I wanted to order a new compressor for the garage. The unit I want weighs 660 pounds.
The question I have is when the tractor trailer delivers this to your house how do you move it from their truck to your garage and then move it to the location inside the garage that you want? 660 pounds is a lot of weight.
Make shure the shipper knows there is no loading dock. That way the shipper will have an elevator on the trailer. Have the driver deliver as close to your garage as possible. Most will have a pallet jack and will move the unit from ground to garage if the distance isn't too great.
Recently, I had an object like that delivered. The driver was elated that I met him at the end of my driveway with my pickup. He was kind enough to move the item directly from the lift on the trailer to the bed of my pickup. Drove it to where I wanted it and dropped it right there with help my cherry picker.
Make shure the shipper knows there is no loading dock. That way the shipper will have an elevator on the trailer. Have the driver deliver as close to your garage as possible. Most will have a pallet jack and will move the unit from ground to garage if the distance isn't too great.
When my crate engine arrived I told them I would pick it up at the freight terminal (Old Dominion). I backed my truck up to the loading dock and they slid it right onto the bed. Got home and used my engine hoist to get on the garage floor.
Everyone has there own way, here is how I handle one. Get it set close to the opening of your garage, leave it on the pallet. Assuming one is a tall person 5 11 or so, start to rock the compressor, the pallet will flex. As you rock it you can start to turn and maneuver it, walk it to where you want it. Moving large weight is all about control, careful with a hand truck, you get that thing leaned back to far and it will be on the floor in a heart beat. If you have a tool rental place even better rent a pallet jack.
The first compressor I had I left it on the pallet, the pallet absorb the vibration and some of the noise also. Couple of years later I decided to move the thing out side, walked it back to the front of the garage. Strapped it to a motorcycle trailer, tilted the trailer at an angle just enough so that when I attached it to the car the compressor was just up enough to clear the ground. Removed the pallet, the MC trailer was now a fork lift and I backed the compressor into its new home.. Un latched the trailer, using the tongue; now it was like a lever and simply set the compressor down.
It was a very fun project, not hard at all. I could have got help, but I enjoy the challenge of doing stuff myself. I will hire others to do stuff like the kitchen cabinets I am having refurbished for the wife now, no interest there. Mechanical stuff I will mess with that everyday all day..
Anything you do can get you hurt,, IF you use a hand truck,, JUST USE YOUR HEAD.. :drunk: And you will be OK..Things are moved everyday with them In they work very good... I'm 6' 238 pounds.. And it wasn't a problem.. And If I was only 5' 150 pounds I would do it the same way.. Anyway you decide to do it.. Just be safe AND USE YOUR HEAD !!!!!
Oh !!! And if you use a hand truck.. Just get another guy.. And it will be a breeze..Leave the pallet on it to move it..Good luck..
The most important thing to remember, and I think I can safely say I have moved more compressors than most here, is that a compressor is extremely top-heavy! A vertical compressor has almost no weight on the bottom compared to the top and when tilted over just a little it can get away from you in a hurry so bear that in mind. Just looking at the darn things can be quite deceiving since that big tank gives the very false impression of having ample balance weight on the bottom when it in fact is very light.
I bought a Northern 7.5 HP vertical a few years ago. Even thought they stated "free to your door shipping", they would NOT deliver to a residential address (I had to pick it up at the local terminal). After driving up and looking at it, I decided it would not fit safely in my son's S-10 (top-heavy, as oldred said) and opted to have a rollback transport it to my house where we used my engine crane to offload and move it to it's final resting place. I also have used the engine crane to offload and move a 800# landscaping boulder at my neighbors house!
I'd give 20 bucks to watch that. I'm still trying to figure out how to get that done without having to tear down my chain link fence. :drunk:
Only thing I can figure is a buddies backhoe. :sweat:
I recently picked up 2 RV axles (330#) at a freight depot with my pick up - and saved more then it would have cost to ship directly to my home ($65 vs ~$200). The neighbor helped me unload, but I would have cribbed it off had he not been available. Another thing, an 18 wheeler cannot make it around the cul-de-sac I live on, so would have had to drag 'em a couple hundred feet regardless.
You can rent a very heavy duty hand truck at U-haul for a few bucks if you don't want to buy one.
Mr. Dave.. They are more handy then you would think,, When I bought mine. I own a fitness club.. I used it to haul all my weight;s and machines.. Now I have it in my shop.. Never thought I would use it as much as I do.. And everyone on my street come's to use it also.. If I would have charged for everyone that use mine.. I WOULD BE RICH !!! Very handy to have..
Mr. Dave.. They are more handy then you would think,, When I bought mine. I own a fitness club.. I used it to haul all my weight;s and machines.. Now I have it in my shop.. Never thought I would use it as much as I do.. And everyone on my street come's to use it also.. If I would have charged for everyone that use mine.. I WOULD BE RICH !!! Very handy to have..
I just qualified my statement - I do have a hand truck, but as far as the new axles, had they been on a pallet, I could have used it.
As far as my using it - a heluva lot more then I thought I would, especially since my aching ancient back just ain't what it usta be ain: ain: (or else I just got smarter :drool: naaahh )
I'd like to add a little imput to this being I have driven for several freight company's for years.
Cul-de-sac? Ha Ha! more than likely, the semi truck making the final delivery wouldn't be an 18 wheeler but a ten wheel semi. That's a single, dual tire, rear axle tractor, with a single dual tire axle on the trailer. The trailer would be a 30ft. pup used for home delivery route's and even if it can't turn around in the cul-de-sac, I have backed up over 1 block to reach the house for del.
A lot of these trailers are now equipped with Hyd. lift gates and can lower the freight to pick up bed hath or street level.
All the compressor's I've ever delivered came mounted on a heavy duty wooden pallet and can be moved with a pallet jack.
If the driver is a teamster, he can be coaxed into helping move it after the pallet is on the ground with some $$$. A non union driver will probably be more than happy to help you get it right or close to where you want it for nothing but a good hand shake. All you have to do is request a "lift gate" delivery. :mwink:
I'd like to add a little imput to this being I have driven for several freight company's for years.
Cul-de-sac? Ha Ha! more than likely, the semi truck making the final delivery wouldn't be an 18 wheeler but a ten wheel semi. That's a single, dual tire, rear axle tractor, with a single dual tire axle on the trailer. The trailer would be a 30ft. pup used for home delivery route's and even if it can't turn around in the cul-de-sac, I have backed up over 1 block to reach the house for del.
A lot of these trailers are now equipped with Hyd. lift gates and can lower the freight to pick up bed hath or street level.
All the compressor's I've ever delivered came mounted on a heavy duty wooden pallet and can be moved with a pallet jack.
If the driver is a teamster, he can be coaxed into helping move it after the pallet is on the ground with some $$$. A non union driver will probably be more than happy to help you get it right or close to where you want it for nothing but a good hand shake. All you have to do is request a "lift gate" delivery. :mwink:
Unfortunately, when they called and said the material was there at the terminal and could they deliver, the dispatcher said it would have been a twin screw tractor, 53 foot trailer. The company, Estes Trucking - and teamster. Yeah, I am aware of what truckers can do, but I have also seen them try to take down that big tree in the island about a third of the way around and have to back out with a dented trailer. Also - why should I pay well over a hundred bucks for the price of driving a 30 mile round trip at my convenience TODAY/NOW, rather then wait for a truck to show "sometime" on Monday, or....... :sweat:
If the driver is a teamster, he can be coaxed into helping move it after the pallet is on the ground with some $$$. A non union driver will probably be more than happy to help you get it right or close to where you want it for nothing but a good hand shake.
I under stand your problem. Estes is a joke when it comes to residential deliveries. Best union co. would be fed ex but it will probably be damaged in some way. Overnite/UPS would be the way to go. I understand your wanting to save money on del. fee's. As far as getting down your street, IF it can be done there's only a hand few that will be able to do so and here's the difference, The one's that say I dunno or maybe, can't. The one's that say yeah, will.
Exactly what it says. Teamsters are only required to "tailgate" freight to the rear of the trailer. Most non union drivers are required to del. inside but not up stairs. Not to bash union drivers, but they are following co. rules. If they hurt themselves beyond the rear of the trailer they are not covered medically for breaking the rules. If he feels capable and it's not a big deal he might be helpful but it depends on the driver. Don't get me wrong that I think all teamsters are on the take but there's a few that will.
If there's no such thing as "bribe" the word never would have been invented.
or just plain dumb/lucky
got tired of rolling around under them, and decided that air ride seat in the cab looked pretty soft.
so i took the tools home, and now they pay me to sit around and listen to books on CD all day :thumbup:
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Hot Rod Forum
2.2M posts
175.6K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to hot rod owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!