How to move a 1200 lbs. safe into my house?

will52100 · February 13, 2010, 06:20:10 PM

Well I'm about ready to move into my new house, and was shopping for gun safes. The one I like though is rite at 1200 lbs!

I've got a tile floor, and realy don't want to bust any of them. And the safe if a bit much for two people to pack in. Any ideas? Was thinking of building a dolly with industrial casters, but then how do I get it off the dolly?

Forty Rod · February 13, 2010, 07:45:07 PM

From experience: HIRE A PRO!

You'll be a happier person for it. Trust me.

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · February 13, 2010, 07:52:17 PM

Arrange to have the seller deliver. Then you have control of the $$ until it is where you want it

will52100 · February 13, 2010, 08:59:08 PM

Thanks, but I live too far out in the woods, they won't deliver. I think I've figured out a way, it's a set of lifts, they have forks on them, just ratchet strap to eigther end with the small forks under the safe and jack it up and roll into position. Now if the local rental places have them I'll be set. I'll still need to build a tempory ramp to get it over the 4" step up from the porch, but that should be relativly easy.

They look like this

Devil Anse Hatfield · February 14, 2010, 09:43:18 AM

Instead of ramps .we used a trailer and backed right up to the door / deck/porch. We were then able to dolly it in,without ramps.
Ramps often can be disasterous ,when they are 2 pieces .One solid ramp will be the best.
Have plenty of help

Forty Rod · February 14, 2010, 02:04:45 PM

Second suggestion: get enough help. Have someone who has done it before and one person who knows first aid.

Not trying to sound negative, but if you're lucky you won't get more that a few scrapes, bruises, and pulled muscles. A safe isn't only heavy, it's deadweight and unwieldy, has a lot of inertia to overcome, and has NO handles worth a spit.

Delmonico · February 14, 2010, 02:21:20 PM

Don't forget the cameraman, we want pictures.

will52100 · February 14, 2010, 07:04:48 PM

When I say ramp, it's to get it from the porch into the house, there a 3" step down from the floor to the porch. Nothing major, but enough it'd be difficult to roll over. I'm thinking of cutting a cuple pieces of scrap 6x6 timber at an angle and nailing ply wood to the top. It'll be a solid ramp.

Now I just got to wait for it to dry out enough to back a trailer up to my house. It's wet enough that you just about need 4x4 to get up the drive way!

Daniel Nighteyes · February 14, 2010, 08:14:44 PM

Quote from: will52100 on February 14, 2010, 07:04:48 PM
I'm thinking of cutting a cuple pieces of scrap 6x6 timber at an angle and nailing ply wood to the top. It'll be a solid ramp.

Use at least three 6x6's, and be sure to secure the ramp from moving away from the step when the first set of wheels hits it. It will desperately want to, you see, and if it does you're really gonna be in a pickle.

Good luck, pard. Let us know how it works out. And as Del said, we want pictures!!!!!

will52100 · February 14, 2010, 11:15:55 PM

Don't worry Daniel, I plan too, along with a couple 2x's and 1x's to make it one solid chunk of wood. It'll be next month before I pick it up as I've only got a couple more days left state side, but I think I've got it figured out how to move it.

I'll be sure to post pics when I get it in.

Thanks

Delmonico · February 15, 2010, 05:50:12 PM

Quote from: will52100 on February 14, 2010, 11:15:55 PM

I'll be sure to post pics when I get it in.

Thanks

We want pictures of the moving it.

will52100 · February 15, 2010, 07:35:59 PM

Will do, though it'll have to be taken in stages, need all hands for the shoving. I'll take some pics when I get it next month.

Will

pony express · February 15, 2010, 07:51:02 PM

That's a big one! Mine weighs about 650, and I put it in the house by myself. Lucky I didn't end up underneath it. Check out at you local hardware store for some of those hard plastic slides to put under it. I don't remember what they're called, byr they should make it easier to move into place once you get it on the tile, and they'll protect the tile too. they come in a lot of shapes and sizes, I'd get the biggest ones. Only about $10-15. Also, I moved mine across a carpeted room with a couple pieces of PVC pipe as skids. It slid along on them with almost no effort at all.

Delmonico · February 18, 2010, 07:42:45 PM

Quote from: will52100 on February 15, 2010, 07:35:59 PM
Will do, though it'll have to be taken in stages, need all hands for the shoving. I'll take some pics when I get it next month.

Will

Not a good idea, kind of like running a tractor with a buzz saw, you need one person to the side in a safe area to call 911.

will52100 · February 18, 2010, 08:16:13 PM

True, but you could call 911 and the worthless cops we got might show up sometime that day if the call was placed before noon. You learn to take care of yourself out here, the law darn sure won't.

will52100 · March 06, 2010, 06:03:39 AM

Well I'm still on the water, but laid up with pink eye for a couple of days and nothing much to do but browse the internet.

I found a site that sells Liberty gun safe and have free installation.

What do you guys think of this site?
http://www.gunsafes.com/Liberty-Gun-Safe-Lincoln-50-Gun-Fire-Safe-in-Burgundy-Marble-Gloss.html

Thanks,
Will

Daniel Nighteyes · March 06, 2010, 09:59:15 AM

Quote from: will52100 on March 06, 2010, 06:03:39 AM
Well I'm still on the water, but laid up with pink eye for a couple of days and nothing much to do but browse the internet.

I found a site that sells Liberty gun safe and have free installation.

What do you guys think of this site?
http://www.gunsafes.com/Liberty-Gun-Safe-Lincoln-50-Gun-Fire-Safe-in-Burgundy-Marble-Gloss.html

Thanks,
Will

That's an impressive safe, all right. I'd need more long gun storage, but I imagine the interior can be set up several different ways.

One thing on that page got me tickled, though. Below the price is an area that asks how many you want, and right next to it is an "Add to Cart" button. When I saw that button I got an instant mental image of some poor fool actually trying to put one of those safes in a shopping cart!!!!

J.D. Yellowhammer · March 06, 2010, 10:16:41 AM

I think you'd be in better shape if you had the safe delivered to your yard, then build the house around it!

will52100 · March 06, 2010, 10:40:12 AM

Thanks, it's a couple hundred dollars higher than if I bought it and transported it and put it in place myself.

As far as long gun storage, it can be set up several ways and it's advertised as a 41 gun safe, not sure how they figure guns for safes, if there figureing long guns or counting pistols also.

Daniel Nighteyes · March 06, 2010, 05:37:09 PM

Quote from: will52100 on March 06, 2010, 10:40:12 AM
Thanks, it's a couple hundred dollars higher than if I bought it and transported it and put it in place myself.

If you haven't already, be sure to find out if they charge extra for going up or down steps. When I bought my new one, they would have charged me forty extra dollars per step, up or down. Fortunately I wanted it in my garage, so they just rolled it off the lift gate and right thru the open garage door.