Any idea how much this would cost me? To move a full-sized, antique safe 260 or so miles from Pittsburgh to my home near Annapolis?

And any recommendations for a safe-moving company in PA/MD?

-Rob

Not familiar with the Pittsburg or Annapolis areas - but the last time I had to move a heavy-full size safe I used a piano moving service. No issues.

A1abj probably has a connection

What about paying a service in Pittsburg to load it in your truck or trailer and another in Annapolis to unload and put it in your house?

How big is the safe and how heavy? It'll probably cost a fortune to move it from Pittsburg to Annapolis by a safe moving company. Is it possible to move it yourself with a hand truck, couple buddies and a truck with a lift gate?

With industrial equipment, usually you call a rigger to load it, and another to install it.

What is the size and weight? Any stairs or steps involved?

Depending on answers it really is DIYable with some rental equipment and a little help. Not a bad project at all. But you’ll need those answers to get a good quote.

From my experience a couple of years ago the least expensive way to do it will be to hire local movers on each end and to drive it yourself in a Uhaul type vehicle.
Mine is a very large safe and the distance was IN to UT but the moving company quotes to do the whole move were just insane. Like 3 times the value of the safe insane.

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
Any idea how much this would cost me? To move a full-sized, antique safe 260 or so miles from Pittsburgh to my home near Annapolis?

And any recommendations for a safe-moving company in PA/MD?

-Rob

Most likely they won't move one piece. You'll have to wait until they get a load for that route.

Might want to find someone who sells safes and check. Either way you'll be paying four hundred or so.

Agree that a piano mover is your best best.

Just had my safe moved from Oregon to Texas. The math simply worked vs selling (at a loss) and buying new at the destination. An LTL outfit is the way to go, any number of trucking companies can handle it. The packing is important, on a pallet and secured. A local safe company can usually provide that service. At the drop off, trucking co can move the pallet into your garage, etc. Then hire a local safe company to move it off and into positon.

Somebody like me could do it in one day, but it would be expensive. If the safe is a pristine valuable antique or carries a high sentimental value, it may be worth it.

Ridewv mentioned having somebody load it at point A, and somebody else unload it at point B. This may be a more cost effective option whether you're transporting it or having somebody else do it.

Do you know how much it weighs?

A lot of people bring up piano movers in regards to safes. Piano movers are generally neither equipped nor insured to move safes. There are a lot of specialty movers out there: Pianos, safes, artwork, hot tubs, exercise equipment, electronics, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

.....A lot of people bring up piano movers in regards to safes. Piano movers are generally neither equipped nor insured to move safes. There are a lot of specialty movers out there: Pianos, safes, artwork, hot tubs, exercise equipment, electronics, etc.

Don't forget towing services. They have boom lifts, tilt beds, winches, jacks, dollies, pallet jacks, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
A lot of people bring up piano movers in regards to safes. Piano movers are generally neither equipped nor insured to move safes. There are a lot of specialty movers out there: Pianos, safes, artwork, hot tubs, exercise equipment, electronics, etc.

Yeah, my first thought was two crews, one to load, another to unload. Second thought was (as a farmer w/ equipment), someone with the right equipment and some common sense can get a lot of the way there. A piano mover may fit into this group. However, particularly with an antique, the guy who has been moving that specific item has probably learned the tricks and traps (should have) that make the move a non-event and avoid the potential for an “Oh snap, I didn’t think about that.” moment.

quote:

Don't forget towing services

I know there are towing companies that will winch safes onto flatbeds and move them, but......

They may not be in compliance with DOT regulations, and they may not be insured to do so. Transporting cargo is different than transporting vehicles or other equipment. Some may be. Regardless of who you hire to perform a task, you can't assume anything in today's world. Not a bad idea to perform due diligence to ensure licensing and insurance are in proper order.

To be honest I didn't bother to ask if they were insured to carry safes but they probably were because they occasionally transport unusual, heavy items. They are very thorough at securing things down on their trucks. This was just a cash side job. Believe it or not the little black safe was the most difficult to move because it was so low and sat flat on a vinyl mat on the floor and it's a lot heavier than the small, gray Fort Knox gun safe. Once on a pallet it could be easily handled. The large safe was heavy but being on wheels made it much easier.

That's my son, Matt wearing the cap and his long time friend Mike who works at the towing business moving mine. When Matt wanted his large gun safe relocated from in a separate garage over to his house it needed to go up 6 steps to the concrete front porch. Mike just brought over a tow truck, they got straps underneath, backed the truck to the garage, picked it up, backed around to the front of the house, raised and extended the boom to set it on the porch. Took maybe 15 minutes total.

typically we use a few friends, and bought a hand truck/ refrigerator dolly, and a pallet jack,

we already have a couple of trailers,

did move a small safe once, and due to the house and stairs, I hired a moving company to get it to and in the back of my van,
best 600+ tips I ever spent,

antique brings questions tho,

we have an antique file safe that is relatively light and on wheels, so easy to move,
bought and sold a few old store type safes that are basically sheet metal full of concrete,
they also had wheels, but were very heavy,
a car jack helps moving those,

This is heavy, and on industrial casters. Union Pacific Railroad, 41w x 30d x 65h (including the casters). Interior locking door behind the main door, lots of shelves and other compartments. Perfect for a crap ton of handguns, mags, and ammo.

Couldn’t begin to guess at the weight, but I’m not stupid enough to literally flatten myself trying to DIY it. At all.

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:
How big is the safe and how heavy? It'll probably cost a fortune to move it from Pittsburg to Annapolis by a safe moving company. Is it possible to move it yourself with a hand truck, couple buddies and a truck with a lift gate?

A Sigforumite lost an uncle who asked a1abdj for a quote then died moving it himself

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tatortodd,

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