Securing a 60 Gal Quincy Compressor

[r_egan]

Getting ready to purchase a new 60 gallon/5hp Quincy compressor from Lowes and and torn between picking the unit up with my utility trailer or having it delivered. The Lowes store is only 10 miles from home, however, I am concerned about the unit being top heavy and being able to secure it with tie downs. For those of you that have done this, are there sufficient places around the motor mount where I can attach tie down straps? Not really worried about the base as the unit will be bolted to a pallet.

 

[8man]

I used several nylon ratchet straps to tie mine in the back of the truck. I'm guessing your utility trailer will have sides that are lower than the truck. That said, you may want to put it against the front of the trailer and anchor it very securely to the sides and back, and then tie it down to the tongue where it won't interfere with the hitch or light wires. You will have a lot more force on the unit stopping and turning, so make sure those points are tied down really well. Then drive sensibly thinking ahead and planning the route to avoid high speed turns or bumps. Good luck.

 

[Davefr]

Just have it delivered so they assume the liability for damage.

 

[rustzuk]

When i moved my 60 gallon from my house to storage shed i used lag bolts to fasten it down to my trailer. It had a wood floor, i also used a couple rachet straps.

 

[94yj]

Just have it delivered so they assume the liability for damage.

i would opt for this what they charge would be minimal compared to doing it yourself

 

[r_egan]

Lowes wants $79 to deliver...probably a wise decision to have them assume the liability.

 

[bimmer1980]

This really isn't that difficult.

I picked up the Kobalt 3.7HP 60 gallon air compressor about a year ago on my little 4x8 trailer. They loaded it with the forklift and then I strapped it down. The Kobalt has a couple of holes punched into the top bracket on the tank where the motor and compressor attach to. They are perfect for attaching strap hooks to. I used four straps and went down at roughly a 60 degree angle to the trailer. It was very secure.

Quite frankly, I would trust my own rigging and strapping more than the Lowes personnel at the store or the delivery people.

And if they do damage it, you still have to make the claim and get it resolved. Just do it right the first time and be done.

Don't forget to pick up the appropriate wire and connectors to get it hooked up and running...

Best of luck.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Problem is getting it off of the utility trailer as the ramps on the 12 ft that I use are steep. I moved my 80 gallon champion on a machine base and rented a 70 dollar drop deck trailer that raises and lowers hydraulically. Have bought and moved a few too many 80 gallons, pay the 79 bucks. Unless the 60 gallon is 300 -350 ish that can be
Managed easily on a dolly. I have also used an engine hoist. That was pretty easy if you have one

 

[Blk88GT]

I had them put it in the back of my trucked, tied it off and 3 of us lifted it out. Don't over-analyze it.

 

[rlitman]

Problem is getting it off of the utility trailer

That's what I'm thinking. Since it comes palletized, it should be easy enough to strap down (standing up) for the trip. Getting it on and off is the hard part, not because of the weight, but because it is cumbersome.

If it comes without any oil in the crank case (as most new compressors do), you could always get a few strong guys to tip it and carry it of horizontally.

 

[ctgoodman]

If your utility trailer has a wood deck and the compressor is bolted to a pallet I assume. I would screw the pallet down to the decking to halt any sliding then just use a little strapping to keep it from trying to tip.

 

[Chuck]

...The Kobalt has a couple of holes punched into the top bracket on the tank where the motor and compressor attach to. They are perfect for attaching strap hooks to. I used four straps and went down at roughly a 60 degree angle to the trailer. It was very secure.

Quite frankly, I would trust my own rigging and strapping more than the Lowes personnel at the store or the delivery people...

Agreed 100%. The compressors usually have really good attachment points at the top. Use four separate straps instead of running straps up and over (which doesn't prevent tilt). Otherwise, for some folks finding four suitable strong points on the trailer is more likely to be the challenge.

I've brought home several 80 gal's over the years, no issue. I like salvaging older units, bringing them home, repairing and pressure testing, and either putting them to use or moving them on. If you have a decent shop crane or engine hoist with a good lift height, you should have no trouble otherwise.

Meanwhile, I don't know how your Lowes is, but around here their material handling and delivery skills are about zero.

Focus on using good straps. I have dozens, but my set of these have become my go-to straps for anything that isn't very lightweight.

 

[jsbhunter]

I bought a 60 gallon quincy this past winter and hauled it myself. My compressor was bolted to a heavy wooden skid and also had wooden frame around the entire unit so it was easy to tie down after they loaded it in the back of my pickup truck with their forklift. Now unloading it will be the tricky part, these things are heavy. Unless you have a heavy-duty dolly I would just have it delivered.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

One of the guys at work was so excited when he went to pick his compressor up from HD, not so happy when his back window in his truck was a trashbag for 3 weeks though.
He broke something on the compressor too, not sure what. Someone pulled out in front of him and it fell through the back glass less than a mile from the HD parking lot.

Once you have it strapped down good I would put a few more straps on it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

One of the guys at work was so excited when he went to pick his compressor up from HD, not so happy when his back window in his truck was a trashbag for 3 weeks though.
He broke something on the compressor too, not sure what. Someone pulled out in front of him and it fell through the back glass less than a mile from the HD parking lot.

Once you have it strapped down good I would put a few more straps on it.

My thoughts have always been, it's cheaper and easier to add another strap or two then explain to the cop why you load is laying in the road or across the hood of somebody's car.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

Exactly. Straps are cheap. Much cheaper than the window, pulley and blowoff valve he had to replace.

Thats just if nobody gets hurt.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Just have it delivered so they assume the liability for damage.

Does "delivery" mean into the garage and off of the skid ?

 

[Zrexxer]

Does "delivery" mean into the garage and off of the skid ?

More than likely it means shoved off the liftgate at the curb.

Hauling one of these upright isn't that big a deal. Those Quincy 60's are relatively light, compared to my 80 gallon Champion, and I hauled it upright on the pallet strapped underneath the mounting plate nearly 100 miles to get it home.

 

[Truman Sparks]

I did pretty much as bimmer and Zrexxer did, then unloaded it from the trailer with an engine picker. I fabbed a sling using the nylon strapping, and lifted it using the mounting bracket welded to the top of the tank. Original plan had been to use a refrigerator dolly, but the compressor seemed a bit too top heavy for that. I had no helpers available, so it was a one-man job. It was also about 90 degrees out that day. It all worked out fine, but if I had to do it again, I'd probably just pay the $79.

 

[rlitman]

Yeah, 1 man job for a 60 gallon is no fun. 1 man for an 80 gallon is darn near impossible (unless you're one of those people in the moving business who can one-hand a couch).

Yes, a refrigerator dolly is not something I'd try to use to manhandle a 60 gallon compressor myself with. Its awkward enough to move around the 30 gallon handtruck style IR compressor at work with all the cast iron at the top. I've heard of plenty of instances where a compressor was dropped while unloading (there was a thread here about one).

 

[Zrexxer]

I did pretty much as bimmer and Zrexxer did, then unloaded it from the trailer with an engine picker. I fabbed a sling using the nylon strapping, and lifted it using the mounting bracket welded to the top of the tank.

The sling will work in any case. On my compressor, I had a clear spot where I could bolt a D-ring and use the engine hoist. Lifted it up, drove the trailer out from under it, unbolted the pallet, and set it down.

 

[ahab]

I had to move my 60 gallon IR. Strapped it upright in the be of my truck, used a hand truck and some lawnmower ramps to get it to the ground. Worked much better than I expected. I did remove the tailgate while wheeling the compressor off as I wasn't sure of its load handling.