Loading a 14” bandsaw into a semi-trailer

[Tim Best]

Hi all,

We are moving for the second time in 18 months - a development that I am not unhappy about as it gets us out of DC back to heat and humidity of Florida. I moved this bandsaw to DC 18 months ago and it was breeze using a POD. This time we are using a semi-trailer because PODs and similar services do not service the area we are moving to. I have to figure out how to load and unload this machine into the bed of a truck that sits 48” off the ground essentially by myself. Perhaps it’s a lack of imagination on my part, but I cannot come up with a way to safely load and unload the machine. Here is what I’m working with:

Me (moderately fit human)
An 20” wide ramp that connects to the bottom of trailer and touches the ground below
My spouse (a helpful person but I’m not risking her limbs in this operation)

FWIW a lift gate is not available and any neighbors that I might enlist are suspect (the kind of people that would show up in flip flops to “help” someone move).

I need a way to safely load and unload in a controllable manner. I would love any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas.

Thanks

[Timothy Orr]

Rent an appliance dolly, something like this:

502133
strap the bandsaw to it to help control it and keep it on the dolly. Then pull it up the ramp walking backward. That way if you lose control you aren’t between it and the ground.

Even better if you can remove the bandsaw from the stand or cabinet. Then it will be much lower center of gravity and super easy.

good luck!

[Wes Grass]

Dolly, as shown. Pull the motor if you have to reduce the weight. Strap it to the dolly, resting on its spine. Piece of pie... with ice cream.

Try putting a Felder AD-741 and a KF-700 into a box van with a standard lift gate, on a non level driveway, all by your little old 160 lb self. Not without a couple fearful moments... and, I'll NEVER try that again.

[Sam Goldsmith]

I'm on the shed weight side, I've moved my 14" bandsaw a few times, easiest was to disassemble. Remove the blade, the blade guide and rail (mainly to prevent damage), the table, then separating the upper and lower halves is a bolt or two. It took me longer to groan about taking it apart than it did to actually do so. Since bandsaws are so top heavy, this made securing for moving easier too.
My moves without taking it apart were rather awkward and along the lines of "this should work," but with a 48" height it's a tough one. If it's one of the long loading ramps, then yeah, invest in a rolling dolly. They're way more useful in moves than I thought they would be, I was in the Navy so I got the chance to move six times in seven years.

[Bill Dufour]

Remove the table first. then consider unbolting the top half. Image stolen from someone, somewhere of big oliver bandsaw.
BilL D

[Kent A Bathurst]

.......... the second time in 18 months - a development that I am not unhappy about as it gets us out of DC back to heat and humidity of Florida......neighbors are suspect (the kind of people that would show up in flip flops to “help” someone move)..



Tim - HOLY COW!! Don't be bashful....tell us what you REALLY think. I'm confident in my prediction that your colleagues and neighbors are going to be saddened to see your taillights.

Somehow these tidbits seem extraneous to your actual question, so I'll bypass them as irrelevant, as you did, and get right to the salient issue: The bandsaw is not worth the pain of your being delayed by the time it will take to load. Post it for sale on facebook marketplace for 25% of new. If no takers in 24 hours, just leave it at the curb. You have to save yourself.

Then Run, Forrest, Run! from DC back to the Panhandle. You'll be among friends there.

[Greg Parrish]

Do you have a personal vehicle going along in the move? If so, load the bandsaw in it and haul it with you instead of the moving truck.

[Curt Harms]

Any chance of getting some day labor help? Maybe an outfit like this?

https://www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com/labor/

Have everything disassembled and packed so when your help shows up they're ready to do their thing.

[Jim Becker]

Any chance of getting some day labor help? Maybe an outfit like this?

https://www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com/labor/

Have everything disassembled and packed so when your help shows up they're ready to do their thing.
This. There is an existing and growing industry of local outfits that provide labor for moves, etc. At the very least, you can find them on the UHaul website and other places. I used this kind of service when our older daughter moved to her own apartment and the cost was very reasonable. So while the bandsaw is the focus of your question, consider using the labor to help with loading a bunch of stuff so you can just point. The same kind of service should be available at the other end, too.

[Bill Dufour]

Yes, U-haul offers paid loaders at each end. See their web site for details. Any college town has students doing similar.
A high school football/wrestling coach knows some good kids who can do it for you. Not sure I would trust a breakable machine to them. I assume u-haul has some insurance for the loaders.
Bill D

[Dave VanDewerker]

Remove the table and the motor if it sticks out, strap it to a 3/4" piece of plywood and use a dolly like the one above.

[Ernie Hobbs]

I have moved my shop a few times cross country. One technique that you can use when working alone and don't have a dolly or a ramp- stand the bandsaw up at the back of the truck (48" may be a bit high, but it might work if the bed of the truck is a little lower) as close as you can. Pick up the base of the bandsaw and let top pivot into the truck. Then slide it in on its back. Get up in the truck, slide it all the way in, stand it back up, and secure to the wall with straps.

[Jim Becker]

Yes, U-haul offers paid loaders at each end. See their web site for details.
To be clear, these folks do not work for UHaul. They are independent businesses that use the UHaul site to push business toward them.

[Tim Best]

Thanks all for the responses.

[Jason White]

Maybe rent a Genie lift?

[Cameron Wood]

This may or may not apply here, but I've found this to be very handy- compact, easy to store, raises & lowers well, supposedly tested. Gone up in price but still worth it.

https://www.amazon.com/Anbull-Storage-Warehouse-Automotive-Machinery/dp/B08ZHGY3BV/ref=sr_1_3?crid=MTFJVDL29P4B&keywords=Anbull+Mini+Lever+Chain+Hoist+1100+LBS&qid=1686251129&sprefix=anbull+mini+lever+chain+hoist+1100+lbs%2Ca ps%2C110&sr=8-3

[Jerome Stanek]

I was thinking of an engine hoist

[Tim Best]

Hi all,

I wanted to thank everyone for the helpful thoughts, advice, and potential solutions. I also wanted to close the loop on this thread. The bandsaw in question was safely loaded, travelled 900 miles, and safely unloaded this evening. The short of the long is that it can be done. It took two people to move it from the basement workshop and load it into the truck. The most difficult part of loading was navigating the steps up outside of the walk out garage. That simply took some muscle power, but luckily it was only three steps. For those that suggested a furniture hand truck/dolly, that would have made things even easier. Unfortunately, the furniture dolly was a tad too wide for the ramp - not something I expected so we had to switch to the regular hand truck for loading.

Unloading with one moderately capable human was surprisingly uneventful. I removed the base, strapped the machine to the hand truck, and simply rolled it down the ramp. I kept it low and went slow. Luckily, I had just enough rear end…err counterweight to control it.

[Lee Schierer]

Simple answer....take it apart and move the pieces. It is less likely to be damaged if moved in parts rather than whole and standing up.

I brought my 14" Delta band saw home in the trunk of my car. It was brand new and disassembled in a box. The box wouldn't fit so we removed all the pieces from the box and placed them in the trunk one at a time. I was able to carry all the pieces into my shop by myself. Assembly was easy.