Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 42

Moving heavy stuff alone

| Tools and Equipment
  1. #1
    Captaincopper started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Moving heavy stuff alone

    Howdy!



    I want to start picking up stoves/other heavy appliances all alone instead of bringing a helper. I offer to pick up anything even if it's up or down stairs.

    I'm a big dude so I can handle the weight on my own (most of the time, not always lol) but I need something solid and secure to grab on to. Looking for some kind of handtruck, cart or dolly with straps.

    What do you guys use? Any specific brands? Links?

    Thanks!


  2. #2
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Go check out the appliance carts at the rental shops, their kinda tall with the big ratchet strap. Don't know where you could buy one of those tho,,,

  3. #3
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    20
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    although I haven't used this myself, I've been watching this dolly......can go up the stairs without you having to lift it every step.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-6-Wheel-Stai...item35b13419a3

  4. #4
    TheHoss's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    The tater state
    Posts
    863
    Thanks
    1,112
    Thanked 840 Times in 279 Posts
    I just use yer standard dolly.

    I do it all alone just like you do bud. It's profitable, but man it can hurt ya if yer not careful. Protect yer back, shoulders, and neck.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to TheHoss for This Post:


  6. #5
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    72
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 85 Times in 20 Posts
    How about a furniture dolly? I saw one at Home Depot for about $30. Don't know if this will serve your needs or not. Just a thought. I'm certain however that it could handle the weight of most appliances.

  7. #6
    KzScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Denver Metro, CO
    Posts
    4,841
    Thanks
    7,019
    Thanked 5,792 Times in 2,417 Posts
    Got a email from Harbor Freight today and with coupon the appliance hand cart with strap is on sale for $64.99.

  8. #7
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    I have seen a lot of movers move things by themselves. A lot of times, it is all about how you hold the item and where you put the weight. I like the appliance dolly as it will probably be the most relevant for your work. Appliances are typically what would be downstairs!
    Last edited by scrapper25; 07-07-2011 at 11:44 AM.

  9. #8
    TheHoss's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    The tater state
    Posts
    863
    Thanks
    1,112
    Thanked 840 Times in 279 Posts
    Save some money. Dont spend $60+ on an "appliance dolly" just because it has straps. Put yer appliance (or whatever) on the dolly, and use yer own straps to strap it on there. I've done that MANY times. Works like a charm.

  10. #9
    Dumpster-Dee's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Location
    SW Georgia
    Posts
    1,775
    Thanks
    2,286
    Thanked 838 Times in 457 Posts
    Appliance dolly's are longer (taller). Isn't that worth the difference ?

  11. #10
    EcoSafe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    May 2011
    Posts
    3,705
    Thanks
    3,713
    Thanked 6,807 Times in 1,954 Posts
    as soon as you are financially able here is the solution;

    heavy; solution: several 2x4s $500.00 for a wench and 150 ft of 3/8 stainless cable.

    course some times the customer gets a little testy about running the cable through the kitche, living room and den to get it to the basement, or when you start nailing the 2x4s to the steps to use as runners.
    Last edited by EcoSafe; 07-07-2011 at 08:26 AM.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to EcoSafe for This Post:


  13. #11
    Dumpster-Dee's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Location
    SW Georgia
    Posts
    1,775
    Thanks
    2,286
    Thanked 838 Times in 457 Posts
    Well, olddude you gave me a great idea....how about just hooking the wench to a regular dolly and just guiding it out ??

  14. #12
    TheHoss's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    The tater state
    Posts
    863
    Thanks
    1,112
    Thanked 840 Times in 279 Posts
    Ahhhh yes. Forgot about that! I reckon the extra length would help ease the back strain. Lord knows we could all use a few more inches...

    Yes, i meant to pun. Im so punny.


    Quote Originally Posted by Dumpster Dee View Post
    Appliance dolly's are longer (taller). Isn't that worth the difference ?

  15. #13
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    East NC
    Posts
    124
    Thanks
    156
    Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts
    Your a punny guy!
    Quote Originally Posted by TheHoss View Post
    Ahhhh yes. Forgot about that! I reckon the extra length would help ease the back strain. Lord knows we could all use a few more inches...

    Yes, i meant to pun. Im so punny.

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to Dixiedeadhead for This Post:


  17. #14
    newattitude's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hinckley Ohio, home of the buzzards
    Posts
    2,163
    Thanks
    1,431
    Thanked 2,497 Times in 904 Posts
    Well I have a conundrum. I was given permission to take a plow blade but its about half a ton and no way can I lift it and one helper isn't enough either. I dont have a winch on my truck, is there some easy build thing to make where I could possibly lift one end high enough to slide into my truck using another truck to pull a chain or rope attached to it?? I have ideas running through my head from building a 3 part frame with a chain or something lol, but Im not real technical like that to figure something out that I could erect in a few minutes and not permanently attach to the truck.

  18. #15
    Mick's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Palermo, Me
    Posts
    3,405
    Thanks
    363
    Thanked 3,086 Times in 1,326 Posts
    How about a pulley or come-along attached to the front of the truck bed? Take off the tailgate and put a barrel on the rear step. Run the chain/cable over the barrel and to the plow blade. Start pulling. Use 2x4's as a pry bar and to guide the blade and to keep it from getting hung up. Or get a cheap hand crank winch.
    People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.

  19. #16
    Mick's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Palermo, Me
    Posts
    3,405
    Thanks
    363
    Thanked 3,086 Times in 1,326 Posts
    Or is there a tree handy? Winch up, back under, lower.

  20. #17
    newattitude's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hinckley Ohio, home of the buzzards
    Posts
    2,163
    Thanks
    1,431
    Thanked 2,497 Times in 904 Posts
    I like that barrel/chain idea, there isn't a tree large enough to use by it or where I could move it to by pulling with chains. I'm pretty sure there is come-along at my dads. Thanks Mick!

  21. #18
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Location
    CA/MN
    Posts
    24
    Thanks
    33
    Thanked 40 Times in 4 Posts
    In my younger days I"d carry a washer and dryer upstairs around the corner to the apartment. Kinda old for that now, but them hand trucks with straps work pretty good. I also use furniture dolly's only have to lift about 6" and get em under there. Sometimes lift one side and put it on blocks, then lift the other and slide the dolly under it.

  22. #19
    TheHoss's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    The tater state
    Posts
    863
    Thanks
    1,112
    Thanked 840 Times in 279 Posts
    I was alone, about 80 miles out of town on a big ranch clean up project last summer. I stumbled upon a LARGE trailor frame. It was still on wheels, well, rims. I pulled er out of the ground with the pickup. I then backed up to it, got a log, lifted with all my might and get the tongue on the log. Took a rest. Rests are IMPORTANT when lifting heavy things alone. Then, lifted the tongue onto my bed. Just so it was barely on it. I had my tailgate off for this. I backed up the truck about 6 inches at a time. Each time, getting out, readjusting. Eventually i got it a little more than half way on, i then simply lifted the end on the trailor up, and the front of it fell down into the bed.

    Took that alone to the scrap yard. Yard was only about 4 miles away from me, i was curious as to how heavy it was. The weight was 790 pounds.

    I was able to lift this, by not EVER lifting the entire weight. Just used leverage. Leverage has been a life saver for me, i used it more than 20 times a day it seems.

    With the bucket, i would do something like this. I had to load one of those suckers before, it was NOT fun alone, but i got it done. Took the tailgate off, slid a series of 2x4's and other wood under one end, simply by forcing them under the bucket 1 by 1. After i got it high enough where i could lift it on end without straining my back too much, i did. I lifted it until it was sitting on its end. The rest was simple. I just pushed er over, into the bed. It didnt go all the way in, so i took one of my heavy duty straps hooked it up to where my tailgate would click in, and around the end of the bucket on the ground still. Then, started ratcheting away. It slowly brought er up, and in. Using LEVERAGE. It was awesome and very effective, with little strain on my back. Come to think of it i didnt use 2x4's, i used somethin else, just wider boards layin around.

    Sorry for the long post. Just got done tearin down TV's, reckon i needed to have a release of sorts haha.

  23. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by TheHoss:


  24. #20
    KzScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Denver Metro, CO
    Posts
    4,841
    Thanks
    7,019
    Thanked 5,792 Times in 2,417 Posts
    I like the way you think, great info Hoss.
    Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler
    Certified Zip-Tie Mechanic
    "Give them enough so they can do something with it, but not too much that they won't do nothing."


  25. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Moving To Michigan
      By mhlyons in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 01-06-2013, 09:23 AM
    2. Replies: 8
      Last Post: 04-06-2012, 03:37 AM
    3. Moving to Washington State finally!!
      By Hemi22! in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 25
      Last Post: 10-01-2011, 02:48 AM
    4. Thinking of moving sometime soon...
      By Saroro in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 04-30-2011, 11:59 AM

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook