towed it home on trailer

 

[matt_i]

I would count on the bare frame weighing 300 lbs.

 

[bad_idea]

Empty cabinet weighs 100 lbs or so. I have moved plenty of them. Pull the drawers and the drawer slide assemblies. Mark which one goes where, the drawers are likely slightly larger toward the bottom of the cabinet. My wife and I have moved mine around easy enough. Pull all the drawers and slides, load cabinet body into truck (standing up), reinstall drawers and slides, run strap around front of cabinet to hold drawers in (if there are no latches).

 

[OldNeons]

A lot depends on what equipment you have at your disposal. I picked up eight 59" tall cabinets this spring. I had a local pallet company build me custom pallets just larger than the cabinet base. Fortunately, had a forklift at pick up site and skidsteer with forks here - so that made it pretty easy. Once on pallets, I used my pallet jack to roll in and out of my enclosed trailer. I did move a couple with an appliance dolly and a pickup once, had to take all drawers out which was a hassle as these were 15 drawer cabinets.... If at all possible I'd go with pallets and pallet jack.

 

[rsanter]

Last one I moved I used a furniture dolly and 3 people tipped it into the back of my truck.
I tipped it out of the truck alone

 

[66HertzClone]

I have three that are the 28" wide and two at the 56" width, moved all five from the house where my x wife is in to the house I bought. Removed the drawers and the slides, me and one other guy had them up and in the back of his pickup pretty easily. Put the slides and drawers back in and locked the cabinets for the trip over. Did the same thing again to off load them from the truck. Took time, but we became pretty god at taking them apart and assembling again.

 

[glend123]

mark all the drawers first then take them all out to move. you may have to flip the lever in back over every time you want to remove a drawer. you should only be able to open one at a time.

 

[southalabama]

Into the truck isn’t a problem and can be done alone.

Out of the truck have plenty of help and furniture dolly to sit on.

 

[On-Wheel]

I unload with a gantry now but did the first 30 30 x 59H one with the seller.I’ll never to that again.
45”w I put bolts in the top with drilled metal stock from front to back inside to help carry the weight. I don’t think you’re supposed to do that? But with spreaders to tie straps it was ok.
Used HF 1 ton with electric hoist $250 best money ever spent along with these cabinets.

 

[drivesitfar]

2barevo: have you moved the cabinet already? another good reason for you to go in your GJ profile and either put in a city or approximate location cause one of us might be willing to loan you a ramp or help cause we all need a hand now and again.

you can rent a 5x9 Uhaul utility trailer for $20 without a ramp (wire ramps are not great for top heavy items) and either tip it in and lay it on a huge piece of cardboard or wood or get a Melcher or aluminum ramp and roll it on and a helper might be nice if you do that.

sorry I don't have a picture saved of my melcher ramp.

I moved a new Lista with the drawers in it that is 40 inches wide and specs say it weighs 350 pounds. i had the little seller help me load it in the back of my honda pilot and i unloaded it myself by setting a blanket on some 6x6 cut offs on the ground so I could tip it up easier.

 

[pcmeiners]

Moved all my 59" cabinets' as Drivesitfar did. Wool blankets such as Uhaul blankets make the cabinets slide with ease, any other fabric does not do it, gots to be wool.

 

[Tandem Guy]

I know this is an old thread, but I thought I would try! I am looking at buying a 30x30x59 Lista 10 drawer without casters. It is located 6 hours away. I have a Honda Ridgeline, so the bed is long enough - can these be transported lying down? I know I will need to remove the drawers to load it, but can they be transported that distance with the drawers in ? Any other suggestions? I don't have a trailer, but can rent a u-haul - just not sure if that would help. Thanks for any suggestions! (Minneapolis - picking up near Chicago)

 

[LXCam]

I know this is an old thread, but I thought I would try! I am looking at buying a 30x30x59 Lista 10 drawer without casters. It is located 6 hours away. I have a Honda Ridgeline, so the bed is long enough - can these be transported lying down? I know I will need to remove the drawers to load it, but can they be transported that distance with the drawers in ? Any other suggestions? I don't have a trailer, but can rent a u-haul - just not sure if that would help. Thanks for any suggestions! (Minneapolis - picking up near Chicago)

You’ll be fine. Remove the drawers, load it, reinstall the draws, strap it good and knock yourself out.

After all, it is a ridgeline and we all know they can haul the world

 

[tool_scrounge]

I usually rent Uhaul motorcycle trailers for stuff like this. Long ramp and low to the ground. Them use a dolly to move the empty shell on to the trailer. Replace drawers and strap down to front of trailer with it vertical (Not on it’s side) with moving blankets to prevent scratching.

 

[Zeke]

When I'm alone I'm apt to take along some aids like a come along or just ropes and pulleys. I moved a Unisaw once by myself with a PU and I was glad I had some boards for a skid ramp and a winch. And some extra plywood to allow for skidding. No way was I going to be able to tip that into the PU bed. That's dead weight at the start and too much.

The Ridgeline will offer a nice ride. A trailer will beat the cabinet to death. Well, maybe not a Lista, but trailers are harsh. So for those that dig up this thread, do what I do and let some air out of the trailer tires. Depending on the load, I start at 15 psi. Be sure to air them up before returning a rental.

I may get some flak on this but this is for people that pay attention and watch what is going on. If you have a heavy load and not enough air, well, YMMV.

 

[Tandem Guy]

I usually rent Uhaul motorcycle trailers for stuff like this. Long ramp and low to the ground. Them use a dolly to move the empty shell on to the trailer. Replace drawers and strap down to front of trailer with it vertical (Not on it’s side) with moving blankets to prevent scratching.

I'm not a strapping expert - but it just seems like a tall, narrow load with the potential to tip??

 

[Tandem Guy]

When I'm alone I'm apt to take along some aids like a come along or just ropes and pulleys. I moved a Unisaw once by myself with a PU and I was glad I had some boards for a skid ramp and a winch. And some extra plywood to allow for skidding. No way was I going to be able to tip that into the PU bed. That's dead weight at the start and too much.

The Ridgeline will offer a nice ride. A trailer will beat the cabinet to death. Well, maybe not a Lista, but trailers are harsh. So for those that dig up this thread, do what I do and let some air out of the trailer tires. Depending on the load, I start at 15 psi. Be sure to air them up before returning a rental.

I may get some flak on this but this is for people that pay attention and watch what is going on. If you have a heavy load and not enough air, well, YMMV.

Could I get the shell into the bed with 1 other person? Would you lay it down? Can I transport with drawers in laying down? Thanks!

 

[loganb]

Could I get the shell into the bed with 1 other person? Would you lay it down? Can I transport with drawers in laying down? Thanks!

If you're able bodied of average strength shouldn't be an issue. I've moved a number of 5' tall 30" x 30" ish units solo. Get it to the back of the truck, pull the drawers, lay it back into the bed then stand up the base and push it in. Reinstall the drawers and head home.

Its not that much extra work and when you get it to its new home, you'll likely want to pull all the drawers anyway to clean and lube the bearings prior to reassembly then enjoy!

 

[tool_scrounge]

I'm not a strapping expert - but it just seems like a tall, narrow load with the potential to tip??

I wrap it well with moving blankets and use a lot of redundant straps. Never an issue. But I can borrow moving equipment and have done this or heavier relatively frequently.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Could I get the shell into the bed with 1 other person? Would you lay it down? Can I transport with drawers in laying down? Thanks!

I just did exactly that with a 40x60 14 drawer unit. Did the same with my two 16 drawer units a while back too.

 

[1982fxr]

Heavy duty cardboard helps them.slide in to a truck bed easy. If you pull the drawers first.

 

[pcmeiners]

Loaded 60" cabinets with and without the drawers in them in my pickup. With drawers in place I use (2) 2x6x8s as a ramp, with a wool blanket (U-Haul) on the planks. Wool blankets are like a lubricant, they let things slide easier. I push with my back, not front wise.