How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

ronas

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Nov 28, 2010
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Charleston, South Carolina
How can a 4300 or more lbs safe be removed from a pallet? Safe can be moved around with forklift but I'd want to get safe off pallet so safe could be put on a 4x4 frame. Don't really want to put it on the floor because I figure I'd never be able to get it up.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

What kind of ceiling do you have above the safe? If you have strong enough beams and enough clearance a 3 ton block and tackle should do the trick. Also, if you have enough clearance and a strong/heavy/tall enough forklift, you might try using the forks to hoist it rather than lift it.

Also, if you can hoist it now, you can hoist it later, so no need for the 4x4 frame.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

My safe came on a 6x6 frame pallet. I put felt on the bottom of the pallet so I could move it and not screw up my wood floor. I placed the pallet on the ground and took 61/2 in trim stained and varnished it, and tacked it to the pallet making a not too bad looking base. Now if it needs to move no hassle.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What kind of ceiling do you have above the safe? If you have strong enough beams and enough clearance a 3 ton block and tackle should do the trick. Also, if you have enough clearance and a strong/heavy enough forklift, you might try using the forks to hoist it rather than lift it.</div></div>
Ceiling is 14 ft and probably not nearly strong enough to lift nearly 5000 lbs. I have an engine lift but it does not have nearly enough capacity. Also have two post Rotary lift with 10,000 lbs capacity. If I rigged the lifting arms with strong tube steel and connected them maybe I could lift safe from trailer but how would I attach arms to safe not eyebolt on top. Could use straps but not sure about stability if I used straps.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

Also, can you remove the safe door? As far as straps, a couple heavy duty ratchet straps may provide more stability than just trying to use regular ones. Crank them down and they could provide nearly the same stability as a fixed lifting point.

Remember, if you make it easier for you to move in the future, you also made it easier for a thief to move as well.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: In2b8u</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My safe came on a 6x6 frame pallet. I put felt on the bottom of the pallet so I could move it and not screw up my wood floor. I placed the pallet on the ground and took 61/2 in trim stained and varnished it, and tacked it to the pallet making a not too bad looking base. Now if it needs to move no hassle.</div></div> That sounds like a great idea there. Otherwise, I'd be hiring some professionals.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I placed the pallet on the ground and took 61/2 in trim stained and varnished it, and tacked it to the pallet making a not too bad looking base</div></div>

That sounds like the best bet for a heavy safe. It would be tough to haul off a 4K to 5K lbs safe.

It would probably not be nearly as hard to move around a 1500 lb safe which I'd want to bolt to floor.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

Here is another idea.

Put your 4x4 frame in place, mounted to the floor. Use the forklift to place the safe, with pallet, butted right up against the frame. Detach the safe from the pallet, and carefully, using a bunch of guys, or the forklift and slide the safe from the pallet to the frame. Just make sure the frame is shorter than the pallet.

If needed you can use a bunch of dowels as rollers to make sliding it easier.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

If your forklift will go high enough, you can open the door of your safe and pick from the inside top.

I would use wood cribbing and then carpet to cushion between the forks and the safe.

Place it as close to it's final position so you can set it in place.

The center of gravity will be favoring the front and the side that the door is hindged on.

Be carefull and only lift it high enough to slide the pallet out from under it.

When I do a rigging job safety is always first!

A 4300 lb safe can hurt you if it gets away from you.

One more thing, sometimes the safe builders will use Eye bolts through the top for hoisting as a rigging connection.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

Carefully and make sure to video it.
smile.gif


Good luck.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

In USAR ops we have moved 4-8 ton slabs of concrete using nothing more than levers, inclined planes, and rollers! You can't always get heavy equipment in where you need it. Nothing like working as the Pyramid builders did!

USAR Ops


Equipment Option,
Pickup the pallet with the Forklift.

Take a saw and cut away as much of the pallet as you can, you should only have a couple of slats left between the safe and forks.

Figure out the spacing of the wood slats left between the safe and forks, and put a set of temporary supports on the floor that will catch the safe inbetween them when you set it down.

Set the safe down on the supports, you should now be able to get the wood slats out, and the safe should be sitting on the supports.

Pick the safe backup, it should sit directly on the forks now, and move it to your base, you will obviously have to leave openings in the base for the forks. Once you set the safe, you can fill the openings in.


Primitive Option,
Place the pallet right next to your base.

Using the forks, or some guys with long levers, lift one side of the safe up at a time and place black iron pipe sections under it to act as rollers.

Using the forks or a bunch of guys, roll the safe from the pallet to the new base.

Lift one side of the safe at a time, take the pipe rollers out.

Best of Luck,
M Richardson
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: captrichardson</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Nothing like working as the Pyramid builders did!
</div></div>

Umm, aliens built the pyramids, DUH!

Really though There are a handful of cherry pickers out there that can lift that much. If all else fails I agree with captrichardson, levers and some sort of roller/dollies could get the job done.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TrgrTime56</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Good thing it's not going upstairs
laugh.gif



Good luck and let us know how you did it.

</div></div>

Ha...yeah, put it "upstairs" directly over where you want it "downstairs"...then wait a few minutes...:)
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

I would pick it up from inside safe door crib it up level with door frame or call a local rigging company.They should have a fork truck with boom attached to the front of lift then pick safe up from top with eyebolt shackle & short riggimg strap if you have enough ceiling height to do so.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

just watch that video. do it simple. thats how i moved mine by myself. its not as heavy but i did it old school like the egyptians. and no, not with slave labor, lol
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

..

What 264 said, but do not lift from the center of the top panel, rather, block to lift up on either side of the top panel near the outside safe walls! Or, depending on design, let the forks rest on the front top door frame (carpet protected) and a wood blocked and carpeted rear of top panel near back wall point.

Golf balls...damn good idea.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

When I worked for a moving company we were contracted to move a bunch of safes in various department stores. We used a J bar to get under them and then used round bar and rolled them just like they did in that vid.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: flounderv2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When I worked for a moving company we were contracted to move a bunch of safes in various department stores. We used a J bar to get under them and then used round bar and rolled them just like they did in that vid. </div></div>

Yes.. A "Johnson bar" will move a huge heavy safe with ease.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Otherwise, I'd be hiring some professionals. </div></div>

This ^^ A split second slower moving out of the way of my safe tipping over and one of the movers hired to bring in my safe would be dead. And it was appx 1380lbs empty.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i calling in a very heavy B U L L S H I T flag here....

this post is useless with out pictures......safes are only so large...then there are vaults!! </div></div>

Do you know what a Jonhson bar is ? It is not a crow bar. Talk to Riggers who move heavy machinery around with no problem with these tools.

The largest gunsafe you can buy and have delivered to your house can be moved with a Johnson bar very easily. A bank vault is another story
grin.gif
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MAGUA</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i calling in a very heavy B U L L S H I T flag here....

this post is useless with out pictures......safes are only so large...then there are vaults!! </div></div>

Do you know what a Jonhson bar is ? It is not a crow bar. Talk to Riggers who move heavy machinery around with no problem with these tools.

The largest gunsafe you can buy and have delivered to your house can be moved with a Johnson bar very easily. A bank vault is another story
grin.gif
</div></div>


...pictures please...and yes i have pitched a johonson bar...or as i called them a "mulie"
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

Sorry i don't have any pics. A standard Riggers Johnson bar has about a 5 ton lifting capacity..and that's one man using it . Imagine two being used in tandem that is 20,000 pds of lifting force. More than adequate to move a large gunsafe.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i calling in a very heavy B U L L S H I T flag here....

this post is useless with out pictures......safes are only so large...then there are vaults!!</div></div>

No pictures because I've not purchased yet. I want to figure out how much trouble and how expensive it will be to move to location I want it in garage before I drop a wad of cash on one.

From the sound of things it's not going to be easy or inexpensive to unload it from my trailer, I would pickup at truck terminal dock, unload it and then put it exactly where I want it.

They are both Amvaults that are reasonable priced considering the protection they offer. Both are TL30 rated.

The CF7236 weighs 4000 lbs. and the CF6528 weighs 3228 lbs. If I get one of these I will not bolt it to the floor since I may want to move it to a different location in the garage. I would or have someone else place it on a 4x4 frame, that way it could presumaby be moved to another location in the garage by removing the front of the 4x4 base and move safe with a pallet jack.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

i have expirence moving big heavy shit to include storm rooms that get bolted to the floor so tornados dont tip them away...these items got vents

in your case pallet jacks .......aren't the hot set up skates yes.......hydraulic jacks or house jacks then skates.
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

Not that I have a 4300lb safe but mine at only 1300lbs arrived on a dealers trailer that scissor lifted up. Then they carefully used huge pieces of channel iron as as bridge from trailer to porch instead of carrying it up steps. Then they seesawed it across the threshold of door. Pretty entertaining to say the least. I was told to add support under my floor, you might need to pour peers under yours. Good Luck to you. I agree with others Rent a crane maybe?
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MAGUA</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: flounderv2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When I worked for a moving company we were contracted to move a bunch of safes in various department stores. We used a J bar to get under them and then used round bar and rolled them just like they did in that vid. </div></div>

Yes.. A "Johnson bar" will move a huge heavy safe with ease. </div></div>

Guess I should have explained what a J bar is for those that didnt know the term.

http://www.gilmorekramer.com/more_info/oak_hardwood_lever_dollies/oak_hardwood_lever_dollies.shtml

Pic of a metal one.
14849_lg.jpg


Pic of a wooden one. Dont discount the wood models as they will still move 4000-5000 lbs.
145100_lg.jpg
 
Re: How to remove 4300 lb safe from pallet?

My safe weighs 1200# empty. It was laid down in the truck bed on carpet that had been sprayed was furniture polish to assist in sliding. At home a frail neighbor and I laid a 2x4 on the groung running lenght wise like the truck, centering under where the safe would land. We slid the safe out of the bed until it was ready to tilt. Eased it out and let the bottom center edge ease down on the 2x4 so that the end of the safe did not contact the concrete like the dicks in the Sturdy video. We got the bottom on the 2x4, I held the safe balancing it while the neighbor readied 2ft sections of sch 80 pvc to put under the safe and roll around on.

My rec to the op, get some buddies, or pay pro movers to do the job for you.

My next safe is going to be a doozie. Fuck, it will have to be moved, fuck.