Moving Storage Shed Idea(s) Needed!

[JBR]

I am in the planning stages of a 28X28 garage / shop build this summer.
The weather was to bad (translated - cold) so I went out to the back yard to do some measuring.
I have a 8X12 wooden storage shed that is about 23 years old that sit where I want to put the garage. The floor is built on top of 4 4X4 skids. I need to turn it 90 degrees and move it approximately 30 feet.
Does anybody have any good and/cheap suggestions as to how I can accomplish this?
Thanks,
Jon

 

[ratdoggy]

Pipe.... it will roll pretty easily as long as the pipe is a decent size. Jack it up with a car jack and slide them under. I moved my hot tub like that.

 

[Northstar]

Watched a neighbor do that too, but his was on 4 or 6" PVC pipe. He then got it onto a couple carpet dollies and towed it down the street to his new house @ 6 blocks away. He was a goof, but got it done.

 

[RVDan]

Wrap a strap around the base and drag it with a truck?

 

[JBR]

I kind of figured you could put pipes or poles under the runners to move it, but how am I going to turn it?
Thanks,
Jon

 

[Alchymist]

Gather up a few friends and ...

 

[kerryt1]

My wife and I moved an 8'x8' that was on 4x4" skids by rolling it on 4" PVC. It was quite easy.

 

[JFC]

I moved a 12' x 16' shed about 75'. I jacked it up and slid 6x6 posts under it to act as skids. Dragged it 8' at a time with a pickup truck. Biggest problem was getting enough traction with a 2WD truck.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1990526#post1990526

here's how I moved my 17'x13' shed. i just bought some 5" round wood post from tsc and cut them in 18" pc's.
if you lay planks down it should roll fine and if up angle the 18" post as you roll it it will turn.

 

[Zeke]

You don't say where you are, what kind of soil you have or how wet it might be. If you really want advice, provide the critical details. I promise you the guys around here have rigged up about anything one can think of.

AFA rotating the shed while on pipes or skids, that's not a problem. It's a layout exercise.

 

[64dragnwagon]

Gather up a few friends and ...

That pretty cool, but I find it hard to believe that barn ONLY weighed 17,000 lbs. Seems like it would be MUCH heavier than that.

 

[JBR]

I guess I never thought about details. I'm in north central Iowa. Firm flat grass covered black dirt.
Jon

 

[mdbeck1]

I helped a friend move one several years ago from one side of his back yard to the other. The barn/shed was about 8X10. He cross braced it inside to ensure it didn't rack the walls while we were moving it. We raised it up with a hydraulic jack and put round wood posts under it. Hooked a come-a-long on the base of the building and the other end to a t-post (down low). We hooked the top of the first t-post to the base of a second t-post and then started the come-a-long. We'd move it 20-25 feet and then reset the t-posts. Now that I think about it we MIGHT have used two come-a-longs. They both would have been on the front but toward the corners.

We ended up turning it as well but I think we connected the come-a-long to one corner and the t-posts 45 degrees off and just pulled it around. Make sure you watch the posts under it and don't pull it off.

It seems like after I left he even raised it. He used hydraulic jacks to raise it the height of a cinder block at a time and would raise one corner at a time until he got it the height he wanted. I seem to recall that he got the post hole diggers out and put landscape timbers in and lag bolted the building to it. I know he used it for a pool shed for several years.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

We moved a sizable shed (I think it was about 16 x 24) on 4x4 skids. We need to drag it sideways about 200 feet. I just went around the building a scabbed a block of wood on each corner to get a hi-lift jack under, since it was on the ground with no gap underneath. I jacked it up and got the whole building up off the ground about 6 inches or so and then slid 4 long 4x4 with beveled ends under. I lag bolted some more 4x4s and 2x's across the front to make 2 places to pull from and then chained it up to a small tractor one hookup and the old IH Scout on the other. Then, Dad and I just drove the thing across the property to it's new home.

Later on, for the 16x32 I bought used and had to move 7 or 8 miles, I just hired a shed comapny to move it with thier special hydraulic frame trailer they use to deliver new ones.

 

[kb2tha]

Moved a 14 x 20' cottage on pipe with no problems. Probably about 400 feet. Just make sure to have help to relocate the pipe as the move progresses. We did however have a tractor to pull with. It's not as hard as it sounds, especially if you have a flat surface to start with.

 

[nehog]

If the 'foundation' (the floor) is strong enough, do what I did... Wrap a chain around the foundation/floor and drag it. I didn't realize just how well this would work, but I moved my 10x12 building about 60 ft to the side, and ten or so ft forward easily. Used the Hummer H1, but any bigger truck should do the trick.

 

[Kevin54]

I moved my 12x16 approx 300 ft. using 2 skidsteers and forks. Set it on a leveled bed of gravel (crushed limestone) and it hasn't moved at all

 

[brownbagg]

bulldozer, serious I have done it too

 

[Dadstoy]

We wrapped a strap around the base of the shed and winched it up on a car trailer. You can take it anywhere then.

 

[gabedad]

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/landscape/shed/move/xyard.htm

The site hammerzone.com has some neat stuff on it

 

[james1savage]

I moved a 10' x 10' shed. Jacked it up a few inches to break any "adhesion" it had with the ground from sitting. Put down a few 1x6's to start it sliding easier and lowered it back down.

Two eye-bolts screwed into the 4 x 4 beam base, hooked them up with a couple shackles to a chain, connected to the slip hitch on the truck and pulled.

"Towed" the shed 70' down the gravel/hard packed lane to the neighbor that wanted it. Needed to turn it 90 degrees so i disconnected the chain, turned the truck around facing the shed now, put a towel over the truck front bumper (newer company truck, didn't want to scratch it up too bad) and pushed from the desired angle on the desired corner of the shed to slide it into place in the right location.

Pretty brute force and primal, but worked like a charm.

 

[JBR]

Gather up a few friends and ...

Let's see 17,000 lbs. of barn divided by 344 people = 49.41 lbs per person.
Guessing that my shed weighs 1,500 lbs. I would need about 30 people. That is doable. My question is how much beer does that figure out to be?

Actually talked with my contractor today. He says he has done this before and it will not be a problem.
Thanks guys!
Jon

 

[camarotoolman]

front end loader with long forks, more money but faster,

 

[jhelrey]

X2 on 4 inch PVC. We had a skid to help lift it... We also dragged it with the skid on pipes. Pretty painless.

 

[ihredo4]

Moved a 14 by 14 or so with ratchet straps and skid loader. We put the skid minus its bucket up to the side of building opposite the doorway. We braced the inside of the doorway and took ratchet straps around the building attaching to the bucket mount of the skid. Tricky part was that on the corners that the ratchet straps would have went around to get to the skid we had the straps bypass by going underneath the shed. I lifted the skid bucket and backed up and the shed slid along surprisingly well to its new location. Good luck.

 

[mdbeck1]

Let's see 17,000 lbs. of barn divided by 344 people = 49.41 lbs per person.
Guessing that my shed weighs 1,500 lbs. I would need about 30 people. That is doable. My question is how much beer does that figure out to be?

Actually talked with my contractor today. He says he has done this before and it will not be a problem.
Thanks guys!
Jon

let's see... one six pack per person X 30 / 4 six packs/case would be about 7.5 cases. Call that 8 since I like to deal with round numbers X $20.00 /case??? that would be $160.00????

Of course that's a REAL ROUGH number. Especially after I've had a couple bourbon and waters....

Of course the more important question is: are you going to post pictures?

 

[JBR]

I could probably do that. The only thing is it might not be for another 3 months or so. Still pretty cold here in God's Country. I going to finalize things with the contractor tomorrow. I can't wait for spring.
Jon

 

[5lima30]

If you can borrow or rent a tractor w/ a 3 pt hitch, hook a chain from the drawbar to the shed base (choke up the chain as short as possible). Lift up the shed slightly with the 3 pt hitch then drag it with the tractor. The same thing could probably be done with a skid steer using the front bucket for the "lift". Sheds and large feed bunks are moved around on farms this way all the time. YMMV.

 

[raddksn]

when gettihg close to new spot start angling rollers my need to go back and forth afew times but shld be pretty easy

 

[shovel]

Not as difficult as you would think. Hurricane Rita blew my newly constructed 12x16 storage shed off its foundation blocks. I jacked it up with a floor jack and slid some oilfield pipe under the front. Used a come-along and chains hooked to trees to winch it back in place. Much easier job than I expected.

 

[bigbubba]

I've got a pair of old slide in camper jacks,I just jack the shed up with those and back a trailer under it. When you get where you are going just reverse the loading procedure.

 

[mmb617]

I moved my wooden shed that had been in the same place for 25 years a couple hundred feet, all uphill and turned around 180* by jacking it up and backing my car trailer under it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113132

It actually worked better than I thought it would.

 

[junk4dummies]

HELLO

He is in Iowa. this is winter! Put a piece of plywood down so your jack will not sink into the soil.

Jack up each end one end at a time. Put a 4x4 block under each corner.

Run hose out of house or turn on the outside spicket. Flood ground under she and flood it all the way to where you want to move it. You might need to make a little berm to hold in the water but that might be a problem if the gournd is frozen. You can find something to hold the water in on the down hill side. If there is no slope start in the middle and let the ice form to both sides until you have enough to move the shed. Water will self level. You can use a water level anytime you need to make something flat like forms or a kidney shaped pool. That is what they use in pool building to make sure the rim is flat.

Then when the water freezes lower shed onto the ice.

Put a huge pipe or rod into ground just beyond where you want to move it.

Attach rope, strap, chain or combination of them to the shed. Put a come-along on the stake end and wench it into place on the ice. I have done this once. I did not need a any help or power equipment. The shed will turn in the direction of the pull. Make sure you are centerd or it will not pull streight. You can turn the she by attaching the line to one corner and turn the shed then go back to the center to pull streight.

If there is a slight slope you can cover the ground and make ice without haveing it level as long as it is freezing out whey you run the water.

If you are a big enough person and have cleats you might even be able to push it into place. Just make sure you are not on the down hill side. Death by shed is not a perty sight. LOL

Why do you think it took only one man to build the permids in Egypt? They used one huge ice machine and slid them into place. LOL

If all else fails, look to nature for the answer.

 

[JBR]

Hey Junk,
That's the best one yet. I'm still laughing. "Death by Shed" sounds like a painful way to go.
I don't know if it's El Nino or global warming, but this winter has been great. I have a snowblower that I have used twice this year. Two years ago I used it 14 times. With the mild weather we have been having, it only freezes between midnight and 7:00 AM. Pretty dark out there at that time of the morning.
I have until June to move the shed, so I think I will wait until it gets just a tad bit warmer. But keep the ideas coming, they're great.
Jon

 

[junk4dummies]

My daugher just north of Indy in Indiana said it has been a warm winter. It has been a very warm winter here in So California.

I think you can move the shed with pipe and roll it. It might take a buldozer to pull it. Logs work if you have streight ones. I have done a little of everthing in my day. You can always pray for a late freeze. I have had solid ice on my sail boat parked at the house here but it gets to 70 during the day even if we have a freeze.
I love driving though your state. It is so nice and well kempt. I can always tell when I hit Nebraska. It looks so run down and no one paints thier barns. There is junk everywhere. What a difference. I have been through a 100 times. Nebraka is nice and I like the people. You just know when you go form one state to the other even if you miss the sign.

I know junk4dummies sounds insulting but I came across one of those books written for dummies years ago and the title was Shakspeare for Dummies. I am laughing about that one still. If you are a dummy why would you be reading and trying to understan Shakspeare? I have been collecting everything form junk to fine art for over 50 years. I figured the 2 went together.

You could always get a large sky hook. LOL Tare it down and rebuild it in the new location? Have a large bond fire? The ground in the spring will be very soft. Pipe might sink.

I know, have a tractor pull and see who can pull it the farthest. Better yet have the tractor pull and charge an entry fee. It might help pay for the new shop. You can set up a road side stand, sell tickets and refreshments. In the end you might be able to write a book called 101 ways moving a shed will not work. It might make you rich and then you can retire. LOL What ever you do call Loyds of London and buy some insurance first. LOL

Hey Junk,
That's the best one yet. I'm still laughing. "Death by Shed" sounds like a painful way to go.
I don't know if it's El Nino or global warming, but this winter has been great. I have a snowblower that I have used twice this year. Two years ago I used it 14 times. With the mild weather we have been having, it only freezes between midnight and 7:00 AM. Pretty dark out there at that time of the morning.
I have until June to move the shed, so I think I will wait until it gets just a tad bit warmer. But keep the ideas coming, they're great.
Jon

 

[junk4dummies]

All joking aside an 8 by 12 ft shed is very small.
I would get a large flat bed equipment trailer or just a low car hauler. I would jack it up on to long cross beams. Brace the blocking. It will rock.

Then just back the trailer under and lower it onto the trailer. Reverse the process to relocate it. The cross beams will keep it above the wheels and fenders while you move it. Just leave them in place. You are not going down the road. It will be easy to unload with the cross beams already in place. you might want to fasten a long 2x4 on both sides while lower it down. You would not want it to rick and fall over.

That is how the Shed builders deliver and move small sheds. I moved a steel shed on a flat bed once. It only took 4 people to pick it up. They are light.

I have a 700 pound bench lathe and it was shipped to me on a pallet. I took a pallet jack and moved it into my shop. I had the table level and ready. I took pieces of wood and jacket each end up a little at a time. It really rocked. I took of the tail stock and motor. then I shimmet it to the right height and slid it into place by myself. It was not hard. Then again I am 6-1 and 270 pounds. Tossing all those bails of hay when I was youn helped. LOL I move my Bridge prot mill with along pry bar and pipe. It is easy to move by myself.

 

[glider]

Drag it with a truck. A tractor jack or floor jack will get it done. The key is dont let the floor 4x4s dig in the ground. I use old garage sale snow boards cut in half and secured on the 4x4s with a L bracket.

 

[junk4dummies]

Drag it with a truck. A tractor jack or floor jack will get it done. The key is dont let the floor 4x4s dig in the ground. I use old garage sale snow boards cut in half and secured on the 4x4s with a L bracket.

Great idea and very simple. Snow shoes for the shed.