Appliances, office equipment, tractors; our Texas moving company comes across a lot of heavy items every day. These types of items pose a number of unique logistical problems when it’s time to move, and safety is always a key concern.
Let’s face it. Not everyone is built to be a moving bovine that can easily lift a couple hundred pounds or more. Moving heavy stuff is one of those times when the saying ‘work smarter, not harder’ definitely applies. Working smarter means using the right tools to make moving heavy equipment much easier.
Below you’ll find a rundown of moving tools that the pros often use to get heavy equipment, appliances and furniture to their next destination.
Forklift
A forklift is really good to have around when you’re moving heavy machinery. It was made for the express purpose of hauling around heavy objects for a short distance. While you won’t be able to move a piece of machinery to a new location with a forklift, it can be used to get the machinery loaded up on a truck or to relocate it within the same building.
Skates
Wheels usually make things much easier to move, and this tool is exactly like it sounds. Machine skates have a square or rectangular platform with wheels at each corner. The skates are placed under appliances and heavy machinery so that they can glide and slide across the floor instead of having to be picked up and carried. For better control, look for steerable skates that have a detachable handle and 360 degree rotation.
Roller Skids
Roller skids are very similar to skates with one big difference. Roller skids are specialty built so that they can be bolted to heavy machinery. A forklift or toe jack can be used to lift the equipment up so that the roller skids can be slid into place. Once the machine is lowered back down the skids are affixed to the machinery so that it can be pushed around and moved where needed.
MultiRoll is a leading manufacturer for roller skids. They have a number of products that can move equipment that ranges anywhere from 2,500 to 35,000 pounds. This piece of equipment ain’t cheap. At the end of the day, you’re better off hiring professional movers that are equipped to move heavy machinery than investing in expensive equipment you’ll use once or twice.
Lift Buddy
When all you need is a little help to lift the corner of a piece of equipment or furniture the Lift Buddy will do the trick. This simple tool acts like a jack to allow heavy objects to be lifted with one hand. While the equipment is lifted you can get skates, sliders or glides in place for easier moving.
Toe Jacks
As mentioned above a toe jack (or floor jack) can come in handy for anyone that doesn’t have a forklift at their disposal. Toe jacks are used to lift up the corners of heavy machinery so that skates or roller skids can be placed underneath.
A toe jack is more heavy duty than the Lift Buddy and operates a little differently. Instead of simply crowbarring the equipment up, a toe jack acts like a car jack. A hydraulic lever is used to do the lifting. Some toe jacks also have a swivel feature that allows you to position the equipment more precisely.
Toe jacks are ideal for heavy lifting because can be used whether there is a low clearance or high clearance. They are also able to lift up to 60 tons! Despite their incredible lifting power, in some situations multiple toe jacks may need to be used.
Lifting Straps
Mattresses, furniture, appliances and equipment can be moved by just two people when you use lifting straps, also known as a moving harness. This simple tool comes in many forms, but generally there are two straps with adjustable loops at both ends. The loops are worn over the shoulders or the forearms, and the strap is placed under the object being moved.
A major benefit of lifting straps is it takes pressure off the back. They also help even the weight distribution and provide better stability. Most lifting straps are capable of holding up to 700 pounds.
Air Bearings
For heavy equipment, with rates in the tons, movers often enlist the help of air bearings. An air compressor is used to inflate bearing elements that are connected to a platform, which is placed under the equipment. Thanks to the continuous airflow, equipment is lifted and literally floats across the floor. Air bearing systems are especially ideal for machinery and equipment with uneven weight distribution.
Hand Truck Dollies
For equipment and machinery that isn’t over-sized but is extremely heavy, a hand truck dolly is a great solution. If you’ve ever made a move you’ve probably seen this piece of equipment. However, you may not realize that there are different types of moving dollies. The load capacity is a key feature, but some dollies are built for specific purposes as well. For example, there are furniture dollies and machinery dollies as well as appliance dollies that have a sufficient height for bracing tall items like refrigerators.
Moving Truck or Flatbed
Large equipment, appliances and furniture pieces will require more than a long-bed truck to be transported to a new location. Anytime you need to move heavy equipment across a long distance you’ll need a moving truck or a flat bed with tie downs.
Moving heavy equipment is a skill that’s always best left to professional movers. One mistake can end up costing you thousands of dollars or cause a serious injury. At Square Cow Movers we’re experienced in helping individuals and businesses with all their moving needs. Give us a call or use the online form to get an instant moving quote for transporting heavy machinery and equipment.
Original source: https://squarecowmovers.com/tools-that-make-moving-heavy-equipment-easier/