Moving Machines around the country - how do you do it ?

[addjunkie]

I used a plant trailer, and a pre made set of wheels last time.

 

[chrisg3103]

Good while ago I bought a Bridgeport interact CNC mill in Wales, didn't think much of it till I realised it's huge and heavy compared to a manual Bridgeport..
Tried Shipley but the quotes were astronomical, no forklift either end and such like. So came up with a plan to build a portable lifting frame and bought a trailer. Then hired a van with a towbar, with a mate went on a 26hour round trip...

Ignore the lack of triangulation on the risers, was a last minute addition.

Removed head to bring the weight down so trailer wasn't overloaded.


Back together and rolling on 12mm round bar
For a quick fix the frame and trailer have shifted many things over the years, was supposed to sell the trailer once the machine was here. Still got it 7 years later and currently has another broken machine sitting in it from the weekend

 

[fizzy]

I think I've moved 5 things with Shiply without any problems - but I am very careful who I choose - check insurance etc.

I've moved far more with Fizzy's mob - probably 50 or so, and again no issues.

Wow didn't realise it was that many - thanks for that!

 

[The Artilleryman]

Moved my first Bridgeport clone myself. Ifor Williams BV85 combo door trailer. ramp/doors level on heavy duty wood blocks, mill on pallet, fork lifted onto ramp and winched inside on pallet truck - Easy.

Other end, jockey wheel wound right down, jack struts and blocks under rear of trailer, slowly winched out, but small wheels caught on door frame, so had to shamfer a piece of hardboard so the would roll rather then get stuck on 2 mm lip. 2 of us in pouring rain.

Current Bridgeport hiab to storage in Peterborough and same again to home (after we had found a property).

In the workshop pallet truck till I was happy with positions, then sold pallet truck - no room in workshop.

No room he says, I've added a 2M x 1M welding bench (on castors) and a large mig welder since, now I've no room.

 

[fizzy]

Moved my first Bridgeport clone myself. Ifor Williams BV85 combo door trailer. ramp/doors level on heavy duty wood blocks, mill on pallet, fork lifted onto ramp and winched inside on pallet truck - Easy.

Other end, jockey wheel wound right down, jack struts and blocks under rear of trailer, slowly winched out, but small wheels caught on door frame, so had to shamfer a piece of hardboard so the would roll rather then get stuck on 2 mm lip. 2 of us in pouring rain.

Current Bridgeport hiab to storage in Peterborough and same again to home (after we had found a property).

In the workshop pallet truck till I was happy with positions, then sold pallet truck - no room in workshop.

No room he says, I've added a 2M x 1M welding bench (on castors) and a large mig welder since, now I've no room.

I had my Bridgeport shipped to me through one of our networks on a pallet.
The head swivels upside down to make it stable.
Forks both ends which helps a lot but we had done them on a tail lift IF palletised properly.
So much easier than driving long distances but always a risk - but then again so is moving any big machine no matter how you do it.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Best part is cutting up the pallet under a Bridgeport and carefully lowering it on wood blocks. .

 

[Brad93]

We have a portable gantry and a 3 ton trailer.

 

[awemawson]

I moved my manual Bridgeport single handed on a single axle trailer towed by my company car which at the time was a Volvo 240DL Estate. Balance was rather critical! Journey was Deptford Creek to Bromley, not far but a Friday in the rush hour. Most dodgy bit was being stuck in traffic outside Lewisham Police Station for ages and hoping that they weren’t watching

I unloaded using a block and tackle from an 8x2 wooden joist in my garage with Acro Props either side of the trailer to reduce the span.

All a bit of a calculated risk. All that was 25 years ago but I remember every creak and groan.

 

[pressbrake1]

A Colchester is hand luggage

 

[Munkul]

If it can be lifted at their end and weighs under 3 tons, I'll chance it on my pickup trailer.