sheriffoconee
Member
Of course, I am just an ol Jawga boy myself, but seems to me you take it out the same way you got it in there.....
'course, that's just me....
'course, that's just me....
How to move a 3000lb. safe?
- Thread starter Andy Griffith
- Start date
bitstream
Member
Since you said hiring isn't an option, can we ask what materials you might have available? I assume that funds are an issue, so the correct answer isn't to tell you how to do it with materials you might not have, but rather to figure out how to do it with the stuff you do have available. If you have to purchase stuff to do it, then you might as well have hired it.
From the hiring line; do you have a college near by? Plenty of strong hands that wouldn't mind making a quick couple of bucks!
From the hiring line; do you have a college near by? Plenty of strong hands that wouldn't mind making a quick couple of bucks!
Wheelgunner840
Member
Before I say anything else, I want to state my agreement with the other FF. Shop around, and get a rigging company to do it.
Having said that, all I want to add is that if you are going to use power lifts, winches, cables, chains, come-a-longs, etc. make darn sure that you and everybody else is out of harms way. Cables snap, weight shifts, equipment fails, etc. That is way too much weight with which to take chances.
Been to a few crush injury calls myself. They aint pretty.
WG840
Having said that, all I want to add is that if you are going to use power lifts, winches, cables, chains, come-a-longs, etc. make darn sure that you and everybody else is out of harms way. Cables snap, weight shifts, equipment fails, etc. That is way too much weight with which to take chances.
Been to a few crush injury calls myself. They aint pretty.
WG840
Hire a pro. The injuries from this activity require skilled madical personnel and real medical facilities. For the price of an ambulance ride and an emergency room visit + follow up care or doctor visits you could buy 2 new replacement safes.
Moving this monster is not easy or cheap for an amateur. Hire a pro.
My wife has told me several times, I could have bought a new stove for the price of the emergency room visit and doctor bill. Short version: major blood spill, after 9:00 PM, and less than 5 minutes of expert medical treatment. Cost = $1,250 -- 3 years ago.
Moving this monster is not easy or cheap for an amateur. Hire a pro.
My wife has told me several times, I could have bought a new stove for the price of the emergency room visit and doctor bill. Short version: major blood spill, after 9:00 PM, and less than 5 minutes of expert medical treatment. Cost = $1,250 -- 3 years ago.
OP
Andy Griffith
Member
Relax guys...
I said this was hypothetical.
If I was worried about injuries, I'd call my brother in law to do it.
*ouch*
I said this was hypothetical.
If I was worried about injuries, I'd call my brother in law to do it.
*ouch*The Highlander
Member
Tell two or three 10-year old boys to stay away from it, and to not even think about moving it on that trailer, cause they are too little.
Come back in about an hour, and it will be on the trailer, in pieces.
Or it would have when I was about 10!
Come back in about an hour, and it will be on the trailer, in pieces.
Or it would have when I was about 10!
Relax guys...
I said this was hypothetical.
If I was worried about injuries, I'd call my brother in law to do it.
Oh...then I would DEFINITELY hire someone hypothetically.....
50 target
Member
Andy, after reading five pages of answers I'm not sure what the question was. Best I remember there was a honkin big safe on concrete that you had to move to the outside for a piece of machinery to handle. Hypothetically speaking, if the concrete floor was bare, I would clean that sucker real good and then I would wet the floor down especially around the safe so that it would get underneath. I would not attempt to raise it. Too much danger. A block and tackle would work to get it to the door if you could anchor the other end somewhere. If there is a threshhold at the door, remove it. Keep the floor wet and use the block and tackle or a winch to get it outside. May work but then it is only a hypothetical answer to a hypothetical question. I used to sell the fire rated safes and they weighed about 1100 lbs. They were no easy task even with much muscle. Tipping over was always the biggest fear. The only cure for that was to get out of the way. I had a
customer once that was in the dirt business. He operated bulldozers, etc. One day he is clearing a lot and gets off the dozer and leaves it running, to talk to the guy he is working for. The man tells him that his dozer is crawling off. Now this guy attempts to get back on the dozer and winds up underneath the track. DEAD. Now what in the heck can happen to a dozer that is barely moving ? Dead for no reason. Big stuff, heavy stuff kills you and has no conscience. Careful if you move that hypothetical safe.
customer once that was in the dirt business. He operated bulldozers, etc. One day he is clearing a lot and gets off the dozer and leaves it running, to talk to the guy he is working for. The man tells him that his dozer is crawling off. Now this guy attempts to get back on the dozer and winds up underneath the track. DEAD. Now what in the heck can happen to a dozer that is barely moving ? Dead for no reason. Big stuff, heavy stuff kills you and has no conscience. Careful if you move that hypothetical safe.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
That's it. Man what a GREAT name for a tool
Ghostofwar
Member
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My father is a Locksmith and Safe technician. He moves safes all the time and I have helped him on numerous jobs. For a average gun safe (500-800lbs) it is possible for the owner to move it with some big friends and a furniture dolly. This usually ends up with scratched walls and maybe other damage. He does get calls to move these types of safes all the time, but when he quotes a price, the caller only calls back half the time. They feel that they can call a buddy and get it moved for a 6 pack of beer.
For anything more than 800 pounds, hire a pro. My father has special lifts, tools, skills, and 15 years of safe moving experience that makes things easier, but it is hardly ever easy. Most people don't understand that things like doorways, small steps, tight spaces, and other overlooked obstacles can be big problems if you don't know what you are doing. A 3000lbs safe is a lot of weight, and if that thing starts moving a way you don't want it to, good luck stopping it. We have seen safes that have fallen through floors and gone through walls. Thats bad time to realize you should have hired someone.
So bottom line, hire someone. A good safe technician/safe mover should be licensed and insured so if they do any damage, its covered. Would it be worth it if you dropped the safe through a wall or floor and then had to hire someone to get it out and then hire someone else to fix the damages?
For anything more than 800 pounds, hire a pro. My father has special lifts, tools, skills, and 15 years of safe moving experience that makes things easier, but it is hardly ever easy. Most people don't understand that things like doorways, small steps, tight spaces, and other overlooked obstacles can be big problems if you don't know what you are doing. A 3000lbs safe is a lot of weight, and if that thing starts moving a way you don't want it to, good luck stopping it. We have seen safes that have fallen through floors and gone through walls. Thats bad time to realize you should have hired someone.
So bottom line, hire someone. A good safe technician/safe mover should be licensed and insured so if they do any damage, its covered. Would it be worth it if you dropped the safe through a wall or floor and then had to hire someone to get it out and then hire someone else to fix the damages?
novalty
Member
Put it on Craigslist in the Free for the Taking. Once someone arrives start microwave popcorn, and set up chair to enjoy the show.
When you say trailer. How high off the ground?
I would use a pry bar and a piece of wood as a fulcrum. Get a corner off of the floor and start blocking the safe off the floor. Do this to one side. Get the bottom high enough to get a pallet jack under the safe. Block the wheels of the pallet jack. Push safe onto the forks of the pallet jack.
The next step would depend on the height of the trailer.
I would use a pry bar and a piece of wood as a fulcrum. Get a corner off of the floor and start blocking the safe off the floor. Do this to one side. Get the bottom high enough to get a pallet jack under the safe. Block the wheels of the pallet jack. Push safe onto the forks of the pallet jack.
The next step would depend on the height of the trailer.
I haven't read the whole thread, so if this has already been suggested, I apologize.
Open the door. Set the tines of the forklift narrow enough that they will pass through the door opening. Lift. Either take it to the trailer at that point, or set some blocks underneath so you can get the forklift tines under the bottom of the safe.
Open the door. Set the tines of the forklift narrow enough that they will pass through the door opening. Lift. Either take it to the trailer at that point, or set some blocks underneath so you can get the forklift tines under the bottom of the safe.
neiljrosen
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I'm curious about how much it would cost to have a pro move it, did you get any estimates?
Gutpile Charlie
US Veteran
How to move it?..........."VERY CAREFULLY!"
swampersand
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If, by chance there is a grade involved, I'd like enough notice to come and watch. I think I saw Chevy Chase try something like this. Selling tickets is also a consideration. Make sure your better half knows where the will is.
