Container Moving Question for Bob

[Apogee]

Bob,

Who did you find that can lift the loaded container?

Is it also the same company that you rented the container from?

I'm thinking what you've done is the way to go for when I move.

Do they charge by the weight, mile shipped, size or how?

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[mobile_bob]

no one around here (seattle tacoma area) can pickup a loaded container from off the ground, unless of course you want to rent a monster crane
or hire two large tow trucks to pick up each end (which really probably is a very viable and reasonable priced option.

i could not find anyone to rail ship a private container, burlington northern/santa fe flat won't do it, however union pacific will move 53 ft containers on flat cars.

i found a broker that put together the package deal, they brought me a 53 ft high capacity CSX container on a chassis, gave me up to  month to load it (actually they started to want it back after about 3 weeks) they allow you to put up to 43k lbs in the container, but it must be perfectly distributed at that weight.  you can only have 34k lbs on the tractor tandems and another 34k lb on the trailer tandems.

standard chassis for the 53 footer is a two axle tandem and that is all they will provide.

the chassis tare weight is 7500 and the can weighs in at a svelt 10,500 odd lbs, the tractors they use weigh close to 20k, and most states will only allow a combined weight of 80k lbs so that leave you with about 42k lbs of perfectly distributed product in the can.

of course perfect distribution of weight is very hard to do unless you have a scale to weigh everything that is going in.

from my door here in tacoma to my door in florence kansas was 2500 bucks plus 35% fuel charge, for a total of approx 3375 bucks

added to that was a harlow all terrain forklift for a week, at 530 bucks and change, another weekend at another location with another harlow
at 230 bucks, a tow truck charge to pull out the tractor that got stuck in the swamp at 247 bucks, 200 more bucks because i felt sorry for the driver and his truck which had clearly a ton of mud packed in everywhere, and then another 250 bucks for another harlow to get the product shifted when i found i was about a ton overweight on the rear tandems.

that gets it there

then i have to drive to kansas to transport one of my vehicles, rent another forklift to unload the can, plus gravel and delivery for a pad
and another 2800 bucks for a 40 ft container so i have someplace to put all this crap, then another 140 bucks for airfare back to seatac.

probably cost me 8 grand by the time it is all said and done, however i will own a 40 ft container that will form the back wall of a small shop, and the job will be finally done, at least the part about moving it all.

oh, yes lest i forget, i spend easily another 400 bucks on 7/16" osb to make crates and pallet boxes, bought twenty four heavy pallets for 100 bucks and shot over 500 dry wall screws.

and i traded a '78 dodge van nose flat bed truck for labor to help me get this stuff loaded,

bought a nice pallet jack from harbor freight on sale for 280 bucks with tax, after buying non functional one at an auction
for 68 dollars.

in my next life i hope to be a stamp collector



bob g

[Apogee]

Bob,

Thanks for the info.

I wondered how you planning on doing it because I hadn't heard of anyone who could pick up the container once loaded.

Sounds like a reasonable amount considering the distance and weight you're moving.

Like I wrote to you, I envy you as I think you will really like the new place.  At the very least, the weather will be far better most of the year.

Best,

Steve

[mobile_bob]

i am looking forward to the move being over, and finally being able to put down some roots, build a small shop,and do some things
i have been wanting to do.

just hope the wife is as excited after she gets there as she is now!

bob g