How to Move a Large Safe

Even if you’re taking the DIY approach to moving, when you have a large, heavy safe you will need help transporting it. Unlike portable safes, large safes are not built with easy transport in mind – in fact they’re built to stay in one place and keep everything but the owner out. This makes heavy safes one of the biggest challenges to move, be it across the street or across the country. So how do you move a large safe?

Hiring a Professional Mover for Your Large Safe

When moving a heavy safe, hiring professional movers can be a smart choice. Large safes can weigh more than 500 lbs., with large gun safes coming in at around 700 lbs – without proper preparation or equipment, you risk serious injury moving a safe on your own.

Professional movers have the experience and equipment to handle extremely heavy items like safes. They know how to move these objects safely and efficiently.

Professional movers bring several benefits:

• Expertise in handling heavy items
• Proper equipment like dollies and straps
• Insurance coverage for damage or injuries
• Reduced risk of personal injury

You can find reputable moving companies by:

1. Asking for recommendations from friends or family
2. Reading online reviews
3. Checking with the Better Business Bureau

When hiring professionals, be sure to:

• Get multiple quotes
• Ask about their experience with safes
• Verify their insurance coverage
• Discuss any special requirements for your safe

Remember, while hiring professionals may cost more upfront, it can save you money in the long run. It helps prevent damage to your safe, property and potential medical bills from injuries.

Use a Transportation Marketplace to Find a Professional Mover

Once you decide to go with an professional mover to transport your safe, the first order of business is finding one! CitizenShipper’s transportation marketplace makes it easy to find the right moving professional for the job. It’s free and easy to create a listing on the site.

1. Create a listing that describes where your heavy safe will be picked up and where it’s going, as well as a timeline for delivery.
2. Include the dimensions, weight and manufacturer of the safe.
3. It’s helpful to add a photo of the item that needs to be transported. This allows them to gauge how much additional manpower they will need to have on hand.

The next step is to have a plan for leaving the pickup location and entering the destination. You’ll need to ensure the safe’s pathway is clear, and if there are any steps to negotiate, the driver must know about them. The equipment used to move heavy safes is very bulky and industrial-grade, so be sure the path is extra wide and cleared out.

Make sure the new destination for your safe is ready to accept it. Often large safes have required bolts coming from the building foundation, and these need to be seated ahead of the safe’s arrival to do the job right.

Pro Tip: Be sure the safe is wrapped with heavy blankets secured with duct tape before moving it at the pickup or destination. Floors and walls can be easily damaged by heavy safes.

Moving your heavy safe won’t be such a big job if you hire a driver from CitizenShipper. Our community of drivers can handle even the largest item safely and reliably. Post a listing for large item shipping today!

Safety Precautions for Moving a Large Safe By Yourself

Large, heavy safes are often designed to be fireproof, so they’re filled with concrete and have at least two thick metal linings. With that much weight, the transportation of these safes is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it’s recommended that you hire a professional if you plan on moving a heavy safe.

• Moving a heavy safe requires careful attention to safety.
• Taking proper precautions helps prevent injuries and protects your valuable items.
• Put down plywood or cardboard to protect floors and cover doorframes with moving blankets to prevent scratches.
• Measure your doorways before attempting to move the safe and allow at least 2 inches of clearance on all sides – if needed remove doors for extra clearance.

Wearing Protective Gear When Moving a Safe

• Put on sturdy work gloves to shield your hands from pinches and scrapes.
• Wear steel-toed boots to guard against foot injuries if the safe tips or falls.
• Use a back brace to support your spine during lifting.
• Safety glasses shield your eyes from dust or debris that may fall from the safe as you move it.
• A hard hat protects your head from bumps or falling objects.

Preparing to DIY Move a Heavy Safe

Once you have the proper protective gear, you can start preparing to move your heavy safe. You’ll need the right tools and safeguards in place before you start.

Acquiring Moving Equipment

To move a heavy safe, you’ll need some key items to help you transport the item safely and securely. These items are to protect you, the movers and the surrounding environment as much as they are for the safe. This equipment includes:

• A heavy-duty dolly to help you roll the safe to the transport vehicle.
• You’ll also need strong straps or ropes. These secure the safe to the dolly. Moving blankets are important too. They protect the safe from scratches.
• Consider renting equipment if you don’t own it.
• If you hire a moving company, they’ll provide this equipment.

Dolly Tips for Moving a Safe

• An appliance dolly is a must-have for moving safes. It has a sturdy frame and large wheels so it can carry more weight than a standard dolly.
• If you have to transport the safe up or down stairs, a stair-climbing dolly is ideal because it has special tracks or wheels to safely go up or down steps.
• If your safe is on the smaller size, you can use a hand truck, but it’s not recommended for large, heavy moves.

Pro Tip: Never attempt to move a safe up or down stair alone. You should always use between three and four people to navigate stairs.

Proper Lifting Technique for Moving a Safe

If you are lifting a safe, make sure you have the appropriate number of people. Everyone helping out with the move should understand proper lifting technique for heavy objects:

1. Start with a wide base, with one foot slightly ahead of the other
2. Bend at the knees, not at your back
3. Keep your back straight, or even slightly arched
4. Lift with your legs, not your back
5. Keep your head facing forward, chest out, and shoulders back
6. When setting the safe down, reverse these steps

Other Tips For Preparing to Move a Safe

The safe should be empty before moving, but make the safe is kept dry. Components like the hinges, lock tumblers, and the lock itself are not entirely waterproof, so they should not get wet. If they’re using an open truck or trailer for the job, place a tarp at the bottom of the hauling bed, wrap it toward the direction of travel, and then toward the back. The covered safe will then be strapped to the vehicle to make it more water-tight. One final note, the combination should be engaged during travel because a door weighing more than 150 lbs. can cause plenty of damage.