Moving equipment from Street to Garage

[foster239]

I’m planning on buying a new table saw and jointer. From what they tell me, a truck will deliver the equipment to the base of my driveway and then for a few dollars more they will lower the equipment to the ground. The machines are palletized. My problem is that although I have a rather short driveway (approx. 50 feet) it is pretty steep (about 6 feet of rise over 50 feet.) The pallets will probably weigh between 400-500#. How can I safely move the equipment into my garage?

[Bigdog72]

Pallet jack and North Carolina Woodworker muscle...rent a forklift...take it apart and move it in a piece at a time...etc, etc, etc

[steviegwood]

When my bandsaw got delivered the driver backed rig right up to my shop door, lowered the saw withe liftgate and used his pallet jack to take it right into my shop. If that is not possible in your case you may be able to rent a motorized pallet jack to take it up your drive if it is a hard surface. A good appliance dolly and several friends is another option. Hope this gives you some ideas. Steve

[gritz]

Last month when I had my new lathe delivered to the office, I paid the extra charge to have it delivered on a truck with a lift gate. The driver used a pallet jack to roll it onto the gate, and lowered it to pick-up bed height. Then we two just slud it right into the bed and two days later I hauled it up to the house, 54 miles away.

[Canuck]

Originally Posted by Bigdog72

Pallet jack and North Carolina Woodworker muscle...rent a forklift...take it apart and move it in a piece at a time...etc, etc, etc

+1 Stephen


Another idea if you have access to a small utility trailer.....

My next door neighbor purchased a 12' trailer (unassembled and in a crate). The driver parked his 18 wheeler in front of his home. We took his smaller 8' utility trailer and rolled it up to the tailgate of the 18 wheeler and slid the large crate onto the small trailer and wheeled it into his backyard shop. There we uncrated the new trailer and placed all of parts in his shop for assembly.

Worked great!!!

There would be no way he could have backed the 18 wheeler into his driveway without some serious damage to his yard.

Wayne

[froglips]

I'd also suggest posting a request for moving help.

Sure, I didn't do that, but I sniff a lot of glue (recreationally).

Lots of folks here have trucks and trailers. Not to mention a few dollies. I'm sure we could organize a solution.

If you want to do it yourself, I'd consider having the tools offloaded from the delivery truck into a pickup truck bed or rent a small u-haul box truck. Need a ramp of sorts (u-haul usually has a ramp in the truck).

Jim

[timf67]

Another option would be to have them hold it at the freight terminal and pick it up there. I have done it that way twice. I found out the first time that a pallet will fit in the back of my SUV! The second time I borrowed a pick-up. At the terminal they will load it for you with one of their forklifts. Once at home I just opened the crate right on the truck and carried it into the shop in pieces.

[crokett]

Here you go:

http://www.sunbeltrentals.com/Search...s=pallet+truck

Pallet truck lists at $23.00 for 4hrs. A flat 4-wheel dolly costs about that and you would own it afer except you'd have to crib the pallets up to get the dolly under them.

[DaveD]

Make darn sure they bring a truck with 'liftgate service'. Usually this costs you upwards of 75$ more. Without the liftgate the driver can only get the machinery to the back of the truck.

Now with some available muscle (couple of guys at least) from wherever (to push on the machinery up the driveway) and a reasonable truck driver (with the lift gate) he will drag it up your driveway with the pallet jack he has. Slip him a $10 bill and he will be more inclined to help the next guy too.

Of course this won't work on a gravel driveway.

If you have a sturdy pickup truck, a good way to strap the machinery down on the truck, and a way to get it off, then picking it up at the local dock is a good option too.