Moving a safe long distance

[tmccoy]

I'll have to be moving in a few months. Company is paying for movers, but I'm not sure if big commercial movers will handle a safe. It's a Cannon 45 or 48 gun, about 900lbs. I will be moving my lathe and mill myself and have thought about putting it on the same trailer at that time, but I'll be doing that part just by myself, with no one to help. I'm comfortable moving my heavy machinery by myself, have done it several time, but the awkwardness of a safe would really prohibit doing that alone. I'd rather let them do the safe and not worry about it. Anyone ever have the big movers handle your safe?

Travis

 

[nosualc]

The last time I moved, I asked the movers about moving a safe (smaller than yours) and they literally laughed at me. They told me I need to talk with a specialist.

I slipped the guy in charge of the moving crew a couple hundred bucks cash, and the problem was solved.

-nosualc

 

[jonbearman]

My neighbor moved for global van lines and they moved homes to machinery with no problems but you should call them in advance to let them know about weight and dimensions to see if who you selected can do it.

 

[bheadboy]

I made a move last year and the mover took a look at the safe, and said, I will bring a hydraulic jack, no sweat, just be sure it is empty.

Bob

 

[tmccoy]

Bheadboy, I thought about putting it on like a pallet so we could get a pallet jack under it. Is that what you did? I figure if I did that and offered to help and pass along some cash it would make it happen.

 

[M-61]

Mayflower moved me. The safe was of little concern to them except it be empty.

 

[bheadboy]

you can use anything, a crow bar wedge etc, to tilt the safe and slide something under it on the right and left side, this gets it up so the tongue of the jack can slide under it.

Bob

 

[Dans40X]

Pallet & crate the safe yourself if it is a concern.

Let the moving gorilla's load it up!

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

No problem for the driver to take the safe, but it might require a 3rd party (local safe movers) on each end to get it on an off the moving van. Pallet and pallet jack does not help as a long distance van will most likely not have a lift gate, so there is no way to get the safe/pallet/pallet jack up the walkboards. It must be empty and should not be locked closed…

Just discuss this with the Surveyor that comes to your home to survey the shipment.

Last issue might be that your company does not approve moving of gun safes, which is common.

Just be sure it is a know thing well prior to load day, don't spring it on anyone.

I may, or may not, be in the industry. Or maybe I just stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night…

 

[rvn1968]

My Fort Knox has a threaded hole on top for a 5/8 eye at the center of gravity. It lifts easily,I used a chain on a bucket,no problem.

 

[fredhorace77]

pay attention to how they handle it and how they rest it on the truck for transport. some safes have glass locker rods in them and some must be transported door hinge side down. u might check with the company that makes urs and see if they have any suggestions or pointers for transport. i was told on my safe that if it was damaged do to transporting thru a move it would not hold its original warranty. i ended up selling my safe to the new home owners and bought a new one when i arrived at my new residence, which was installed by the dealer i purchased it from.

 

[Jet]

I moved multiple times with a safe and other large bulky items (piano, moose/elk shoulder mounts, safes, etc). The moving company always sent someone out a few days prior to being packed up and they made sure they had the right # of workers and the right equipment to properly move, crate up, etc everything.

Only area I had problems with was the inventory sheets. Make sure everything of importance is accounted for.

Good Luck

Jet

 

[thekriebles]

I moved multiple times with a safe and other large bulky items (piano, moose/elk shoulder mounts, safes, etc). The moving company always sent someone out a few days prior to being packed up and they made sure they had the right # of workers and the right equipment to properly move, crate up, etc everything.

Only area I had problems with was the inventory sheets. Make sure everything of importance is accounted for.

Good Luck

Jet

Same positive experience here as mentioned above. Definitely make sure you have completed and signed inventory sheets for all moved items.

 

[tmccoy]

Thanks for those comments. I think I'll maybe use that as a screening tool when I call movers. If they wont't, I might consider selling it locally rather than bothering with it myself. We'll see

 

[joshb]

I bought an old safe(when I was a lot younger) from an office supply co. They loaned me A set of Safe Jacks. Made the whole job a breeze. Except for the stairs. Mine was an old jewelry store safe, that weighed a ton. Literally. safe jacks are two heavy duty dolly carts that strap to the safe and have a pump jack to raise the safe a few inches . Still remember the guy looking me square in the eye and saying" Don't let it fall over.!!!" You could prolly rent a set at both ends of the move. The problem with moving cos. is their lift gate rating. Some can't handle the weight of big safes.

 

[Wiliest]

I know this is an older post, but I wanted to put it out there that a mover I used earlier this year was able to move a decent sized safe for me. Three Men & A Truck - I think they operate in all 50 states and I know they can deliver to anywhere in the U.S. Easy to work with too in my estimation and I'd definitely use them again.

 

[skeeljc]

Mine is a copy of a Browning which weighs 1000 lbs. The door comes off and that is about 350 lbs.

I have had commercial movers move it and they did it on a appliance handtruck with the door in place. No problem for two burly movers.

I have moved it by removing the door and laying the box on its back on a four wheel dolly I made (5" casters). The door handles easily with a hand truck. Laying the box down on the dolly was fairly easy for my two boys (both over 250 lbs). I used a winch to get it up the ramp into my trailer.

 

[skeeljc]

I moved my whole household including the safe and lathe and mill in a 16 foot cargo trailer. 850 miles one way and it took six trips. Gas was a lot cheaper back then.

 

[DirtySteve]

I moved my whole household including the safe and lathe and mill in a 16 foot cargo trailer. 850 miles one way and it took six trips. Gas was a lot cheaper back then.

Amateur, I made six trips and it was 1250 miles one way. My wife asked me to do just one more!!! I said, you are going to have to hire someone because I am done.

the oil change shop I used in Castroville Tx looked at me funny when I came in 5 days after and oil change to get another one on the same vehicle. I told them what I was doing and see you in five days…..I was wore out after those trips.

 

[rockrat]

I moved 820 miles, one way, decades ago. Took me way over six trips. Had a flatbed 16" trailer, but couldn't use it all the time as it was spring and raining. Should have rented a cargo box truck. Would have been a lot fewer trips