Turning a fort into a deer stand

[mscheer772]

After 10 years my son is done with his fort. I'd now like to make it a deer stand. It's dimensions are approximately 6X8 and 9 feet high. It's frame is made of 4X4's sunk into the ground,not sure how deep, pretty sure not in concrete. There is a sand box built into the base of the fort. I've removed the sand, and now am ready to lift the fort up out of the ground, lay it on it's side, and roll it over to the driveway, then load it on a trailer. No heavy equipment can be used for this project. My Tractor and attachments are 400 miles north.

How do I lift it out of the ground without it getting top heavy and collapsing over?
Should I support the frame with any bracing?
What should I use to jack it up out of the ground?
How many people should I have to help?
What dangers should I be concerned with?


Any and all advice is wanted.

You TBNers have been great in the past HELP!!!!!!!!!


-Mike Scheer-

[bones1]

Do you have any helpful pictures?.

[Robert_in_NY]

Depending on how deep the poles are sunk and if you want to save them is going to make a big impact on this project.

If you don't care about saving the post, put a 6 ton bottle jack under the corner, take some pressue off the leg and cut it off flush with the bottom of the shed. Repeat with the other three legs and if possible get some round rollers or post and a few sheets of plywood so you can lay the plywood on the ground, set the rollers/post on the plywood and slide the shed over the rollers. Just keep moving the rollers and plywood forward as you move the shed. When you get it to your trailer and need to lift it then you need a lot of blocking or a bunch of strong guys. This size shed shouldn't be too heavy but if it is you can either start blocking the shed up or use some blocks and a heavy post for a lever on both sides to lift it up.

Now if you want to keep the post that are in the ground you are going to have to either block the building up till the post clear or dig some huge holes so the post will tip out when you try to lay it over.

[ampsucker]

agreed. lifting up can be accomplished with a several strong guys on each side once you loosen up around each post and find the bottom.

i would also suggest a come-a-long would probably be of good service on this project if you don't have a lot of buddies that can help. last year i moved an 8x12 shed by myself out of a mud hole, onto a trailer, 20 miles to new home and unloaded. just used a come-a-long, some old utility pole pieces for rollers and some old wheel rims for rollers.

if you're worried about it being top heavy, just secure it with guy lines to something solid and start tipping. if you use a ratcheting comealong as part of the rigging, you can then lower it one notch at a time onto its side.

amp