Transporting a Bridgeport Mill

[Twdmar]

Next week I am picking up a Bridgeport 2j mill. I will be hauling it on a heavy flatbed trailer and it will be a 400 mile trip. I am not loading it and will probably pay to have it unloaded as well.
Should I remove the head for transport to lower the center of gravity? Any other tips besides lots of straps, chain etc?

 

[jkohler]

Rotate the head 180 and support it on the table carefully. You may want to put a piece of wood between the head and table.

 

[itchyTF]

Lower the knee and rotate the head 180 degrees.

 

[sdean]

Next week I am picking up a Bridgeport 2j mill. I will be hauling it on a heavy flatbed trailer and it will be a 400 mile trip. I am not loading it and will probably pay to have it unloaded as well.
Should I remove the head for transport to lower the center of gravity? Any other tips besides lots of straps, chain etc?

I put plywood on top and bottom of a pallet and bolted my mill to that.

 

[akajun]

Rent a drop deck trailer so you can load/ unload yourself
Everything about rotating the head and dropping the bed is good advice

 

[jdh47]

Make sure they use 2x4 boards under the ram (on top of the forks on the forklift). Lift it that way. Lower the center of gravity as much as possible and strap it diagonally so it can’t move. Also screw 2x4’s in front, back and sides of the plinth to keep it from moving. No quick turns or abrupt stops and you’ll be good.

 

[jdh47]

The 2x4’s are to be screwed to the bed of the trailer to keep it from sliding.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Get a lifting eye to screw into the hole on the ram and lift it from there. Way more secure than trying to balance it on forks.

 

[Twdmar]

Thanks everyone. I may rent a drop deck trailer but I do have access to a forklift too. The drop deck with go right into my garage and I can weld up a steel pallet to pull the mill off with a pallet jack.

 

[Twdmar]

Lower the knee and rotate the head 180 degrees.

Should I build a crib to support the head with the table with the knee as low as possible?

 

[dave@aDave]

Use a lot of ratchet straps that are rated for about 1 1/2 times the weight of the Bridgeport.

 

[itchyTF]

Should I build a crib to support the head with the table with the knee as low as possible?

I usually go overboard when I do something. It wouldn’t hurt to build a crib but it probably isn’t necessary.

 

[joshb]

You’ll need directions to my shop, too!!! I’ll text ya!

 

[D-4297]

There's always one . ^^^^^^

 

[X Count]

Flip the head. I didn't support mine but if you do you really need a spacer that goes from the table to the gearbox. The motor fan cover isn't going to be worth using as a support.

Put conveyor rubber on the trailer to provide some grip. Use 2x ratchet straps choked around the base with one set pulling forward and the other set pulling backward. Do the same with the over arm. That way your pulling it down onto the trailer, fixing the base in one position and also locking the top in position under tension and choke so it can't tip over. If it has a DRO it might be worth removing the scales

 

[Sniperhandle]

I hauled a Bridgeport on my car trailer and it bent the front crossmember, So lesson Learned put stuff across the floor to distribute weight across several crossmembers, Of course mine traveled 350 miles.