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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!
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,,,
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
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.
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.
Got a email from Harbor Freight today and with coupon the appliance hand cart with strap is on sale for $64.99.
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!
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.
Appliance dolly's are longer (taller). Isn't that worth the difference ?
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. :)
Well, olddude you gave me a great idea....how about just hooking the wench to a regular dolly and just guiding it out ??
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
Your a punny guy!Quote:
Originally Posted by TheHoss
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.
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.
Or is there a tree handy? Winch up, back under, lower.
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!
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.
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.
I like the way you think, great info Hoss.
Hoss, you're the second one to mention taking the tailgate off, I'd not thought about that but it makes sense number one to not break the tailgate (!) and it would let me get something on the step like Mick suggested. I'm going to go have another try at it tomorrow using these ideas - thanks everyone! I'm going to be sure to toss anything I might need for all these ideas into my truck tonight as this would be a nice chunk of change.
Used to be they were fairly strong but in the last 15 years they seem to fold over if you look at them wrong...it should be one of the toughest parts of the truck you would think.Quote:
Originally Posted by newattitude
Dropped a ton and a half of barbed wire on a Chevy tailgate last year. Folded up like a piece of TP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KZBell
Someday I plan to build a trailer similar to this.
http://mikestrailers.com/images/smL%20015.JPG
I bought an old truck from a cemetery that had a overhead hoist.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...01020-1456.jpg
Cut off the frame and sold the truck.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...5_699703_n.jpg
Granted this will only work if I can back up to the item being picked up. The trolley has a neat setup with pulleys and a chain drive to move it and set it anywhere along the length of the trolley beam.
*Drools*
omigosh that is going to be something great!!
Found another trailer. I don't see a hoist on either of the trailers. If (and that's kind of a big if) I ever get this thing built it will really save the back. Then I'll complain about holding the button down to run the hoist and trolley drive. http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/Mark97/grin.gif
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../area-1php.jpg
That tag almost looks like it says 4500 lb cap.
You have a lot of cool stuff.
if you weld, make your own tool.
They have cranks on those truck ramps. You know the ramps you unload tractor trailers with when you don't have a loading dock. Not sure of the capacity and their two speed. Pull handle and it goes down faster. Push handle and it geared slower.
Keep in mind that when you beef anything, you need to design a "weak point". The weak point will be that part which intentionally fails first and will result in as little damage to the unit and danger to user/onlooklers as possible. For instance, you would not want the lift chain to be the weak point but maybe the support legs which would bend. The unit is then rated for the capacity of the weak point.
Re-cycler....is your life as much fun as it seems from your posts ?
pretty impressive Re-cycler....love all your "stuff" and enjoy your pictures. Maybe you should change your handle to ironman !
Cool stuff...Your 1 acre will be bursting at the seams before long.
Found something else to move heavy stuff with. Wonder how far I would get if I rode up on the controls and had a driver with a 2 way radio to tell driver when and where to stop so I can pick up junk.
http://www.allprotrailers.com/allpro...203-204003.JPG
:D LOL!! Now there's something you wouldn't see every day!!
Allrighty then.....
;?)
One way to move heavy stuff, is make an A frame and use that. Folks used em to pull fence posts for a long time. Just lean it toward what ya wanna move, put a cable over the top and drive forward till the frame is verticle, then put a block under the object, and repeat as neccessary.