Shifting machines.

[handyman]

Does anybody know of a competent machine mover that does not talk in telephone numbers to move plant?

I need to move a Wadkin RS lathe with an 8ft bed, an LQ floating head router, with flywings and phase changer and a 48" guillotine press from East London to my workshop in Horsmonden, Kent.

So far, I have had quotes that I find unacceptable and seem to be paying for a luxury lifestyle on the part of the company owners.

Anybody know of a one man operator with lorry and HIAB, based in the South East? Any help much appreciated.

Handyman

 

[nickson71]

It maybe a silly idea but ........ have a look on ebay I'm certain that I've seen pick up and delivery adverts on there

 

[RogerS]

How about palletline? assuming you are able to get the machines onto a pallet at your end?

 

[Noel]

Could you get something with a tail lift for easy money and do it yourself?

 

[Argee]

Did you try Coppards, handyman (662777)? They're just down the road from me, if you want me to make an enquiry in person.

Ray.

 

[Scrit]

There are problems with pallet services. They don't insure your equipment for it's true worth - the LQ isn't a problem, but I doubt that they'll pay fully for the RS if they drop it. So you'll need to make sure you've got adequate cover. A Wadkin LQ recessor

is a ruddy awkward top heavy beast and it's your responsibility to get it onto a pallet and well strapped down (BTW that one was strapped down in addition to the strappings). The RS might be more of a problem as it exceeds the size of a standard pallet and it may also be difficult for the pallet company to get it loaded/unloaded for that reason. It will certainly attract a "double pallet" charge.

Personally, having seen inexperienced cowboys drop machines a few times over the years I'd steer well clear of them unless your moving anything other than a small table saw or spindle moulder - they probably won't carry full replacement value insurance (RHA general freight insurance pay-outs are under £50/tonne) and they won't know how to lift and secure your machines without risking damaging it. Also they probably won't have the gear to move the stuff to and from the vehicle, either - a specialist machinery remover will generally turn up with a couple of pallet trucks, specialist slings and hooks, etc, set of skates, toe jacks, rolling pry bars and so forth - all specific to the trade. That's what you pay for with a proper machinery remover. If you have access to a FLT at both ends I'd certainly consider strapping your stuff onto pallets and hiring a 7.5tonne curtain sider - just remember that you'll need load tie-down straps (not rope). Other than the the other way to save dosh is to find a machinery remover who's doing a drop in your area and is prepared to do your run as a "shunting" movement.

Could you get something with a tail lift for easy money and do it yourself?

Maybe a point to bear in mind is that an LQ, for example, is 7ft high and weighs in at 690kg - therefore too big and heavy to stick in even the biggest Tranny as the tailgate door is too low, and the tail lift capacity is probably going to be 500kg - I know because I have a 3.5 tonne box van with a tail lift. The RS is a different problem as it is more than likely going to be too wide to put across the 7ft tail lift on a 7.5 tonner (they generally have 1000 or 1500kg lifts, so the weight isn't a problem). The other issue, particularly with the LQ is the heart stopper you'll have as the tail lift gets to the ground and then tilts over at a nice 20 degrees...... 8-[

Incidentally, I'm not saying it can't be done "on the cheap", just saying why you should think about it before you go that way - these are industrial size machines, not DIY, and are in a different league in terms of size and weight

Scrit

 

[handyman]

Hi Scrit, thank you for the long thread explaining the problems of machine moving, but I have worked in the commercial furniture trade for a number of years and I am well aware of the logistics involved in moving heavy plant. Hence my original question about a machine mover who has the right vehicle and the right lifting equipment. I certainly would not entertain trying to lift either the LQ or the RS on any sort of tail lift or FLT! I have seen what happens when industrial machines fall over. It is not pretty and is usually expensive.
I am not rquesting the services of a cowboy nor wishing to pay over the odds for shifting a wagon load some 50 miles. The quotes I received from two large companies were just unrealistic.
Both the bigger machines are broken down into large lumps, but the main body of the LQ and the RS still weigh a lot. The most awkward piece is the bed of the RS, because of its length and weight.
I used to use a guy based in Bedford but he says it is too far in the wrong direction for him.
My next move may be a hydraulic trailer that I can tow behind my estate car but it means a number of journeys.

 

[Scrit]

HM

For my benefit, how much can a hydraulic trailer lift and what do they weigh? I've thought about using trailers in the past, but each time I've hit the problem that the machinery I've wanted to move was just too heavy to tow as it would have exceeded the towbar rating of my estate car (1300kg). I have borrowed a mate's Discovery with his Ifor Williams flat trailer a couple of times, but even that's limited to about 1250kg load (trailer weight 1250kg and towbar capacity of the Disco is 2500kg) - about the weight of your router (assuming it's a UX). That trailer also necessitates the use of an FLT to load/unload at both ends. So for the smaller stuff I use the van and the bigger stuff goes on a specialist mover. I've recently had the "joy" of moving about half a workshop full of machinery and the machinery remover charged me £350 + VAT for the day. As you've got about a wagon load there, how does that compare to your quotes?

Scrit

 

[dexteria]

When I was looking around for someone to move my machinery I was quoted £900. Although this included the electrical disconnections I thought it was a bit steep and hence sought advice from yourselves on the forum about moving the stuff. In the end it worked out good but we only had a 3 mile journey along a country lane.

PS this was after the straps had been removed.

Cheers

Mark

 

[mel]

hi handyman
got to go with scrit on this one ,
there is no one on this forum who knows more about these kind of machines .
the use , care and maintenance, and transportation .

you really need to have a company that specializes in machinery movements as they are the only ones with the right "goods in transit " insurance .
i was suprised to learn that the RHA only insure for £50 per ton :shock:

so please dont go the cheap route and " sink a good ship for the price of a bucket of tar "

ohhh and welcome to the forum
mel

 

[Scrit]

I was suprised to learn that the RHA only insure for £50 per ton :shock:

For the sake of information Palletline cover at the rate of £1,300.00/tonne whilst bayFreight in Manchester (my nearest depot) will cover you for a lot more than that (providing, of course that the entier journey is on one of their vehicles). There seems to be a wide variance in what the level of cover is, so it's worth checking when you use a transport company.

Scrit

 

[handyman]

To answer everybody's queries, the two large removal firms quoted £1900 +vat and £2200+vat. By any standard that is expensive, especially as one of the firms was owned by a distant relative, who now lives outside of the UK.
The machinery was moved to the store where it now resides on a hydraulic trailer, most being manhandled using rollers to get the items onto the flat bed. The distance moved was not great, about 5 miles but it still took a number of trips due to weight loadings. I am not keen to repeat the experience, especially with the longer distances involved.

 

[mel]

some after thoughts
could you hire a fork lift and lorry for the day
these usually come with a beaver tail run up ramp on the back
and a flat bed to the front of the wagon
you could then supervise the loading at one end , then follow the lorry to the other end , and supervise the unloading at your premises
worth a few phone calls to local fork lift hire companys
P,S the prices you have been quoted are extortionate
mel

 

[Scrit]

P.S. the prices you have been quoted are extortionate

I think I'd agree with Mel on that. Your three machines (circa 4 to 4.5 tonnes?) are probably one load on a 24ft bed 16 tonner with a Hiab. The distance isn't really the expensive bit, it's the time to load and unload at each end, possibly 2 to 3 hours each end depending on access, etc. That means you'll be paying for a day's work and probably the services of a second man to load/unload - but the figures you quote seem extreme.

Scrit

 

[Ian Dalziel]

Hi Handyman,
The prices you are quoting seem very high.....i use a local machinery dealer to move all my stuff...he charges £40 per hour for lorry and driver...thats with a decent lorry crane. and my machines are covered on his insurance.
your quotes seem very high for the short distance.
This guy also uses skip wagons to move heavier stuff......if you can rig properly you might be able to get a skip lorry to move it.

Ian