I’m preparing to move my shop and construction business from Colorado to Northern Virginia. I could use some ideas on moving all of my equipment, including scafold saws,pump jacks etc. I would like to do it myself with a large 40 foot trailer and have it pulled after I pack it. Then have it sit while I unpack it on my time schedule. Does anyone have information for leasing, cost and time duration etc. a trailer, or any helpfull advice on this subject.
Thanks,
jcbuilder
Replies
you might look at a 40ft container, instead of a trailer. With a container, you're not paying for the entire trailer while it's sitting.
You can also buy pre-owned containers pretty reasonably, they make great industrial storage.
in the denver area try calling Denver Noble- they are not cheap but very good at moving and loading heavy equipment. can't help you at the far end- my wife and i were only going as far as western nc.
m
We've made several cross country moves however they were done by moving companies. Since I have always felt that the "movers" wouldn't be careful with my equipment I made wooden crates specifically designed for each tool. That way I knew they'd be protected and being in wooden boxes they would pack better in the truck, no wasted space.
I've never had any tool damaged and I always received the tools. When making commercial moves things always seem to get lost but if you're doing it yourself that will not be a problem. A side benefit is that if you construct the case with some forethought you can use most of the wood on other projects.
Good luck, Roger
I moved my shop and wood 350 miles up the east coast and used ABF. They dropped off a trailer,gave me a couple days to load it, then drove it up and gave me a few days to unload it. I think the time period for loading/unloading may be negotiable or extended for a fee. You only pay for the volume you need, be it a partial load or full trailer. The cost was around $900 which was great considering the weight and the volume involved.
Ken
hi jc (?) like vermonterken we ship by LTL and they will drop an enclosed trailer and pick it up when it's ready. I also would get things ready on skids which you can build to your custom needs, ie so that there is support under feet if machinery (bolt things down) and things are protected; and there is room for forklift forks. then you would have to rent a forklift to load the stuff. Depending in how heavy your equipment is this may or may not be feasable. Also, make sure that the same truck line goes all the way without interlining (changing truck lines). Good luck
I moved recently, NJ to CA. Everything from my table saw to my pint glasses!
I used Consolidated frieght to do a "self move", where I bought space on a trailer. After I loaded it, they picked it up, filled it up, drove the distance, made a drop at a local freight depot, and then dropped the trailer off to me.
I didn't do it to save money... I didn't want to spend 5 days on the road driving 3,000 miles with my stuff in the back of a truck with only a pad-lock protecting it the parking lot as I slept in a motel room.
Just some advice... learn to pack your stuff like a japanese electronics manufacturer!!
Even though I felt like I had "overpacked" I had stuff get damaged. Their trailers don't have "air-ride", and believe me... my stuff bounced all the way down route 66!
Insurance claim you say? Ha ha ha ha ha!!! I paid for extra insurance, but was told that it was my fault for not packing better. I was also told that most people "expect a certain amount of damage because they are saving money". Now theres a Ad-Slogan if I have ever heard one!!!
Luckily, nothing that I wasn't willing to fix myself or toss was damaged.
In the future, I will use an "air-ride-equipped" mover, or do it myself with a Ryder/U-Haul. But that's just my 2 cents...
Good Luck!
that's a very good point. My shop came through mostly unscathed, but I also had my household in there too.My furniture was trashed from all the jostling and bumps. Of course I packed my shop much better and didn't care about the furniture,but still I was surprised by the amount of rubbing damage. Air ride equipped might be something to think about if you cannot pack your things well.
ken
JC, This might sound kind of dum but quite a few years ago a fellow woodworker was doing the same as you only he moved all his tools and shop equipment from Michigan to South Carolina. He moved shortly after huricane Andrew hit in the 80's or 90's I cant remember exactly when it was but at any rate he shopped around like you but nobody would let him leave a truck or a trailer set for the amount of time it would take him to unload. He called me one day and said he solved his problem he bought an older school bus. The thing was only about 10 years old and at that time he only gave about $700.00 or $800.00 for it. The bus was '45 or '50 long but the only set back was he had to make two trips but his original thought of reselling the bus fell through. He decided to refurbish the bus as his work truck the darn thing has everything in it including benches mitersaw a small tablesaw. He sheated up the inside with plywood so he could hang tools and shelves he even has his welder and cutting torches in it. I think there might be a kitchen sink in there someplace.Ha Ha Also he kept 4 seats for his crew of workers.
Well good luck and I hope your move can go fairly smooth,
Sincerely
James Clark
at the"PUTTERIN YANKEE" workshop
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