Moving

[mechanic]

I posted about colvert and now I have a question to any who have moved using Uhaul trucks. I was wondering about the ramps that they have on these trucks. I have a riding lawn mower that is 3 feet wide that I need to get up this ramp and a large upright air compressor to get up it. The air compressor out weighs me, probably weighs 300lbs or so. Have you used uhaul before. We will use the 26' truck but it has no lift gate. What is your experience with uhaul.

 

[Jimbrown]

My experience is that they come with fairly long loading ramps and most things can be rolled up the ramp.

 

[jimg]

I just did this in June using a 26' Penski truck which I figure is pretty close equipment-wise to a Uhaul. It had a single ramp just wide enough for a hand truck. If you can get the compressor on a hand truck youll be golden. I think other arrangements will be needed for the mower.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Have you considered renting a truck with a lift gate? Most lift gates are wide enough you can put the mower on it sideways and lift it up and the compressor would be a lot easier on a lift gate then trying to put it up the ramp and hope you don't slip.

The ramps are decent length but but for heavy items the lift gate is great.

 

[CATMAN]

With the height of those trucks, you might consider backing the moving truck into a small ditch(dry ground underneath) or up against a bank and load the mower that way and use the 2-wheel cart(as jimg suggested) to put in the heavy air compressor in at the same time. You still may have to use the ramp, but it will be much more horizontal. I don't know if the ditch/bank option is available to you.

U-haul trucks and Penske rental trucks are usually low on power. They purchase low horsepower engines(170 HP) and sometimes restrict top speed to 60 mph. Just some info if the rental place doesn't mention it. Thus, I recommend you give yourself plenty of time, if you move cross-country.​

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The only problem with trying to use the ditch/bank method is what happens if you don't have that option when you get to where you are going. Then you have something stuck on the truck. However you load it you will need to unload it roughly the same way.

 

[jimg]

Heres a thought -- if you really dont want or cant get a lift gate, put the mower on furniture trucks and roll it up the ramp.

 

[BTDT]

What kind of mower? Maybe make a ladder type ramp to lay on top of the u-haul ramp. Use 2x4s for rungs nailed to 2x6s for treads. Drive mower up into truck.

 

[EddieWalker]

I rented from Penski when I moved here. The truck had the long aluminum ramp the slid out the back. It was perfect for a hand truck and just walking up and down it to load everything. I parked the truck so the ramp wasn't very steep, which made a huge difference.

My riding mower is a Sears Craftsman 43 inch that was too heavy to lift. I tried driving it up the rails of the ramp, but the tires just spun. With two friends pushing, I was able to steer and drive it up the ramp.

When I got to Texas, I figured I'd just drive it down the ramp on my own. It sorta worked that way, except the tires fell off the rails of the ramp and the mower slid down on the mower deck. It was a quick, out of control ride that turned out fine. Just suprised me when it happend.

Eddie

 

[VABlue]

That would be my worry using the truck ramp - it's too narrow to be comfy driving the mower up and down.

 

[dmccarty]

I have moved many many many times wth UHAUL type trucks. The best rental I ever had used an Isuzu cab over. If I ever had to move myself again, I would look for that Isuzu and get it. The UHAULS are underpowered and pigs to drive. That Isuzu was very easy to manouver in tight spots, would actually go over 50mph and did not need a tank of fuel every couple of hours. Plus it used diesel.

The last two moves I did I hired a company to do the work. Both where short hauls of 50 miles or less and cost me around $500 for 3/4 guys and their truck for 4-6 hours of work. I still had to move alot of things myself but they handled the large heavy things. If we had wanted them too I would think they could have moved everything for no more than $1,000.

The trick to using the ramps is to place them, if you can, so that they are not steep. Place the ramp on a porch if you can or even in the house is possible. If the ramp gets wet, watch out they are slick.

Rent far more pads than you think you need. You will need them if you have anything that you don't want scratched.

Go buy dolleys, the ones that are just a few 2x4s put togather with four wheels. They things make your life much easier. Also get an applicance mover. This is the two wheeled dolley that has a long strap to hold large items. You can easily move washers, dryers, fridges with very little effort with an applicance move. During my last move I bought an appliance mover. Comes in handy from time to time around the house. Should have bought one years ago.... The truck rental should have them for rent but sometimes they run out. HD/Lowes sell them for maybe $100.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bird]

That sounds like it could be an exciting ride, Eddie. I've moved and/or helped others move using both the trucks with the ramps and a truck with the tailgate lift. Naturally, I'd much prefer the tailgate lift.

 

[ToadHill]

Last time I rented one I got a model with an air ride. You can let the air ride down and with the long ramp they supply you can move very heavy objects up the ramp with ease.

 

[dieselalles]

Maybe this might help. One time I rented a 26' Budget truck with a long aluminum ramp. It was pretty sturdy except for items weighing over 300 lbs. Then it started getting wobbly. So what I did is get some cinder blocks and stacked them under the ramp about mid-way on both sides, leaving about an inch between the ramp and the top of the blocks. And when the ramp bowed down, it settled on top of the blocks which helped to stabilize it.

My ramp was flat, so it hit the blocks square. If your ramp is at an angle, be careful that it doesn't cause the blocks to slide if you decide to try this method.

Good luck.