Ideas needed to lower a safe into open foundation

[zzvyb6]

Well you are going to have basement stairs, right ? Is the staircase opening convenient to start the descent when the safe is on it's side ? Build them strong enough to take the weight and use some 2x10s to ramp it down on its side. I then used plastic pipe rollers to move mine around. (Same model/size).

 

[pohorsky]

What about a gradall? Might be cheaper than a crane if you just need to get it over the wall.

 

[kebo]

What about a gradall? Might be cheaper than a crane if you just need to get it over the wall.

Or... a mid size trackhoe should be able to set it down easy enough. That might be a cheaper option if the timing doesn't work out with having a crane on site, prior to getting the foundation, flooring, and sidewalls in place.

 

[JerryK]

If the excavator is still on site after the basement is poured [ blocked/etc ], you could use it to lower the safe....

 

[bcp]

Sell the safe. Buy a safe door. Pour two reinforced concrete walls in the basement corner, with the door set into one wall.

Walk-in safe, and secure, strong room.

Bruce

 

[PILOON]

If the foundation is not poured yet, all forming crews now days have a truck mounted crane to load/unload the forms.
Ask them to lower the safe.
Or again when they back fill the foundation get the shovel operator to lift that safe into the foundation.

 

[davrow]

Come on, it's made of steel, right? Just push it over the edge!

(not really!)

I vote for the safe room bcp mentioned in post #15. I've always wanted one. No basement here.

 

[MossRoad]

We're in the process of building a house (modular), and will be getting a used Mahindra 3510 with 3265 backhoe and ML112 front loader. I'm trying to think of ways to get my gun safe (empty) into the foundation before the house is set on the foundation so I don't have to worry about getting the safe into the basement afterwards. The foundation walls are 9' tall and will have about 12"-18" above grade, the safe weights about 1500lbs and is 72" tall.

I'm thinking of using straps around the safe to a single lifting point, attached to a 4,000lbs come-a-long, attached to the front loader. Then use the front loader to lift and move the safe into the foundation, and then use the come-a-long to lower the safe to the slab.

Any other ideas that I may be missing?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Why not use the backhoe?

If not that, then as others have mentioned, arrange for the crane operator that's going to set your house to set the safe.

 

[2458n]

As a former crane operator and house setter I would slip the crane operator a 50.00. I would set the safe and make sure you got your 50.00 back. No way I would get set up for the loss of my job for 50 dollars.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

My vote is for ramps and a chain fall secured to the tractor. Depending on the site they may not use a crane to set your house. Our cottage is a modular and was set by sliding it onto the foundation. I'd hate to get all set up for the crane and then find out they are not using one after it is too late.