715 pound gorilla

Marc Olson · November 26, 2000, 01:15 AM

Does anyone have any ideas on moving a 715 pound safe? I plan on rolling it out of storage on a movers dolly (laying on it's side, cart with casters). Then sliding it into a trailer and to my house. After getting the thing upright how do I move it through the doorways and other narrow passages to it's final resting place. I've thought about 4 people (after a good breakfast of Wheaties) using straps slung under the safe and secured around the middle for stability. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

brianidaho · November 26, 2000, 01:31 AM

You might try some sort of rollers, such as lengths of pipe. PVC is cheap and easy to cut to length, don't know if it would take that kind of weight.

Bri

Marc Olson · November 26, 2000, 01:39 AM

Thanks, great idea. Now I feel silly for not thinking of that myself.

blackamos · November 26, 2000, 02:39 PM

I called a mover to move mine. Costs more but I did not want to be on the bottom of the steps when it broke loose.

Jorah Lavin · November 26, 2000, 10:28 PM

First way:

If you know anyone who plays a lot of golf, have them bring over their oldies and use them as rollers.

Once you get the safe almost where you want it, switch from golfballs to lots of icecubes, and just let the safe melt into position. Marbles can be gotten cheap and just left under the safe.

If you can't find enough golf balls, or if they are in danger of denting the floor, tennis balls may be used.

Second way:

Use a big chunk of carpet scrap and wax the floor right ahead of where you plan to move the safe.

HTH...

-Moss

mongrel66 · November 28, 2000, 04:49 PM

I dont know the dimensions of your safe but you can rent heavy dollies that have straps to hold your load AND sliders with rubber belts along the back side that allow you to roll your load up stairs while on the dolly..at 715 # make sure the lifting lip is strong enough to hold the load without breaking a weld..

char923 · November 28, 2000, 06:33 PM

When I move my safe, I took the door off, after I open the door 3/4 of the way, I can lift the door off it, the door weight about 300 lbs. and used a moving dollie, this way it took just to people to move it.

swampgator · November 29, 2000, 03:59 AM

If you go with the pipe method use iron pipe PVC WILL NOT hold up to 715 pounds.

We reconfigured the range layout last year we had to move four safes. Took all day. But the pipe is the best way we found.

Gator

OkieGentleman · December 2, 2000, 12:40 AM

Brace under the back of the trailer with cribbing before you try and put the safe on the trailer. If you do not, the trailer might break loose from the hitch and try and do a backflip in you face. Make sure the safe is in the middle of the trailer and the trailer is properly balanced before you remove the cribbing. You will need a several ton jack and a number of 4x4 and 2x4 peices to do this.

If you are moving this on a concrete floor go and get yourself some 3/8 inch solid rod at the local steel company and have it cut to 28 to 29 inche lengths. This will roll so easily that it can be scary. You will need about 6 rollers like this. Go slow and do not push hard until you have a feel for how easily it moves. (You could push it right off the rollers and will have a heck of a time putting it back on them.) You will need several large crowbars and hardwood chocks, pine will just compress and wont work properly.

If this it going into your house go and get some 1/2 inch plywood cut to about 28 inch widths to fit thru the doors. This will protect the floor/tile/carpet. Also a single layer of cardboard under the plywood will provide additional protection. If you use the plywood, use 3/4 inch iron water pipe cut to about 28 inches the 3/8 inch rods will dig into the plywood.

Turning corners? Place the rollers at a 45 degree angle and roll the safe and twist at the same time or get one roller under the safe and balance in the center and twist.

Getting over door ways and sills. Crib the safe up into the air on 2x4s one side at a time. Don' scimp on cribbing, if it looks like it could use another board it does. Don't go higher than you need to clear the sill. A solid board thru the door braced throughly will let the rollers roll thru the door. Hard to describe the process.

Going up or down stairs? Hire someone!! They will have the necessary tools and skills not to get hurt. Call your local safe/locksmith tell him what you want to do and get a price. You can always earn enough to pay him, if you are hurt you are out the doctor bills and out of work.

Do I know of what I speak? How about laying down a 12,000 lb vault door and moving it 200 ft to the trailer outside, putting it on the trailer and then unloading it at the dock.
I will admit it took the two of us almost 8 hours. Only one of several jobs like that I have done or been involved in.

Marc after looking at all to the things you will to buy to do this job safely, the cost of the materials and tools will probably be equal to what the local locksmith would charge you to put the safe in your house. That will be my suggestion. Be safe (not a pun) something that heavy will hurt you faster than you can sneeze.

Marc Olson · December 10, 2000, 03:57 AM

I want to extend a sincere thank you to all who responded to my question. These are all great ideas about moving a safe. After considering all the costs and potential for injury, I tend to like the one about hiring someone the best.

Thanks again.

Marc

November 26, 2000, 01:39 AM	#3
Marc Olson Junior Member Join Date: November 25, 2000 Posts: 3	Re. response from Bri Thanks, great idea. Now I feel silly for not thinking of that myself.

November 26, 2000, 10:28 PM	#5
Jorah Lavin Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: Indian Land, SC USA Posts: 593	Golf Balls First way: If you know anyone who plays a lot of golf, have them bring over their oldies and use them as rollers. Once you get the safe almost where you want it, switch from golfballs to lots of icecubes, and just let the safe melt into position. Marbles can be gotten cheap and just left under the safe. If you can't find enough golf balls, or if they are in danger of denting the floor, tennis balls may be used. Second way: Use a big chunk of carpet scrap and wax the floor right ahead of where you plan to move the safe. HTH... -Moss

November 29, 2000, 03:59 AM	#8
swampgator Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Gatorville, Florida Posts: 619	If you go with the pipe method use iron pipe PVC WILL NOT hold up to 715 pounds. We reconfigured the range layout last year we had to move four safes. Took all day. But the pipe is the best way we found. Gator __________________ www.afn.org/~guns

December 10, 2000, 03:57 AM	#10
Marc Olson Junior Member Join Date: November 25, 2000 Posts: 3	715 lb. Gorilla I want to extend a sincere thank you to all who responded to my question. These are all great ideas about moving a safe. After considering all the costs and potential for injury, I tend to like the one about hiring someone the best. Thanks again. Marc

November 26, 2000, 01:15 AM	#1
Marc Olson Junior Member Join Date: November 25, 2000 Posts: 3	Does anyone have any ideas on moving a 715 pound safe? I plan on rolling it out of storage on a movers dolly (laying on it's side, cart with casters). Then sliding it into a trailer and to my house. After getting the thing upright how do I move it through the doorways and other narrow passages to it's final resting place. I've thought about 4 people (after a good breakfast of Wheaties) using straps slung under the safe and secured around the middle for stability. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

November 26, 2000, 01:31 AM	#2
brianidaho Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2000 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID Posts: 446	You might try some sort of rollers, such as lengths of pipe. PVC is cheap and easy to cut to length, don't know if it would take that kind of weight. Bri

November 26, 2000, 02:39 PM	#4
blackamos Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 580	I called a mover to move mine. Costs more but I did not want to be on the bottom of the steps when it broke loose.

November 28, 2000, 04:49 PM	#6
mongrel66 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2000 Posts: 122	I dont know the dimensions of your safe but you can rent heavy dollies that have straps to hold your load AND sliders with rubber belts along the back side that allow you to roll your load up stairs while on the dolly..at 715 # make sure the lifting lip is strong enough to hold the load without breaking a weld..

November 28, 2000, 06:33 PM	#7
char923 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2000 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 237	When I move my safe, I took the door off, after I open the door 3/4 of the way, I can lift the door off it, the door weight about 300 lbs. and used a moving dollie, this way it took just to people to move it.

December 2, 2000, 12:40 AM	#9
OkieGentleman Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 1999 Location: OKC Metro Posts: 521	Brace under the back of the trailer with cribbing before you try and put the safe on the trailer. If you do not, the trailer might break loose from the hitch and try and do a backflip in you face. Make sure the safe is in the middle of the trailer and the trailer is properly balanced before you remove the cribbing. You will need a several ton jack and a number of 4x4 and 2x4 peices to do this. If you are moving this on a concrete floor go and get yourself some 3/8 inch solid rod at the local steel company and have it cut to 28 to 29 inche lengths. This will roll so easily that it can be scary. You will need about 6 rollers like this. Go slow and do not push hard until you have a feel for how easily it moves. (You could push it right off the rollers and will have a heck of a time putting it back on them.) You will need several large crowbars and hardwood chocks, pine will just compress and wont work properly. If this it going into your house go and get some 1/2 inch plywood cut to about 28 inch widths to fit thru the doors. This will protect the floor/tile/carpet. Also a single layer of cardboard under the plywood will provide additional protection. If you use the plywood, use 3/4 inch iron water pipe cut to about 28 inches the 3/8 inch rods will dig into the plywood. Turning corners? Place the rollers at a 45 degree angle and roll the safe and twist at the same time or get one roller under the safe and balance in the center and twist. Getting over door ways and sills. Crib the safe up into the air on 2x4s one side at a time. Don' scimp on cribbing, if it looks like it could use another board it does. Don't go higher than you need to clear the sill. A solid board thru the door braced throughly will let the rollers roll thru the door. Hard to describe the process. Going up or down stairs? Hire someone!! They will have the necessary tools and skills not to get hurt. Call your local safe/locksmith tell him what you want to do and get a price. You can always earn enough to pay him, if you are hurt you are out the doctor bills and out of work. Do I know of what I speak? How about laying down a 12,000 lb vault door and moving it 200 ft to the trailer outside, putting it on the trailer and then unloading it at the dock. I will admit it took the two of us almost 8 hours. Only one of several jobs like that I have done or been involved in. Marc after looking at all to the things you will to buy to do this job safely, the cost of the materials and tools will probably be equal to what the local locksmith would charge you to put the safe in your house. That will be my suggestion. Be safe (not a pun) something that heavy will hurt you faster than you can sneeze.