New (to me) safe, need ideas.

[Sysop]

As the title states, I just got the deal of a lifetime on a safe. It is big. I need the best ideas on moving it. I have my 14k equipment trailer that I just equipped with a 12k lbs winch. I also have a couple snatch blocks to increase the pull. I also have my tractor, which will be woefully underpowered to lift it any. I'm hoping it is able to drag it some. It has already been dragged some by a wheeled skid steer, so that has my confidence up slightly. I'm told it weighs about 10k lbs. It measures 80" long, 38" deep, and is about 76" tall.

Any good ideas?

 

[thatguy]

10K pounds.. WOW... you could try to lay it down and roll it Egyptian style on a bunch of pipes - along with some power lifters from the local gym LOL

where are you going to put it? Hope you have reinforced floors...

 

[4570Man]

If it's truly that heavy I don't see any good way to load it without a forklift. You might be able to push at the top with you tractor and tip it enough to get rollers under it. You could move it around pretty easy at that point. I don't see how to load it on the trailer though. There's the obvious choice of winching it up ramps or tipping it on its side and winching it up but, I wouldn't feel good about that plan.

 

[Sysop]

Unfortunately, (or fortunately, not sure which yet) it is that heavy. Perhaps even heavier considering it has 120+ safe deposit boxes inside.

The initial plan is to wrap a couple 30k straps around it and try to drag it up the trailer ramps with a snatch block and two line pull from the 12k winch.

Once I make the slow trek to the farm with it, I'm not really sure what I'll do with it. First thought is to pour a pad of concrete to drag it off onto, then build a building around it.

There are NYC apartments that are smaller than this thing...

 

[bcp]

When you get it on a solid floor, ready to move into place, put a couple dozen golf balls on the floor to roll on. Keep putting the loose ones in front. It will push and turn easily.

Bruce

 

[flingwing1969]

When you get it on a solid floor, ready to move into place, put a couple dozen golf balls on the floor to roll on. Keep putting the loose ones in front. It will push and turn easily.

Bruce

He will then be the proud owner of a whole bunch of little flat golf balls, I'm afraid.

Anybody there have a decent forklift? Are you going to try and keep the safe deposit boxes, take them out before you move it and it should lighten it if only a bit. Beautiful thing though.

 

[flingwing1969]

Rent one of these. They come up to 12k lift capacity.

 

[bcp]

Stronger than you might think. A golf ball withstands 2-4000lbs of force when hit by a club.
Force of a Golf Club on a Golf Ball - The Physics Factbook

I moved about 800 lbs on a dozen or so, meaning several were out from under at any time.

Bruce

 

[flingwing1969]

Stronger than you might think. A golf ball withstands 2-4000lbs of force when hit by a club.
Force of a Golf Club on a Golf Ball - The Physics Factbook

I moved about 800 lbs on a dozen or so, meaning several were out from under at any time.

Bruce

I do love the idea. I've moved things with logs that way - had to move an outhouse 50 yards once.

 

[arpt209]

Were it me I'd find (if possible) a local outfit that sells and delivers gun safes. I know those fellers have specialized equipment for moving safes. I know that most of the BIG gun safes are only in the vicinity of 1,200 pounds give or take but they being in the business might have good information on someone who is equipped to move something that large. I kind of look at it like the safe I was given; I got a safe worth $???? for $400. About the only people who would respond to help me with a project like that would be friends. I wouldn't want to see one of them flat due to my request for assistance because I wanted to go Charlie Cheap Shoes for a few hundred dollars.

 

[My Gym]

Strongway Steel Pry Bar Lever — 5.5-Ton Capacity from Northern tool and wood blocks and railroad ties.

Using railroad ties and wood blocks, raise it one side then the other to the height of the trailer. Back the trailer up
to the safe and winch it on. Use the pry bar to lift safe to put pipe or golf balls under to move.
Use steel pipe for skid plates to protect surfaces.

 

[4570Man]

Rent one of these. They come up to 12k lift capacity.
View attachment 543319

I doubt it would take a forklift of that magnitude. I lifted an appropriate 5 ton stack of lumber with my 6500 pound rated forklift.

 

[4570Man]

Strongway Steel Pry Bar Lever — 5.5-Ton Capacity from Northern tool and wood blocks and railroad ties.

Using railroad ties and wood blocks, raise it one side then the other to the height of the trailer. Back the trailer up
to the safe and winch it on. Use the pry bar to lift safe to put pipe or golf balls under to move.
Use steel pipe for skid plates to protect surfaces.

I'd probably switch to jacks made to lift forklifts but it's not a bad plan. Don't forget to block the back of the trailer up.

 

[npalen]

Just hire the job done if you have enough money to fill that safe. Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[My Gym]

Strongway Steel Pry Bar Lever

The beauty of these devices is that it is a pry bar. You can pound the edge under the safe and get it started up. The supports are placed 1/3 of the way in on each side, and the pry bar is used at the edge. It would take 2 people, one to use and hold the pry bar and one to place the supports. Each side would only be lifted 2"-3" at a time. Definitly supports under the rear of the trailer. Getting the safe off the trailer would be a little harder. Attach snatch blocks at the rear corners of the trailer and winch it off. Use the railroad ties and wood blocks and reverse the process.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is it possible to remove the doors? lighten the load? My full sized backhoe is only rated for 4,000 pounds of lift, so that's just crazy how much weight you are dealing with. Does anything come out of it that you can remove?

Renting something to pick it up is your only option, it's just too heavy to do anything else.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Consider a roll back wrecker to haul it or a scissor lift trailer with a floor that lowers to ground level. Often times come in a 14k capacity.

Brett

 

[laurencen]

moved one with a semi wrecker, they can telescope the arm to put it in place also, no need for a trailer, if needed weld a lifting point to the top

 

[flingwing1969]

moved one with a semi wrecker, they can telescope the arm to put it in place also, no need for a trailer, if needed weld a lifting point to the top

Yes, I like this. But the wrecker would have to be pretty stout, they are used to rolling stock.

 

[jmc]

When you build the slab, could you incorporate a trailer height (un)loading-dock?