Moving lighter but cumbersome equipment

[Toolmaker51]

So, 48" sheetmetal brake posted in http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/i...al-brake-69323
followed me home...By calculating material weight, gave estimate of 1200 lbs; just one apron weighs >260.

Thought I'd introduce method of transporting this back from Great Lakes area of Illinois, and been successful in other instances too. The rolls are 'peeler cores', sold mainly to landscapers as retainers for flower beds. Normal length IIRC is 8', also known as 'landscape timbers'. I cut the lot of six into 3' and 5' lengths.

This brake, at 6' tall, 5' long, only 22'' wide poses a high center of gravity (COG); typical of maybe 80% of machinery. Have no help available. As owner busy closing down shop, interpolated dimensions from his advertisement pics. Arrived and got to down to business by 11pm. removed the four counterweights and arms, loosened cams and blocked forming die from bed.
1] Built two skidding rails, connecting right and left side feet. Lag screwed remainder of 2 x 4 vertically to stiffen them. Great job for cordless tools; if you remember bits and drive sockets. As it turned out, preferred 2x6, there was some bending, yet rib stopped any breakage.

2] Raise and block each end, place rails under feet, marking anchor holes inside leg with felt tip pen. Removed and pilot drilled 4 places for lags and XX heavy USS washers, then installed. Don't want lags protruding from skid bottom.

3] Positioned truck/ trailer centered to longitudinal axis of brake at far end of room. Got brake up on rolls, and other side of room, still aligned.

4] Backed tilt bed trailer within 10'of 1st roll. Blocked wheels fore and aft, disconnected hitch, raised trailer. I have a two speed manual boat winch on a second hitch mount, so paid out all 30' of webbing through trailer. Wrapped length of chain in dunnage around closest machine leg and created loop with grab hook. A slip hook is on other end, so chain can be used both ways.

5] Hooked winch strap to chain and began taking up slack enough for tension and test everything rolls. Truck anchors the winch, chocks anchor the trailer. Two hardwood wedges help rolls make transition floor to trailer bed.

6] Winched onto bed, after two tries. Painted floor wouldn't allow chocks to 'bite'. Found carpet padding in empty office, did the trick. Once the trailer stayed in place, able to continue reeling onboard bed. I had measured overall length of brake and knew ahead of time when 50% of weight would be over axle. Then used that figure to position 60% forward when bed righted itself. calculation was barely an inch off..

7] Began tying load down. Care is needed, due high COG to arrest ANY tipping motion. Took one full turn of strap around upper shaft on a layer of print paper so they'd cinch up right to left of trailer. The machine paint made too much resistance. Longways still important, but had good rail to bed friction, so they were tied off lower and crossed front to back, each side. Pulled out of building at 630am.
8] Stopped at first 20, then every 80-90 miles to monitor strap tension. In 540 miles, only one adjustment occurred, at first 20. That's typical as a load settles in. At half way, loosening was no concern and proceeded until just prior last few miles through town. I did flick each strap when stopping for gas. Frank S labeled this a 'text book' move. Yep, bring a lot of tiedowns; and use them all!
9] Unloading is far easier. Positioned rolls at trailer threshold, after untying and barring load back with the wheeled Johnson truck. Trailer tilted back so gradually is was almost quiet. Barring back is a great back saver, (thank you gravity) using a ratchet strap for a brake (ha, take that gravity).

My trailer is on the lightweight side, but have designed some attachments for whatever next exercise occurs. Tilt bed or not, a tongue jack would help. A secondary winch mount on tongue. Considering cut-off top rail of 11/2" angle iron for 2" tubing. Added anchor loops or E-track on perimeter of bed. A small manual crane. 4 rubber pads for chocks...

On flat and level, I use 1" round stock, plenty OK machines 5,000 pounds or less. The wood rolls distinct advantage, being undeterred by floor imperfections and debris. Pulling into the trailer, one went right over an unnoticed hank of chain. Try that with metal!

Seems like each post I make gets an edit (or 4), proofreading this time made me laugh...Didn't reset date after replacing battery? I swear this was two weeks ago, not 13 years!