Relocating, How would you move a large tool box

[jrobb316]

I have a Snap-on KRL1003B Triple Bay tool box. Snap-on's site lists the weight as 900 LBS empty. I have a new job that is 5-6 hours away. Anyone with experience do a move like that? I'm thinking rent a Uhaul trailer with a ramp, winch or come-along it up and ratchet strap it to secure it. Obviously i would need to box up all the tools and put them in the bed of the truck or in the cab. Any other ideas would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[Farmall450]

There are a TON of threads about this...use the search function or google.

A flatbed is always the easiest from what guys have used.

 

[trpearcy]

I've moved loaded boxes that size on a tiltbed tow truck. Trick is to go nice and easy, slowly, make sure nothing is getting damaged or dented, strap till you think it's not going anywhere, and then add 2 more straps.

 

[wildbill23c]

Forklift onto a flatbed trailer, at least that's how the army maintenance shop moved their tool chests LOL.

 

[2oolhound]

I've popped all the drawers out with all the tools still in place. I've moved a couple 26" rollers this way by myself. It worked well.

 

[619DioFan]

I work in the moving and storage industry and have moved many dozens of various sized toolboxes over the years. never once took the tools out. my advise to you is to get a rental truck with a lift gate. load the box , pad wrap it very well and strap it to the wall. sure , using a rental truck will cost more then an open trailer ( but far cheaper then a tow truck ) remember that a loaded box can weigh 3000 to 5000 pounds. if you decide to use an open trailer make sure it is rated for the boxes weight. the last box we handled was a snap on intimidator 2 triple bay that weighed in at just under 5000 lbs.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I've popped all the drawers out with all the tools still in place. I've moved a couple 26" rollers this way by myself. It worked well.

That may work with 26" roller drawers, but I wouldn't try that with drawers any wider than that, esp. ones on a triple bay. Just my two cents.

Like Farmall said,there's a ton of threads on here about this. No sense reinventing the wheel.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I have helped a few friends move their triple bays over the years. Easiest is a rollback with a winch. Just pull it up with everything still inside. Why empty it and cause more work when you can take it all with you inside the box.

Youtube even has some videos of this taking place. If I wasn't so drunk I would find them for you.

 

[jrobb316]

I have found one thread on the subject http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87417&showall=1
and that was over 3 years ago. Maybe a newer member or anyone else had a great idea or experience, maybe not. Anyways, a rollback isn't really an option, its 350 miles one way. The Uhaul 5x9 with ramps is rated at 1600 LBS.

 

[619DioFan]

I have found one thread on the subject http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87417&showall=1
and that was over 3 years ago. Maybe a newer member or anyone else had a great idea or experience, maybe not. Anyways, a rollback isn't really an option, its 350 miles one way. The Uhaul 5x9 with ramps is rated at 1600 LBS.

Since the new job is 350 mile away sounds like you are moving the box and your household as well. rental truck with a lift gate is your best bet ( cheapest anyways ) you could always get a quote from a van line for the whole move as well.

 

[kball]

I just did this. I took all the drawers out and took them over separately with all the tools in them. Rented a POD and put the empty box in it along with all the other big stuff we have. The POD is very low to the ground so you only need a small ramp to get up the 4" or so.

 

[fitz11]

I would be careful moving it full like people have suggested. Heavy drawers and the bouncing of the trailer going down the road and hitting bumps could lead to bent sheet metal or broken spot welds.

 

[just a noob]

Just don't do it this way:

 

[jrobb316]

Lol, that is hilarious. Thanks for the replies guys, you did give me a couple new ideas. I'm looking at PODS, U-BOX, Penske Trucks, Enterprise Trucks, and various trailers from different places.

 

[alpaca]

Just don't do it this way:

I cringed

 

[Toolhorder]

I moved 2 states over last year about 1800 miles. Both my boxes are Snap on and I just locked them both. One was in a rental truck mostly empty (KRL722) and I strapped it to the side. The other one was bigger (KRL761/791 combo and had a locker and I took it on my personal trailer. No damage whatsoever. Snappy boxes are tough as hell. Most of my tools didn't even move around. I did use moving blankets with 2x4's on top of the boxes and ratchet strapped them with several ratchet straps. Also the floors on the moving truck and my trailer are wood so I put a 2x4 on both sides of the wheels that didn't lock (straight ones) and screwed them to the floor.

 

[MrJason]

I have a Snap-on KRL1003B Triple Bay tool box. Snap-on's site lists the weight as 900 LBS empty. I have a new job that is 5-6 hours away. Anyone with experience do a move like that? I'm thinking rent a Uhaul trailer with a ramp, winch or come-along it up and ratchet strap it to secure it. Obviously i would need to box up all the tools and put them in the bed of the truck or in the cab. Any other ideas would be appreciated! Thanks

Yes, here's a trick.

I moved my triple Bay box, with the help of a local hot rod owner.

He had a 24' enclosed trailer, and it perfectly fit my box. He knew how to tie it down without damaging, since he'd had experience with his own car.

I paid him $400, plus meals to help me with the move. He made the trip, was a big help and brought his own crew to load and unload.

Hot rod guys normally have down time with their trailers, and are always willing to earn a little money.

Give that a shot!
Jason

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[Badger 13]

I moved my two Snap-on boxes 1,400 miles in an enclosed trailer with no problems. I did not unload them, and everything pretty much stayed in place. I padded them extremely well and secured them with 2" ratchet straps. I placed a strip of plywood in between the ramp and the floor of the trailer so they would roll in w/o the wheels dropping into that gap. Just remember to remove it before closing the ramp door.. This trailer did have 5,000lb axles so weight was not an issue.

 

[MattPersman]

You can get a couple a guys to push them up Uhaul ramps into the trucks typically just have to measure your caster width to make sure it will fit on the ramp. You can get a Uhaul for very reasonable. I have helped several guys over the years push them up the Uhaul when changing jobs, I did a Matco box of my own when I moved homes several years ago as well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Just don't do it this way:

Step 1. Lock the box. If the keys are not available, secure the drawers with a ******** something similar.

 

[pl_silverado]

I moved a fully loaded KRL1023 with the largest uhaul truck they have. The ramp is wide enough to push it up. It took 3-4 of us to load and unload it so be prepared.

 

[srmofo]

Step 1. Lock the box. If the keys are not available, secure the drawers with a ******** something similar.

step 2: Dont ever trust the locks. ALWAYS secure them shut with straps or plastic wrap.


I like using a lift bed trailer. Roll it on roll it off. These are not the same as a tilt bed

 

[jeremy v]

Sometimes you can learn just as much from seeing other people's mistakes as you can from seeing things done well, so (as was shown in another recent GJ thread started by Creditor) don't do it this way either.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=246909

 

[Farmall450]

I have found one thread on the subject http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87417&showall=1
and that was over 3 years ago. Maybe a newer member or anyone else had a great idea or experience, maybe not. Anyways, a rollback isn't really an option, its 350 miles one way. The Uhaul 5x9 with ramps is rated at 1600 LBS.

There is a new one weekly give or take.

 

[James_B]

Lol, that is hilarious. Thanks for the replies guys, you did give me a couple new ideas. I'm looking at PODS, U-BOX, Penske Trucks, Enterprise Trucks, and various trailers from different places.

Forget the U-Box. We used a few of them to move some stuff, and they are rated for just 2000 lbs (but we couldn't get a straight answer if that was net or gross).

I got a fully loaded 26" up the ramp at the back of a U-Haul truck using a pair of ratchet tie-downs and some wedges for the wheels, but it's not something I'd like to do again. Getting a loaded Triple Bay up a ramp would be another thing entirely.

Before you decide on a U-Haul truck, check the load capacity as we discovered when we were moving, that even the biggest ones have a poor weight capacity and are more suited to light weight bulky loads.

 

[Waggoner72]

Done it this way multiple times. One strap length wise, one strap across. Box has never moved an inch. Also I lock the wheels on it. Simple and easy.


Also in back of my truck but not the preferred method. Had to forklift it out.




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[NUTTSGT]

step 2: Dont ever trust the locks. ALWAYS secure them shut with straps or plastic wrap.

Good point.

I picked up a 1000' roll of stretch wrap from Menards for cheap ($15-$20). It would not only keep the drawers closed when moving the box, it help protect the box from scratches.

 

[tool_scrounge]

When doing this in the past, I usually remove the tools and put the tool box on wood blocks to unload the casters. Then strap it down well.

Even really good 6" casters are usually rated for 1500 lbs each. So 4 of them should be good for 6000 lbs, right? This assumes uniform load distribution which is probably not the case. But the problem is that the trailer you are pulling it with is going to see all sorts of accelerations/decelerations bouncing down the road. If your loaded tool box weighs 1200 lbs, then it can only handle up to 5 g's before you start to damage the caster bearings. Looking at the ISTA 3b shipping testing criteria 5 g's is probably a bit low.

So I prefer to unload the casters and take out the tools before moving a tool box.

 

[Jsf721]

This is the easiest way to move the box. Max weight on those tuck away gates is about 1800 lbs.

I work in the moving and storage industry and have moved many dozens of various sized toolboxes over the years. never once took the tools out. my advise to you is to get a rental truck with a lift gate. load the box , pad wrap it very well and strap it to the wall. sure , using a rental truck will cost more then an open trailer ( but far cheaper then a tow truck ) remember that a loaded box can weigh 3000 to 5000 pounds. if you decide to use an open trailer make sure it is rated for the boxes weight. the last box we handled was a snap on intimidator 2 triple bay that weighed in at just under 5000 lbs.

 

[PelicanPines]

I had to move my boxes and tables 100 miles... used a "pod". It was great. I put moving blankets on everything important and ducktaped it.

If i did it again... i would NOT USE ducktape... I would use rope or straps...

The pod people were great. They moved the pod and even put it on my new driveway and leveled it out with scrap lumber from my house build. Never asked them to do that but it was great they did.

 

[jd_1138]

Just don't do it this way:

Snap-On Tool Box $7,400
Snap-On Tools $15,000
Penske Truck Rental $850
Failing to have paid attention in high school Physics.................Priceless