Replies

1. 
   sschefer | Mar 28, 2002 12:25am | #1

   You're in luck, U haul and Ryder both have trucks with lift gates that you can rent. You can also rent what's called a refrigerator hand truck that has a strap that can be wrapped around the equipment to secure it when you lift and they have other dollies that you can also rent. I always try to plan my moves around the availability of friends. That way if I need some help, I know they're around.

   Steve - in Northern California

   If the doctor says you have Attention Deficit Disorder, do you pay attention to him?

2. 
   TomFerreira | Mar 28, 2002 04:09am | #2

   Smaug,

   I believe that Ryder and AMI both rent trucks with lift gates. I agree that this is a must for anyone moving. You could also have the movers do it.

   TDF

3. 
   woodchuckwil | Mar 28, 2002 06:00am | #3

    When I moved 2 years ago, I had a moving company move all my stuff. They showed up with a dolly with a flat tire! Had a terrible time with that. Ended up dropping my Grizzly 15" planer, broke the switch and dented the dust hood. Some other stuff got mangled too, mover insurance isn't worth much. Next time I move I think I'll sell my big tools with the house and buy new ones and have them delivered

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 28, 2002 06:09am | #4

   I'd not trust movers with my tools.  If the distance was such that I could rent a truck and drive myself, I'd get the truck with the lift and do it myself.  Otherwise, I do as mentioned and sell here, buy there.

2. 
   Merryhiker | Mar 28, 2002 03:43pm | #5

   Buying new is a good idea, just remember, that for larger tools, delivery means to the back of the truck and you have to get it off the truck and into the house. The insurance/warranty is better to that point, but get some help. The general recommendation is that you get a truck and go get it from the terminal yourself.

   On the other hand, we just moved 2 years ago and I had no problems with the tools that were moved. My wife joked that there was 1 truck for my tools and stuff and 1 truck for everything else.

1. 
   woodchuckwil | Mar 28, 2002 04:07pm | #6

      The post about selling all my tools and buying new was just daydreaming, like I could start over and buy all the tools I should've bought in the first place (;->)

4. 
   Todd_67 | Mar 28, 2002 11:42pm | #7

   Ryder and Penske do rent trucks with lift gates.  However, those trucks must be returned to the same location that they were rented from.  The "one-way" trucks are equipped with a substantial ramp.  In either case, the refrig dolly is highly recomended, not just any dolly, the one with hard tires and a strap, preferably one that has a tilt out cheater wheels(so once you get the item on the cart and strapped to it, you can tip it back and have it rest on the cheater wheels at an angle so you don't have to bear any weight).  Either company has them for rent.  Personally, I used a Engine hoist to unload my equipment when it arrived new.  I don't think I do it that way again.  The las piece I got was my JET 20" planner.  Got it strapped, attached to the hoist, then slowly started moving the hoist back from the pickup truck.  Once it cleared the tailgate, I need to make a slight location adjustment for lowering it.  When I moved the hoist, the planner slipped, flipped and landed on the floor upside down, still in it's shipping container.  I about had a heart attack.  So, that is one way to UNLOAD.  Funny thing is, I flipped it back over <essentially> plugged it in, and has been working great ever since.  Kudos to JET.  As I write this I am just LMAO rethinking about it.
5. 
   Rob_Weiner | Mar 28, 2002 11:49pm | #8

   Smaug-

   There are moving companies that specialize in art, computers, sound equipment, and machinery.  If you find a machinery mover you should be in good shape.  I hired one to move all my heavy machinery.  They were excellent and moved it all without a scratch.  I thought they would be bummed out to see a 600# planer, but they thought it was a feather compared to the 2000# satellite dishes they had been humping around all morning.

   Good luck.

   Peace.

   -Rob

1. 
   user-394086 | Mar 29, 2002 12:05am | #9

   Thanks for the advice, people. I did a Yahoo search and finally found a Ma 'n Pa place that had lift gate trucks for rent. They're pretty expensive, but a lot less than replacing damaged machinery and a dented up driveway, I think.

   It's $80 for rental, $0.30 a mile, + gas and I'll be driving 80 miles or so round trip. My jointer already tipped over on the driveway while I was moving it with a dolly. I think I will check the alignments of everything once I get set up in the new place.