Unloading the Grizzly Machines
senior85222 | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hi All,
Grizzly says the customer is responsible for off loading your purchase when it is delivered to your door. I’m an old guy with out an army to help me. Any tips on how I can off load a 200lb + jointer from the freight truck? I don’t have a fork lift, crane, block and tackle, either.
Dick
Replies
Could you try to specify liftgate, pallet jack, residential delivery? I am getting a tool this way, and it will be in the garage without my effort. There is an extra charge for this, but I don't know the amount. The basement is another matter!
Senior,
Have they shipped it yet? If they have, find out who they used, if not, Call Grizzly and find out. My 250 lb bandsaw came via Fed Ex and I had the same concerns as you. I called FedEx and asked what THEIR policy was. They said the driver would unload it and put it in the garage as long as there were no steps. It probably also depends on where you live (major city/rural area), but primarily what transit company they use. Enjoy the jointer!
Dr. Bill
You could also rent a truck with a lift gate and pick up the machine at the freight warehouse. I did this last month from a purchase from Grizzly. The carrier was Viking/fedex ground. It was close by about 8 miles away, Therefore it made the delivery much easier placing the new machine into the shop. It was the sliding table shaper about 800lbs.
Of course a mobile base is a must.
Senior,
I went to the freight carrier warehouse and put the grizz cabinet saw in the station wagon (430 lbs). Opening up the box i could remove several pieces and reduce the weight quite a bit..as well as the size. The driver will help and by removing a few pieces I'll bet you'll have no problem....
I'd call the trunking company directly and find out how much more it would cost to have it delived on a lift gate truck. If it's too much or if they don't have any lift gate trucks, ask what they recommend.
Consider taking delivery at the trucking company's local terminal, take your toolbox and disassemble the jointer into pieces small enough to lift into your vehicle.
Look up millwrights and riggers in the Yellow Pages.
Find the nearest casual labor office and hire 2 or 3 guys.
Rent a ramp and an appliance dolly.
Look up piano movers in the Yellow Pages.
Rent a forklift.
Rent a come-along and rig a gin pole.
When we move equipment that is too big to manhandle, we call a local auto wrecker service. Be sure to tell them what you are moving and how much it weighs so they send the right size truck. We almost always use the small wreckers operated by full service gas stations and they are plenty big enough to handle the largest tools. Their trucks have a boom with a lifting sling and chains and they can lift your load off the truck and take right to the shop door and then boom it inside. Once inside we use rollers made of 2" steel pipe about 4' long to move the equipment into place. Try to move during the week rather than on a weekend to get lower rates on the wrecker.
Just have him back-up fast and slam on the brakes:)
Rent a lift gate truck and have him deliver it to your tail gate.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Edited 2/26/2003 8:04:23 PM ET by ELCOHOLIC
I just went through this exact exercise with a Grizzly table saw (460lbs) just last week. After Grizzly told me the carrier they'd be using, I called them directly and told them I'd need lift gate service for delivery and that I'd like the driver to bring along a pallet jack. They told me this would cost about $30 extra, which was fine with me.
As it turned out, the delivery guy showed up with all the right gear, pulled the saw onto the lift gate with the pallet jack, lowered it onto my driveway, and the two of us pushed it into the garage. He really didn't need me to help; I just felt better doing it :-)
The whole process took 5 minutes and he waived the extra delivery charge.
Senior,
As several have said I would call the carrier and explain your situation. Make sure they know its a home delivery and something must be worked out. I can't believe a carrier with a big @ss box to deliver to a home is not going to have a lift gate and heavy duty handtruck. Another option may be to take your chances with the driver being a nice guy and having a couple of $20's in your wallet.
I bought 2 Grizzly machines at the same time about 12 years ago and I did what BG did. I called the carrier 'Yellow Line' and refused home delivery to save the fee and schedule it on my time instead of having to be home all day from work. I had a van at the time and picked up at the carrier warehouse. One guy loaded them into my van with a fork lift. I asked the guy if I could help and he said yes "stand back sir".
When I got the load home I did what someone else suggested (sorry I forgot the name), I unpacked in the back of the van and unloaded in pieces.
You may need to find some help lifting the main machine onto the legs/base when it is time to put it together. Some assembly required.
Let us know how it works out. Hang in there.
Enjoy, Roy
step 1.
Open the box.
step 2.
pick up a piece.
step 3.
carry it to where it needs to go. If you are really feeble, (I wasn't but it was easier),
Grab a cart and bring it to where it needs to go..
None of the pieces for my jointer were that heavy that I couldn't have carried it by myself with the aid of a two wheel cart (handtruck)
Step4.
assemble it according to instructions
When I've had deliveries like this, I get a call from the trucking company dispatcher beforehand, whoc always asks if this is a residential delivery. I've always been lucky enough to have them throw in the lift gate truck for free; if you're flexible on delivery date they can usually schedule several deliveries in your ara on the same day (makes it worth their while, I guess).
Another tip: I've rented an automotive engine hoist in the past to help move tools around. I don't think I could have dealt wit the 400+ lb. Grizzly bandsaw without it.
I had a Grizzly lathe delivered about two years ago. Depending on the driver, they're usually pretty agreeable to helping you out. There's usually a hand truck on board and it shouldn't be too difficult to get it from the truck. Good luck!
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