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How to move a safe?

GuvamintCheeseGuvamintCheese Member Posts: 38,932 ✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
Just purchased this safe on ebay and was wondering if there are any trick to moving a 1500lb.safe. Gonna do it myself with a friends help. My back is aching just thinking about it. Notice the scalloped bottom, will this pose a problem?

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNUM-S-NATIONAL-SECURITY-GUN-SAFE_W0QQitemZ250000257597QQcategoryZ52501QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Comments

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Very carefully[:D]

    Seriously now, with a safe that size, I would pay to have it professionally moved... it will save hurting yourself and your buddies[B)].

    WACA Historian & Life Member

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  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    The same way the egyptians and the stone henge guys did it.

    skids & slaves.

    Ben
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    Very, Very, Carefully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    You don't want a hernia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Or, hire some Illegals. About 8 or 9. Pay them 10.00 each.
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  • jaflowersjaflowers Member Posts: 698 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just moved a 1026 pound safe this past weekend that was on castors, non-swivel but at least you could roll it. Had three strong friends plus myself. NO FUN AT ALL!!! 1500 pounds you better have at least 5 to 6 people that are in good shape. All we did was roll this one to a trailer, tip it over and pushed it the rest of the way on. Then once home we got it off and rolled to the house. Positioning it inside was a pain. If yours doesn't have wheels you better get heavy duty furniture roll arounds. GOOD LUCK and be safe, no pun intended.[;)]
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  • jaflowersjaflowers Member Posts: 698 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just moved a 1026 pound safe this past weekend that was on castors, non-swivel but at least you could roll it. Had three strong friends plus myself. NO FUN AT ALL!!! 1500 pounds you better have at least 5 to 6 people that are in good shape. All we did was roll this one to a trailer, tip it over and pushed it the rest of the way on. Then once home we got it off and rolled to the house. Positioning it inside was a pain. If yours doesn't have wheels you better get heavy duty furniture roll arounds. GOOD LUCK and be safe, no pun intended.[;)]
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  • jaflowersjaflowers Member Posts: 698 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    oh, forgot to say. Most safes doors will lift right off the hinges allowing you to move it in sections greatly reducing the amount of weight you are moving. You may want to do that with that big safe. Call the company who made it to make sure taking the door off is okay first. I've done this before and it does help allot.
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  • bsallybsally Member Posts: 3,165
    edited November -1
    In some cases, the door can be removed. That will help a bit, but it still is gonna be a *.[:D] Good luck, hope there are no stairs involved.
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  • CS8161CS8161 Member Posts: 13,596 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Got golf balls? I saw a mover once put a bunch of golf balls on the floor and the safe just rolled along like it was on air. Works best on hard floors, don't know how it would work on rugs.
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  • lazeruslazerus Member Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    See if you can take the door off reducing the weight.
    Rent a hevy duty refrigerator dolly fron United Rentals.
    Get lots of Beer to attract the volume of help you need.
    Good luck go slow and use your head more than muscle.
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  • mrseatlemrseatle Member Posts: 15,467 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fishermanben
    The same way the egyptians and the stone henge guys did it.

    skids & slaves.

    Ben


    Beer & Bribes
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  • kristovkristov Member Posts: 6,633
    edited November -1
    http://www.powermate.info/powermate_customers.htm#
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  • BHAVINBHAVIN Member Posts: 3,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have moved several safes and can't seem to ever moce one that weighs less than 1100lbs. The easiest way to move a safe is to use a combination of a heavy duty refridgerator dolly and a heavy duty piano dolly (the kind that has 4-6 wheels). Both can be rented at moving places. You strap the refer dolly onto the safe and cinch it down (if your box is to big at least pad the corners and where the strap lays). Unless you are really tight for space I leave it attached the whole time of possible (leaving the lip of the refer dolly ontop of the piano dolly) . You use this dolly for moving up steps. You tip the safe back with the refer dolly and slide the piano dolly under the bottom. Then using your help tip the safe up onto the piano dolly (making sure it is centered) and use this to move the safe around corners and across plaf surfaces. Having the safe upright makes corners and doorways pretty easy. When you get the safe close to where you want it (a couple of feet away from the walls) take off the dollies and using the open door as a fulcrum (most doors are heave enough to tip the safe forward with if you pull on it) move the side to side to shift it into place. Slow and easy is the ticket. [;)]
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  • GuvamintCheeseGuvamintCheese Member Posts: 38,932 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by BHAVIN
    I have moved several safes and can't seem to ever moce one that weighs less than 1100lbs. The easiest way to move a safe is to use a combination of a heavy duty refridgerator dolly and a heavy duty piano dolly (the kind that has 4-6 wheels). Both can be rented at moving places. You strap the refer dolly onto the safe and cinch it down (if your box is to big at least pad the corners and where the strap lays). Unless you are really tight for space I leave it attached the whole time of possible (leaving the lip of the refer dolly ontop of the piano dolly) . You use this dolly for moving up steps. You tip the safe back with the refer dolly and slide the piano dolly under the bottom. Then using your help tip the safe up onto the piano dolly (making sure it is centered) and use this to move the safe around corners and across plaf surfaces. Having the safe upright makes corners and doorways pretty easy. When you get the safe close to where you want it (a couple of feet away from the walls) take off the dollies and using the open door as a fulcrum (most doors are heave enough to tip the safe forward with if you pull on it) move the side to side to shift it into place. Slow and easy is the ticket. [;)]


    I would have someone else do it but it 6hrs away from my house. No steps on either end. How do you get it on the truck? lifgate? I was thinking of taking a uhaul trailer. Should I lay it down or leave it upright for the trip?
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  • nyforesternyforester Member Posts: 2,575 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have HELPED move 2 so far. You will need a big hand truck and several buddies that work well together. You will also need to supply several beers after the job is complete...... !!
    Abort Cuomo
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  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    and by all means, before you move it, make sure the floor receiving the safe is strong enough for it! check the joist or reinforce them. best to sit it on a strongback for safety. it will save the linoleum floor or wood.
    Retired Naval Aviation
    Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
    Former NSSA All American
    Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
    MO, CT, VA.
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  • GuvamintCheeseGuvamintCheese Member Posts: 38,932 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bobski
    and by all means, before you move it, make sure the floor receiving the safe is strong enough for it! check the joist or reinforce them. best to sit it on a strongback for safety. it will save the linoleum floor or wood.

    What is a strongback? How do I know if my floor is strong enough, set it down and see if it falls through?[:D] I have a 900lb safe sitting where this one will go. I belive I have 2x10 joists on 16 or 24" center. I will find out.
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  • BHAVINBHAVIN Member Posts: 3,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The lower you can get the better. So if you can rent a Uhaul trailer that has a low bed on it that's great. I would tip it back an lay it flat. If you have a come-a-long run a strap around the safe after you tip it back onto the back edge of the trailer. Using cardboard or carpet will allow the safe to move easier. Just use the come-a-long to pull the safe forward into the trailer. If you don't have one using a couple of pipes as rollers will work well. If you set the safe pretty close to the back end of the trailer and then tip it back onto the lip where the lip (well padded of course) will contact the back of the safe below the halfway point will make it easier. When you take it out just slide slowly until it tips forward and the bottom edge touches the ground if you go slow the weight of the safe will gently tip it down. You can then use a strap over the back edge from the front and one or two people in the back to tip it upright onto your dollies.
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  • lazeruslazerus Member Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
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  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    Mine just got moved.

    8 illegals, a tarp, some golf balls, and CERVEZAS!!!

    VIVA MEXICO!!
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  • zipperzapzipperzap Member Posts: 25,057
    edited November -1
    Safe dolly, three big guys, 1/2 plywood to lay down to roll it
    across - can move up to 1500lb. safes that way - no illegals
    & no problemos![:D]
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  • Rebel_JamesRebel_James Member Posts: 4,746
    edited November -1
    After all this advice, I only have one more thing to add:

    Move it VEWWEY VEWWEY CAWEEUFULLY!
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  • spurgemasturspurgemastur Member Posts: 5,655 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Please let us know what you do and how it turns out.
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  • topedogtopedog Member Posts: 53 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I refuse to move mine again, I am selling it with the house next time, cheaper and easier to buy a new one, or to build my own security room. Meby they will let you keep it there and you can just keep your guns at their house:)
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