Transporting a Snap-On Box (trolley)

[Coolabah]

Would appreciate some help on this - going to pick up this box (second hand, 40") in a few days and will have to load it myself - it weighs a freaking 300 pounds empty according to Snap-On site!!! Also, quite a financial stretch so I would be kinda peeved if a whole 2 years "tool budget" turned into crumpled metal...

I was thinking I could load it onto my trailer which is around 2 foot above the height of the road. Plan is to roll the box up to the rear tailgate, turn it so back is facing trailer and tip it onto the trailer ( carpet/ cardboard etc to protect the box of course) then slide it all the way into the trailer so the tailgate will close. Unloading- reverse the "load" procedure then have a beer, or offer mates beer and unload with their help.

I've searched this topic and can only find reference to transporting *full of tools* boxes which of course recommends upright only onto flatbed trailer etc.

My question- never done this before, last box of same size was new, lighter( no-name brand) , & packaged in all sorts of protective stuff but forklift loaded it , it was transported upright and 6 mates unloaded it at my place- we just gently rolled it end-over-end.

Is it OK to transport a box on its back ( can't see why not but I dunno much ) what should I do different ?? If anything just tell me I'm not an idiot for thinking of doing it this way and I'll breath a sigh of relief. Appreciate your input guys



Coolabah

 

[NJHandyGuy]

where asre you getting the box stor cl friend brother of favorite ****** out with it

that determines if you have help loading

i wouldn't put a box on it;s back but that's just me

 

[scott0]

i wouldn't put a box on it;s back but that's just me

+1


when i had to move my KRL1032 ( weighs about 900 lbs empty.) it was not full, but not empty at the time. myself and a buddy of mine pushed it up ramps and loaded it onto a car trailer. used a few 3" wide nylon ratchet straps to secure it. no problem. it took a slight running start but was not too bad. unloading it was far more sketchy, but in the end it was safe and sound. if you can come up with a ramp of sorts for your trailer i do not think you will have a problem.

 

[diesel research]

Take all the drawers out.

 

[Stuart in MN]

When I bought my Snap-on roller cabinet years ago, I laid it on its back in the trailer and brought it home without any problems. I'm not sure what could go wrong with that method.

 

[canuckian]

only problem I can see is when you tip it over to get it on the back of the trailer, even with the carpet protecting it, 300 lbs resting on a corner will likely dent or stress something on the back of the box. 300 lbs may not seem like a lot but if it's dead weight with wheels on the bottom and one person trying to wrestle it 2 feet in the air, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Hell I unloaded my KRL722 off a pickup with a lift gate (old lift gate - wasn't level and was a little narrow) and that was a scary experience WITH a helper. I'd at least bring a friend to help - or borrow a set of ATV loading ramps.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

When I brought home my new toolbox (Matco 55" wide) I used a come along and winched it into the bed of our truck. I strapped it to the front and the back of the bed so it couldn't move, locked the wheels and ran a strap over the top just for "belt and suspenders" safety.

I think you're over-thinking this, push it onto the trailer, lock the wheels, strap it so it can't move and be on your way.

 

[trout]

Take all the drawers out.

+1

better to lose the time loading it then lose the time because you threw out your back.

 

[blown94conv]

I have moved boxes using a motorcycle trailer from U-Haul. Easy to load and strap, as the ramp goes down to the ground.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

Stupid ? what kind of trailer do you have? in the past i brought a comealong with me and a thing strap that i put along the back of the box to "cradle it' a couple peices of wood to get it on the ramp pull it up tie it down a movers blanket and your off

 

[glenmore]

I bought a lime green KRA4107 and it was delivered to me. The guy loaded it himself the same way onto a pickup truck and we both unloaded it. SO says weight is 275#. You should have no problem doing it yourself if you take out drawers first.

 

[Davefr]

Moving a 40"/300lb box is easy. Just remove the drawers and one person could do it with no problem. Set up a ramp to get it into the trailer and secure it so most of the weight is on the trailer's tongue.

Move the drawers in the back of your truck.

I doubt you'd even need a come along.

 

[Rickster]

I positioned my trailer at the bottom of the driveway with a slight incline and set down the ramps. We then rolled it upright onto the trailer. I took a 2x4 and screwed it into the wood floor of the trailer to secure the toolbox wheels from moving. Then I used tie straps to lash it down from every angle. Got it home without an issues.

 

[bigdummy30]

id pull my hands out of my pocket ,spit in them ,rub 'em together real good and then pick up the damn box and put it in passenger seat next to me and listen to some motley crue the whole way home.....

 

[mrholeshot]

I positioned my trailer at the bottom of the driveway with a slight incline and set down the ramps. We then rolled it upright onto the trailer. I took a 2x4 and screwed it into the wood floor of the trailer to secure the toolbox wheels from moving. Then I used tie straps to lash it down from every angle. Got it home without an issues.

About the exact way I do it.

 

[CamarosRus]

Rent the low slung U-Haul Motorcycle Trailer with built in Ramp.

You MUST HAVE sufficient quality ratchet straps to go from side to side and front to rear.

You MUST HAVE edge and/or corner softeners to prevent damage.

I stayed off the (high speed) freeway and took alternative roads

 

[rsanter]

that box is easy. 300#s is not that much
I am wondering why any of you have an issue with putting a box on it back with the way they are built?
I think you can tip it on its back with no problem (other than to be carefull not to scratch it). I have done that several times with some of my boxes

another option.
take the drawers out. I just took a box to the swap meet with tools in the drawers
I pulled the drawers and put the box in the back of the truck by tiping it on its back. stood it up and then put the drawers in and locked the box.
came out the same way.

yet another option

depending on the height of the trailer or truck
I will roll the box to the truck (or trailer) and use a jack to lift the end of the box some. once you have that end up some you can grap it (2 people) and set those wheels on the back of the truck (or trailer)
then move the jack to the other and and lift that end of the box. slide it in as far as you can and then lift and roll in the remainig way
remember you will be lifting less than 2/3rds of the weight when you do this
loaded and unloaded my MAC tech1000 that way when I got it

bob

 

[Coolabah]

Stupid ? what kind of trailer do you have? in the past i brought a comealong with me and a thing strap that i put along the back of the box to "cradle it' a couple peices of wood to get it on the ramp pull it up tie it down a movers blanket and your off

Yeh it's a box trailer - looks like the back part of a pick-up truck with a tailgate. Its around 6x4 foot and the bed 2 foot or so off the ground. Lots of good ideas here- a ramp is doable, also sounds like the drawers must come out easily so I might just do that as well anyway.

 

[Coolabah]

id pull my hands out of my pocket ,spit in them ,rub 'em together real good and then pick up the damn box and put it in passenger seat next to me and listen to some motley crue the whole way home.....

You see, I never even thought of that !

 

[bas157]

When my brother and I moved my Matco MB7535 (76"Wx24"Dx44"H), not sure of the weight, we had wooden ramps I use for wheeling things into my truck, put them up to the back of the trailer, wheeled the box in without too much trouble, moved the box to the front of the trailer then secured it with enough straps to keep it from moving in any direction. Made it home with no trouble.

If it helps, unhitch the trailer to get the back of it lower to the ground, but be sure to block the tongue so it won't crash down when the box gets in it.

Can the person you are buying it from assist with loading? If not (like injured or something), see if he can arrange to have friend of his there to help? Give him a few bucks for a few minutes of his time?

 

[tonydanzah]

i moved a 26, bottom and top full, a 41 full and 16 side cabinet full in this trip

<a href="http://s965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/?action=view&current=IMAG0008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/IMAG0008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Coolabah]

i moved a 26, bottom and top full, a 41 full and 16 side cabinet full in this trip

<a href="http://s965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/?action=view&current=IMAG0008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/IMAG0008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Awesome, thanks for the photo. I am going to have to work out how to multiple-reply to threads as there are some fantastic responses here- thank you all for taking the time but I think it would try everyones patience to have me respond individually in 27 posts.....

As you can guess, I am not wanting to F* up this box- have F*ed up enough things in my life so far...trying to keep the body count down ...

Thanks to you guys, I have a game plan, and am happy that it covers all possible problems that might arise...

So, at the very least I will take out the drawers
I will bring some help... the cheerleading squad for the Sydney Swans football team is available on Saturday I will leave their drawers (US translation: = underwear) well alone (in case my wife is reading this)
I will strap down the box, and will avoid strapping down any cheerleaders, no matter how much they beg me to do otherwise...
I will then bench press the empty box and place it next to the bra-less blond sitting in my passenger seat (note to wife : our dog is blond & does not need to wear a bra)
I will then put on a Motley Crew CD.
I will carefully chose my route to avoid expressways ( seriously: good point)
I will avoid, especially, laying any left-over cheerleaders on their back (once again, in case my wife is reading this) but if I have to , I will ensure that their drawers are removed first...



dayum but this is a great site... seriously, appreciate the time & help

 

[tonydanzah]

i really wouldnt worry about expressways, this was fine on the 300mile trip it took

 

[Skyline]

There is absolutely no need to take the drawers out. Lock them up so they don't open.

Heavy ratchet staps around the wheels going to the 4 corners of the trailer. Lighter ratchet strps across the top side to side, and you will be good. Some bits of cardboard to protect the top edges so the cross straps don't rub the paint. I mount it centered over the trailer axle.

A 300 lb box is nothing to move with a trailer with a ramp. One person job for sure. I move 1,000lb plus boxes all the time just like this using the 5x9 Uhaul ramp trailers. Usually with my son helping, and the guy that sold me the box. For the really heavy boxes, sometimes I need to use a strap around the box and a come-along to get it into the trailer, but that will absolutely not be necessary with a 300lb box. With that box, two guys could carry it into the trailer if you had trouble wheeling it.

 

[Coolabah]

TransportED a Snap-On Box (trolley)..oh yeh

When I brought home my new toolbox (Matco 55" wide) I used a come along and winched it into the bed of our truck. I strapped it to the front and the back of the bed so it couldn't move, locked the wheels and ran a strap over the top just for "belt and suspenders" safety.

I think you're over-thinking this, push it onto the trailer, lock the wheels, strap it so it can't move and be on your way.

At the end of the day- I do think you are exactly 100% right- I "over thought" this... but, I do believe that over thinking ALWAYS trumps underthinking...

Once again, the variety of responses to this thread gave me a lot of stuff to think about so I arrived on the scene with a load of options- some of which would have never occured to me...

Today, picked up the box. Attached the trailer to my van and drove through the heatwave for an hour . My Verandah (porch?) at home read 41 celcius (105.8 F) , arrived at the sellers place where car was telling me outside temperature was 43 C ( = 109.4 F). I might add, car's aircon is knackered ( US translation = broken) so INSIDE temp with all windows open was 46 (114.8 F)..

Let me just put this out there, but, loading any sort of heavy item whilst you yourself are melting, well, it is just plain ordinary. I swear my brand new second hand Snap-On box started corroding immediately I laid my sweaty person upon it...

To tell the truth, I arrived there stuffed. I thought *uck it,and just lifted the thing onto the trailer , lifted the *ucker on upright (stood behind it , grabbed handle with right hand and bottom of box with left hand. From here I tilted the box by lifting with my left hand and pulling sideways so fixed wheels were loaded onto trailer, hold whole thing steady with right hand, shuffle to handle side of box and lift and slide onto trailer. It didn't seem nearly as heavy as I thought it would be), tied it with rope (cardboard packing between rope & box)

..all good

Yeh, worked OK tho, thanks again guys !!

Oh.... sweet,SWEET box....



notes: I did lock the drawers- thanks for that advice. Made sure to lock wheels too!

 

[DanCo]

Ok so where are the pictures of your new baby?

 

[FirstStateTools]

We move boxes all the time as part of our business (buying and selling toolboxes). Quallity ratchet straps and cardboard to cover the paint where ratchets touch work well for a one time move. if you have a trailer use it. push the box up to the headboard if it has one, put cardboard between it and the headboard then strap it tight to the front. one over the top will stop it bouncing. ramps are great if they come with your trailer if not some 2x6's or 3/4" plywood will work.. most of all take a buddy. I move 100 boxes a year at least and have seen the results of holding a $10,000 toolbox with two harbor frieght $5 ratchets... not pretty and your car insurance does not cover towed items.

 

[eyeboltman]

Photos of cheerleaders ??? I mean the tool box !!!

 

[srmofo]

one more thing to add, If you ever move a box full of tools, make sure you take some straps and wrap around the box only to hold the drawers shut. I have seen one take a tumble from a flat bed because during transport it got bounced just the right way and the lock failed to hold the drawers shut. Once they started opening, it tipped.

The tech got a new box out of that deal but it was a huge headache for him

 

[TireTracks]

We loaded a Rideing lawnmower into a 4x4 chevy pickup with a cuple 2x10's just fine, and it weighted more than 300. Used those boards and a hand cart to load a big *** wood stove in the back of my truck,
Heck 2ft is easy, just bring a few 2x4's along or a sheet of plywood.