Replies

1. 
   roc | Jan 04, 2012 11:03pm | #2

   26 footer van or . . . dare I say EIGHTEEN WHEELER ? Oh Yah

   I don' know about the significance of the "interstate" thing but I just fill up one of the largest Penske truck/vans (the 26 footers.  I don't need an eighteen wheeler . . .  yet . . . but sounds fun ).  A lift gate makes it just too easy but I have made due with just the ramp.  I have an engine hoist boom crane thing that I pick up and place the heaviest tools with.  I use heavy straps and chains as needed.

   http://www.pensketruckrental.com/

   PS: I used to rent U-hauls until I started to nickname them "U-Fix-its" now I stick with Penske.

   Take time to brace up, tie down or block everything so the load does not shift around or topple over.   My metal tool boxes have some wicked scars from my little learning episodes.

   I have seen the results of "immovable" aaahh "that ain't goin' any where " 600 lb blocks of metal go sliding with the greatest of easy just from taking off from a stop.  Wasn't my 600 lb chunk of metal so that's all right then.  Lets just say the pick up truck drove off down the road but the metal thing didn't.  Should'a closed that tail gate.

   ! ! ! !

   PPS: I pulled a car on a trailer behind the truck/van no problem.  Makes for some strategic parking for dinner etc though.  It's all part of the fun. Which includes filling up the fuel tanks.  The price of that is always breath taking !  Oh lordy and that was before the price of fuel doubled I can't even imagine now.

1. 
   roc | Jan 04, 2012 10:37pm | #1

   On Second Thought

   >Fuel prices<

   Yah.  Whatayahgonnado ?

   On second thought just make one of these, fill it up, put it in the back of your sports car and leave all that other stuff behind.

   http://www.daikudojo.org/Archive/howtos/20070224_toolbox/

   Trust me . . . you will have more fun in the end.

   :   )

   
2. 
   Westchester | Jan 05, 2012 08:45am | #3

   Moving

   Jaz

   If this is do it your self - are the tools going from a ground floor to another ground floor ?  Othewise if you need muscle any of the larger interstate carriers are equipted for this - i.e. Graebel Van Lines, United Van Lines, Atlas Van lines.  Charges are based on mileage + weight.  This might be cost effective once you add up the cost of a rental truck, straps, blankets,  - help - fuel- and wear + tear on your body -   another point is movers have insurance coverage in case something get damaged.

   SA

3. 
   bones | Jan 05, 2012 11:41am | #4

   As someone who has moved a lot some by myself and some by movers, the answer is depends.  How much do you have and how much does it weigh and whats your budget?   If you have a lot and its heavy may be worth your while to hire movers.  Be aware though they charge by the pound.    The last two moves I've made I had that luxury but my company was footing the bill.  They even moved my lumber.    The last move I make will be on my dime (as the first two were).  You can rent a truck lenght depends on your needs or how much stuf you have or weight loading.   Be sure to look at one with a hydrolic lift.    Also you may need to rent a boom or forklift depending on your need.  I know I've acquired a few pieces that are well over a 1000 lbs and are now in my basement shop so I'll have a treat getting them out (on that happy day I get to move back to VA) Gravity helped them go down the outside steps but will be a bear going the other way.   I know I've already looked at boom rentals and its about 500 - 1000 per day so when it happens I will have help and move quick and get it loaded.   I could see a resonalbe sized shop with large tools costing a couple grand when all is said and done depending on how far you got to go.  For me I have a truck and will pack all the small stuff myself in boxes and make multiple trips and move the big stuff myself.  I figure to hire some strapping young lads to load and more to unload for the final destination for the big stuff and will lift it out of the basement with a portable boom.   Only solace I'[ll have is it will be my last move.   The kids will deal with it the next time, i'll be gone and won't care.   Even with me doing a lot after I add in gas, rentals, labor, I'm budgeting about 5k to move me for my shop alone.  The house contents is another whole different issue.  Good luck. 

1. 
   Westchester | Jan 05, 2012 03:39pm | #6

   Final Decree

   When there's nothing left but bones you can name me as the beneficary and I'll help the kids get rid of the junk. Just make sure you leave funds for shipping it to me by Mayflower Van Lines -  I'll send you delivery info -

   SA

4. 
   RalphBarker | Jan 05, 2012 11:58am | #5

   I moved from San Jose, CA to New Mexico about six years ago. In addition to the usual accumulation of household goods, I had a three-car garage that was my shop. I opted to have a moving company (Mayflower in my case) do the packing, heavy lifting and transport. Not cheap, but ultimately worth the expense for an old guy like me. Essentially, you pay by the pound and the distance between locations. So, doing some "house/shop cleaning" beforehand is definitely beneficial, cost-wise. I filled an 18-cubic yard debris bin three times before the packing crew arrived - stuff that just wasn't worth the cost of moving it.

   In hindsight, I should have done an inventory listing the weight of the shop machines, and given that to the estimator who came out. Doing so would have increased the accuracy of the initial estimate. Mine was pretty good at estimating the weight of household goods, but was significantly off on the shop equipment, creating a bit of a surprise at delivery time. (The contract allowed adjustments for actual weight vs. estimated weight.)

   After 32 years of living in the San Jose house, I filled a 60-foot truck, even after all of the discarding. Also, be aware of the fact that they generally won't transport liquids, volatiles or "explosives".  Thus, most finishing supplies will need to be replaced, or moved by some other means.

5. 
   roc | Jan 05, 2012 10:03pm | #7

   Did I ever tell you guys about

   the one customer I had long ago who later became a friend.  Moved from California to Colorado.  He had two collections ( that he told me about) maybe more.  One was fine bicycles the other was antique brass lamps or lanterns I forget which now.  Well the "professional" movers put an iron weight set up high on a shelf or some such in the moving van.  The load shifted and the weights fell onto the bicycles and the lamps.  I was in charge of sending the bicycle frames off to be painted by the best pro bike painters iin the US that we could find; several hundred dollars each plus some serious money to pull the parts and build them up again; plus damaged parts.

   One would think the light weight lamps would at least go up high and the weights stay on the floor of the van.  Isn't that the lazy way to do it too ? !  Why go to all the trouble of lifting what must have been hundreds of pounds of iron weights up on to a shelf ?

   I have no idea how the insurance "fixes" perhaps irreplaceable  antiques.  Just throws money at it I suppose.  That wouldn't satisfy me.

   I have heard many many similar cases of members of the military having similar and worse problems with movers.  Military specific movers though sounded like.  Not sure how that all works for sure.

   My advice is watch them like a hawk if you got stuff you don't want to give up to damage.

6. 
   sapwood | Jan 08, 2012 12:27pm | #8

   container moving

   There are companies that will essentially rent you a shipping container. This is delivered to your shop, you fill it and lock it. They come pick up the container and move it to the new shop. Its delivered there, you empty it. They come haul the empty away. You pay by the job it doesn't matter how heavy the container is as long as the weight doesn't exceed the maximum allowed. 

   We did this using a 54' container. My shop filled the front and our household stuff filled the middle. Then we put a car in at the back.

   We hired local moving guys to help with the loading and unloading. 

   No surprises and it was all safe.

1. 
   roc | Jan 08, 2012 12:57pm | #9

   Seriously Cool

   >shipping container<

   Astonishing

   That would be a great way to go.

   Ah this modern world.

7. 
   LMadison | Apr 14, 2012 02:09pm | #10

   Moving Shop

   By now you may have moved.  About a year ago I moved my shop from Maryland to Tenn.  It is in a 24 X 30 space and too full.  I rented the largest Penski truck.  Before the move, I measured the inside hight of one of the Penski trucks to be sure that my metal shelves along the walls would fit.  The truck they delivered was smaller and completely messed up my plans.  I hired some construction workers I knew at the Maryland end and we just jammed everything in.  It was a mess.  At the Tenn. end, I hired labor from a local moving company.  They told me it was a mess...  It was worth hiring the labor.  The item that weighed the most was the SawStop table saw.  I wenched it up a ramp into the truck.  I was backed up to a slope which helped.  Give some thought to handeling things like that. 

1. 
   roc | Apr 14, 2012 08:09pm | #11

   Delivered the truck

   Wow, they do that ?

   I always ride my bike to the lot, throw it in the back and head back to the ranch with the truck. At least that way you can see what you are getting before hand.

   Or "The Boss" follows me back in our car when the yo yos say they have the truck on the lot when I reserve one and then when I get to the lot that I called say "the lot" is on the other side of the city from the one I called.  I haven't had Penski do that but the You Fix It company has done that to me.  One more reason they no longer get my business .