Safe Moving Thread #863 - Moving one by Yourself

[MetalDoc]

I realize there are literally hundreds of threads about moving safe's, but I haven't found one about moving one by yourself...

First, let me explain. I ordered a safe over christmas (Patriot 'Closet Model', FYI), and it was backordered for about 6 weeks. They finally called while I was on a business trip, and looks like they will be able to deliver it next week. I got the free curbside delivery. Unfortunately, the couple guys who were going to be able to help me install it at 9am on a tuesday cancelled.

Safe weighs 600(ish)lbs.

Think I could get it to the garage to store for the day (I can conscript coworkers AFTER work)? Driveway is flat, straight, concrete and about 75 feet long. I'm a fairly large/strong individual.

I have available a 800lb 'rated' home depot hand truck...or I was planning to rent an appliance dolly.

Thoughts?

[Cheep]

Don't set it down directly on the concrete slab, put something under it so you can use a crow bar to tip it slightly. Get a few pieces of 3/4" or 1" pipe and it will move easily with only one person.

[MetalDoc]

Luckily it will arrive on a pallet.

[baih777]

If the freight company calls you ahead of time ask them to deliver with a lift gate. The guy would most likely have a pallet jack to get it off his truck. Offer him $40 to drop it in the garage.if your lucky he will set it down near where your are going to mount it.

[ahren111]

I had to move mine by myself when I got it. I cut 6 pieces of 3/4" PVC a couple inches wider than the safe. It roled around on that great in the garage. When I got it in the house luckily I have hardwood floors, I put a couple old towels down & slid it around.

[calif 15-22]

If the freight company calls you ahead of time ask them to deliver with a lift gate. The guy would most likely have a pallet jack to get it off his truck. Offer him $40 to drop it in the garage.if your lucky he will set it down near where your are going to mount it.

^^^^^^^^ this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You will have a hard time without a pallet jack. Mine was curbside delivery and they guy ask "you want it here or in your garage". I said garage please and gave him $30 plus a bottled water and he was happy.

The "curside" delievery is to exclude having to get into your garage if you had a huge step cracked driveway that would be a pain. Yours sounds flat and short so just ask the driver. All he can say is no.

Good luck

[delta9]

This guy gives some good tips

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

Luckily it will arrive on a pallet.

That's great if you have a pallet jack. other wise depending on how Cannon does their pallets it may be a pain in your back(quite possible literally).

For safety you are going to want to get it off the pallet if you are going to use a hand truck. You do not want a #600 safe to gain any momentum while you are moving it, especially if you do it on your own.

See if you can sweet talk them(IE Bribe) them to get it into your garage at least.

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

This guy gives some good tips

That does work really well if you are on your own, and down have nice epoxied floors. And the safe he is doing that with is a light 525lbs. But the techniques are more or less correct, just do not me as relaxed as he was, ive seen what a safe like that can do if it falls on someone. Some fo the techniques i have used. but we usually are more careful with the safes and the flooring we are working on.

[Falstaff]

Lowes has these low friction furniture moving pads rated for 400 lbs ( or something like that)I had to move my safe from room to room so I tried them. My safe is a liberty Lincoln and weighs 700 lbs empty ( I think). Anyway, these things worked friggen beautiful, I was able slide it around quite easily by myself.
I slid it across bare concrete, tile and hardwood. Just make sure the hardwood is clean, any dirt or sand will scratch the floor.

Next time I buy a safe, I'll pay them to move it. I got a great deal on mine and I figured if I can install a sub zero by myself, I can do a safe! I used a cherry picker with a sling made out of a tow strap to get it out of my truck, I did that by myself. It was quite dangerous and stupid for me to try this but I was able to lift /slide it out of my truck onto the sidewalk. I then stuck a couple of my boys' skateboards under it and made it to the front door where the skateboards promptly disintegrated.. Ball bearings wen t everywhere. I couldn't get it over the threshold by myself without damage so I waited for help to get it the rest if the way.
If you can find one, the best way to go is to borrow or rent a safe dolly, which is like combination of a jack and a hand truck. My neighbor was able to borrow one from a LGS it's like double hand trucks that slip under, strap on and lift the safe up onto casters makes it VERY easy to move around.

[Supertac916]

Moved my safe once and from now on I'm paying someone to do it. Helped my buddy move his safe for the 3rd time two weeks ago and he's going to pay someone to move it next time.

Appliance dolly's, straps, and 2-4 guys works the best. I'm not sure if I'd ever try to move one on my own Mine broke the appliance dolly!! When they initially delivered the safe they used a fork lift, while it was on the pallet.

[1911su16b870]

This guy gives some good tips

Call Dean Safe Co. best money you will ever spend. That gentleman in the video has moved a few safes for me!

[ditchdigger]

I have moved things weighing as much as a ton using the 'Egyptian' method of rollers. The more rollers you have, the easier it is to move. Don't get them so close that they can touch. That will lock you up. If you need to turn a corner, then lay the rollers in a fan pattern around the corner. Watch out for your toes and fingers.

[MetalDoc]

Okiedokie... that wasnt so bad.

-Safe was delivered on a pallet jack, and the guy happily moved it to the back of the house. No issues.
-Cut the packing straps, and gave the safe a bit of a shove to get a feel for the weight. Not too bad... I bet I could get it off the pallet. 5 minutes later... done.
-Well hell... I bet I could get this thing on my hand truck... Sure enough, my 800lb rated Home Depot Hand Truck and a ratchet strap allowed me to move the safe relatively easily. Only problem... 3 steps up to the door.
-I wheel the safe around the house, thinking ill figure out the step's when I get there. Luckily enough, my roommate walks up, and were up three steps in no time. BAM Inside the house (single story).
-About a half hour later, with some PVC Pipes and slow maneuvering, the safe is in place! WOOHOO.

Finally, I really really like this Safe. Its a Patriot 1880 12 Gun - 2 Hour Rated Safe that comes with lighting and door storage. Electronic lock is easy to use and program. Only issue I found was 2 of 5 of the lock-wheel spokes were missing.

Phew... Anyone need a stack on Gun Locker?

[paratroop]

what size locker? where are you located? my safe is packed to the max. Could use an extra locker