Moving a fire proof gun safe to basement

Went to Redwing today and got a great deal on a gun safe from Dunham Sports.
It weighs 615#. I’ve needed a safe for various reasons.

At our new house the flight of steps to my basement is 21. Doe’s anyone have an easy way to move it down into the basement? The safe was a floor model, so it has no cardboard or packaging. I have 4 guys available to move it tomorrow?

Steps are concrete and 4 foot wide. Going into the basement door won’t be an issue either. Thanks.

4 wheeler with a winch or something similar at top of the steps?

Make sure your staircase is good for that amount of weight. 21, that’s a big staircase. 4 guys plus safe, lotta weight

We moved a case last year, 3 guys, 12 stairs, broken into couple flights. It was terrible. Took off the door to make it easier, which was a task in itself.

All I got to say is good luck.

Take the door off if you can.

Planking and good rope and maybe slide it down?

Won’t be as bad as you think. Go find a appliance dolly somewhere, thats a tall 2 wheel cart with long handles. Get a couple of ratchet straps and strap the safe to the cart. Lay the cart back and start it down the steps. Put a couple guys on the bottom side pushing and somebody on the top pulling. Slowly let it down the steps. With 4 guys it shouldn’t be a issue. If you are concerned connect a rope to the cart and put a 2×4 across the door jam and wrap a rope around that to keep it from running away from ya.

Main thing is if in doubt be sure your bottom guys stay off to the side of the cart as much as possible. You don’t want them to get run over if it gets away from you.

Again, I don’t think you will have a issue.

Let us know how it goes.

Make sure the video recorder is rolling please.

riverruns wrote:

Went to Redwing today and got a great deal on a gun safe from Dunham Sports.
It weighs 615#. I’ve needed a safe for various reasons.

At our new house the flight of steps to my basement is 21. Doe’s anyone have an easy way to move it down into the basement? The safe was a floor model, so it has no cardboard or packaging. I have 4 guys available to move it tomorrow?

Steps are concrete and 4 foot wide. Going into the basement door won’t be an issue either. Thanks.

I missed that part. So these are OUTSIDE steps. Yep, get a truck or something to anchor off of and lower the thing down. Appliance dolly is still the best way but on planks laying on a blanket would do it without beating it up to bad.

I’ve got an appliance dolly. I didn’t know if that would be strong enough?? Yep it would be strapped with a couple heavy staps to that if that’s what we do. I thought about removing the door, looks like a challenge.

Thinking 2 guys on the bottom and a guy on each handle walking it down should do the trick??

Not sure if video is good if something goes wrong. Then there is evidence.

How did you get it on the ground at your house?

Menards rents appliance dollies for a reasonable price. Think it’s less than $10.

Dutchboy wrote:

How did you get it on the ground at your house?

I backed into the garage and 4 of us slid it out and stood it up as we slid it out. That was easy. It was laying on it’s back in the bed of the truck.

Just put one in my moms house. We used a 2 wheel dolly. Non air tires and 4 guys. 2 on bottom 2 on top with straps. We went up 2 cases of stairs. Was actually pretty easy. When we slid it in to place on her new carpet we used folded cardboard. It went very smooth

Bearcat89 wrote:

Just put one in my moms house. We used a 2 wheel dolly. Non air tires and 4 guys. 2 on bottom 2 on top with straps. We went up 2 cases of stairs. Was actually pretty easy. When we slid it in to place on her new carpet we used folded cardboard. It went very smooth

The dolly I have is non air tires as well.

Thinking this should work. Guy on each corner should be easy I’m thinking.

Thanks, and I’ll give results tomorrow. 👍

riverruns wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
Just put one in my moms house. We used a 2 wheel dolly. Non air tires and 4 guys. 2 on bottom 2 on top with straps. We went up 2 cases of stairs. Was actually pretty easy. When we slid it in to place on her new carpet we used folded cardboard. It went very smooth

The dolly I have is non air tires as well.

Thinking this should work. Guy on each corner should be easy I’m thinking.

Thanks, and I’ll give results tomorrow. 👍

The helper lift straps helped but were not needed. Going down stairs i think they would help alot. But just take it one step at a time no matter what

riverruns wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
Just put one in my moms house. We used a 2 wheel dolly. Non air tires and 4 guys. 2 on bottom 2 on top with straps. We went up 2 cases of stairs. Was actually pretty easy. When we slid it in to place on her new carpet we used folded cardboard. It went very smooth

The dolly I have is non air tires as well.

Thinking this should work. Guy on each corner should be easy I’m thinking.

Thanks, and I’ll give results tomorrow. 👍

The helper lift straps helped but were not needed. Going down stairs i think they would help alot. But just take it one step at a time no matter what

if you are going down carpeted stairs. I would honestly consider taping thick cut cardboard and going down on its side. 2 guys helping relieve weight and 2 guys pushing against it.
I move big concrete chunks everyday at work 650 isn’t that much honestly

Being a 30yr owner of a Mayflower agency/front line mover, safety is 1st. With 4 guys, cement steps, an appliance dolly, you’ll be good. Let the guys under it pull the wheels over the edge of each step while all 4 hold back the weight, one step at a time.

Moved my fireproof of same weight down to my basement, alone… Appliance dolly, straps, me under it, got er done.

What would Red Green do?

Main thing is safety, so first off get everyone out of the way.
With it laying flat in the back of the pickup,
get the truck lined up real good with the door.
Pull straight away from the door.
Get a running start in reverse towards the door.
Slam on the brakes at just the right time.

Whalla, into the basement it’ll go.

Repeat as necessary till ya hit the door correctly.

Remember, we’re all pulling for you!

Rent an electric appliance dolly. It will lower the safe to the next step and then you just lower the dolly down, skooch the cart forward and lower again. I used to deliver appliances all the time by myself with an electric dolly.

Not sure on a weight capacity to 600 lbs though.

Or pay to have it delivered

600#s is really not that bad for 4 guys. Just be careful and thoughtful with your moves.

Just do what my father in law did. Decide to install an egress window and skid the safe in after the foundation hole was cut.

If you’re paying your buddies in beer, just make sure it’s after the move!

I use to work at a Sporting goods store in my younger days ( Along time ago ) Every once in awhile someone would buy one of the HUGE gun safe’s without a idea of how to get it into place. They would always ask if we knew anyone. Being young and dumb and needing beer money a few of us would always offer to help deliver it and put it into place. Remember a few places it went down into a basement. When finished we would always say never again. Then a few weeks later and in need of Beer money again. We’d make the same offer. It was a miracle that no one every got hurt.

BigWerm wrote:

If you’re paying your buddies in beer, just make sure it’s after the move!

One 23 year old, one 32 year old, one 43 year old, and a couple of us in our early 50’s. No problem. Strapped it to a 2 wheel moving dolly rsted for 800#.

We had 2 guys on the bottom and 3 guys on top. Once we started the safe was basically going down, on its side with it riding the dolly. Bottom 2 guys holding it and letting it slide on the dolly. Once at the bottom of the steps pretty easy.

And still having a

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Attachments:

1. 

   15973671147873152491633181614541.jpg
   

Now that you have practiced I have a 1350# 2 door antique safe.

Dutchboy wrote:

Now that you have practiced I have a 1350# 2 door antique safe.

Our crew would make that go down quick. This safe was big enough.

What’s it sitting on?

Furniture dolly and 4 guys it does go pretty smooth that being said I will never move my safe again…

I went down a split level. Turning corners is ugly.

jwellsy wrote:

What’s it sitting on?

Piece of something solid I found out in the shed of our new place. Not sure what it is. Wanted it up off the cement. I left the fork lift sleeves attached as well. Turned out very stable.