How Do I Move A Forklift?
- Moving a Forklift Requires Attention to Safety
- Properly Securing the Forklift
- How Do You Move A Forklift?
- Important Factors: Pay Special Attention to These Details
- Hiring a Professional Might Be Your Best Bet
- Why Do I Need A Professional To Move A Forklift?
- Positioning the Forklift on the Trailer
1. Moving a Forklift Requires Attention to Safety
When moving a forklift, you should first check how much it weighs, as well as how long it is. Depending on the weight, you can use a truck or trailer for the forklift transportation. Given the weight of the forklift, you should back the machine onto the truck so the fork is facing the rear of the truck.After securing the forklift to the bed of the truck, make sure to shut off the fuel supply, and the tank secured. Securing the tank will ensure that the fuel will not be able to slosh around. This sloshing may cause a potentially hazardous situation.
If the unit is electric, make sure to charge the battery before transporting. If the carrier needs to wait for you to charge a unit, this could increase the price of the move. Electrical units have three-pronged circular plugs. Sometimes, older buildings do not have these. If this is your situation, an electrician must install these plugs. Make sure that you pre-plan for this, especially if you are going to use the forklift to load other shipments. It is important to consider how long the forks lift is. It's not like towing a car; moving a forklift is a whole other beast.
2. Properly Securing the Forklift
Different corporations use forks that vary in length, from 3 feet to 12 feet. No matter what forklift unit you are moving, you will need to secure it. You must pay attention to the greatest allowable weight that the chains can handle. Never transport large equipment without having the correct rigging equipment to secure it. If you were to stop suddenly, the extreme weight can use the unit to shift. If the rigging is not secured, you run the risk of the forklift falling off the trailer. Once it is moving, this will be impossible to stop. You must use the proper rigging equipment to ensure this does not happen.It may be best to contact a moving company that specializes in forklift services. This will protect you from the liability of moving such an important item. You may also need office movers. You can get more tips and information for this forklift transport on our site.
3. How Do You Move A Forklift?
What do you do when you have to move an item whose job itself is to move things? It's always a struggle when a forklift has to make a long journey from job site to job site. Forklifts are made to handle goods and raw materials with precision. Any major job site you can find around town uses them so they are everywhere. Although they have wheels and do drive, I doubt you would get very far taking one down the Route 66 all on its own.On average a sit-down Forklift has the ability to lift up to 5,000 lbs. The machine itself can weigh up to a whopping 9,000 pounds. Wow, that is a ton…well almost! (A ton is 1,000 pounds) To give you something to compare that to, a mid-size car usually weighs in at around 4,000 pounds. When you need to transport an item that heavy, you might be wondering what to do with your forklift.
4. Important Factors: Pay Special Attention to These Details
Using the right equipment to secure the forklift. Normal movers straps for couches and large desks are not going to cut it with an item this heavy.
- Make sure to verify the weight load requirements. The forklift itself plus the weight of the truck may not be able to drive on certain roads. Movers with experience know this beforehand so they do not get stranded in the middle of the move.
- Make sure the physical truck itself is up to date and maintained to be able to take on such a heavy load.
- There are special loading and unloading procedures for specialized equipment. These machines need extra attention during transport. To maintain safety, it's important to follow these protocols.
5. Hiring a Professional Mover Might be Your Best Bet
When it comes to moving forklifts, it is no easy task. A moving company that doesn't specialize in transporting industrial equipment won't cut it. Specialized trailers or trucks are the only way to go if you are in the market to hire lift forklift movers.
Make sure that you find trustworthy movers that have a background in how to work forklifts. Regardless of how tired your crew may be, make sure they can do the job. Forklifts are expensive and vital tools for any business owner that needs to move them. Pick a mover with proper licensing that can move your forklift to its destination.
6. Why Do I Need a Professional to Move A Forklift?
Forklifts are very large and have an awkward shape, so it's easy to assume they are not the easiest items to move. Besides that, the forklift itself can weigh almost 9,000 pounds.
Although forklifts drive around on construction sites, they can't drive on regular roads. Seeing a forklift crawling down the highway would definitely be a funny site to see. This is why you must transport the forklift itself when it needs to move on to the next job site. Here are the steps that you need to do to transport a forklift the right way.
Although forklifts drive around on construction sites, they can't drive on regular roads. Seeing a forklift crawling down the highway would definitely be a funny site to see. This is why you must transport the forklift itself when it needs to move on to the next job site. Here are the steps that you need to do to transport a forklift the right way.
Make sure that the wheels on the vehicle you are using are shocked. It does not matter if you are using a tractor-trailer rig or a flatbed truck. Be sure to secure the vehicle at the loading dock so ensure proper safety.
The next step is to drive the forklift itself onto the truck or the trailer. Make sure the forklift is being BACKED onto the truck or trailer. You always want the forks pointed away from where the driver will sit. In the event of a collision, the results could be deadly if the forks point towards the driver.
7. Positioning the Forklift on the Trailer
Make sure to center the forklift on the truck or the trailer. Lower the forks to the floor while tilting them. Make sure to place blocks under each wheel of the forklift so they do no move. Screwing the wooden blocks to the floor of the truck or flatbed will ensure that the forklift does not move.Make sure to shut off the fuel supply. Also, disconnecting the battery is always a safe bet.
Use industrial chains to secure the forklift to the truck bed. This makes sure the forklift cannot move while in transit. Knowing exactly how to move a forklift is crucial to getting the item to its final destination.
On the whole, there are a lot of vital steps to knowing how to move a forklift. Regular household movers may not be aware these steps. Hiring professional forklift movers is crucial for your forklift to stay safe. Whether it's across town or cross country, you want your machine to make it in one piece.
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Comments
Paul Tyhurst 1 year, 6 months ago
A ton is 2000 pounds, not 1000 pounds like it says here, you better check your facts! Link | ReplyNew Comment