Moving a Gun Safe

[Whitwabit]

Getting ready to buy a gun safe since we are moving to a house the floors will hold the weight .. I couldn't trust the floor beams in my present house built in 1897 ..

So what did you move your safe with ?? It will weight around 600 pounds or a little more .. I have 2 steps that need to be climbed at the entrance to the house then its a straight shot to the bedroom it will be set in .. there is a steel beam running the length of the house ..

It will be set on hardwood flooring .. So what do I need to keep moisture from collecting on the bottom ?? Do they make a pad one can buy and use ??

Any help will be welcomed as this is my first gun safe and in a new house to us .. I know many of you already have safes and any recommendations would be helpful !!

 

[Narragansett]

I moved mine, about 500 pounds with a couple guys and an appliance hand truck, which is an absolute must.

As for moisture, one of the low density electric elements designed to be mounted in a safe.

Fpr under the safe, go to Staples and buy a clear plastic mat that you use under an office chair at a desk

Just my .02

 

[URIT]

I bought my gun safe from a safe company and had them move it into the house rather than putting it just inside the garage. It cost me $150 and the two men used a power-assisted stair climbing hand truck to negotiate the 5 steps up to the front porch and the entry step-up. I have all wood floors and a sharp corner before they got it into the proper room. They surprised me by laying down some matting and then putting the safe (about 800#) on PVC piping and rolling it into place. Slick job! I didn't have to worry about friends or myself injuring themselves or the safe getting away from us and damaging flooring, walls, or doorways.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I moved mine with a furniture dolly and a couple teenagers. Set it on two 2x4’s in the office. Your mileage may vary . . .

 

[petewoodland]

Hire a pro. Bolt it down

I have purchased four gun safes. The first two I managed to wrestle into place nearly killing myself with one. The last two were bought from a safe dealer who calculated the price including delivery and set up.
In my opinion that is some of the best money I've ever spent. The pros have the equipment and the experience to do the job right with no one getting hurt. In fact watching them is almost entertainment as they make it look so easy.
Also make sure you anchor the safe in place. If someone can move it in then someone else can move it out. Three of mine are bolted to concrete slabs but it sounds as if this is not an option for you. The fourth is bolted through the back with lag bolts into the wall studs. Good luck.

 

[Muss Muggins]

If we think this post through, we get “I as a homeowner, reasonable person, and non drug addicted criminal am incapable of moving an empty safe. I am afraid of a fly by night moron who may spirit into my home and magically steal the same safe I couldn’t move in without a construction company, which is now loaded with guns . . .

I have purchased four gun safes. The first two I managed to wrestle into place nearly killing myself with one. The last two were bought from a safe dealer who calculated the price including delivery and set up.
In my opinion that is some of the best money I've ever spent. The pros have the equipment and the experience to do the job right with no one getting hurt. In fact watching them is almost entertainment as they make it look so easy.
Also make sure you anchor the safe in place. If someone can move it in then someone else can move it out. Three of mine are bolted to concrete slabs but it sounds as if this is not an option for you. The fourth is bolted through the back with lag bolts into the wall studs. Good luck.

 

[El Biblioitecario]

I recently moved my safes, scooting and using an on-hand $10 Harbor Freight dolly rated for 1/2 ton. It was a challenge, but do-able by one person on a level concrete floor. Still, I wish I had thought of PVC rollers. As for moisture in the bottom, I placed a piece of scrap particle board cut to size in the bottom on top of 1" scrap lumber supports--I don't plan on the water getting very high. As for getting it up two steps, there's this guy named Sysyphus...see if he has a website.

 

[destrukto]

When moving something like a safe I recommend using the right tools and the right help, an appliance dolly and extra tie downs, if you hire help make sure they’re insured. With the right leverage and planning it should be pretty easy. Most importantly, if it lets go when you’re moving it, just get out of the way, a new floor is cheaper and less painful than a trip to the ER


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fredj338]

Refridg dolly works just fine. Easier to do with two people though. A midsize, 700# filled, safe comes in about 115# a foot. So better in the corner than out in the middle of a room, but modern framed homes should easily handle the weight.

 

[Squarebutt]

We moved a 500-lb. safe up a few steps, down the hall and into a bedroom closet using an appliance dolly. Three guys were plenty of muscle. Biggest concern was the slate floor entryway. We laid down strips of plywood and leapfrogged them as we moved.

 

[MCorps0311]

I'm in my late 60's,I just paid to have my safes delivery to my home.

 

[Minorcan]

I’m 62 and move my 510 pound safe by cleaver planning, using furniture moving pads and a lot of cussin’ !!! Next time it’s gonna be the pros with one of those professional stair climbing Dolly’s.

 

[Bajadoc]

I am usually a do it yourself guy, but for installing my 1000 pound safe I left it to the professionals. Sometimes you gotta wimp out.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I used to move safes. Have it delivered and bolted down. A reputable company will have the right equipment and liability insurance.

 

[Golddollar]

My smaller safes go 900 lbs., my larger one goes 1100 lbs. I leave the job of moving them to the professionals who have the equipment and experience to do it. Luckily I have cast concrete steps going down into the basement which makes the job a lot easier.

 

[Joed49]

Moved mine about 3 times now. Mine weighed about 600 lbs. What you don't know is on most safes if you open the door it will lift off saving about 200 lbs. That makes the safe weigh 400 lbs. Two burly people can move that. Use an appliance dolly and it's not hard.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Moving a gun safe? Easy! Call the movers and let them get it done for you.

Do it yourself? Hernia is optional. Bone fractures are optional. Sore muscles, recurring cramps, general fatigue are assured.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Most modern gun safes are made so you open the door all the way and you can lift it up and off the hinges. The door is usually 1/3 of the weight. In 1984, My 800 pound empty safe became a 500 pound box that was easily moved by two people and an appliance dolly. In 2015 the movers moved like any other appliance, but their companies weight limits forced them to remove the door also! (The leagle filing cabinets full of reloading dies and bullet moulds, weighed more, but they were everyday heavy items, and thought nothing of the 700 to 800 pound cabinets!)

Always have soft drinks and a tip at the end of the job, and they will bend over backwards for you!

When My then 70 year old dad bought a 1500-1800 pound safe, he had a pro move it! The had plywood sheets with felt/carpet to protect the wood floors and other plywood to use across the lawn and paver sidewalks. On a hill side the had two anchor lines belayed on it at all times. Dad Ask if the thought it would get away from them? The answer was, "NO! But playing it safe, is quicker than cleaning up an unexpected mess!"

Like stated above, watching professionals is a joy!

Ivan

 

[Model 19 6"]

My first one only cost me 2 12 packs of beer. (cheap) 2nd one had to go to basement son in law said piece of cake. Him and I and doing what he said to do 20 minutes it was all done. Last one to the basement also wife found 2 kids that will move anything and 60.00 it is in place.

 

[Grayfox]

Pay a professional. Its money well spent.