27 Oct
2003
27 Oct
'03
4:25 a.m.
On Mon, 2003-10-20 at 15:19, JP Hindin wrote:
Greetings;
I am faced with picking up a sizeable IBM some hours from where I live in
the next few weeks.
What I had originally planned to do has fallen through, and now I am left
trying to work out how best to lift what has been estimated as 800+lbs of
1978 IBM.
I have a decent half-ton pickup truck, its more than plenty for carrying
this machine home. The magic trick is - how do I get the heavy sucker into
the deck?
I was planning on "borrowing" another truck with a lift-gate on it, to
lift the IBM up to the pickup deck height, and then waffling it into the
pickup. That has fallen through, and actually renting one is, as far as
I'm concerned, cost prohibitive ($78 + 29c/mile + $150 deposit).
Gee I'm getting to be pretty good at moving stuff! I've rented 7-8
trucks in the last 6 months or so to move equipment (one just this last
weekend). A lift gate makes it so much easier. However you can make
due without one in a pinch.
A *sturdy* ramp and a come-along (hand winch) are required. In a pinch
you can use heavy plywood as the ramp but make sure it is supported
underneath otherwise it'll break.
If you have enough folks, you can "lever" it up into the bed of the
truck but this requires a fair amount of "lift" -- you'll need a number
of strong people.
I also use ratcheting tie down straps to secure the load. I have not
had any problems with loads coming loose with those (as opposed to
ropes).
Whatever you do make sure you think about safety! Be prepared to "let
it drop" if things get out of control! Make sure that you have at least
a couple of people around in case something bad happens -- it's no fun
being pinned under a heavy piece of equipment with no one around.
--
TTFN - Guy